A missing student labour activist has accused Chinese police of abusing him over several days, including by forcing him to listen to a three-hour speech by President Xi Jinping, amid a crackdown on campus activism.
In a video and written testimony published after he disappeared last week, Peking University student Qiu Zhanxuan said local police "tormented" him over a five-day period late February.
Intimidation tactics included a forced strip search and listening to Xi's marathon speech from the Communist Party's five-yearly congress in 2017 on high volume.
"They also wanted to force me to write a pledge to voluntarily give up all educational opportunities," Qiu said in his video statement, which was published by the Jasic Workers Solidarity Group, a labour rights movement in southern China.
His statements appear to have been pre-recorded and released following his disappearance.
"Dear comrades, friends, by the time you read this article, I am already behind bars and have lost my ...

Missing Chinese student alleges police abuse in video

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China on Monday rejected a US official's accusation that three million people are held in "concentration camps" in Xinjiang, a northwest region home to most of the country's ethnic Uighur minority.
The comments are "totally inconsistent with the facts", said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
"The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition," he said. "We also once again urge the relevant parties in the US to... stop interfering with China's internal affairs through the Xinjiang issue."
According to estimates cited by a UN panel, upwards of one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic minorities are being held in detention centres in Xinjiang.
Randall Schriver, US assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, called the centres "concentration camps" at a press briefing last week and estimated that the figure was "likely closer to three million".
Schriver also voiced concerns over ...

China denounces Xinjiang 'concentration camp' accusation by US

Fifty-five people died when a tanker truck exploded near the international airport of Niger's capital Niamey overnight, an interior ministry spokesman said Monday.
"The toll from the explosion is 55 dead and 36 injured," the official told AFP. "The victims were burnt." Witnesses said people were trying to collect petrol leaking from the truck, which had overturned on railway tracks, when the explosion happened.

Tanker truck explosion kills 55 in Niger: ministry

Families of victims in the Indonesia Lion Air crash hit out at Boeing Monday over its admission that engineers had identified a safety system glitch well before the fatal accident, in the latest knock to the plane maker's reputation.
Boeing said Sunday engineers had found the safety alert issue on its 737 MAX aircraft in 2017, a year before the deadly crash in Indonesia that killed 189 people.
According to Boeing, a supposedly standard piece of equipment that tells pilot about disagreements between angle of attack (AOA) indicators -- which measure the plane's angle vis-a-vis oncoming air to warn of impending stalls -- did not activate unless an additional optional indicator was purchased by airlines.
Neither the Lion Air aircraft nor the Ethiopian Airlines jet that went down several months later, killing 157 people, had the feature.
"That's negligence from Boeing in regards the AOA system," said Evi Samsul Komar, whose son and nephew were on the fatal flight.
"Boeing needs to be more .

Families of Lion Air crash victims criticise Boeing over alert issue

Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who launched an offensive against Tripoli last month, urged his troops to inflict "an even harder" lesson on forces loyal to the country's internationally recognised government.
"Officers and soldiers of our armed forces and affiliates, I greet you during these glorious days and call on you to inflict on the enemy, with your force and determination, an even harder and bigger lesson than before", he wrote in a message to his troops.
"We know you can do it... (and) uproot it (the opposing forces) from our beloved country", Haftar's message added, read out by the self-styled Libyan National Army's spokesman General Ahmad al-Mesmari late on Sunday.
Haftar's LNA began its offensive against the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) on April 4.
Forces loyal to the GNA have since launched a counter-offensive, leading to a stalemate on the ground on the southern outskirts of the capital.
Haftar's message also urged his men that "in the event of ...

