Leading Belarusian opposition figures arrested

Two weeks after an election which his opponents say he rigged, Lukashenko has shown little sign of bringing a halt to the demonstrations, the biggest threat to his 26-year-old rule.

The president, who has called the protesters “rats”, said last week he ordered police to put down any demonstrations in Minsk. But tens of thousands took to the streets on Sunday in one of the biggest demonstrations since the election, and dispersed peacefully.

In a sign of the peril to an already shaky economy, several banking sources told Reuters most banks had effectively run out of foreign currency to meet surging demand from residents trying to sell the Belarusian rouble. Queues have become common at exchange points.

A board member at the Belarus central bank told Reuters the issue was a technical one involving the physical availability of banknotes, and did not signal liquidity problems.

A spokesman for the Coordination Council, an opposition body set up last week, told Reuters two of its highest profile members, Olga Kovalkova and Sergei Dylevsky, had been detained on Monday near a factory entrance.

Separately, Belarusian Nobel laureate author Svetlana Alexievich has been called in for questioning by state investigators over a criminal case against the Council, the spokesman said, and is due to meet them on Wednesday.

Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel literature prize, is a member of the Council, which was set up with the stated aim of promoting a peaceful handover of authority and comprises dozens of public figures including the former head of the main state drama theatre.

The government has launched a criminal investigation, calling the Council an illegal attempt to seize power. Many leading opposition figures are in jail or have fled the country.

“Belarus has changed and authorities will have to talk to us,” one of the council members, Maria Kolesnikova, told reporters.

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Punjab to begin delivering on its promises: Usman Buzdar

In the next and upcoming phase, the Punjab government will begin delivering on its promises, Chief Minister Usman Ahmad Khan Buzdar told in an exclusive sit-down.

Till now, the provincial government, said the chief minister, was tied up with formulating policies and settling down into its new role.

“I don’t interfere”

The chief minister told the host that he is a “positive man” and concerns himself solely with his work. “I don’t interfere in anyone else’s job nor do I allow anyone else to poke their nose in mine,” Buzdar said smiling.

Addressing the recent rumors of his removal, he said that those spreading such news wanted to destabilize the province and the country. Buzdar said that he had the full trust of Prime Minister Imran Khan, which some people did not like at all.

Tourism

Talking about the tourism sector, he said that tourism was a subject very close to Prime Minister Khan’s heart.

Punjab, he added, is going to become the tourism hub of Pakistan with its historical sites, deserts, mountains, rivers and villages. “We have a lot which we will promote,” the chief minister explained, “In the near future, you will be able to see the tourism projects we are working on.”

Elaborating on his point, he said that rest houses across Punjab have reopened and can now be booked online. Separately, double-decker buses have been rolled out in Rawalpindi, and will soon be plying the roads in Bahawalpur as well.

Ravi River Front project

Commenting on the newly-launched Ravi River Front project, he said that the project had been conceived much earlier but it was so huge that no previous government ever dared to build it.

The Ravi River project would be a game changer for Lahore, Punjab and the entire country, the chief minister told the host. He said the project will address several issues such as the falling level of underground water and the disappearing green pockets in the province.

Buzdar also promised to bring the project to fruition within his tenure.

Once construction begins, the project will consume 90% to 95% indigenous material that will boost 40 local industries including the construction industry, he added.

Orange Line Metro Train

The much-delayed Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore is expected to be up and running before the end of this year, Buzdar announced, adding that the test-run of the project has already been completed, but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transfers and postings

Replying to a question regarding the high-level transfers and postings, including that of Inspector General and chief secretary, Buzdar defended the ruling party and said that since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has come to power in Punjab, after a 35-year rule by a single party, it has had to face a slew of challenges.

“Transfers and postings is an executive issue,” he said.

Lavishing favours

Replying to a question regarding him giving undue advantage to those in his close circles, the chief minister said merit is the only criteria, adding: “We haven’t done anything beyond the law and will never allow anyone else to do so.”

The chief minister also praised the provincial information minister Fayaz-ul-Hasan Chohan for boldly defending the government of Punjab.

Wasim Akram Plus or Sher Shah Suri?

When he was asked if he considered himself like Wasim Akram or Sher Shah Suri, he said people could see for themselves what he was.

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Fake accounts case: SC issues notice to NAB

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a petition of former president Asif Ali Zardari’s close aide Anwar Majeed seeking bail in the multi-billion fake accounts case.

A division bench of the apex court comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Amin directed the bureau’s prosecutor general to file comments by next hearing. Anwar Majeed, who is also the owner of Omni Group, moved the petition seeking bail on medical grounds.

The hearing of the case was adjourned until Sept 2.

The petitioner’s lawyer stated before the bench that the Sindh High Court in a ruling observed that the country’s laws don’t provide for allowing an under-trial or convicted prisoner to go abroad for treatment.

He said Anwar Majeed needs to undergo a medical procedure that is possible only abroad and requested the bench to grant him bail so that he could travel abroad for treatment.

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Police develop app to monitor Muharram processions in Peshawar

A latest mobile application has been developed to ensure strict security during Muharramul Haram in Peshawar.

According to the superintendent of police (SP) city, details of Muharram processions’ routes and deployment of the police is installed in the app. Furthermore, all CCTV cameras are also installed in the app.

The app will help in the police to monitor processions and majalis online and deter any untoward incident.

In the Islamic lunar calendar, Muharram is the first month of the year thus the new year begins with the sighting of the crescent of this month. Shia Muslims observe this a month of mourning worldwide.

Last week, the Punjab government had imposed a ban on pillion riding for 9th and 10th of Muharram across the province.

The ban had been imposed under section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code.

