World this week
A highly controversial legislative measure in Hong Kong that would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China has pushed the former British colony to its biggest political crisis in years. A march to protest the measure drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets Sunday and stretched into Monday, with critics of the bill viewing the changes as part of a steady erosion of their civil liberties.
While Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam says the legislation will help the semi-autonomous Chinese territory protect human rights, opponents say the changes would significantly compromise its legal independence, long viewed as one of its key distinctions from mainland China.
President Donald Trump says if Chinese President Xi Jinping doesn't meet with him at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, this month, additional tariffs will go into effect. But Trump says he expects Xi to attend. Trump made the threat during an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box".
Trump appeared to have called in response to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which had criticized Trump for using the threat of tariffs to force Mexico to do more to halt the flow of migrants across the U.S. southern border. Trump is going after the chamber, saying it has its priorities wrong.
An Indian court sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the kidnap, rape and murder of an eight-year-old Muslim girl in Jammu and Kashmir state last year, in a high-profile case that sparked widespread protests across the country. Three other men have each received five years in prison for destruction of evidence.
Special prosecutor Santokh Singh said in a statement to reporters outside the court in Pathankot, Punjab state, that they would be appealing the sentences passed against the accused, along with the acquittal of another man. Another accused, who has been charged as a juvenile is undergoing a separate trial.
A presidential election in Kazakhstan was tarnished by violations of basic freedoms, international observers said. Widespread irregularities and arrest of peaceful protesters showed scant respect for democratic standards, said the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The election was called after long-time leader Nursultan Nazarbayev stepped down in March. His hand-picked successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev easily won the poll. Mr Tokayev took nearly 71% of the vote in Sunday's election, leaving far behind his six rivals, Kazakhstan's electoral commission said.
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