chinese police had demanded interviews with michael smith, from the australian financial review, and dcaster, abc. they took refuge at separate australian missions as negotiations over their departure went on. 0ur sydney correspondent, shaimaa khalil, joins us live. give us more on the background here. this has been a really tense time line for the two journalists. we know this started last week when australian diplomats warned bill birtles that he should live diner, a similar warning was given to the abc's management by the department of foreign affairs and trade, and after the second warning, the abc has decided to evacuate bill birtles and bring him back. it was due to be on a flight back. it was due to be on a flight last thursday, but on the eve of his departure, at midnight, he was holding a gathering, a farewell gathering. seven chinese policeman showed up on his doorstep on wednesday at midnight, and said he was banned from leaving the country and that he should come in for questioning by the chinese authorities, on what they described as a national security case. bill birtles

chinese police demanded interviews with michael smith from the australian financial review and bill birtleseparate —— separate missions as negotiations went on. our correspondent gave a small background. we know this started last week when australian diplomats warned bill birtles that he should leave china and a similar warning was given to the abc's management by the department of foreign affairs and trade and after the second warning the abc has decided to evacuate bill birtles and return him. he was due to get on a flight last thursday but on the eve of his departure at midnight, he was holding a gathering, a farewell gathering, seven chinese policeman showed up on his doorstep on wednesday at midnightand said doorstep on wednesday at midnight and said that he was banned from leaving the country and that he should come in for questioning by the chinese authorities on what they described as a national security case. bill birtles then contacted the embassy where he had been sheltering for the next four days. and then there was a back—and—forth between australian diplomats and the chinese a

australian financial review and bill birtles from the broadcaster a.b.c. sought shelter at diplomatic compounds after midnight raids on their homes they were the last 2 journalists working for australian media in mainland china. france's health minister olivier vent on says the coronavirus situation in his country is worrying that's as the number of new daily infections reaches record levels but the health minister said a 2nd wave was on a boy the bold because the virus was spreading more slowly than it did in the spring. in french football in football french forward rather kilian has tested positive for the corona virus and will miss tuesday's nations league match against croatia it was one of the stars france's 2018 world cup winning side he's the 7th player from his club how he sums of money to contract the virus their french league match against lens on thursday could now be in town. and messi has returned to training with arsenal owner for the 1st time since he tried to move away from the club messi had to train away from the full squad because he stil

returned to sydney reports say chinese police sought to interrogate michael smith of the australian financial review bill. public broadcaster the a.b.c. in connection with the case unrelated to their work the journalists took shelter in australia diplomatic compounds while officials negotiated their return home. and chinese president xi jinping has defended his country's handling of the coronavirus outbreak saying beijing acted transparently in its response she was speaking of serve only honoring heroes in the fight against the virus he said china was bouncing back from the crisis and that nothing would stop the chinese people from achieving a better future. hundreds of people have joined a corps in colombia's couple bogota to protest the economic and social policies of president even even duke a the protest by trade unions was the 1st since columbia ended more than 5 months of coronavirus lockdowns the country has reported more than 600000. over 220000 deaths. in california fireworks at a baby shower party or being blamed for igniting the latest blaze sweeping the u.s. state fire crews are struggli

michael smith of the australian financial review and bill bartels from public broadcaster abc were forcedo take shelter in australian diplomatic missions in china after their homes were rated. before they left china, they were questioned by chinese authorities about an australian tv anchor working for chinese state tv. with smith and burtel s'departure, there are no australian journalist reporting in china. earlier, we spoke to one of the two australian journalists who left china. we asked him to outline for us the events that led to him returning to australia. >> this was a pretty u unexpectd situation. jujust as i was preparing to brk the story of the australian last mondnday, my bosses s in sydney received a call from australia's foreign affairs department saying we e have good reason to think i and a another j journalt in shanghai need to geget out quicklkly. for the first couple of dayays,t was s pretty hard d to getlights with covid.. while a arrangementnts were beig made, we were also questioning wherere this advice was cocoming from. being journalists, we are cynical and we went d

