A strike by Canadian border agents has ended with an agreement on raises and other issues, a union announced.

Thousands of agents joined the work-to-rule strike Friday, three days before the land crossing reopens to Americans fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
Inoculated US citizens and permanent residents will be allowed to enter Canada for non-essential travel from Monday without any quarantine requirements for the first time since March last year.
But operations were deliberately slowed at the border on Friday as strikers complained of a "toxic work environment at the agency" and demanded more robust protections against harassment and discrimination. 
-Travelers and commercial carriers entering Canada can expect long lines and delays at border crossings and airports starting Friday, August 6, as 9,000 members of the Canada Border Services Agency go on strike across the country- the union said earlier this week in a statement. 
By evening, the hours-long collective action had ended as the union signed an agreement with the authorities, according to PSAC.
-After three years of negotiations, we have finally managed to resolve long-standing issues, which will go a long way to helping our members feel valued and safe at work- said Mark Weber of the Customs and Immigration Union. 
The agreement includes average salary increases of two percent per year and a meal allowance for staff. 
In addition, a joint committee will tackle the alleged "toxic" work climate.
Canada's border agency is responsible for 117 land crossings and operates at 13 international airports.&nbsp;

Thousands of agents joined the work-to-rule strike Friday, three days before the land crossing reopens to Americans fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)

Traffic builds up on the Ontario side of a Canada-US crossing in March 2020 after the border was closed for non-essential travel

Striking Canadian border agents reach deal on salaries, work environment

The Cuban government on Friday approved a law authorizing the creation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a major shift in the communist-ruled country where state-owned companies are the norm. 

The change comes nearly a month after thousands of Cubans flocked to the streets decrying dictatorship and complaining of hunger in the largest demonstrations since the revolution that brought the late Fidel Castro to power in 1959. 
At least one person died and hundreds were arrested in the unusual mass protests, which the government claimed were provoked by the United States.
President Joe Biden has slapped fresh sanctions on Cuban police for suppressing the unrest, and warned of additional punitive measures if the communist regime does not address the protesters' demands for sweeping change.
In recent months the Cuban government has accelerated reforms to modernize the economy and staunch the worst economic crisis the island nation has experienced in 30 years. In part driven by US sanctions, the downtown and chronic shortages of food, electricity and medicine have been exacerbated by stringent measures against Covid-19.
In February, the government decided to open up much of the controlled economy to the fledgling private sector, except for key areas such as health, media and education. Around 2,000 activities were made available to self-employed workers. 
Roughly 600,000 Cubans are estimated to be working in the private sector, about 13 percent of the workforce. But these so-called "cuentapropistas" have called for a legal structure that would explicitly permit their businesses. 
Friday's green light for small and medium enterprises was given during a session of the State Council, which President Miguel Díaz-Canel joined via video conference. 
-The State Council approves the decree 'On Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises' which allows for their coherent insertion into the economy to be part of the productive transformation of the country- a note posted to the National Assembly's website said. 
In June, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz warned that the expansion of permitted private activities would not be allowed to go too far "as there are limits that cannot be exceeded".
But Oniel Díaz, a consultant specializing in Cuba's business development, said the new SMEs law still represents a turning point that many Cubans have been eagerly anticipating for years.
-For the Cuban economy... this represents a giant step that will have consequences in the medium and long term for the reconfiguration of the national economy- he told AFP.&nbsp;

The change comes nearly a month after thousands of Cubans flocked to the streets decrying dictatorship and complaining of hunger in the largest demonstrations since the revolution that brought the late Fidel Castro to power in 1959.

The Cuban government has approved a law authorizing the creation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a major shift in the communist-ruled country

Cuba legalizes small and medium enterprises in boost for private sector

A man saved from the jaws of a crocodile was recovering in hospital alongside his rescuer Saturday after being mauled in the country's remote northeast.

