Future Vision II Acquisition Corp. Announces Entering into Amendment No. 1 to Merger Agreement with Viwo Technology Inc.What both sides are saying about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah188 jili super ace 。

China yesterday slapped sanctions on seven US companies after Washington's approval last week of a $571.3 million military aid package to Taiwan, which Beijing said infringed on its "sovereignty and territory". Last Friday, US President Joe Biden authorised the drawdown of up to $571.3 million for defence assistance to the self-ruled island, which China regards as its own territory. Washington's actions "interfere in China's internal affairs, and undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity", the Chinese foreign ministry said as it announced the sanctions. The statement also hit out at Washington's 2025 defence budget, which includes a security cooperation initiative with Taiwan, as well as calls for strengthened defence industrial cooperation with Taipei. Beijing will freeze the China assets of US defence companies Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International, as well as Raytheon's Canada and Australia subsidiaries, the ministry said. The sanctions, which kicked in yesterday, also prohibit the targeted companies from doing business with organisations and individuals inside China. The US does not officially recognise Taiwan diplomatically but it is the self-ruled island's strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons. China yesterday slapped sanctions on seven US companies after Washington's approval last week of a $571.3 million military aid package to Taiwan, which Beijing said infringed on its "sovereignty and territory". Last Friday, US President Joe Biden authorised the drawdown of up to $571.3 million for defence assistance to the self-ruled island, which China regards as its own territory. Washington's actions "interfere in China's internal affairs, and undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity", the Chinese foreign ministry said as it announced the sanctions. The statement also hit out at Washington's 2025 defence budget, which includes a security cooperation initiative with Taiwan, as well as calls for strengthened defence industrial cooperation with Taipei. Beijing will freeze the China assets of US defence companies Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International, as well as Raytheon's Canada and Australia subsidiaries, the ministry said. The sanctions, which kicked in yesterday, also prohibit the targeted companies from doing business with organisations and individuals inside China. The US does not officially recognise Taiwan diplomatically but it is the self-ruled island's strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons.

Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal team to fix their patchy European away form against a vibrant Sporting on Tuesday night, admitting they need to improve a record of just one win in their past eight continental trips. The visit to Sporting, who have made a flying start to the new-look Champions League and sit second in the table, may have a significant bearing on Arsenal’s hopes of avoiding a playoff for the last 16 in February. They have drawn blanks in all of their past four Champions League away games and, even if they arguably deserved more at Inter last time out , Arteta knows it is a record that cannot hold. “Not all the games have been the same,” Arteta said when asked if he detected a pattern in Arsenal’s away woes. “Something that is very true is that we have to improve those results and we have to find ways to understand what has been missing. Sometimes it’s been performance, sometimes it’s been other aspects. That’s the next step we have to make as a team. “It’s certainly something we have to improve. Making those steps is what we have to do next. Be ruthless, be efficient in the opposition box and do what we have to do to take the three points away from here.” Arteta explained his team have simply not been clinical enough on the road. “The efficiency that we have shown inside the box at this level with the chances that we are normally able to generate ... is not at the level required to win consistently. I always say the Champions League is about boxes, small margins and details. You have to get all of those right to win, especially away from home.” Sporting caused shockwaves with their 4-1 win against Manchester City a fortnight ago, which also served as a rousing farewell for the Manchester United-bound Ruben Amorim. Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat-trick that night, although Arteta would not be drawn on discussing the vaunted centre-forward’s individual threat. Arsenal and Sporting do share some recent history, contesting a Europa League round of 32 tie in March 2023 that the Portuguese side ultimately won on penalties . The first leg at Estádio José Alvalade was a 1-1 draw. Kieran Tierney has an outside chance of making a first Arsenal appearance since August 2023 after recovering from a hamstring injury and being named in the travelling squad. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion João Pereira, who has stepped up from his previous role in charge of the Sporting reserves to replace Amorim, revealed he and his predecessor had exchanged well wishes before the game. “I spoke to Amorim before his debut [at Ipswich],” he said. “He sent me a message wishing me good luck and a great career.”Lawyers for a voting machine company that’s suing Fox News want to question founder Rupert Murdoch about his contentious efforts to change his family trust , the attorneys told a court Monday. Election-tech company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation suit regards Fox's reporting on 2020 voting fraud claims. But Smartmatic’s attorneys suggest the separate succession fight over Murdoch's media empire might shed light on any Fox Corp. involvement in editorial matters. It's an important, if technical, question as Smartmatic seeks to hold the deep-pocketed Fox parent company responsible for statements that the news network aired. Fox contends that there's no such liability and that it was engaging in journalism, not defamation, when it broadcast election-fraud allegations made by then-President Donald Trump 's attorneys. Rupert Murdoch may already have given a deposition — out-of-court questioning under oath — in the defamation suit. Such records aren't public at this stage, but plans for his deposition were briefly mentioned at a 2022 hearing. Smartmatic now is seeking to talk to Murdoch about his efforts to rewrite his plans for his businesses after his death. The matter is playing out behind closed doors and in sealed files in a Nevada probate court. The New York Times has reported that Rupert Murdoch wants to keep his eldest son, Lachlan , in charge of the conglomerate's newspapers and television networks in order to ensure a continued conservative editorial outlook . Smartmatic wants to get the 93-year-old patriarch on record while the probate matter plays out, company attorney Edward Wipper told a judge Monday. Fox News lawyer K. Winn Allen said the probate case “has nothing at all to do with” Smartmatic's claims and is “not appropriate” fodder for the suit. Fox Corp. declined to comment after court. Fox News' lawyers, meanwhile, want Smartmatic to provide records about a U.S. federal criminal case against people, including Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate, accused of scheming to bribe a Filipino election official . Piñate has pleaded not guilty. Smartmatic isn't charged in the criminal case, and Smartmatic attorneys have said the matter was irrelevant to the defamation suit. Fox lost prior bids for a court order to get the information, but a hearing on the network's renewed request is set next week. It's unclear how soon Judge David B. Cohen will decide on that request or on Smartmatic's bid to dig into the Murdoch family trust case. Both requests are part of pretrial information-gathering, and no trial date has been set. Smartmatic says it was a small player, working only with California's heavily Democratic Los Angeles County, in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In subsequent Fox News appearances, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell portrayed Smartmatic as part of a multi-state scheme to steal the vote from the Republican. Federal and state election officials , exhaustive reviews in battleground states and Trump’s own attorney general found no widespread fraud that could have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Nor did they uncover any credible evidence that the vote was tainted. Dozens of courts, including by judges whom Trump had appointed, rejected his fraud claims. Fox News ultimately aired an interview with an election technology expert who refuted the allegations against Smartmatic — an interview done after the company demanded a retraction . The network is countersuing Smartmatic , claiming it violated a New York law against baseless suits aimed at squelching reporting or criticism on public issues. The New York defamation suit is one of several stemming from conservative-oriented news outlets' reports on Trump’s 2020 vote-rigging claims. Smartmatic recently settled with One America News Network and Newsmax . Fox News settled for $787 million last year with Dominion Voting Systems, another election-technology company that sued over conspiracy theories blaming its election equipment for Trump’s 2020 loss. Jennifer Peltz, The Associated PressDiverse group of CSU seniors look to close out regular season on a positive note

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES . ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS./ MARKHAM, ON , Nov. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. (the " Corporation " or " Pond ") POND announces the filing of the third quarter unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the related management's discussion and analysis have been filed and are available for review on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedar.com or on the Corporation's website at www.pondtech.com . About Pond Technologies Holdings Inc.: Located in Markham, Ontario , Pond is a technology leader in controlled environment cultivation of microalgae. In over ten years of R&D, Pond has developed a robust disruptive technology platform based on artificial intelligence, proprietary LED lights and patented CO 2 -Management. The use of concentrated CO 2 from industrial waste streams enables Pond to boost the productivity of microalgae well beyond the capacity of outdoor algae growers and allows industrial emitters to abate and ultimately recycle CO 2 . Pond is currently selling microalgae-derived antioxidant astaxanthin under its Regenurex brand. As microalgae are becoming increasingly important in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, nutraceuticals, human nutrition, aqua farming, bioplastics and biofuels, Pond has begun to license its technology to third parties for ongoing license fees and royalties. Pond recently added a Biotech division focused on the growth of unique strains of microalgae to be used for the expression of human antibodies and other complex proteins. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2024/26/c5275.html © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