being embroiled in a 5 day diplomatic standoff between beijing and now michael smith of the australian financial review and build birtles from the public broadcaster the a.b.c. and sheltered in australian diplomatic missions following raids on their homes before their departure they were questioned by chinese authorities about the case of an australian t.v. anchor working for chinese state t.v. and it was feared they could be arrested smith and birtles where the last 2 representatives of australian mainstream media in china. now we are joined by bill byrd also one of the australian journalists who left try to welcome to the program and thank you so much for joining us if you could just outline for us the events that led to you leaving china. yes sarah thank you this was a pre unexpected situation just as i was preparing to break the story of the other of the time to stray and chung like last monday my bosses here in sydney received a call from a stranger as our affairs the ottman sighing we have good reason to think that i and other journalists in shanghai need to get out quickly and for the 1st couple

being caught in a 5 day diplomatic standoff between the 2 countries michael smith of the australian financial review and bill birtles from public broadcaster the a.b.c. were forced to take shelter in australian diplomatic missions after their homes for break it before they left china they were questioned by chinese authorities about an australian t.v. anchor working for chinese state t.v. and it was fair if they could be arrested smith and birtles were the last 2 representatives of australian mainstream media in china. earlier we spoke to bill birtles one of the 2 australian journalists who left china and we asked him to outline to us the events that led to him returning to australia this was a pretty unexpected situation just as i was preparing to write the story of the other of the the time to strike and chung like last monday my bosses here in sydney received a call from a stray is our affairs department. we have good reason to think that i and other journalists in shanghai need to get out quickly and so the 1st couple of die it's pretty hard to get slots with coded so moving my we were also ques

home from china after being caught in a 5 day diplomatic standoff michael smith of the australian financial review and bill birtles from public broadcaster a.b.c. were forced to take shelter in australian diplomatic missions in china after their homes were raided before they left the country chinese authorities questioned them about an australian t.v. and go working for chinese state t.v. with smith and birtles departure there are now nor australian journalists reporting in china. earlier we spoke to bill birtles one of the 2 australian journalists who left china and asked him to outline to us the events that led to him returning to australia. this was a pretty unexpected situation just as i was preparing to break the story of the other of the time to stray and chung like last monday my bosses here in sydney received a call from a stray is our affairs department sighing we have good reason to think that i and another journalist in shanghai need to get out quickly and for the 1st couple of days it's pretty hard to get slots cut so while reitman surveying my we were also questioning where this advic

home from china after being caught in a 5 day diplomatic standoff michael smith of the australian financial review and bill burbles from public broadcaster a.b.c. were forced to take shelter in australian diplomatic missions in china after their homes were raided and before they left china they were questioned by chinese authorities about an australian t.v. anchor working for chinese state t.v. with smith and burbles departure there are now no australian journalist reporting in china. or earlier we spoke to bill burbles one of the 2 australian journalists who left china and we asked him to outline for us the events that led to him returning to australia this was a very unexpected situation just as i was preparing to break the story of the other of the time to stray and chung late last monday my bosses here in sydney received a call from a stray is our affairs the ottman sighing we have good reason to think that i and another journalist in shanghai need to get out quickly and the 1st couple of days it's pretty hard to get slots cut so while rice moving my we were also questioning where is the bosse

negotiated their return reports say chinese police sought to interrogate michael smith of the australian financial review bill berthold from public broadcaster a.b.c. in connection with a case unrelated to their work they were the last 2 journalists working for australian media in mainland china. major wildfire tearing through southern california is believed to have been started by fireworks more than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze that started over the weekend scorching conditions are fueling the flames temperatures reached a record 49 degrees celsius on sunday. you're watching news still to come how coronavirus restrictions are making the time microbreweries go fly. but 1st of all around the world many people are coming down with a case of coronavirus fatigue skeptics reject government regulations as to the extremes some are taking their rage public here in germany mass protests erupted these skeptics now find themselves marching alongside right wing extremists and conspiracy theorists d.w. met a man who took part in the recent berlin demonstration. for a volcano was at the big demonstration a

