Business Recorder

• Pompeo restricted visas to Chinese officials determined to be "substantially involved" in the exclusion of foreigners from Tibetan areas.

• Travel curbs cripple gold smugglers' network
• Reduced smuggling allows dealers to charge premium
• Around 115-120 T gold smuggled into India in 2019 –WGC

• The UN health agency said it was notified by China on July 6 of a case of bubonic plague in Inner Mongolia.

• Some 724 Rohingya have been tested in the Bangladesh camps, with 54 found positive since the first cases were detected in May.

• Heavy rain is expected to continue through Tuesday afternoon.
• Japan Meteorological Agency issued a non-compulsory evacuation order for around half a million people in southwestern Japan.

• The government of Afghanistan released a large number of Taliban in order to reduce violence in the country, but the violence has not decreased.

• More than 200,000 people have been urged to evacuate as authorities request those in emergency shelters to wash their hands, wear masks and maintain social distance.

• India's surge took the total tally to more than 673,000 cases and 19,268 deaths, with the country on the cusp of surpassing badly-hit Russia.

• Tokyo reported 131 new cases the previous day, prompting Governor Yuriko Koike, who is widely expected to win Sunday's gubernatorial election.

• China reported seven new asymptomatic patients, up from four a day earlier.

• The mask covering weighs 60 grams and took craftsmen eight days to make, said Shankar Kurhade.

• Canada was suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong due to the law and Canada's foreign minister called the legislation "a significant step back" for liberty.
• Some western countries including Canada have been meddling in Hong Kong affairs under the pretext of human rights, which seriously violates international law and basic norms of international relations.

• Some 60 to 70 people were in the home as water rushed in to the second floor Saturday morning.

• India has the fourth-most confirmed cases in the world, exceeding 640,000 on Saturday, according to health ministry data. It follows the United States, Brazil and Russia.
• In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the second worst-hit state in India, the number of cases crossed 100,000.

• Iran has been battling the spread of the coronavirus, with the total number of cases hitting 237,878 on Saturday and a further 148 deaths bringing the country's toll to 11,408.
• "Government employees should not serve people who do not wear masks and employees who do not wear them should be considered absentees and sent home.

KABUL: A powerful Afghan warlord accused of kidnapping and raping a political opponent and of committing rights...

• His comments prompted Beijing to call for restraint at the tense border area in the northern Himalayan region of Ladakh.
• India says Chinese troops have intruded across the Line of Actual Control, or the ceasefire line separating the two armies in the high altitude Ladakh region.

• The government will also make it easier for working people, such as freelancers to take on extra jobs and also aims to improve digital advertising rules.
• The growth strategy is normally approved some time in June but the government is finalising it later than usual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• Tensions between India and China are at their highest in years following a clash last month in a disputed stretch of the border in the western Himalayas in which India lost 20 soldiers.
• The green light for the Russian planes followed a visit to Moscow last month by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh where he urged his hosts to speed up deliveries, officials said.

• The constitutional reforms approved in a nationwide vote by 77.92 percent of Russian voters could allow Putin to extend his rule until 2036.

• Vietnam and the Philippines warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at a regional summit last Friday.
• "China's drills around (the Paracels) seriously violate Vietnam's sovereignty", foreign ministry.

• Researchers took 30,000 nasal swabs from slaughterhouse pigs in 10 Chinese provinces, allowing them to isolate 179 swine flu viruses.

• The UN mission called on the Afghan government to set up an independent investigation.
• The mission urged both the Taliban and government forces to stop fighting in civilian areas.

• Monsoons deliver about 70% of India's annual rainfall and are the lifeblood of its $2.9 trillion economy.
• Soybean, pulses and cotton-growing regions in central and western India saw 31% more rainfall in June, while rice, coffee, rubber and tea growing southern India saw 8% higher rainfall.

• India's measure selectively and discriminatorily aims at certain Chinese apps on ambiguous and far-fetched grounds.
• India banned the apps on Monday, its strongest move against China in the online space since fighting erupted on the two countries' border this month.

• G4 was observed to be highly infectious, replicating in human cells and causing more serious symptoms in ferrets than other viruses.

• China parliament body passes HK security law.
• HK leader says law to come into effect later on Tuesday.
• US begins removing HK special status.
• Joshua Wong's Demosisto said it would dissolve.
• Activists plan to defy police ban on July 1 rally.

• Beijing maintains that "One Country, Two Systems" deal is still being respected but critics believe the new law threatens civil liberties in the financial hub.

DHAKA: At least 30 people died and a dozen are missing after a ferry capsized and sank Monday in the Bangladeshi...

• Rockets hit the market at 9:00 am local time after which a car bomb exploded, the governor's office said, blaming Taliban militants for the attack.