Manila on Monday, August 7, summoned Beijing's ambassador to protest the firing of water cannons on Philippine boats in the South China Sea, stressing that it will "never" give up an island in the crucial maritime zone.

In an event that could affect his political future for the second time, Pakistani police arrested former prime minister Imran Khan at his home in the eastern city of Lahore after a court convicted him in an asset concealment case and sentenced him to three years in prison.

Pakistan has been witnessing an escalation of attacks by Islamist militants since last year, the latest of which was a suicide bombing targeting a political gathering of a militant party and speculation about the involvement of "Daesh" in the incident .

Two people and an armed attacker were killed and five others injured in a shooting in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, on Thursday, hours before the opening match of the women's football World Cup in the city.