The men were reportedly swimming in "croc-country" off the Cape York Peninsula on Friday afternoon when one of them was attacked, Denis O'Sullivan of the Queensland Ambulance Service told media in Cairns.
The other man was injured as he tried to rescue his friend from the saltwater croc, which could have been up to 2.5 metres long, O'Sullivan said.
-He wouldn't have wanted it any bigger; put it that way- he said.
One man suffered significant injuries to his head, chest and arms, while his rescuer received lacerations to his arms.
Local media reported the pair were both army personnel who had been swimming before the attack.
An army medic on a nearby barge applied a tourniquet before rushing them to the hospital -- an enormous effort involving a dinghy, helicopter and airplane journey almost 800 kilometres south to Cairns.
Although both men were now in a stable condition, O'Sullivan said the younger man had a narrow escape.
-I think he's very lucky to be alive and here today to tell the story.-

The other man was injured as he tried to rescue his friend from the saltwater croc, which could have been up to 2.5 metres long

One man suffered significant injuries to his head, chest and arms, while his rescuer received lacerations to his arms

Man rescued from crocodile in Australia's remote northeast

A Palestinian shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank died of his wounds on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Imad Ali Mohammad Dweikat, 38, reached hospital in the city of Nablus "in a critical state" after receiving "a live bullet to the chest" in the nearby town of Beita, it said in a statement.
Beita sees regular demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and settlement expansion, which often degenerate into clashes.
The Israeli army did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
Last Friday, some 270 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli troops during protests in Beita and during the funeral of a young Palestinian killed the day before, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported. 
On July 23, 320 Palestinians were wounded or suffered from tear gas inhalation in clashes with Israeli forces in Beita, medics said. A teenager shot by Israeli forces later died of his wounds.
Beita residents have been demonstrating since May against a the wildcat Eviatar Jewish settlement set up nearby without official permission from Israeli authorities. 
The settlement was evacuated in early July but Israeli army troops remain stationed there while authorities deliberate on its fate.
If the settlement is approved, its founders will be allowed to take up residence there more permanently.
Beita's residents have vowed to continue their campaign until the army also leaves the outpost.
Israel occupied the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War and all Jewish settlements there are considered illegal by most of the international community.
Almost half a million people live in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, alongside 2.8 million Palestinians.

Imad Ali Mohammad Dweikat, 38, reached hospital in the city of Nablus "in a critical state" after receiving "a live bullet to the chest" in the nearby town of Beita

The West Bank town of Beita has seen regular protests by Palestinians since May against the wildcat Jewish settlement outpost Eviatar and Israeli occupation

Palestinian dies of Israeli gunfire after West Bank clashes

New York police have arrested and charged a man in connection with the two-wheeler hit-and-run death of "Gone Girl" actress Lisa Banes, a force spokesman said Friday.

Brian Boyd, 26, was apprehended on Thursday and charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian and leaving the scene of a deadly accident, the spokesman told AFP.
Banes, who was visiting New York from Los Angeles, suffered a head trauma in the June 4 accident in Manhattan. She died in hospital ten days later.
The TV, Broadway and film actress was struck after Boyd allegedly ran a red light while Banes was attempting to cross the street near the Lincoln Center, a performing arts venue, on the Upper West Side.
The New York Police Department have yet to determine whether the suspect was riding an e-scooter or a motorcycle. 
Banes' wife, Kathryn Kranhold, had appealed for witnesses to find the driver.
Apart from the 2014 hit "Gone Girl," Banes starred alongside Tom Cruise in the 1988 romantic comedy "Cocktail."

Brian Boyd, 26, was apprehended on Thursday and charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian and leaving the scene of a deadly accident

Actress Lisa Banes is seen during the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015 in Utah

New York police charge man over 'Gone Girl' actress death

Four people were injured on Friday in a stabbing attack on a train in Tokyo, with the suspect captured after fleeing the scene, leaving his weapon behind, local media said.

Violent crime is vanishingly rare in Japan, and the reported attack comes with the capital on heightened security alert as it hosts the Olympic Games.
The attack took place on an evening commuter train in Tokyo's Setagaya ward, in the west of the city, and two of those hurt sustained serious injuries, public broadcaster NHK said.
The site is several kilometres from the venue of Olympic equestrian events.
The train company said on its website that it had suspended some services after "an assault in a carriage."
Local station TBS said the man was captured after leaving the scene of the attack. There were no immediate details about the attacker or a motive.
Local police and emergency services declined to comment on the reports.
Japan has strict gun laws, but there are occasional violent crimes involving other weapons. 
In 2019, a man killed two people including a schoolgirl and wounded more than a dozen in a rampage that targeted children as they waited for a bus.
And in 2018, a man was arrested in central Japan after stabbing one person to death and injuring two others aboard a bullet train.

The suspect was captured after fleeing the scene, leaving his weapon behind

The attack took place on an evening commuter train in Tokyo's Setagaya ward

Four hurt in Tokyo train stabbing

A Malaysian student activist who sparked a social media campaign after chastising her teacher for joking about rape in class was being investigated by police Friday for "breaching the peace".

Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, 17, posted a video on TikTok in April complaining about the conduct of her teacher, who in return sued the girl and her parents for 1 million ringgit ($236,938).
-It's very sad, it's very heartbreaking- Ain said outside a police station near the capital Kuala Lumpur Friday.
-I don't mean to defame. I don't mean to degrade any certain teachers or parties. I just want schools to be safe.-Civil society groups say physical and verbal harassment is a problem in Malaysian schools. Since Ain's case came to light thousands of youngsters have shared stories of abuse online.
Ain's viral TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 1.9 million times, showed her expressing shock at her teacher for jokingly telling students to target people aged above 18 if they wanted to rape someone.
The clip kicked off a massive social media campaign that prompted police to investigate the teacher, who was transferred out of the school.
But that investigation was later dropped, local media reported this week. 
Ain's lawyer Sankara Nair said police were investigating the girl over a possible charge of "intentional insult with an intent to provoke a breach of the peace".
If found guilty she could face up to two years in jail or a fine or both.

Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, 17, posted a video on TikTok in April complaining about the conduct of her teacher, who in return sued the girl and her parents for 1 million ringgit

Police investigate Malaysian teen who complained about teacher's rape joke

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement said it fired "dozens" of rockets Friday at open areas of the disputed Shebaa Farms district, drawing retaliatory Israeli strikes for a second straight day.

It is the first time that Hezbollah has directly claimed an attack on Israel since 2019, as tensions boil along the border following a week of tit-for-tat exchanges.
The latest round of rocket fire on Friday morning came "in response to the Israeli air raids" that hit south Lebanon on Thursday, Hezbollah said in a statement. 
-The Islamic Resistance shelled open territory near positions of Israeli occupation forces in the Shebaa Farms with dozens of rockets- it said.
An AFP correspondent in south Lebanon said he heard several explosions and saw smoke rising from the Shebaa Farms.
The Israeli military said it was "currently striking the launch sources in Lebanon".
On Thursday, Israel carried out air strikes on Lebanon for the first time in seven years in response to a previous salvo of cross-border rocket fire.&nbsp;Israel has warned repeatedly that it will not allow a power vacuum and a deepening economic crisis in Beirut to undermine security on its northern border.
The Israeli military said it "views the state of Lebanon as responsible for all actions originating in its territory, and warns against further attempts to harm Israeli civilians and Israel's sovereignty".
The Shebaa Farms district is claimed by Lebanon and Hezbollah, but the United Nations, which has maintained a peacekeeping force in south Lebanon since 1978, regards it as part of the Syrian Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied since 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1981.

It is the first time that Hezbollah has directly claimed an attack on Israel since 2019, as tensions boil along the border following a week of tit-for-tat exchanges

A Hezbollah flag flutters in Lebanon Photograph

Hezbollah says it fired 'dozens' of rockets toward Israel

Thai police are investigating the suspected murder of a Swiss woman whose body was found near a waterfall at a popular beach resort.

Police found the woman, named as Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, lying face down covered in a black sheet, in water among rocks near a beauty spot on Phuket island on Thursday.
The case casts a shadow over Phuket's so-called "Sandbox" scheme, a pilot project to reopen Thailand's Covid-devastated tourism sector after more than a year of draconian travel curbs.
The 57-year-old victim had travelled to Phuket under the scheme, which allows vaccinated travellers to visit the island without going through Thailand's otherwise mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.
Results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death are expected later on Friday, but officials believe Sauvain-Weisskopf died at least three days ago.
Officers found the woman's phone, shorts and trainers near the body.
Phuket governor Narong Woonciew pledged to "do everything to investigate what happened and bring justice to Ms Nicole".
Andrea Kotas Tammathin, honorary Swiss consul in Phuket, lamented what she called "a sad, sad day for the Phuket community".
More than 16,000 people have arrived in Phuket since the July 1 launch of the Sandbox scheme.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has expressed his condolences to the victim's family and asked to be regularly updated on the probe, a government spokesman said.

Police found the woman, named as Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, lying face down covered in a black sheet, in water among rocks near a beauty spot on Phuket island on Thursday

Phuket's 'Sandbox' scheme allows vaccinated travellers to visit the island without going through quarantine

Thai police probe death of Swiss woman found near waterfall

The leaders of five Central Asian countries gathered for talks in Turkmenistan on Friday, with the spiral of war in neighbouring Afghanistan topping their agenda as US-led forces lave the country.

