Taiwan’s journalist Minnie Chan goes missing in China during her Reporting Trip

A female journalist of Taiwan, Minnie Chan, went missing in China during her recent Reporting Trip. Chan is working with Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post.

Kyodo News disclosed concerns that Minnie Chan, a distinguished reporter known for her coverage of Chinese defense and diplomacy, has possibly been detained by Chinese authorities.

Minnie Chan went to Beijing for the coverage of Xiangshan Forum, a three-day security conference concluding on October 31, and she has become unreachable.

Sources familiar with the matter informed Kyodo News about her disappearance after the event.

The South China Morning Post, owned by Chinese tech giant Alibaba, has remained silent. The Post reportedly mentioned Chan’s absence as “personal leave,” refraining from providing further details, citing privacy concerns.

With a career at the South China Morning Post dating back to 2005, Chan’s recent article on China’s role in the Gaza conflict was published on November 1. Concerns escalated when a Facebook friend disclosed that Chan’s WhatsApp account displayed her last online activity on the afternoon of November 2, noting unusual behavior on her Facebook profile.

Her last Facebook update on November 11 featured holiday photos, a departure from her usual posts discussing articles and commentary in Chinese. She has not responded to inquiries from friends regarding her whereabouts.

Andrei “Pinkov” Chang, a Chinese military expert acquainted with Chan professionally, expressed surprise at her sudden unresponsiveness. He highlighted her past courteousness in communications, which abruptly ceased in November.

China, identified by the Committee to Protect Journalists as the world’s second-worst incarcerator of journalists in the previous year after Iran, has stringent detention protocols. Suspects can be held by Chinese authorities for up to 37 days before formal arrest and further detained for over a year before official charges are brought, as outlined by a Canadian travel advisory.

The conviction rate within China’s court system, largely controlled by the ruling Communist Party, approaches nearly 100% for those who stand trial, presenting a daunting situation for individuals detained within the country.

Iran launches Suicide Drones to hit targets within 450-kms

Corporate Ambassador Monitoring Report

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has test-launched a new suicide drone that can hit targets at a range of 450 kilometers. The new drone was developed by the IRGC Ground Force. 

General Ali Kouhestani, head of the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the IRGC Ground Force, told Tasnim that the new unmanned aerial vehicle, dubbed “Me’raj-532”, has been tested successfully, Tehran Times reported today.

The homegrown suicide drone is equipped with a piston engine and can travel a distance of 450 kilometers in a one-way mission, he said.

The drone can take off from a vehicle, has a service ceiling of 12,000 feet, and can stay aloft up to 3 hours, the general added, noting that it can hit targets with high accuracy with a warhead weighing 50 kilograms, according to Tasnim. 

General Kouhestani also stated that Me’raj-532 can be assembled and prepared for flight easily and rapidly, emerging as a suitable option for rapid reaction.

He also unveiled plans to bring more new combat, training and suicide drones into operation for various missions carried out by the IRGC Ground Force units.

IRGC Navy plans parade in support of Palestine

Voluntary sailors in Iran’s northern and southern coastal regions and their peers in a number of ports across the world will attend maritime parades on April 13 to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Palestine, the IRGC Navy commander said, according to Tasnim. 

Speaking to reporters in the southern port city of Bushehr on Sunday, Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri said the maritime parade is scheduled for April 13 to express support for the oppressed people of Palestine and their Intifada (uprising) and to condemn the Zionist regime’s brutal and heinous crimes.

The maritime parades, slated for Thursday evening, will include the vessels of the popular Basij force of the IRGC Navy, he added.

Local sailors along the southern and northern coasts of Iran will take part in the parades that will be held simultaneously in a number of ports across the world, the commander stated.

Rear Admiral Tangsiri noted that over 2,500 vessels of the popular forces will attend the parades in the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf to voice support for the Palestinian cause and Intifada.

South Asia needs food security, sustainability: Experts

Report By: Zahid Chughtai

LAHORE: Home to 1.9 billion people, South Asia one of the world’s most populous regions and with the second-highest number and proportion of the world’s extremely poor needs both food security and sustainability.

            Increased population growth, climate change (drought and floods), declining productivity, and low income/poverty coupled with some other issues warrant that moving beyond awareness about sustainability; the region should implement it both in agriculture and industries.

            This was the crux of a one-day conference called ‘Sustaina-summit’ arranged by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). Speakers stressed the need for making the most efficient use of non-renewable resources, on-farm resources, and integrating, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls.

             “Sustainable agriculture is farming in such a way to protect the environment, aid and expand natural resources, and to make the best use of non-renewable resources”, said Lucas Blaustein Regional Agricultural Attaché U.S. Department of Agriculture.

     He said USDA was working for satisfying human food and fiber needs, enhancing environmental quality and the natural resources based upon which the agriculture economy depends. Make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. Sustaining the economic viability of farm operations besides enhancing the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole, he added.

