Cincunri Sakia

Kamis, 02 Juli 2020

UK 'unequivocally recognises' Juan Guaido as Venezuela's president in £800m row over gold - Sky News

The UK has said it "unequivocally recognises" opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's president in a crucial ruling over the fate of £800m in gold bullion being held in the Bank of England's vaults.

Banco Central de Venezuela (BCV) took legal action to release the gold held on its behalf, which it wants to sell to help tackle the country's coronavirus crisis, amid US sanctions.

But a British judge has refused to give Venezuela control over the stash of precious metals because it does not recognise Nicolas Maduro as the country's president.

The collapse in global oil prices and quarantine measures designed to quell the COVID-19 outbreak has further crippled the country's beleaguered economy under Mr Maduro's socialist administration. His leadership is not recognised by dozens of nations including the UK and the US.

On Thursday, Mr Justice Teare, sitting at the High Court in central London, said: "Her Majesty's government does recognise Mr Guaido in the capacity of the constitutional interim president of Venezuela and, it must follow, does not recognise Mr Maduro as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela.

"Whatever the basis for the recognition, Her Majesty's government has unequivocally recognised Mr Guaido as president of Venezuela.

"It necessarily follows that Her Majesty's government no longer recognises Mr Maduro as president of Venezuela... there is no room for recognition of Mr Guaido as de jure president and of Mr Maduro as de facto president."

Sarosh Zaiwalla, a lawyer representing the Venezuelan central bank in the case, said it would be seeking leave of the court to appeal the judgment.

Caracas made a request to the Bank of England in April to sell part of its gold reserves there and send the proceeds to the United Nations.

The bank offers gold custodian services to many developing nations.

During a four-day preliminary hearing in June, Nicholas Vineall QC - representing the "Maduro board" of the BCV - argued that while the UK "does not approve of the Maduro government" it "unequivocally recognised" his leadership, despite considering his position to be "illegitimate".

Mr Vineall said the UK "continues to recognise the Maduro government", sending an ambassador to Venezuela and receiving Mr Maduro's representative.

He added that recognising Mr Guaido as head of state would be "an impermissible intervention in the affairs of Venezuela" and also "unlawful under international law".

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Mr Guaido declared himself interim president of the country in January last year - two weeks after Mr Maduro was sworn in for a controversial second term.

A spokesman for then British prime minister Theresa May said at the time that the UK supported "the democratically elected National Assembly with Juan Guaido as its president".

Germany, France, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Chile are among the countries that have also backed Mr Guaido.

Russia and China, however, have said Mr Maduro is the legitimate president and attempts to remove him are illegal.

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2020-07-02 10:52:30Z
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Hong Kong: UK makes citizenship offer to residents - BBC News - BBC News

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Hong Kong: UK makes citizenship offer to residents - BBC News BBC News
Hong Kong: UK makes citizenship offer to residents BBC News
Boris Johnson condemns China over new Hong Kong security law Evening Standard
Editorial: China's self-interest remains our best hope of defending Hong Kong's freedoms The Independent
China threatens retaliation against UK for Hong Kong offer The Guardian
View Full coverage on Google News

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2020-07-02 09:59:28Z
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China tells UK to 'respect its position' and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs - Sky News

China is urging the UK to stop "interfering" in Hong Kong's affairs after Boris Johnson's government gave millions of citizens the chance to move to Britain.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the citizenship offer, describing the new security legislation as a "clear and serious breach" of the deal that saw Hong Kong pass from the UK to China in 1997.

But on Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in London told the UK that it "firmly opposes" the offer to allow more than 2.9 million Hong Kong citizens who hold British National Overseas (BNO) passports to apply to live in the UK, saying it would be a breach in international law.

Officer pulls gun on Hong Kong protesters — Officer draws gun on Hong Kong protesters

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK said: "If the British side makes unilateral changes to the relevant practice, it will breach its own position and pledges as well as international law and basic norms governing international relations.

"We firmly oppose this and reserve the right to take corresponding measures. We urge the British side to view objectively and fairly the national security legislation for Hong Kong, respect China's position and concerns, refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any way."

On Wednesday evening, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab admitted that the government would be unable to force China into allowing those with BNO passports to move to the UK.

The comments from the Chinese Embassy come as Australia's prime minister said he was also considering offering a safe haven for those in Hong Kong.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Scott Morrison said: "The basic law and the safeguards that were put in place with the handover, we would expect to be upheld. I think that's a very reasonable position and a very consistent position for the government.

"We are considering very actively and there are proposals that I asked to be brought forward several weeks ago."

Hong Kong's last governor calls the new legislation "Orwellian" as dozens are arrested in protests against the law. — China UK tensions raised by 'Orwellian' Law

Just hours after China's security legislation came into effect in Hong Kong on Wednesday, police began making arrests under the new law.

A man was detained for carrying a flag that called for independence, while a woman was also held for carrying a sign bearing the same message with a British flag.

Those who break the law could face life in prison, as China seeks to crack down on subversion and secessionist activity in the region.

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2020-07-02 06:22:30Z
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Rabu, 01 Juli 2020

Hong Kong: US passes sanctions as nations condemn new law - BBC News

The US House of Representatives has approved new Hong Kong-related sanctions, after Beijing imposed a security law that was condemned by countries around the world.

