| North Korea Fires Sub-Based Missile After Resuming U.S. Talks Posted: 01 Oct 2019 06:21 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired what appeared to be a submarine-based ballistic missile off its eastern coast Wednesday in an escalation that came just hours after saying it would resume stalled nuclear talks with the U.S.South Korea's military said North Korea may have fired a submarine-based ballistic missile, which traveled 450 kilometers (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 910 kilometers. Japan earlier said two ballistic missiles were launched Wednesday, with one one appearing to land in its exclusive economic zone off Shimane prefecture.A submarine-based missile test would mark an escalation from the series of short-range launches that North Korea started in May, involving land-based missiles. It was the first time the regime would've fired a submarine-based missile since 2016, which South Korea said flew about 500 kilometers."The launch of this type of ballistic missile is a violation of United Nations resolutions. Japan strongly protests and condemns the action," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in an emergency news conference. Japan's Foreign Ministry said it talked with the U.S. point man for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, about the launch and they agreed to cooperate with South Korea.North Korea, which has a habit of raising the stakes in its dealings with the U.S. through military provocations, last launched missiles about a month ago, just hours after saying then it was willing to restart nuclear talks with the U.S.It is barred by the UN from ballistic missile launches but President Donald Trump has downplayed the short-range tests as routine, saying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has lived up to his pledge to halt test of nuclear devices and intercontinental ballistic missiles."North Korea is always trying to push the boundaries of what the international community will accept as far as they can go, and timing launches at moments when the United States is less likely to object certainly meets that goal," said Mintaro Oba, a former U.S. diplomat who worked on Korean Peninsula issues.A senior administration official said the U.S. is aware of the missile-launch reports, adding "we are continuing to monitor the situation and consulting closely with our allies in the region."Missile ShieldKim and Trump agreed at a June 30 meeting in the demilitarized zone that divides the Korean Peninsula to hold working-level talks in a matter of weeks. But the two sides have not met since then to discuss details of a disarmament deal.The Wednesday launch came about 12 hours after North Korea's state media reported it would restart working-level denuclearization talks on Saturday."It is my expectation that the working-level negotiations would accelerate the positive development of the DPRK-U.S. relations," the state's Korean Central News Agency quoted Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui as saying. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the formal name of North Korea.The State Department confirmed the planned meeting but didn't release details.North Korea has previously criticized South Korea's deployment of a new stealth F-35 fighter jet, which made its first public appearance in the country at a military day Tuesday. It has slammed Seoul for allowing high-tech weapons on the peninsula, saying it undermines trust with its neighbor.Pyongyang has fired off at least 20 missiles in 11 different military tests since May, extending the regime's most prolific run of launches since Trump took office. The tests have included blasts from multiple rocket launchers and a new short-range ballistic missile known as the KN-23, which weapons experts said is nuclear-warhead capable, can strike all of South Korea and is designed to evade U.S. missile shields.Little progress has been made toward an agreement despite three meetings between the two leaders. Meanwhile, weapons experts said North Korea has been adding fissile material to its nuclear arsenal and improving its ability to launch a nuclear strike against the U.S. as well as its allies Japan and South Korea.\--With assistance from Sophie Jackman, Isabel Reynolds and Josh Wingrove.To contact the reporters on this story: Shinhye Kang in Seoul at skang24@bloomberg.net;Jihye Lee in Seoul at jlee2352@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Peter Pae at ppae1@bloomberg.net, Jon Herskovitz, Brendan ScottFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
|
| North Korea launches projectiles Posted: 01 Oct 2019 06:15 PM PDT  North Korea fired projectiles toward its eastern sea Wednesday, South Korea's military and Japan's government said, in an apparent display of its expanding military capabilities ahead of planned nuclear negotiations with the United States this weekend. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately confirm what the weapons were, how many were fired or how far they flew. The North had not fired a weapon that reached inside Japan's EEZ since November 2017 at the height of an unusually provocative run in nuclear and missile tests.
