US, Canada Call for Release of Canadian National Held in Beijing
Ottawa and Washington have stepped up pressure on Beijing, calling for the immediate release of two Canadians detained in apparent retaliation for the arrest in Vancouver of a top Chinese tech executive on a US warrant.
The European Union also said it was backing Canada in the detentions dispute, in which Ottawa has been caught up in the rivalry between Beijing and Washington.
"We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of two Canadians earlier this month and call for their immediate release," Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement Friday.
(Source: PTI)
Names of Ministers Finalised, Says Chhattisgarh CM
News agency ANI quoted Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel as saying that the names of the ministers have been finalised. He also said that they have sought time from the Governor for the oath ceremony.
One of Tigress Avni's Cubs Captured, Sent for Rehabilitation
Forest department officials have tranquilised and captured one of two cubs of T1- Avni tigress of Pandharakawda (Yavatmal) which was shot dead on November 2 this year. The cub will be sent to Pench in Madhya Pradesh, reported news agency ANI
Partial Govt Shutdown Grips US Capital Washington
An air of chaos enveloped Washington Saturday as the US government kicked off the holidays by partially shutting down, following the failure of leaders to pass a federal spending bill as negotiations stalled over Donald Trump's demand for money to build a US-Mexico border wall, reported PTI.
France's 'Yellow Vests' Block Borders Ahead of Christmas
Three days from Christmas, French "yellow vests" turned out in small numbers for a sixth Saturday of protests in cities and border points as a fatal road accident brought the death toll to 10 since the movement began last month, reported news agency PTI.
Near the border between France and Spain hundreds of protesters disrupted traffic as they gathered around an autoroute toll booth.
Police fired tear gas to disperse the "yellow vests" who retreated to a bridge, throwing objects on the road, an AFP photographer at the scene said.
"The autoroute is now being cleaned to allow traffic to resume normally," local authorities said.
France borders the Catalan region of Spain, and the French protesters were joined by dozens of Catalan pro-independence activists, also wearing yellow vests.