South Korea’s parliament has voted to impeach the acting President, Han Duck-soo, plunging the country deeper into a political crisis that has caused policy deadlock and damaged its international reputation. The National Assembly approved an impeachment motion introduced on Thursday by the main Opposition party by a 192-0 vote. The chamber has 300 MPs, but members of the ruling People Power party (PPP) boycotted Friday’s vote. Han took over as President after his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 03. The move triggered six hours of chaos that, for many older South Koreans, brought back memories of the country’s bloody transition from military rule to democracy in the 1980s. The main Opposition Democratic party – which has a majority in the National Assembly – targeted Han after accusing him of participating in Yoon’s botched imposition of martial law, which ended when MPs forced their way into the parliament building to overturn Yoon’s decree. The opposition parties needed a number of Yoon’s own party to vote with them to impeach the disgraced former president a fortnight ago. Other senior South Korean officials, including Han – the former prime minister – can be impeached with a simple majority. Han angered Opposition MPs this week when he refused to immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether or not to approve the impeachment vote against Yoon. Han said appointing justices would exceed his powers as acting President. In response, the Democrat party leader, Lee Jae-myung, accused Han of “acting for insurrection”. The Guardian

Netflix ( NFLX ) entered the NFL live-streaming arena with a spectacular debut on Christmas Day, setting a new streaming record for the league. Preliminary Nielsen data shows an average U.S. audience of more than 24 million for each of the two holiday matchups. The Kansas City Chiefs’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled in 24.1 million viewers on average, while 24.3 million tuned in to see the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Houston Texans. Adding to the excitement, the Ravens-Texans game featured a show-stopping halftime performance by Beyoncé alongside her daughter, Blue Ivy. While Netflix was the primary platform for viewers, some tuned in through local broadcasts in team markets or via the NFL’s NFL+ streaming service. The event surpassed the previous NFL streaming record of 23 million viewers for a January playoff game on Peacock. Smooth steaming and big wins for Netflix The success of Netflix’s NFL debut wasn’t just about the numbers. The stream was free of major technical glitches, a marked improvement over issues faced during last month’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing event on the platform. | “Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered,” said Bela Bajaria , Netflix’s chief content officer. NFL executives were equally enthusiastic. “The quality of the stream was fabulous, the production went off tightly,” said Brian Rolapp, the league’s chief media and business officer. “This further convinces us that Christmas is a great football day.” Expanding horizons in live-event streaming Netflix’s NFL deal is part of the streaming giant’s broader push into live events to bolster its advertising revenue. The league’s agreement with Netflix spans three years and allows for one or two games to be streamed next Christmas, depending on the schedule. The move into live sports streaming is just the beginning for Netflix. In January, the platform will start live-streaming WWE Raw as part of a decade-long partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment. Netflix has had a strong year , with its stock up 91% year-to-date, positioning it for its best performance since 2015. This growth reflects increased revenue and profit, with projections indicating a $39 billion in 2024 revenue and $8.7 billion in net profit, up 15% and 60% respectively from 2023. The company’s expansion into live sports, such as NFL games and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has contributed to its solid performance, making it one of the top-performing stocks on the S&P 500.By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Suzanne McGee and Lewis Krauskopf NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Nasdaq Composite Index hit 20,000 for the first time on Wednesday, putting an exclamation point on a year in which excitement over artificial intelligence and expectations of falling interest rates fueled a searing rally in technology stocks. The tech-heavy index is up more than 33% on the year, driven by a cluster of giant technology-focused companies including Apple, Nvidia, Google-parent Alphabet and in recent weeks, electric carmaker Tesla. Wednesday’s gains came after a U.S. inflation report that cemented expectations of a Fed rate cut next week. The index closed on Wednesday at 20,034.89, up 1.8% on the day. While the rally has rewarded investors who went big on growth and tech, it has also stirred unease over rising valuations and the dominance of megacap stocks, which now have an increasingly heavier weighting in the index. “There is clearly an aspect of a chase into year-end, where the winners ... keep winning,” said Cameron Dawson, chief investment officer at NewEdge Wealth. “The question is if this momentum can persist into 2025, where stretched valuations, positioning, sentiment, and growth expectations could all present high bars to jump over to keep above-average returns going.” After plummeting in early 2020 when the pandemic brought global economic activity to a standstill, the index mounted a swift rebound as the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to near-zero and the U.S. unleashed waves of fiscal stimulus to help the economy. It endured a sharp drop in 2022, falling 33% as inflation surged to 40-year highs and the Fed was forced to deliver a series of jumbo rate cuts. But higher rates did not bring on a widely-expected recession, and the index has soared by about 90% since then, stoked in part by increasing excitement over the business potential of AI. Shares of Nvidia, whose chips are considered the industry’s gold standard, are up more than 1,100% from their October 2022 low. “The AI story still rings true and appeals to investors,” said Alex Morris, chief investment officer of F/m Investments. “These are the go-go stocks.” While the Nasdaq’s valuation has climbed, it is still far from levels it reached during the dot-com bubble more than two decades ago. The index trades at roughly 36 times earnings today, a three-year high and well above its long-term average of 27, according to LSEG Datastream. That is still well below the roughly 70 times the index’s P/E ratio reached in March 2000, bringing a measure of comfort to investors comparing the two periods. “The Nasdaq Comp’s latest rally pales in comparison to the late 90s/early 2000 experience, rising more gradually and does not yet look unsustainable as a result,” Jessica Rabe, co-founder of DataTrek Research, said in a note on Wednesday. Megacap stocks increasingly dominate the index. The top 10 companies by market value account for 59% of the Nasdaq, compared to 45% in 2020. The three biggest companies by weight are Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia, which account for 11.7%, 10.6% and 10.3% of the index respectively. While their surging share prices have buoyed the Nasdaq, the heavy concentration could present a problem for investors should Big Tech fall out of favor. The selloff in 2022, for instance, saw shares of index heavyweights Meta and Tesla fall 64% and 65% for the year respectively. The Nasdaq has topped the other major U.S. stock indexes this year, propelled by big gains in heavily weighted names such as Nvidia, Amazon and Meta Platforms. The tech-heavy index’s 33% climb in 2024 compares with over 27% for the S&P 500 and 17% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Over the past decade, the Nasdaq has gained more than 320%, against a 200% rise for the S&P 500 and a 150% increase for the Dow. (Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Suzanne McGee and Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Rod Nickel) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Mikel Arteta challenges Arsenal to be more ruthless on European road tripsNYPD captain under investigation over fracas with another commander over credit for gun bust

Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the SenateUS sanctions founder of Georgia’s ruling political partyLittle Feet Pediatric Therapy Announces New Report on the Mental Health Impacts of Sensory Processing Disorder in Children

Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his deathFamiliar faces, familiar places: The latest from Capitol Hill

NEW YORK , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) between February 8, 2024 and October 29, 2024 , both dates inclusive (the "Class Period") and those who purchased Chipotle call options or sold put options during the Class Period, of the important January 10, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm. So what: If you purchased Chipotle securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the Chipotle class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=30587 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 10, 2025 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Chipotle's portion sizes were inconsistent and left many customers dissatisfied with the Company's offerings; (2) in order to address the issue and retain customer loyalty, Chipotle would have to ensure more generous portion sizes, which would increase cost of sales; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Chipotle class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=30587 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40 th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cmg-deadline-alert-cmg-investors-with-losses-in-excess-of-100k-have-opportunity-to-lead-chipotle-mexican-grill-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit-filed-by-the-rosen-law-firm-302339657.html SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

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West Ham surprise Newcastle with 2-0 win on the roadBy MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.Pakistani security forces have launched an operation to disperse supporters of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Police fired shells in an attempt to disperse activists during a protest demanding Imran Khan’s release (Maaz Awan/AP) Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Supporters board vehicles as they start a rally for Islamabad to demand Khan’s release (Muhammad Sajjad/AP) “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Supporters of jailed former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party throw stones towards police during clashes in Islamabad (Anjum Naveed/AP) Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.