|
| North Korea carries out 9th projectile launch since June Posted: 01 Oct 2019 06:14 PM PDT ![North Korea carries out 9th projectile launch since June]( "North Korea carries out 9th projectile launch since June") One day after saying the country agreed to hold working-level talks with the United States over the weekend, North Korea fired at least one unidentified projectile into the sea.The launch happened on Wednesday morning near Wonsan, the South Korean military and Japanese Coast Guard said, and is the ninth to take place since June. Japan says two projectiles were fired, and one looks to have fallen into the water inside Japan's exclusive economic zone.Nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea have been stalled since February, when President Trump left early from his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two met again in June, in the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
|
| North Korea fires projectiles days before resuming US talks Posted: 01 Oct 2019 05:50 PM PDT  North Korea fired projectiles toward its eastern sea Wednesday, South Korea's military and Japan's government said, in an apparent display of its expanding military capabilities ahead of planned nuclear negotiations with the United States this weekend. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately confirm what the weapons were, how many were fired or how far they flew. The North had not fired a weapon that reached inside Japan's EEZ since November 2017 at the height of an unusually provocative run in nuclear and missile tests.
|
| North Korea fires missile 'into Japanese waters' ahead of nuclear talks with US Posted: 01 Oct 2019 05:48 PM PDT  North Korea on Wednesday fired projectiles toward its eastern sea, South Korea's military said, in an apparent display of its expanding military capabilities ahead of planned nuclear negotiations with the United States this weekend. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately confirm what the weapons were, how many were fired or how far they flew. But Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the North fired two ballistic missiles from the country's east coast, and one of them appeared to have landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone off northwestern coast. There were no reports of damage to Japanese vessels or aircraft travelling in the area, he said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe strongly condemned the launch and said it was a violation of United Nations resolutions. The launches, which were the North's ninth round of weapons tests since late July, came hours after a senior North Korean diplomat on Tuesday evening announced that North Korea and the United States have agreed to resume working-level nuclear negotiations this weekend. North Korean missile ranges After supervising a testing firing of what the North described as a "newly developed super-large multiple rocket launcher" last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was quoted by state media as saying that the system would require a "running fire test" to complete its development. North Korea could also be demonstrating its displeasure over South Korea displaying some of its newly purchased US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets for the first time during its Armed Forces Day ceremony on Tuesday. The North has sharply reacted to the F-35 purchases, calling them a grave provocation that violate recent inter-Korean agreements aimed at lowering military tensions. Nuclear negotiations have been at a standstill for months following a February summit between Kim and President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. Those talks broke down after the US rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for partially surrendering its nuclear capabilities. North Korea followed the summit with belligerent rhetoric and conducted a slew of short-range weapons tests in recent weeks that were widely seen as an attempt to gain leverage ahead of a possible resumption of negotiations. In a statement released through state media, Choe Son Hui, North Korea's first vice minister of foreign affairs, said the two nations will have preliminary contact on Friday before holding working-level talks on Saturday. She expressed optimism over the outcome of the meeting but did not say where it would take place. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un take a walk after their first meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel in Hanoi Credit: AP "It is my expectation that the working-level negotiations would accelerate the positive development of the DPRK-U.S. relations," Choe said in the statement, using an abbreviation for North Korea's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The US confirmed the talks. "I can confirm that US and DPRK officials plan to meet within the next week. I do not have further details to share on the meeting," said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, who is travelling with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Rome. Choe's announcement came after North Korea praised Mr Trump last month for suggesting that Washington may pursue an unspecified "new method" in nuclear negotiations with the North. North Korea also has welcomed Mr Trump's decision to fire hawkish former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who advocated a "Libya model" of unilateral denuclearisation as a template for North Korea. The 2004 disarmament of Libya is seen by North Korea as a deeply provocative comparison because Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed following US-supported military action in his country seven years after giving up a rudimentary nuclear programme that was far less advanced than North Korea's. North Korea take aim at defence gap | 2 The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who lobbied hard to set up the first summit between Kim and Mr Trump last year in Singapore, welcomed Choe's announcement and expressed hope that the resumed talks would result in "substantial progress" in denuclearisation and stabilisation of peace. That could be a tall order. In the high-stakes diplomacy between Mr Trump and Kim, which has been driven chiefly by the personalities of the leaders rather than an established diplomatic process, working-level meetings have been useful for fleshing out the logistics of summits but unproductive in hammering out the details of a nuclear deal that has eluded the countries for decades. The stalemate of past months has revealed fundamental differences between the two sides. North Korea says it will never unilaterally surrender its nuclear weapons and missiles and insists that US-led sanctions against it should be lifted first before any progress in negotiations. The Trump administration has vowed to maintain robust economic pressure until North Korea takes real steps toward fully and verifiably relinquishing its nuclear programme. There are doubts about whether Kim would ever voluntarily deal away an arsenal that he may see as his strongest guarantee of survival. After their Singapore summit in June 2018, Mr Trump and Kim issued a vague statement calling for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing how or when it would occur. The lack of substance and fruitless working-level talks set up the failure in Hanoi, which the Americans blamed on what they said were excessive North Korean demands for sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility in Yongbyon. Mr Trump and Kim met for the third time at the inter-Korean border on June 30 and agreed that working-level talks between the countries should resume.