negotiated their return reports say chinese police sought to interrogate michael smith of the australian financial review bill burton holes from public broadcaster a.b.c. in connection with a case unrelated to their work they were the last 2 journalists working for australian media in mainland china. germany's powerful car chiefs meet the chancellor today to discuss state subsidies they want help in riding out the pandemic and modernizing but the carmakers also want support for their gas guzzlers and diesels has the drivers of cleaner tech up in arms politicians say it's emo billet digitization where help is needed. to coronavirus pandemic that the german car industry hard to spot signs of recovery domestic new car registrations last month were a 5th below what the previous year's figure exports fell by a 3rd but there's a potentially bigger problem german car makers have lost their technological edge there are known for superb engineering in gasoline and diesel engines but the future is electric and other countries are ahead of the international competitiveness especially from asia and the u.s. go for e

demanded interviews with them and temporarily blocked their departures michael smith of the australian financial review and bill burgles from the public broadcaster a.b.c. sought shelter at diplomatic compounds after midnight raids on their homes they were the last 2 journalists working for australian media in mainland china. firefighters are tackling a 2nd blaze on an oil tanker off the sri lankan coast stays after the 1st was extinguished the vessel is carrying $2000000.00 barrels of crude oil officials have warned of potentially massive environmental damage if there is a leak or the ship explodes. around the world many people are coming down with a case of coronavirus fatigue some who rejects government regulations as too extreme or even taking their outrage to public for example in germany mass protests have erupted the skeptics now find themselves marching alongside right wing agitators and conspiracy theorists you have met a man who took part in the recent berlin demonstration he says that he's an ordinary citizen who just questions the science not a political extremists. wagner was at the big de

and returned to sydney reports a chinese police sort to interrogate michael smith of the australian financial review and bill burton who is from the public broadcast of the a.b.c. in connection with the case unrelated to their work the journalist took shelter in an australian diplomatic compound while officials negotiated their return hard. hundreds of people have joined a car caravan in colombia's capital bogota to protest the economic and social policies of president evo. the protests which was called by trade unions was the 1st since colombia ended more than 5 months of lockdown just in the coronavirus the country has reported more than 600000 infections and over 20000 deaths. and a saudi court has given long gentle terms to people over the murder of journalist jamal khashoggi the court overturned 5 earlier death sentences and instead handed down sentences of between 7 and 20 years because he was killed at the saudi embassy in istanbul in 2018. well this week we're looking back at the events of the summer of 2015 when germany took in an unprecedented number of migrants fleeing war people may take

returned to sydney reports say chinese police sought to interrogate michael smith off the australian financial review and bill birtles from public broadcasting big a.b.c. in connection with a case unrelated to they were they took shelter in australian diplomatic compounds while officials negotiated their return hard. a major wildfire tearing through southern california is reported to have been started by a firework at a so-called gender reveal baby shower posse more than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze which started over the holiday weekend scorching conditions are fueling the flames more than 2000000 kids have been burned surf obvious which is a new record. this is d w news from berlin follow us on twitter and instagram a d w news overseas a d w dot com. the russian dissident alexy in the volney who was poisoned in russia and why. to berlin for treatment woke from a coma today doctors say he's responsive at some point he'll ask what happened who was responsible were they punished questions russia refuses to answer and with that suddenly here in europe and in the u.s. sanctions against the kr

that's mike smith on the left — he works for the newspaper the australian financial review.they arrived in sydney. it's so good to be home, so happy. i can't say any more at the moment, but it such a relief to be home. so really happy... did you feel threatened at all when you were over there? a little bit, yes. very disappointing to have to leave under those circumstances. and it's a relief to be back in a country with genuine rule of law. this is a really significant moment — these men were the last two journalists working for australian media organisations in china. here's bill birtles telling the bbc more about what happened. it's a whirlwind week where, to me, this kind of came out of nowhere. last monday, i got a call advising me that i needed to leave china immediately. this was the australian officials, and they had received some sort of warning or advance — they never specified what — but they said, "our advice is for you to get out quick" — which isn't easy because of covid. well bill birtles was preparing to take that official advice when things escalated. here he

broyles in a 5 day diplomatic standoff between beijing and australia and michael smith of the australian financial review and build burgos from the public broadcaster a.b.c. had sheltered in australian diplomatic missions following the raids on their homes before their departure they were questions by chinese authorities about the case of an australian t.v. anchor working for chinese state t.v. it was feared they would be arrested as political pawns in the rapidly worsening relationship between the 2 countries smith and birtles were the last 2 representatives of australian mainstream media in china. and for more now we are joined by bill byrd also one of the australian journalists who left try to welcome to the program and thank you so much for joining us if you could just outline for us the events that led to you leaving china. yes sarah thank you this was a pretty unexpected situation just as i was preparing to break the story of the other of the time to stray and chung like last monday my bosses here in sydney received a call from a stray as foreign affairs department sighing we have good reason to th