The talks in the Caspian Sea town of Avaza come as the Taliban challenges Afghan government forces in several large cities after weeks of gains in the countryside, including in provinces next to the three former Soviet 'stans' that border the country -- Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. 
Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov called Afghanistan "the question that worries all of us" on Wednesday as state television showed him receiving his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rakhmon for bilateral talks ahead of the summit. 
Russia, meanwhile, was involved in joint military drills close to Afghanistan's borders in both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as a top Kremlin military official flew into the region Thursday to observe the exercises and hold talks.
Fighting in Afghanistan's long-running conflict began to intensify in May, when US and other foreign forces began the withdrawal due to be completed later this month.
In June, the Taliban captured Afghanistan's main crossing with Tajikistan, Shir Khan Bandar, while Kabul's troops have been forced to retreat into both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in recent weeks during heavy fighting with the group. 
The Taliban has insisted that it has no designs on Central Asia, and has established official contacts with both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan as it casts itself as a government-in-waiting. 
But analysts argue that a growing security vacuum in the country can pose its own threat to Central Asia, as well as the region's growing economic cooperation with Kabul.
Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military's General Staff, arrived in Uzbekistan for talks Thursday, and to observe military drills that are expected to wrap up next week. 
During a meeting with Uzbek counterpart Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov, Gerasimov said the drills took place "to practise actions to repel terrorist threats".
-The main threat to the Central Asian region today comes from the Afghan direction- Gerasimov said, noting that Moscow was increasing its supplies of weapons to the region.
The annual summit being held in Avaza is a rare instance of the Central Asian states convening for talks without powers from outside the region, such as Russia, China or the United States.

The Taliban has insisted that it has no designs on Central Asia, and has established official contacts with both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan as it casts itself as a government-in-waiting

In this May 27, 2016 file photo, Taliban fighters react to a speech by their senior leader in the Shindand district of Herat province, Afghanistan

Central Asia's leaders meet as Taliban advances in Afghanistan

The EU on Thursday called for an "urgent, comprehensive and permanent" cease-fire in Afghanistan to "give peace a chance."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic in a joint statement have condemned the "significant escalation of violence" across the country caused by the Taliban's "intensified attacks."
The statement specifically mentioned last week's armed attack on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office in Herat province, and fighting in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province's capital, which resulted in at least 40 civilian casualties. And the last Tuesday’s deadly car bombing, targeting Afghan Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi's Kabul residence, which killed eight people and injured 20 others.
-This senseless violence is inflicting immense suffering upon Afghan citizens and is increasing the number of internally displaced persons in search of safety and shelter. The Taliban’s offensive is in direct contradiction to their stated commitment to a negotiated settlement of the conflict and the Doha peace process- the statement read.
The statement also stressed that violations of international humanitarian law and human rights principles, particularly in Taliban-controlled areas, continue to rock the war-torn country, such as "arbitrary and extrajudicial killings of civilians, public lashing of women, and the destruction of infrastructure."
-Some of these acts could amount to war crimes and will have to be investigated. Those Taliban fighters or commanders responsible must be held accountable- it added.
Faced with deadly Taliban onslaught, the Afghan government on Wednesday reiterated its calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the ongoing violence in the country.
The UN in Afghanistan has documented an alarming 5,183 civilian casualties, 1,659 killed and 3,524 injured, in the first half of this year, a 47 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2020.

Taliban 'fighters or commanders' responsible for human rights violations 'must be held accountable,' say EU top officials

Faced with deadly Taliban onslaught, the Afghan government on Wednesday reiterated its calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the ongoing violence in the country

EU calls for urgent cease-fire in Afghanistan

Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Thursday condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

-This behavior reflects the Zionist policy of arrogance against all components of the (Arab) nation and its people- Hazem Qassem, spokesman for the movement, said in a statement.
He stated that the "Zionist terrorism, which extends across the region, will not stop the resistance of the nation's peoples to the Zionist colonial project that aims to expand on its land and seize the nation's capabilities."
On Wednesday, the Israeli army launched raids on southern Lebanon in response to the firing of three rockets towards northern Israel, one of which landed in Lebanese territory.

On Wednesday evening, Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on targets in southern Lebanon

On Wednesday, the Israeli army launched raids on southern Lebanon in response to the firing of three rockets towards northern Israel, one of which landed in Lebanese territory

Hamas condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon

US President Joe Biden will announce Thursday his goal of reaching 40% - 50% electric vehicle sales share by 2030, the White House said in a statement.