|
| More Protests Planned After Demonstrator Shot: Hong Kong Update Posted: 01 Oct 2019 05:39 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong protesters planned a fresh round of disruption on Wednesday after violent clashes led police to shoot a demonstrator for the first time since the unrest began in June.Simultaneous rallies against Beijing's increasing grip raged across the financial hub on Tuesday hours after President Xi Jinping oversaw celebrations marking 70 years of Communist rule in China. Cable TV reported that the man shot in Hong Kong had the bullet removed in operation and is expected to survive even though he remains in critical condition.Here's the latest (all times local):Signs of slowdown on train line (7:56 a.m.) Travel times on the Kwun Tong Line between Whampoa Station and Tiu Keng Leng Station could be extended by 15 to 20 minutes "due to improper use of train facilities" at Yau Tong Station, Hong Kong's rail operator the MTR Corp. said on its website Wednesday. Longer wait times on Kwun Tong Line platforms can be expected. Protesters call for train disruptions (7:25 a.m.)On social media outlets, demonstrators called for a mass disruption of subway services during the commute on Wednesday. They also plan to gather at a courthouse in West Kowloon at 9:30 a.m., when almost 100 people arrested on Sunday were expected to appear.At 1 p.m., a general strike is planned at locations around the city, including downtown.Calls for general strike on Wednesday (12:50 a.m.)Some 96 people charged with rioting in Sept. 29 protests are set to appear in courts on Wednesday, Apple Daily reported. There have been calls online for a general strike also on Wednesday, while the scale of any possible participation is hard to gauge at the moment.Lo says day was among 'most violent' (11:50 p.m.)At a press conference that started shortly before midnight in Hong Kong, police commissioner Stephen Lo said that more than 180 people were arrested for offenses including rioting during the protests on Tuesday. A total of 25 officers were injured, Lo said, adding that it was one of the "most violent and chaotic days" in the city.Lo described the shot that injured an 18-year-old protester as "reasonable" and "lawful," saying that the split-second decision by the officer involved was the best decision under the circumstances. The lives of the officer who discharged his weapon and his colleagues were under serious threat, the police commissioner said, as an officer was pushed onto the ground and colleagues who tried to help him up were attacked by protesters with bricks and sharpened poles. Six live rounds were fired on Tuesday, including two warning shots, he said."I urge protesters, if you really have lofty ideals for the good of Hong Kong, everyone should calm down and give some room to the society to do so, and consider whether endless violence should be used to achieve your demands."The shot protester is currently under arrest, but Lo was not able to provide a detailed update on his condition, deferring to the hospital for any details.Separately, U.S. Republican lawmakers harshly criticized the Chinese Communist Party, drawing a sharp contrast with President Trump's congratulatory message to Xi on the anniversary.U.K. says use of force 'disproportionate' (9:50 p.m.)U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the use of live ammunition by authorities in Hong Kong was "disproportionate, and only risks inflaming the situation.""This incident underlines the need for a constructive dialog to address the legitimate concerns of the people of Hong Kong," Raab said in an emailed statement. "We need to see restraint and a de-escalation from both protesters and the Hong Kong authorities."Previous comments by the British government about the unrest in its former colony have triggered an angry reaction from Beijing.Two people in critical condition (7:49 p.m.)As of 6 p.m., 31 people ages 18 to 75 had been hospitalized for injuries suffered during the day's events, with two in critical and one in serious condition, a spokeswoman for Hong Kong's Information Services Department said by phone, citing information from the Hospital Authority.Police confirm protester shot (7:23 p.m.)Hong Kong's police force confirmed in a video posted to Facebook that an 18-year-old man was shot during a protest Tuesday and was conscious when sent to local Princess Margaret Hospital. He was shot near the left shoulder during clashes with officers in the Tsuen Wan area, Senior Superintendent Yolanda Yu said in video posted to the police force's Facebook page. The lives of the officer who discharged the weapon and the officer's colleagues were "under serious threat" during the incident, Yu said.Video shows protester shot in scuffle (6:30 p.m.)A brief video released by Campus TV, the University of Hong Kong's student union television station, appeared to show a police officer shooting a protester in the chest after being struck in the arm with a stick. It occurred during a clash between a small group of black-clad protesters and