     Commenting on the success of the summit, Kevin Roepke, Regional Director, South Asia & Sub Sahara Africa, USSEC, said, “We believe that sustainability is a critical issue that requires collaboration and action from all sectors of society and the Sustainasummit is an important step in promoting sustainable practices and inspiring the much-needed change. He said they have also launched a programme called ‘Right to Protein’ in Pakistan that focuses on creating awareness about the nutritional benefits of protein in the diet.

     Deeba Giannoulis, Head of US Soy Marketing at USSEC, South Asia, said the good agricultural practices adopted by the U.S. Soy farmers succeeded in reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per bushel by 43 percent, improved irrigation water use efficiency by 60 percent, increased land use efficiency by 48 percent and improved energy use efficiency by 46 percent. At the same time, U.S. Soy farmers improved soil conservation by 34 percent and increased soy production by using roughly the same amount of land.

     Eresha Mendis (Ph.D.), Professor of Food Science & Tech Faculty from Sri Lanka speaking about food security and South Asia, called for promoting good agricultural practices to ensure efficient production to face the food security crisis and proposed to go for innovations to increase production and productivity (mechanization and biotechnology), use of improved varieties/breeds, timely application of quality agricultural input supplies, ensuring readiness to face climatic impacts and building farm to market networks. She also emphasized building private-public partnerships in the agricultural and food sectors.

     Prof. Eresha advocated biotechnology for increasing agricultural productivity and saving grains by reducing pre-harvest losses to plants occurring due to diseases or pests and by reducing the amount of post-harvest losses.

She said food insecurity has health, economic and social impacts, so science-based decision-making should be done that suits the country’s context to ensure food security.

     George Chamberlain, from the Global Seafood Alliance, stressed the need for a fundamental transformation to produce more with fewer resources. Food production systems account for about 25 percent of global GHG emissions. In his opinion to increase production by 50 percent, farmers cannot simply expand existing systems without huge climate change impacts as well as biodiversity loss, soil loss, and habitat destruction.

     Rida Amjad communication officer of UNDP in Pakistan said Pakistan was 7th vulnerable country to climate change in the world and trying to overcome the challenges set by the pandemic, economic crisis, political instability, and the 2022 floods.

Indian actress Tunisha Sharma commits suicide during shooting of drama

Corporate Ambassador Monitoring Report

In another shock for Bollywood and showbiz fans, famous Indian film star Tunisha Sharma was found dead on the site of a drama shoot in Mumbai on Saturday. Indian police and companions of the shoot said that she had committed suicide.

She was rushed to a hospital where she was declared as “brought dead,” read the statement issued by Mumbai Police on Sunday.

According to Indian media, 20-year-old actres was found in a critical condition, hanging by her neck in her vanity van while on set.

She was rushed to a local hospital but doctors there pronounced her dead.

Maharashtra | TV actress Tunisha Sharma committed suicide by hanging herself on the set of a TV serial. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared brought dead: Waliv Police

— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2022

Earlier in the day, Tunisha had shared a video on her Instagram stories from the set of her upcoming television show.
Everything seemed normal in the video where she could be seen sitting in the chair as make up artists started to paint her wrists.

Tunisha got fame from Dabang-3 movie by performing with Salman Khan.

The 20-year-old actor had started her career with Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap and later featured in shows such as Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, Gabbar Poonchwala, Sher-e-Punjab: Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Internet Wala Love and Ishq Subhan Allah, among others.

Apart from being a regular on the small screen, she was also quickly gaining a foothold in the super tough silver screen industry and worked in films such as Fitoor, Baar Baar Dekho, Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh, and Dabangg 3.

Due to her looks she was twice cast to play as a younger version of Katrina Kaif in both Fitoor and Baar Baar Dekho. This year, she starred in the Punjab song titled Mere Wall by Karan Randhawa.

Irani army chief talks to COAS General Asim to fight against terror groups, enhance border security

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri held a phone conversation with Pakistan’s new army chief, General Syed Asim Munir.

In the phone conversation, the Iranian general congratulated General Munir on taking charge as Pakistan’s new army chief. 

Highlighting the impact of cooperation between Iran and Pakistan on the security along the common border, Iran’s highest-ranking military commander called for the expansion of security and defense ties with the neighboring state, Tehran Times reported on Friday. 

Stressing the need to promote defense and security cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad, Major General Baqeri said the expansion of defense relations between the two neighbors will strengthen security along the common border.

The two commanders also weighed plans for continued cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in ensuring border security, the fight against terrorist groups, the expansion of economic activities in the border regions, and turning the common border into the border of friendship and fraternity.

The call also comes days after four IRGC members were killed in clashes near the border with Pakistan. The Sistan-Baluchistan provincial branch of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Monday that four security forces lost their lives in clashes in the province.

In a statement on Monday, the IRGC said its provincial forces in the border region of Saravan clashed with members of a terrorist group that fled into Pakistan as a result of heavy fire from the IRGC. 

An IRGC officer named Mohammad Goudarzi and three Basij members identified as Rahim Bakhsh Paraki, Hamidreza Abedi, and Mahmoud Nik-Khah were martyred in the clashes, IRNA reported. 