being caught in a 5 day diplomatic standoff between the 2 countries michael smith of the australian financial review and bill birtles from public broadcaster the a.b.c. were forced to take shelter in australian diplomatic missions after their homes were raided there before they left china there were questioned by chinese authorities about an australian t.v. anchor working for chinese state t.v. and it was feared they could be arrested smith and birtles for the last 2 representatives of australian mainstream media in china. earlier we spoke to bill birtles one of the 2 australian journalists who left china we asked him to outline to us the events that led to him returning to australia. this was a pre fun expected situation just as i was preparing to break the story of the other of the time to stray and chung like last monday my bosses here in sydney received a call from a stranger as our affairs department sighing we have good reason to think that i and another journalist in shanghai need to get out quickly and for the 1st couple of days it's pretty hard to get slots with code so while arrangements w

country and returned to said the chinese police sought to interrogate michael smith of the australian financial review and bill burbles from public broadcaster a.b.c. in connection with a case unrelated to their work the journalistic shelter in australian diplomatic compounds while officials negotiated their return home israel and the united arab emirates are expected to sign an agreement to normalize relations between the 2 countries next week israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu will join the u.a.e. as foreign minister abdulla been ziad in washington d.c. next tuesday the u.a.e. will be the 1st gulf state to have diplomatic ties with israel firefighters are tackling a 2nd blaze on an oil tanker off the sri lankan coast days after the 1st was extinguished the vessel is carrying nearly $2000000.00 barrels of crude oil officials have warned of potentially massive environmental damage if there is a leak or if the ship explode it's. floods in sudan are continuing to threaten communities and important historical sites as the nile river swells to record levels now authorities are pumping the water out

embroiled in a 5 day diplomatic standoff between beijing and come back michael smith of the australian financial review and bill girdles from the public broadcaster the a.b.c. at shelter in our strand sheltered excuse me an australian diplomatic missions following raids on their homes before their departure they were questions by chinese authorities about the case of an australian t.v. anchor working for chinese state t.v. and it was feared that they could be arrested smith and bernal's were the last 2 representatives of australian mainstream media and china and for more now we are joined by bill burton one of the australian journalists who last try to welcome to the program and thank you so much for joining us if you could just outline for us the events that led to you leaving china. yes sarah thank you this was a pretty fun expected situation just as i was preparing to break the story of the other of the time to stray and chung like last monday my bosses here in sydney receive a call from a stranger as our affairs department sighing we have good reason to think that i and other journalists in shangha

being caught in a 5 day diplomatic standoff between the 2 countries michael smith of the australian financial review and bill burton olds from public broadcaster a.b.c. were forced to take shelter in australian diplomatic missions after their homes were raided before they left china they were questioned by chinese authorities about the strangely in a t.v. anchor working for chinese state t.v. it was feared that they could be arrested smith and birtles were the last 2 representatives of australian mainstream media in china. and earlier we spoke to bill birtles one of the 2 journalists who left china and we asked him to outline to us the events that led to him returning to australia. this was a very unexpected situation just as i was preparing to break the story of the other of the time to stray and chung like last monday my bosses here in sydney received a call from a stray is our affairs department saying we have good reason to think that i and another journalist in shanghai need to get out quickly and for the 1st couple of days it's pretty hard to get flights with code so while arrangements were va

left the country and returned to sydney chinese police to interrogate michael smith of the australian financial review and build circles from public broadcaster a.b.c. in connection with a case unrelated to their. the journalist took shelter in australian diplomatic compounds while officials negotiated there were turned home. sudan has called a 3 month state of emergency after record floods left more than 100 people dead and destroyed thousands of homes authorities say rising water levels in the nile are also putting the country sister all sites at risk and firefighters are tackling a 2nd blaze on an oil tanker off the sri lankan coast days after the 1st was extinguished the vessel is carrying nearly $2000000.00 barrels of crude oil officials have warned of potentially massive environmental damage if there was a leak with the ship explodes. one month ago a massive explosion rocked the lebanese capital beirut killing more than 100 people and injuring many more the city still reeling from the destruction the effects are particularly hard on children who can develop long term problems if their trauma is