The president will announce new actions amid his Build Back Better agenda and the bipartisan infrastructure deal, "positioning America to drive the electric vehicle future forward, outcompete China, and tackle the climate crisis," it said.
He will sign an executive order that targets making half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles, in addition to long-term fuel efficiency, emissions standards and cutting pollution.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation are also advancing smart fuel efficiency and emissions standards that would deliver $140 billion in net benefits, save 200 billion gallons of gasoline and reduce around 2 billion metric tons of carbon pollution, it said.
Noting that the US market share of electric vehicle sales is one-third that of the Chinese market, Biden's new investments will include installing the first-ever national network of electric vehicle charging stations, delivering consumer incentives, expansion of domestic manufacturing supply chain, and innovation of clean technologies.
The White House noted that there has been a dramatic change in the electric vehicle market since 2010 as battery pack costs dropped 85% and electric models available to US consumers expanded to more than 40% last year.
Some major automakers, along with the United Autoworkers (UAW) labor union released a separate statement via the White House showing support for Biden's steps.
-Today, Ford, GM and Stellantis announce their shared aspiration to achieve sales of 40-50% of annual US volumes of electric vehicles (battery electric, fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles) by 2030 in order to move the nation closer to a zero-emissions future consistent with Paris climate goals- it said.
Other major automakers supporting Biden's plan included Ford, BMW and Volkswagen of Germany, Honda from Japan and Chinese-owned Volvo from Sweden.

Executive order to include long-term fuel efficiency, emissions standards, cut pollution

Biden to set target of 50% electric vehicles share in 2030

Faced with deadly Taliban onslaught, the Afghan government on Wednesday reiterated its calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the ongoing violence in the war-torn country.

The country’s Foreign Ministry hailed the recent UN Security Council’s stand on the Afghan situation.
-The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan welcomes the announcement of the Security Council and calls for an emergency meeting of the Security Council to address the situation in Afghanistan and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe caused by Taliban violence- it said in a statement.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar told journalists in Kabul the issue of ensuring human rights is a shared responsibility of Afghanistan and the international community.
-We raise the issue that a special UN Security Council meeting should be convened and that special measures should be taken by the UN Security Council to take political and legal action and, if necessary, security measures- he said, blaming the Taliban for mounting civilian casualties and anxiety in the country amid the withdrawal of foreign troops.
Members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday recalled resolution 2513 (2020) and reaffirmed that there is no military solution to the conflict “… and declared that they do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban regime).”
Meanwhile, the Afghan Defense Ministry said security forces killed 274 Taliban in different provinces during the ongoing air and ground offensives.
The Taliban, on the contrary, claimed advances on the capitals of Helmand, Paktia, Maidan Wardak and Takhar provinces.
The UN in Afghanistan has documented 5,183 civilian casualties, 783 killed and 1,609 injured, in the first half of this year, a 47% increase compared with the same period in 2020.

Taliban claim advances on several provincial capitals, Afghan forces say 274 insurgents killed in past 24 hours

Members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday recalled resolution 2513 (2020) and reaffirmed that there is no military solution to the conflict “… and declared that they do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban regime)

Afghanistan calls for emergency UNSC meeting on rising violence

Following the withdrawal of support from a major political ally, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin defied political pressure on Wednesday by announcing that he will not resign, instead file a confidence motion in parliament next month to determine his legitimacy as prime minister.

Muhyiddin made the announcement in a televised public address after meeting with the country's King Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in the morning.
Muhyiddin was seen entering the palace's main gate at 10:53 am local time on Wednesday and then leaving at 11:50 am local time, according to state news agency Bernama.
On Tuesday, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the president of United Malay National Organization (UMNO), the government’s biggest ally, announced that following its special Supreme Council meeting, the party decided to will stand with the King and not support the Muhyiddin’s administration. He added that Muhyiddin has now lost his legitimacy as prime minister and lost his majority.
Prior to Muhyiddin's visit, Attorney General Idrus was seen entering the State Palace through a different door at around 09:30 am local time.
-Only through this manner, will my position as prime minister and the Perikatan Nasional ruling government be determined in accordance with the law and the Constitution- the prime minister said, adding that the king has agreed to his proposal.
Muhyiddin claimed to have received a number of letters confirming that he still has a majority in parliament and, therefore, he will not resign from his position as prime minister.
He also talked about certain parties that deliberately created political crisis, claiming that his opponents were dissatisfied with his firm refusal to meet their demands, which included calls for the release of several individuals who were indicted on criminal charges.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, minister of energy and natural resources from the UMNO, resigned from his office after considering his party's decision.
In Malaysia, a majority of 112 of the 222-seat parliament is required to form a government.
Muhyiddin rules with a 113-seat majority and leads an unstable coalition that has been in power since March 2020. Out of the 113 seats, 68 belong to the UMNO.