The ban shall not be applicable to women, children, senior citizens, journalists, personnel of law enforcement agencies and security agencies in uniform, sources said.

Yesterday, the Punjab Police had sought deployment of military troops in the province for maintaining law and order situation during Muharram-ul-Haram.

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Korangi Crossing Road closed after flooding in Malir River

Korangi Crossing Road Tuesday morning closed for vehicular traffic after flooding in Malir River due to rainfall.

It is to be mentioned here that Korangi Causeway has already been blocked for traffic.

Traffic Police in its update said that the traffic to Gudam Chowrangi has been diverted to Jam Sadiq Bridge. The traffic from Baloch Colony being guided to Qayyumabad, police statement said.

Traffic Police department has advised citizens to take suggested alternate routes to avoid hassle.

It is to be mentioned here that ongoing monsoon rainfall has caused flooding in Malir River and rising level of the water swept away the filter wall of the Malir spillway.

The breach in the dyke and flooding posing threat to Korangi industrial area and the adjacent population.

The Traffic Police had earlier closed Korangi Causeway for traffic due to the rising water level in Malir River.

Moderate to heavy rain continues to lash Karachi and others parts of Sindh on Tuesday.

Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Kotri, Tando Muhammad Khan, Nawabshah and other parts of Sindh are receiving showers.

Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Lyari, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Surjani, North Karachi, Korangi, Landhi, Defence, Manzoor Colony, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Alfalah and other parts of Karachi are receiving moderate to heavy rain.

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US police fire tear gas on crowd gathered to protest over black man's shooting

Police fired tear gas on Monday when a protest demanding racial justice in the city of Kenosha in Wisconsin turned violent, as rage builds once more in the US at the shooting of a black man by a white officer.

Clashes erupted for a second night after a video circulated showing 29-year-old Jacob Blake being shot and wounded in the back multiple times by police Sunday with his three children watching.

Shortly after a curfew imposed on Kenosha County began at 8:00 pm, local police dressed in crowd control gear began pushing protesters back from outside a county courthouse using tear gas, an AFP reporter said.

They fired after the demonstrators began throwing water bottles at the Kenosha County Sheriff´s officers. Some protesters then launched fireworks and more bottles at officers.

Later, some protesters smashed streetlights and set fire to a nearby building.

The clashes came hours after some two dozen police faced off against hundreds of demonstrators chanting "No justice, no peace" and "Say his name -- Jacob Blake."

Blake, 29, was airlifted to hospital in Milwaukee in serious condition, but local media reported Monday afternoon that his family said he was out of surgery and improving.

Kenosha County, on the shores of Lake Michigan, has declared a curfew from 8:00 pm until 7:00 am Tuesday, after protesters set alight several city vehicles and damaged the county courthouse late Sunday.

"The public needs to be off the streets for their safety," the county sheriff said in a statement.

Wisconsin governor Tony Evers said he was sending 125 members of the national guard to the city to maintain order Monday night.

He urged protesters to be peaceful, adding: "We must see the trauma, fear and exhaustion of being black in our state and our country."

One couple, who only gave their names as Michelle and Kalvin, had brought their seven-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son with them.

"I want my kids to see how change happens and am here so nothing like this ever happens to them," Michelle said.

Another resident, 37-year-old Sherese Lott, called for police to be held accountable.

"If I killed someone I´d be convicted and regarded as a murderer. I think it should be the same for the police," she said.

´Grieve yet again´

The footage and the lack of any immediate explanation provoked painful memories of the police killing of African American George Floyd three months ago in Minneapolis, which sparked massive nationwide protests.

Fresh demonstrations were held in the Minnesota city Monday night also to join the calls for justice for Jacob Blake. Some demonstrators were seen burning an American flag.

Hundreds of protesters also marched on Monday in New York City against Blake´s shooting.

"I´m angry and I´m upset and I´m tired. I´m really tired. I´m tired of marching 27 miles up and down the city for this," one protester, who gave her name only as Awal, said with tears in her eyes.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden called for a transparent probe into the shooting.

"Yesterday, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police. His kids watched from the car. Today, we woke to grieve yet again. We need a full and transparent investigation," he said.

Wisconsin´s Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes said the shooting of Blake reflected a pattern of police violence nationwide against African Americans.

Barnes said Blake "was actually trying to de-escalate a situation in his community but the responding officer didn´t feel the need to do the same.

Kenosha police pushed back at criticism, and urged the public to wait for the results of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

´Highly dynamic incident´

"As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident," said Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha Professional Police Association.

The officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave, according to the justice department.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the families of Floyd and other black victims of police violence, said Blake had been trying to break up a fight between two women.

"We will seek justice for Jacob Blake and for his family as we demand answers from the Kenosha Police Department," Crump said in a statement.

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China, US agree to 'push forward' Phase 1 trade deal

The United States and China on Tuesday agreed to push forward their phase one trade deal despite rising tensions between the two economic giants.

The US and China signed the accord in January, bringing a partial truce in their lingering trade war and obliging Beijing to import an additional $200 billion in American products over two years, ranging from cars and machinery to oil and farm products.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on the agreement and China's purchases of those goods have been lagging.

The two countries confirmed the talks in separate statements.

Washington said the parties "addressed steps that China has taken to effectuate structural changes called for by the agreement".

Those changes, it said, would "ensure greater protection for intellectual property rights, remove impediments to American companies in the areas of financial services and agriculture, and eliminate forced technology transfer".

It added that both sides "see progress and are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the success of the agreement".

Beijing´s statement said a "constructive dialogue" between the two sides had "agreed to create conditions and atmosphere to continue to push forward the implementation of phase one of the China-US economic and trade agreement".

The phase one deal called for officials to hold a "check-in" every six months.

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