australian broadcasting corporation s correspondent based in beijing, and mike smith, the australian financial reviewo sydney on monday night. my colleague sally bundock spoke to one of the australian journalists, who was involved in this incident, abc correspondent, bill birtles. here's what he had to say. whirlwind week where, to me, this kind of came out of nowhere. last monday, i got a call advising me that i needed to leave china immediately. this was the australian officials. they had received some sort of warning or advice, they never specified what. they said our advice is for you to get out quick smart, which is not easy during covid. anyway, i was preparing to act on their advice although i had some serious questions about it for the first two days. sure enough at midnight on wednesday, six state security police, plus a translator were at my door in beijing, not to detain me but to inform me that i'm involved in a national security investigation, that there is an exit ban placed on me and i'm not allowed to leave the country. curiously, they said we'll give you a call tomorrow afternoon to

that is from the australian financial review.h in frame, tumbling on china's plan to prioritize the development of its own domestic semiconductor industry. faceacebook's -- of -- the of trump restrictions. stephen engle joins us. we talked about how bad this was him chip stock rout. give us a sense of the ramifications. ramifications, china wants to be more self-reliant especially with the trump administration putting these blacklists and entity lists and blocking the chinese tech companies like huawei from accessing much-needed semiconductors and integrated circuits and the like that underpin all the advanced technologies the world is trying to gain supremacy in. is this the tech cold war? it might be the beginning. what we are seeing is not surprisingly, china with xi jinping earmarking upwards of -- -- upwards of $1 trillion one point $4 trillion in advanced technologies, everything from wireless to artificial intelligence. according to people close to the situation, they are likely to add a number of sweeping policies to enco

and the other from the financial review sought refuge in australian diplomatic compounds by the safe departure was negotiated. those headlines on al-jazeera as always much more news on our website at al-jazeera dot com coming up next it's inside story i.o.p. to stay with us thanks for watching. a month of protests in belarus has failed to push alexander lukashenko from office no opposition leaders are missing or fleeing to exile so how much longer can the president hold on this isn't a story. hello welcome to the program on the wrong. insists he's not going anywhere despite a month of protests against the belarusan president's disputed reelection tens of thousands of people rallied again on sunday to them on a new fight saying last months old.

and the other from financial review sort refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while the safety poncho was negotiated it comes after the arrest of another australian journalist chong wei who works for china's state owned channel c g t n marcus stroman is the president of australia's media union the media entertainment an arts alliance he says china is using journalists as diplomatic bargaining chips. we're very glad that the 2 of them are back home and safe because in china they're clearly not safe and this is a very disturbing pattern we've seen. chung they is in custody not a number of reasons that we are unclear of and also we have another member of a unique engine losing john has been sober for 18 months facing it's been charges so unfortunately this looks like a pattern that the chinese government is using journalists as just tools in a diplomatic can you hear very little about what happens up to journalists are detained we know that that has received consular assistance but that's that's about it and this appears to be a pattern of intimidation by the chinese authorities to try t

and the other from the financial review sought refuge in australian diplomatic compounds where their safe departure was negotiated. 17 coronavirus cases have been confirmed by greece's overcrowded migrant camp more than 12000 people in the camp on the island of lesbos now being placed under quarantine after its 1st case was reported last week aid groups are warning social distancing and basic hygiene measures are impossible to implement in the cramped facility and those are the headlines the news continues here on ars is it about half an hour after growing pains good buy. 'd you're. the view growth of something positive. it's great watching our kids grow up or seeing a tree grow. it we always aware that all growth must come to an end. there's a limit nature knows no such thing as infinite growth this rule seems to apply to every kind of growth but one economic growth is somehow supposed to continue indefinitely. we believed them and now there are no limits to growth and human progress when men and women are free to follow their dream. and we were right . if that growth fades to mater