Yassin meets with King, announces to file confidence motion in parliament next month after major ally withdraws support

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin

Malaysian prime minister denies to resign amid mounting pressure

Pakistan on Wednesday said India has refused to allow five foreign journalists based in New Delhi to visit Islamabad.
According to Pakistani Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Indian authorities did not allow the journalists to enter Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border.
-India has refused to allow five foreign journalists permission to visit Pak, they were supposed to attend 5th August session of Azad Kashmir Assembly, so much of #FreedomofExpression- Hussain tweeted.
-We want India to allow independent journalists to visit IOK (Indian-Occupied Kashmir) and let them report facts- he added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to address the special session of the Azad Kashmir Assembly on Thursday on the eve of the second anniversary of the annexation of Kashmir.
The journalists working for the US and UK media based in New Delhi were invited by the Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Ministry for interviews with Khan and also to visit Pakistan-administered Kashmir also known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
-They were invited for interviews on Kashmir and Afghanistan- the information minister told Anadolu Agency.
He added that his country always allowed foreign media to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir for reporting, but India never allowed any independent journalist to visit "the occupied Kashmir."
-Foreign journalists, including Indians, are more than welcome to visit Balochistan. That is the difference. You can visit Azad Kashmir, but you (India) will never allow independent journalists to visit IoK- he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted: “The denial of permission by India to 5 international journalists to travel to Pakistan, in which a visit to the Azad Kashmir Assembly was scheduled, is another damning indication of shrinking space for free speech and independent journalism under a dictatorial regime.”
On Tuesday, Indian media also reported that New Delhi turned down Pakistan’s request to allow a group of New Delhi-based foreign journalists to travel to Islamabad.
-The Wagah-Attari border crossing is currently open to very limited categories of travelers, including diplomats and people travelling for essential reasons, because of COVID-19-related restrictions- Indian daily Hindustan Times quoted an official as saying.
Diplomatic relations between the two South Asia nuclear neighbors soured after India stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomous status and divided it into two centrally ruled territories on Aug. 5, 2019 -- creating fresh tensions in the restive region.

Journalists based in New Delhi invited for interviews with Pakistani premier on Afghanistan, Kashmir, says official

According to Pakistani Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Indian authorities did not allow the journalists to enter Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border

Striking Canadian border agents reach deal on salaries, work environment

Cuba legalizes small and medium enterprises in boost for private sector

Man rescued from crocodile in Australia's remote northeast

Palestinian dies of Israeli gunfire after West Bank clashes

New York police charge man over 'Gone Girl' actress death

Four hurt in Tokyo train stabbing

Police investigate Malaysian teen who complained about teacher's rape joke

Hezbollah says it fired 'dozens' of rockets toward Israel

Thai police probe death of Swiss woman found near waterfall

Central Asia's leaders meet as Taliban advances in Afghanistan

EU calls for urgent cease-fire in Afghanistan

Hamas condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Biden to set target of 50% electric vehicles share in 2030

Afghanistan calls for emergency UNSC meeting on rising violence

Malaysian prime minister denies to resign amid mounting pressure

India refuses to allow foreign journalists to visit Pakistan

World

Striking Canadian border agents reach deal on salaries, work environment

Cuba legalizes small and medium enterprises in boost for private sector

Man rescued from crocodile in Australia's remote northeast

Palestinian dies of Israeli gunfire after West Bank clashes

New York police charge man over 'Gone Girl' actress death

Four hurt in Tokyo train stabbing

Police investigate Malaysian teen who complained about teacher's rape joke

Hezbollah says it fired 'dozens' of rockets toward Israel

Thai police probe death of Swiss woman found near waterfall

Central Asia's leaders meet as Taliban advances in Afghanistan

EU calls for urgent cease-fire in Afghanistan

Hamas condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Biden to set target of 50% electric vehicles share in 2030

Afghanistan calls for emergency UNSC meeting on rising violence

Malaysian prime minister denies to resign amid mounting pressure

India refuses to allow foreign journalists to visit Pakistan