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BEIJING: China warned Canada on Monday (Jul 6) that it would retaliate over Ottawa's response to a new national security law in Hong Kong, threatening to sink their troubled diplomatic relations to new lows.
Canada last week suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and halted exports of sensitive military gear to the financial hub as Western nations voiced concern about the legislation's impact on the city's special rights.
"China strongly condemns this and reserves the right to make further response. All consequences arising therefrom will be borne by Canada," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular briefing.
"Any attempt to put pressure on China will never succeed," Zhao said.
"China urges Canada to immediately correct its mistakes and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way, so as to avoid further damage to China-Canada relations."
Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have deteriorated since Canadian authorities arrested top Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in December 2018, and China later detained two Canadians, including a former diplomat.
HONG KONG: A Hong Kong court denied bail on Monday (Jul 6) to the first person charged with inciting separatism and terrorism under the city's new national security law after he carried a sign saying "Liberate Hong Kong" and drove his motorbike into police.
Tong Ying-kit, 23, was arrested after a video posted online showed him knocking over several officers at a demonstration last Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation on the city.
The city's government has said the protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times", connotes separatism or subversion under the new law, stoking concern over freedom of expression in the former British colony.
Tong, who was unable to appear in court on Friday as he was being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the incident, appeared in court in a wheelchair.
In rejecting bail, Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak referred to Article 42 of the new law, which states that bail will not be granted if the judge has sufficient grounds to believe the defendant will continue to endanger national security.
The case was adjourned until Oct 6 and Tong was remanded in custody.
Critics say the law - which punishes crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison - is aimed at crushing dissent and a long-running campaign for greater democracy.
Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong have repeatedly said it is aimed at a few "troublemakers" and will not affect the rights and freedoms that underpin the city's role as a financial hub.
Also on Monday, prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded not guilty to inciting others to participate in an unlawful assembly during anti-government protests last year.
Fellow activist Agnes Chow pleaded guilty to a similar charge. Their case has been adjourned to Aug 5.
Wong and Chow, who were both granted bail last year, led a pro-democracy group called Demosisto that they dissolved hours after Beijing passed the national security law.
The United States, Britain and others have denounced the new legislation, which critics say is the biggest step China has taken to tighten its grip over the city, despite a "one country, two systems" formula meant to preserve its freedoms.
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim is back as Pakatan Harapan's (PH) choice of candidate for the prime minister post, as talk of a snap poll heats up in Malaysia.
In a joint statement on Monday (Jul 6), the opposition coalition said it is committed to its original stance that Mr Anwar should take over the top post if it recaptures Putrajaya.
"The presidential council is in the opinion that efforts needed to be made in order to restore the people's mandate, and this requires support from all parties.
"As such, the council gives full mandate to Anwar Ibrahim to continue discussions with all parties, including Shafie Apdal, towards that end," the statement read.
Mr Shafie is Sabah's chief minister and Parti Warisan Sabah's president. The statement is jointly issued by Mr Anwar, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and Democratic Action Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal. (Photo: Bernama)
Currently, PH is in opposition, having been replaced by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) in late February when Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and several PKR Members of Parliament shifted their allegiance and joined forces with the formerly ousted Barisan Nasional.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as the country's eighth prime minister.
As PH prepared to reclaim federal power, it was plagued by disagreement over its choice of prime minister candidate among the top leadership, particularly between Mr Anwar and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir had offered to be prime minister again before handing over the position to Mr Anwar, but PKR was not in favour of the proposal.
Following that, Dr Mahathir had named Mr Shafie as PH's prime minister of choice. Under this proposal, Mr Anwar and Dr Mahathir's son Mr Mukhriz Mahathir would serve as deputy prime ministers.
PH's Monday statement has officially put this proposal to rest.
GROWING CALLS FOR SNAP POLL
In its statement, PH also called on both federal and state governments to focus on post-pandemic assistance for the citizens.
As such, it said the PH state governments - Penang and Selangor - would not be dissolved if a snap election were to be called. The next general election is due by 2023.
Last week, United Malays National Organisation and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia said they have agreed to continue supporting Mr Muhyiddin as prime minister in the next general election.
Malaysia's Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali reacts during a news conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng
On Jul 5, Senior Minister Azmin Ali, who was formerly with PKR, was reported as saying that the Muhyiddin government might call for snap polls as early as this year or 2021.
The PN government led by Mr Muhyiddin had overcome political, economic and public health crises brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
MELBOURNE: Australia will effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country, authorities said Monday (Jul 6), announcing unprecedented measures to tackle a worrying surge in coronavirus cases.
For the first time since the pandemic began, the border between Australia's two most populous states - Victoria and New South Wales - will be closed from 11.59pm local time on Tuesday, officials from both states said.
Victoria - home to more than 6.6 million people - announced a record 127 new cases Monday, as the virus spread through Melbourne, including a cluster in several densely populated apartment blocks.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described the decision to close off the state as "the smart call, the right call at this time, given the significant challenges we face in containing this virus".
Plans to reopen Victoria's border with South Australia have already been put on ice.
After weeks of easing virus restrictions, Melbourne has seen a huge spike in community transmission, leading health officials to effectively shut off some neighbourhoods to the rest of the city until the end of this month.
Sixteen of the new cases were detected in nine high-rise public housing towers, where 3,000 residents were locked in their homes on Saturday in Australia's strictest COVID-19 response to date.
So far, just 53 cases have been recorded in the buildings - which are home to a large number of vulnerable migrants - but there are concerns the virus could spread rapidly, with one health official likening the crowded conditions inside to "vertical cruise ships".
Cruise ships emerged as early coronavirus hotspots, with passengers and crew at high risk of infection - often packed in small cabins.
Community leaders have raised concerns about the targeted nature of the "hard lockdown", which saw hundreds of police officers deployed with almost no warning that reportedly left some residents unable to stock up on essentials.
Andrews said food and toys had been delivered to families while mental health and other medical support was being provided as officials sought to test every resident over the coming days.
"This is a massive task and the message to everybody in the towers... (is) those staff -- thousands of them -- are doing the very, very best they can and they will continue to do everything they can to support those who are impacted by this lockdown," he said.
Australia has recorded more than 8,500 cases of COVID-19 and 105 deaths from the virus.
The bulk of new daily cases are now being detected in Melbourne, while most other regions are enjoying relaxed restrictions after largely curbing the virus spread.