and the other from the financial review sought refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while the save departure was negotiated. those headlines on al-jazeera as always much more news on our website at al-jazeera dot com coming up next it's inside story i hope you to stay with us thanks for watching. a month of protests in belarus has failed to push alexander lukashenko from office no opposition leaders are missing or fleeing to exile so how much longer can the president hold on this isn't a story. hello welcome to the program on the wrong alexander lukashenko insists he's not going anywhere despite a month of protests against the belarus and presidents disputed reelection tens of thousands of people rallied again on sunday to them on a new fight saying last month's election was rigged. they ignored the interior ministry's warning that the demonstration is illegal police detain more than 630 people some were seen dragged away or beaten by security offices human rights groups have condemned lucas and has cracked down on the process. but i'm here to express my civic stance against the ri

and the other from the financial review sort of refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while their safe departure was negotiated those are the headlines the news continues here on all jazeera at about half an hour after the stream goodbye. to. our 20. 0. 0 i'm melissa chair and i'm guest hosting martha and you know kate is away for a few days today we'll be talking about the computer protect journalists latest campaign missing and not forgotten and learn about the stories of some of these reporters from people who know them as always on you to please post your comments and questions so that you too can plug into the stream. welcome to our guest today he she reached here at the net and i'm going to ask each of you introduce yourself to everyone we'll start with sharif with that committee to protect journalists. their mother used. 'd to. show us the documents of units or was it due to. go missing because of that or. welcome pierre yet. my name is. not enough and i have been working as a report. editor for you what should you watch will only 'd 'd one of the sioux independence me just

and the other from a financial review sought refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while the save departure was negotiated it comes after the arrest of another australian journalist john may work for china's state own t.v. network c g t n. because that is the very way you are going out i think if there's any of the doubt. in. the country or to any one rule of law. yeah this is a whirlwind kind of. got to begin to. mark a strawman is the president of australia has made a he and in the media entertainment and he says china is using journalists has diplomatic bargaining chips we're very glad that the 2 of them are back home and safe because in china they're clearly not so and this is a very disturbing pattern we've seen no chen they is in custody not a number reasons that we are unclear of and also we have another member of a uni and german who's in john has been sober for 18 months facing it's been charges so unfortunately this looks like a pattern that the chinese government is using journalists is just tools in a diplomatic can you hear very little about what happens after the jou

and the other from the financial review sought refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while the save departure was negotiated this comes after the arrest of another australian journalist who works for china's state owned t.v. network. but i'll just say. here you want to. believe that there is the in the. in the. country with genuine little for the. euro this is the world we knew was going to. go to begin to experience. marcus trauma's the president of australia's media union the media entertainment an arson lions he says china is using journalists as diplomatic bargaining chips. we're very glad that the 2 of them are back home and safe because in china they're clearly not safe and this is a very disturbing pattern we've seen. chung they is in custody not a number of reasons that we are unclear of and also we have another member of a union in german who's in john has been so for 18 months facing it's been charges so unfortunately this looks like a pattern that the chinese government is using journalists as just tools in a diplomatic can you hear very little about what happened to jour

and the other from the financial review so refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while the safe departure was negotiated this comes after the arrest of another straightly journalist john lay who was working for china's state owned channel c g t n. that is. why you. believe that if there is. a country with genuine rule of law but. 5 this is a whirlwind of some kind of. got a few good. well let's bring in mark a straw man in sydney he's the president of australia's media union and media entertainment and arts alliance markets so mike smith and bill birtles back home now but clearly unable to do their job what do you make of all this well we're very glad that the 2 of them are back home and safe because in china they're clearly not so and this is a very disturbing pattern we've seen. channel a is in custody not a number of reasons that we are unclear of and also we have another member of a union and german who's in jail and has been so to 18 months facing it's been charges so unfortunately this looks like a pattern that the chinese government is using journalists as just tools in a diplomati

on the other from the financial review sought refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while their safe departure was negotiated it comes off to the arrest of another australian journalist who are. she has kicked off her governing party's campaign ahead of november as parliamentary election it's likely there could be a delay because of a recent rise in coronavirus cases florence laurie reports. launches a 2 month election campaign in the capital with a rather low key event original plan to visit her constituency had to be cancelled because of an increase in coronavirus cases but she was in full campaign mode jokingly telling journalists to cost to vote for her party in. the upcoming elections are seen as a step towards myanmar's transition from military rule which ended in 2011 to full democracy the military still wields enormous power it's guaranteed 25 percent of the seats in parliament and retains control of 3 important portfolios but the governing party the national league for democracy is still expected to win by a comfortable majority. all sense each he remains popular at home eve