The measure, which was passed unanimously, penalises banks that do business with Chinese officials.

It will have to be approved by the Senate before going to President Trump.

Critics say China's law ends freedoms that were guaranteed for 50 years when British rule ended in 1997.

"The law is a brutal, sweeping crackdown against the people of Hong Kong, intended to destroy the freedoms they were promised," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the passing of the law was a "clear and serious breach" of the 1985 Sino-British joint declaration.

Under this declaration, Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997, with certain freedoms guaranteed for at least 50 years under the "one country, two systems" agreement.

China said the security law was necessary to stop the type of protests seen in Hong Kong during much of 2019.

And despite condemnation in the West, more than 50 countries, led by Cuba, supported China at the UN this week.

What does the US law say?

The Hong Kong Autonomy Act imposes sanctions on banks that do business with Chinese officials who are involved in cracking down on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

Ms Pelosi said the law was an "urgently needed response to [China's passing] of its so-called 'national security' law... which is purpose built to dismantle democratic freedoms in Hong Kong".

Before the bill was signed, the US had already began eliminating Hong Kong's special status - halting defence exports and restricting the territory's access to high-technology products.

Last year, the US had also signed into law the Human Rights and Democracy Act, supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

What have other countries said?

The UK said it will offer up to three million Hong Kong residents the chance to settle there and ultimately apply for full British citizenship.

Australia is also "actively considering" offering safe haven to Hong Kong residents - with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying there were proposals that will "soon be considered by cabinet".

Japan was among the other countries that spoke out against the law, calling it "regrettable".

"It will undermine trust for the principle of 'one country, two systems'" said Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

European Council President Charles Michel said it "deplored" the law - adding that it had a "detrimental effect on the independence of the judiciary and rule of law".

And Canada changed its travel advice to Hong Kong, saying the new law "increased the risk of arbitrary detention on national security grounds and possible extradition to mainland China".

Yesterday, a senior Chinese official slammed foreign critics, saying Hong Kong's affairs were "none of your business".

Have all countries been critical?

No. At the United Nations this week, Cuba - on behalf of 53 countries - welcomed the law.

Speaking at the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it said: "Non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states is an essential principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

"We believe every country has the right to safeguard its national security through legislation, and commend relevant steps taken for this purpose."

How has the new law been used so far?

Just hours after the law was passed, Hong Kong police made their first arrests.

Ten people were accused of violating the new law, including a man with a pro-independence flag. About 360 others were detained at a banned rally.

Under the new law, inciting hatred of China's central government and Hong Kong's regional government are offences.

Acts including damaging public transport facilities - which often happened during the 2019 protests - can be considered terrorism.

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2020-07-02 02:35:30Z
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Russia vote: President Putin could stay in power until 2036 as Russians approve constitutional reforms - Sky News

A majority of Russians have voted to approve amendments to the country's constitution which would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036, despite protests in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Election officials said that with 98% of all precincts counted, nearly 78% had voted for the constitutional amendments.

The results mean that Mr Putin, who has effectively been in power for more than two decades, has won the right to run for two more terms. This means he could be president for another 16 years.

Yet the referendum was tarnished with reports of pressure on voters and rallies to protest against the changes.

Polls were kept open for a week to bolster turnout - a first for Russia - which critics say was used as a tool to manipulate the outcome of the vote. Russian authorities said the week-long vote was to reduce crowds during the coronavirus pandemic.

Russians were also encouraged to vote with prize draws offering flats and an ad campaign highlighting other constitutional amendments to be made in the same bundle, including pensions protection and a ban on same-sex marriages.

Moscow resident Mikhail Volkov said he voted for the amendments, explaining: "We need radical changes and I'm for them."

But others were less enthusiastic. Another voter, Lyudmila, said: "I didn't read about the amendments if I'm honest.

"What's the point of voting if they've already decided for you. It's like that in our country - read something and vote. I voted."

On Russia's easternmost Chukchi Peninsula, full preliminary results showed 80% of voters supported the amendments, while over 70% of voters backed the changes in other parts of the Far East.

But some Kremlin critics and independent election observers are sceptical about the official figures.

Grigory Melkonyants, co-chairman of the independent election monitoring group Golos, said: "We look at neighbouring regions, and anomalies are obvious - there are regions where the turnout is artificially [boosted], there are regions where it is more or less real."

Mr Putin himself voted at a Moscow polling station, as several hundred people gathered in the city's central square to demonstrate against the amendments - defying a ban on public gatherings due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Police did not intervene and instead handed out masks to the participants.

In Saint Petersburg, people displayed copies of the old version of the constitution before they were forced off the Palace Square by police and National Guard troops.

Mr Putin first proposed the constitutional changes in January.

He initially offered to broaden the powers of parliament and redistribute authority among the branches of government, but it later became clear the amendments could be used to allow Mr Putin to run two more times.

The Russian president has been in power longer than any other Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, and has said he will decide later whether to run again in 2024.

He has argued that resetting the term count is necessary to keep officials focused on their work instead of "darting their eyes in search for possible successors".

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2020-07-02 02:23:23Z
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Hong Kong: US passes sanctions as world condemns new law - BBC News