Libya's Haftar urges troops to 'wipe out' military opposition

International appeals judges Monday upheld a reprimand of Jordan for failing to arrest former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir during a visit to the Arab country two years ago.
Amman had appealed a decision by the International Criminal Court which found that Jordan "failed to comply with its obligations" when it refused to detain Bashir in 2017, wanted by the Hague-based tribunal for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
But the ICC's appeal judges eased the blow by reversing pre-trial chamber judges' decision to refer Jordan to the UN Security Council and the court's Assembly of States Parties (ASP) for further measures.
Despite two international warrants for his arrest on 10 charges arising from the conflict in Darfur, Bashir freely attended an Arab League summit in Amman in March 2017.
"By failing to arrest and surrender Mr Bashir, in circumstances in which Mr Bashir was entitled to no immunity, Jordan prevented the court from exercising an important power and a ...

Jordan loses ICC appeal over Bashir non-arrest

Tehran has appointed a new CEO to head national airline Iran Air, state news reported, replacing its first female CEO with a US-blacklisted pilot.
Touraj Dehghani Zanganeh, a former air force commander who features on a US treasury sanctions list, was named for the post at a Sunday cabinet meeting.
He will replace Farzaneh Sharafbafi, the first Iranian woman to boast a PhD in aerospace, who led the airline for two years.
Zanganeh was previously CEO of Meraj Air, which was also sanctioned by the US early last year.
Individuals on the Specially Designated Nationals List are generally prohibited from having US bank accounts.
Americans can also face civil or criminal penalties for engaging in business dealings with them, according to the US treasury.
Iran Air had been planning to upgrade its ageing fleet after long-standing US sanctions were lifted following the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
But when US President Donald Trump pulled out of the accord early last year ..

Iran Air appoints new US-sanctioned CEO

The pilot of a Russian passenger plane that erupted in a ball of fire on the runway of Moscow's busiest airport, killing 41 people, said lightning led to the emergency landing.
Investigators were on Monday working to understand the causes of the blaze after the Sukhoi Superjet-100 had to return to Sheremetyevo airport shortly after take-off Sunday evening.
But pilot Denis Yevdokimov told Russian media the craft lost communication and needed to switch to emergency control mode "because of lightning" on the Aeroflot flight to the Arctic city of Murmansk.
He did not specify if the plane was struck directly.
"We managed to restore communication through the emergency frequency on our radio connection. But the link was only for a short time and kept cutting out... it was possible to say only a few words," he told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.  Videos on social media showed the plane crash-landing and then speeding along the runway with flames pouring from its fuselage.
Passengers ...

Pilot says lightning caused deadly Russian crash landing

A former Goldman Sachs banker has been extradited from Malaysia to the United States to face charges linked to the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal, a source and reports said Monday.
Huge sums of public money were stolen from Malaysian state fund 1MDB and used to buy everything from yachts to artwork, in a scheme that allegedly involved former premier Najib Razak, and contributed to his government's election defeat.
Goldman's role is under scrutiny as the Wall Street bank helped arrange USD 6.5 billion in bonds for 1MDB.
Authorities in Malaysia accuse former employees and some of the bank's subsidiaries of stealing USD 2.7 billion during the process, and investigators believe cash was laundered through the US financial system.
Malaysian Ng Chong Hwa, a former managing director at the bank, travelled to the US last week, a person with knowledge of the matter told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Ng, more commonly known as Roger Ng, has been in custody in Malaysia since ...

Malaysia sends ex-Goldman banker to US over 1MDB charges

David Warner hit a quickfire 39 and Steve Smith 22 Monday in their first appearance for Australia since a major ball-tampering scandal as the home team edged a second-string New Zealand by one wicket in a practice match.
The Australians were set a target of 216 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane as they warm up for their World Cup defence, and scraped home with 10 balls to spare thanks to a tail-end rescue act.
They have now won nine one-dayers in a row, although this was an unofficial game and not counted as a full international.
Skipper Aaron Finch continued his rich vein of form with a measured 52, but fellow opener Usman Khawaja fell cheaply -- bringing Warner to the crease, to warm applause from the crowd.
He survived a dropped catch on nought before clicking into gear and turning on the form that saw him average 69.20 in 12 innings in the Indian Premier League.  Warner hammered 39 off 43 balls before falling to leg-spinner Todd Astle attempting a reverse sweep.
That brought out ..