The clashes come after deadly unrest in the restive province of Sistan-Baluchistan. During the recent wave of unrest that erupted in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini, dozens of individuals were killed in the province.

Russia seeks release of ‘Merchant of Death’ from the United States through swap of prisoners

J. Choudhry

Russian officials are negotiating with the United States, seeking release of a Russian arms dealer _ Viktor Bout, famous as the Merchant of Death. Release of the Merchant of Death is being ensured through swap of prisoners.

For the first time, the US or Russian officials have said that Viktor Bout could be part of an exchange of prisoners.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov hoped the prospect of a swap had “strengthened”.

The US has previously said it was eager to organise a prisoner swap to release US basketball player Brittney Griner. She was convicted of illegal drug possession in August after cannabis oil vapes were found in her bags as she tried to enter Russia.

The double-Olympic winner has been sent to a penal colony in a remote region south-east of Moscow.

On Friday Mr Ryabkov said a “common denominator” had not yet been reached between the US and Russia, but “it is undeniable that Viktor Bout is among those who are being discussed [for exchange] and we certainly count on a positive result”.

He also said Bout had been “persecuted” in the United States and wished him the “firmness of will and spirit” to cope with his incarceration.

Bout – a former Soviet air force officer – was extradited from Thailand to the US in 2010, after a sting operation by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

One of the world’s most infamous arms dealers, his exploits are so notorious that they inspired a Hollywood film and led to his nickname.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to kill Americans and US officials, delivering anti-aircraft missiles and aiding a terrorist organisation.

He claimed he was simply an entrepreneur with a legitimate international transport business, wrongly accused of trying to arm South American rebels – the victims of US political machinations.

Mark Galeotti, an expert on the Russian security services at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, believes Bout’s case has become “totemic” for Russian intelligence who are keen to show they do not abandon their own people.

Heart-breaking tale of last Pakistani prisoner in Guantanamo Bay

ISLAMABAD: Saifullah Paracha, a 74-year old, is the last Pakistani in Guantanamo Bay prison, who has been waiting for his release since 2018 when the US judge turned down his own earlier decision of awarding 30 years jail term to Saifullah.

The heart-breaking tale of Saifullah Paracha indicates how he became victim of injustice in the United States in the name of war on terror and how the Pakistani Interior Ministry neglected the confirmation of his identity which not only delayed the release of last Pakistani prisoner _ Paracha but prolonged his detention in the world’s most notorious prison _ Guantanamo Bay.

This heart-shaking development surfaced in Islamabad in the meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Human Rights on Monday.

74-year-old Saifullah Paracha, a Pakistani businessman, has been in Guantanamo Bay prison since he was arrested from Bangkok in 2003 for his alleged links with top Al-Qaeda leadership.

In 2018, the same US judge who awarded 30 years sentence to Saifullah in 2003 and his son Uzair, overturned his own decision and ordered their release.

Mustafa, son of Saifullah, told the Senate’s committee in Islamabad on Monday that his brother Uzair had been released from Gitmo, but his father could not be released as the interior ministry did not confirm his nationality/identity to the US authorities.

Mustafa further informed the committee that his family is Pakistani by birth. His father and his brother were arrested in 2003 from Thailand and New York, respectively and they were awarded 30 years imprisonment and sent to Guantanamo Bay.

Mustafa regretted that his father was still in Guantanamo Bay because of the negligence of the interior ministry which failed to confirm his identity since 2018.

However, the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the committee that the nationality of Saifullah has been confirmed by the interior ministry and it was also conveyed to the US government. They said that Saifullah victim will soon be released from the Guantanamo Bay.

Senator Walid Iqbal has sought a report on the issue to be submitted before September 15.

Bentley luxury car stolen from London seized from Karachi

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: A very expensive and luxury car Bentley Mulsanne that was stolen from London has been recovered from a bungalow in Karachi on Saturday.

The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement (CCE) in Karachi confirmed the recovery of this stolen luxury car. The UK’s intelligence agency informed the Pakistani authorities that the stolen vehicle was parked in a house in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area.

The market price of Bentley Mulsanne in Pounds Sterling starts from 242,000 Pounds (Rs 63 million without taxes) and goes up to 288,000 (Rs 72.50 million excluding taxes).

According to the Federal Board of Revenue, a credible information was received from UK’s intelligence about a grey Bentley Mulsanne, V8 Automatic, VIN Number SCBBA63Y7FC001375, Engine Number CKB304693 was stolen from London and the said vehicle was parked at a bungalow in DHA, Karachi.

How this very expensive stolen vehicle was shipped to Karachi and who did it? The FBR officials are investigating it with the help of UK authorities and Karachi police.

The suspects involved in the theft of this expensive car failed to remove or switch off the tracing tracker of the vehicle. Resultantly the tracker helped UK authorities to trace the exact location of the vehicle in Karachi.

When the FBR officials raided the house, they found that the Bentley with a Pakistani registration number plate and a white handmade number plate on the front. The FBR stated that the chassis number of the car matched with the one shared by the UK’s authorities.

Thus, the FBR’s Collectorate of Customs recovered the vehicle and informed the UK authorities.