the australian government says review's and financial reporters left after police demanded interviewsthe australian embassy in beijing before getting permission to leave. >> very disappointing to have to leave under the circumstances. i'm relieved to be back in the country with genuine rule of law. yeah, this is a whirlwind. not a good experience. later butabout that it is good to be home. rishaad: china has been accused of delaying the renewal of press credentials for some journalists working for u.s. media, including bloomberg, cnn, the wall street journal and getty. the applications have been processed and reporters will be able to live and work in china while that happens. the held up a seen as a countermeasure to restrictions placed on chinese reporters in the united states. haslinda: asian markets looking pretty mixed. the msci index now in negative territory. the nikkei 225 just back from lunch break. up by 4/10 of 1%. japan's ruling party election starts with best for suga. japan contracting 10.5% annualized. the hang seng down about 1% right now. we have the leading declines.

to journalists working for australian media in mainland china have left the country and returned to sydney chinese police sought to interrogate michael smith a financial review and build birtles from public broadcaster a.b.c. in connection with the case under later to their work the journalist took shelter in australian diplomatic compounds while officials negotiated they were turned home . sudan has called a 3 month state of emergency after record floods left more than 100 people dead and destroyed thousands of homes the authorities say rising water water levels in the nile are also putting the country's historical sites at press. while fires are continuing to rip through parts of california for a 4th day in a row the authorities believe one place was started by an out of control firework at the weekend temperatures in the state of reached extreme highs of 49 degrees celsius hampering efforts to control the flames. one month ago a massive explosion rocked the lebanese capital beirut killing more than $100.00 people and injuring many more of the city is still reeling from the destruction the effects are particularly hard on children who can develop long term

and the other from the financial review refuge in australian diplomatic compounds while their safe departure was negotiated it comes after the arrest of another australian journalist and chong lady who works for china's state owned channel. but that is the very way you are out. there. in. the country if you're only one rule of law. yeah this is a whirlwind kind of. got to be going to be. like astronomers the president of australia's media here in the media entertainment and arts alliance and he says china is using journalists as diplomatic bargaining chips we're very glad that the 2 of them are back home and safe because in china they're clearly not safe and this is a very disturbing pattern we've seen. chung they is in custody not a number reasons that we are unclear of and also we have another member of a uni and german who's in john has been sober for 18 months facing it's been charges so unfortunately this looks like a pattern that the chinese government is using journalists as just tools in a diplomatic guide you hear very little about what happens after the journalists are detained we

financial review 10 days ago chinese police appeared at both of their houses after midnight and told them that they were quote persons of interest in another case regarding the detention of another australianjournalist chang lay who's been held by beijing authorities since august 14th now the offices also told bottles and smith that they were barred from leaving china at which point they oversee fled the australian embassy from where they were sent home this past monday the chinese foreign ministry has said that the journalists were being questioned as part of quote normal enforcement of law but the plot to 2nd since the chinese state news agency shin wa reported that back in june australian agencies actually conducted a number of raids on chinese journalists homes in australia so this whole episode could well be a direct retaliation especially given birth and smith with the only australian journalist still working in china ok thank you flo in western policy in media circles he was known as the shadow commander agenda iran's elite revolutionary guard and the head of the clan this time militia network that left a trail of death right across the middle east in his country qassam silly money

and the other from the financial review so it refuge in a straining diplomatic compounds while their safe departure was negotiated it comes after the arrest of another australian join us in chong laid the works for china's state owned channel c g t n. i decided. it was only through. the legal right to stand. up. in. a country with genuinely. yeah this is a whirlwind it's not going to. it's going to get a good experience. marcus strong as the president of australia's media union the media entertainment an arts alliance he says china is using journalists as diplomatic bargaining chips. we're very glad that the 2 of them are back home and safe because in china they're clearly not safe and this is a very disturbing pattern we've seen. chung they is in custody not a number of reasons that we are unclear of and also we have another member of a unique engine losing john has been so for 18 months facing it's been charges so unfortunately this looks like a pattern that the chinese government is using journalists as just tools in a diplomatic can you hear very little about what happens after the journalists are detained we know that that has received consular assistance