Warner, Smith help Australia edge New Zealand

China said US warships sailed near disputed islands in the South China Sea without permission on Monday in the latest US challenge to Beijing's territorial claims in the region.
"The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition" to the operation that took place near two reefs in the Spratly Islands, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press briefing.

Beijing slams US warship sail-by in South China Sea

Halting the degradation of Nature upon which humans depend for fresh water, clean air and arable land will require a sweeping overhaul of the way our species produces and consumes almost everything, especially food, according to a UN report released Monday.
"We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide," said Robert Watson, chief of the UN science panel for biodiversity. "By 'transformative change', we mean a fundamental, system-wide reorganisation.

Only 'transformative change' can fix Nature, rescue humanity: UN

Humanity is destroying the natural world upon which our existence depends, with one million animal and plant species facing extinction, many within decades, according to a devastating UN assessment released Monday.
Earth's estimated eight million species are dying off at an accelerating rate that is tens to hundreds of times faster than during the past ten million years, a team of more than 400 experts reported in a Summary for Policymakers.

One million animal, plant species face extinction: UN

- Palestinian leaders in Gaza agreed to a ceasefire with Israel on Monday to end a deadly two-day escalation in violence that threatened to widen into a fourth war between them since 2008.
An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on the deal, but there appeared to have been no rocket fire or Israeli strikes in the hours after it was due to take effect, an AFP correspondent in Gaza said.
Israel also lifted restrictions on civilian movements in communities around the Gaza border on Monday morning.
Egypt brokered the agreement to cease hostilities from 4:30 am (local time), an official from the strip's Islamist rulers Hamas and another from its allied group Islamic Jihad said on condition of anonymity.
An Egyptian official also confirmed the deal on condition of anonymity.  It came after the most serious flare-up in violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war.
The escalation began Saturday with massive rocket fire from Gaza, drawing waves of ...

Palestinians say truce reached with Israel to end deadly escalation

Australia's outspoken former prime minister Paul Keating has launched an extraordinary attack on the country's tops spies, branding them "nutters" who had gone "berko" over the threat from China.
Just weeks before a national election, the opposition Labor Party was on Monday forced to distance itself from its former talisman's comments.
Keating -- who was prime minister for five years until 1996 -- told national broadcaster ABC on Sunday that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service had "lost their strategic bearings."
"The nutters are in charge," Keating claimed, criticising their suspicions of China.
"Whatever you think, China is a great state. It's always been a great state and now has the second-largest economy, soon the largest economy in the world," he said.
Australia has long tried to sustain trade relations with China despite profound differences with the country's authoritarian government.
But President Xi Jinping's ...

Ex Aussie PM tears into spooks over China suspicions

A feature that helps aircraft slow down on landing was broken on a Boeing 737 that skidded into a river in Florida, a top transportation safety official said Sunday.
The plane carrying 143 people slid off the runway after a hard landing Saturday at a naval air station in Jacksonville during a lightning storm.
Police said 21 people were taken to hospital with minor injuries but no fatalities or critical injuries were reported.
Transport safety officials said one of the thrust reversers which are supposed to help to slow the aircraft down was not working.
"The aircraft had been in maintenance and the maintenance log noted that the left-hand thrust reverser was inoperative," Bruce Landsberg, vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, told reporters Sunday.
He said investigators would be examining the maintenance of the aircraft in the weeks prior to the accident "and the condition of the thrust reversers will obviously be of interest."
The pilot also requested a change of 

Thrust reverser 'not working' on Florida plane that crashed in river

Peace talks between the US and the Taliban were suspended for the beginning of Ramadan on Monday, with the two sides at apparent loggerheads over the key issue of when foreign forces might leave Afghanistan.
The foes have spent much of the past week in a sixth round of talks in Doha aimed at ending America's longest war, but the Taliban say negotiations have become bogged down.
In a tweet, Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the talks were pausing for the first day of the holy month of Ramadan -- when Muslims fast during the day -- but would be resumed Tuesday.
Sultan Barakat, the director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies in Doha, also said the talks would resume Tuesday, and that they had made "good progress".
But Shaheen told AFP late Sunday negotiations were stumbling over the fundamental question of when foreign forces would depart Afghanistan.
Before the US agrees to any withdrawal, it is demanding the Taliban put in place security guarantees, a ...

