Briefly

CANADA

Video link for Meng Wanzhou hearing

Another hearing in the extradition trial of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou opened in a court in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Monday. With the coronavirus outbreak, the hearing was conducted by teleconference. Meng was arrested in December 2018 in Vancouver at the request of the US authorities, who alleged that Meng lied to British bank HSBC about Huawei dealings with a former subsidiary accused of violating US trade sanctions in Iran. Meng, daughter of the Shenzhen-based telecommunications company's founder, Ren Zhengfei, is living under house arrest in the Canadian city. A lawyer said if a ruling is made before the outbreak is over, Meng will only appear in court if she wins. The next hearing was set for June 15.

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistani woman dies in Kashmir firing

Pakistan's army said on Monday that a woman was killed when Indian forces opened fire along the Line of Control, or LoC, in the disputed Kashmir region. An army statement released on Monday said that Indian army troops "initiated unprovoked cease-fire violations" in the Jandrot and Khuiratta sectors along the LoC, "deliberately targeting civilian population". Aside from the woman's death, an eight-year-old girl was injured, the statement added. Both sides have routinely exchanged fire and accused each other of cease-fire violations. Tensions have been heightened after India lifted the special status for India-controlled Kashmir in August. Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations, suspended trade relations and a train service with India in response.

LIBYA

Russia still committed to diplomatic process

Russia believes a political and diplomatic process is the only way to resolve the conflict in Libya, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, after Libya's eastern-based militia leader Khalifa Haftar moved to seize control of the country on Monday. Haftar said his Libyan National Army was accepting a "popular mandate" to rule over the country. Libya has been split since 2014 between areas controlled by the internationally recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli and the northwest, and territory held by eastern-based forces in Benghazi.

BRAZIL

Probe ordered into Bolsonaro claims

A Supreme Court judge on Monday ordered a probe into accusations by former justice and security minister Sergio Moro that President Jair Bolsonaro sought to interfere with police investigations. In his decision, Judge Celso de Mello gave the federal police 60 days to question Moro about his explosive allegations against the president. The findings, which will be handed over to the attorney-general, could result in either a request for a political trial against Bolsonaro or an indictment against Moro for false testimony. Should the investigation confirm the allegations, it will be up to the lower house of the National Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against Bolsonaro and potentially remove him from office.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Media report of poison plot angers Moscow

The Russian embassy in Prague has formally protested to the Czech Foreign Ministry over a media report claiming that Russian spies may have plotted to poison the mayor of Prague and another local official whose recent actions have angered Moscow. Respekt weekly claimed on Monday that Czech intelligence services suspected a Russian agent was sent to Prague three weeks ago to poison Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib and Prague 6 district's Mayor Ondrej Kolar with ricin, a highly potent toxin. Czech authorities did not comment on the report. "The allegations in the story are absolutely baseless "and designed to discredit Russia, an embassy statement said.

China Daily - Xinhua - Agencies