US-Taliban peace talks paused for first day of Ramadan

Diego Maradona's hopes of winning his first coaching title were dashed Sunday as his Dorados team lost the Mexican second-division finals, along with their shot at promotion.
Rivals Atletico San Luis scored the lone goal of the second leg in extra time to clinch the title and a spot in the first division -- the second time they have left Maradona empty-handed in two consecutive finals.
"I nearly died... But it's fine. I'm sad for my boys, though," Maradona said after the match.
The Argentine great and his team faced a tough task heading into the second-leg match, having been held 1-1 in the first leg at home in Culiacan, in the northwestern state of Sinaloa.
They managed to hold Atletico to 90 goalless minutes playing away in the central city of San Luis Potosi.
But Spanish defender Unai Bilbao slotted in the winning goal for the home team in the 103rd minute, after Dorados 'keeper Gaspar Servio failed to clear a free kick.
The loss ended a 14-game unbeaten streak for Dorados, who ...

'I nearly died' - Maradona misses out on first title as coach

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach praised Brisbane Monday as the Australian city considers a bid to host the 2032 Summer Games, saying he was "impressed" by its early planning.
The Queensland state capital is mulling whether it can justify the expense of hosting such a major event, and has carried out feasibility studies which Bach viewed during a visit.
"I must say that we have been impressed to see how detailed the feasibility studies are already at this early stage and how well founded these studies are," he told reporters.
"Now it is up to the Australians to make their minds up, and to say whether they want to follow up on this project to host the Olympic Games."
With the next two Olympics in Europe and North America, the 2032 showpiece is expected to take place in the Asia-Pacific region.
So far Jakarta, which hosted the last Asian Games, has applied and Mumbai has expressed interest, while the IOC has also suggested a joint bid by the two Koreas.
Bach said it 

IOC chief praises Brisbane as it mulls 2032 bid

International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach Monday called the controversial gender case of South African runner Caster Semenya "extremely complicated and delicate" and said an expert panel will study its implications.
Two-time Olympic champion Semenya last week lost a court challenge against the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) over plans to force some women to regulate their testosterone levels.
The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport means female athletes with elevated testosterone will have to take suppressive treatment if they wish to compete as women in certain events.
The IAAF argued that "hyperandrogenic" athletes -- or those with "differences of sexual development" (DSD) -- had an unfair advantage over others.
Bach told AFP in Brisbane that the IOC would create a group of "experts from science, from ethics as well as athletes' representatives and from international federations" to examine the ruling.
It will include IOC medical director 

IOC chief calls Semenya case 'complicated and delicate'

Ernesto Valverde wanted to keep Barcelona's feet on the ground after their 3-0 win over Liverpool so he hit his players where it hurt.
"Liverpool are a team that can make any opponent suffer," he said in the press conference after the match.
"And of course last year we had a three-goal advantage in the quarter-finals. And we were knocked out."
Valverde knows that loss to Roma still rankles with his players, barely a week passing without one of them referencing the game that defined their season last year and could yet shape this one too.
The tie looked over after a 4-1 thrashing at Camp Nou only for a 3-0 loss in Rome to complete one of the great Champions League comebacks and send the Italians into the semis.
That Real Madrid went on to win the tournament for a fourth time in five years rubbed salt into the wound.
"It is a thorn in our side," said Luis Suarez in September.  But it was not just that Barca had fallen short, for a third consecutive year. It was the way they had thrown ..

AFP

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