masked riot police in the northern area of Tsuen Wan.A police spokeswoman said they were still trying to verify the details of the incident.Trump congratulates Xi (6:54 p.m.)U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been locked in a protracted trade war with Xi, tweeted his congratulations to his Chinese counterpart."Congratulations to President Xi and the Chinese people on the 70th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China!" Trump wrote on Twitter.Protester shot with live ammunition: media (5:11 p.m.)A protester was hit in the chest by a live round fired by police in Tsuen Wan, the South China Morning Post reported, citing an unnamed source. The newspaper said officers and first aid workers were seen tending to the man on the street. Local outlets Now TV and Cable TV also said police had fired a live round which injured a protester, each citing an unidentified source.Cable TV said a man was shot in the left lung and was in critical condition, citing sources. When reached for comment, a police spokeswoman said they were still trying to verify the reports.Fifteen people were injured and hospitalized during Tuesday's events, with one man in critical condition and receiving treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital, a spokesman at the city's Hospital Authority said by phone. The hospital is located in a neighboring district to Tsuen Wan. It was unclear if the person in critical condition was related to the reported shooting.MTR stations closed across city (4:20 p.m.)Local train operator MTR Corp. said more than 20 stations were closed across Hong Kong, including in busy areas such as Wan Chai, Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Prince Edward."Let's see how they react -- I mean, the government. If they try to stop listening to us again then we will try to come out again and again. The government stopped listening to us and they just pretend they value us," a 27-year-old university student who gave her name as Chong said about the future of the movement.Police say officers and reporters injured (4 p.m.)Hong Kong's police force said protesters used corrosive fluid and injured "multiple police officers and reporters" in the Tuen Mun area near the Chinese border. In a tweet, police showed photos of what appeared to be chemical burns on an injured officer's upper body, a bloodied hand and uniforms with burn marks and holes. "The police strongly condemn the violent acts and appeal to members of the public to mind their personal safety," the force said.Police also issued a warning to people gathered in the suburban town of Sha Tin, saying "radical protesters" had built barricades and paralyzed traffic in the vicinity. "Having given repeated warnings in vain, police officers have deployed tear gas and appropriate force to disperse the protesters," they said in a statement.Central crowds thin (3:10 p.m.)As a mass march from Causeway Bay to Central reached its end point, some of the crowd dispersed while others made their way to the Sheung Wan neighborhood nearby. Figo Chan of the Civil Human Rights Front, the organizer which had planned an October 1 march only to see it banned by police, said more than 100,000 people had turned out.The number of people who gathered for a rally in the Sham Shui Po area of Kowloon thinned out as the crowd ran from police, and only a few dozen remained, trying to decide where to go. Tear gas was fired at demonstrators in the Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan districts.Police fire tear gas (2:40 p.m.)Hong Kong police fired tear gas at protesters in the Wong Tai Sin area of Kowloon, earlier in the day than in recent protests. The force has come under scrutiny for what demonstrators say are aggressive tactics used to disperse them, including the clouds of tear gas that have floated over rallies in recent months, and an independent inquiry into their behavior is one of the movement's key demands. Police said Monday that they had fired 328 rounds during a violent day of protest Sunday.Demonstrators dismantle railings (2:15 p.m.)Some protesters dismantled railings outside the New Town Plaza shopping center in Sha Tin, according to live feeds from local outlet Apple Daily. Meanwhile, as people marched in the city center, some carried international flags and chanted: "Fight for Hong Kong, fight for freedom." Cable TV reported that part of Hennessy Road, a main thoroughfare through Hong Kong's financial hub, had been occupied by demonstrators."We are hoping to get international support and this is giving us more energy. We do not want to this to continue as we hope the five demands will be met as soon as possible. We have to keep fighting if they can't be met in the short term," said a protesters who gave his name as Mr. Lee. He was holding a Brazilian flag and said he'd been taking to the streets since early June.Protesters amass in parts of city (1:40 p.m.)Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in central areas of Hong Kong, forming a sea of black as they marched from shopping and tourism hub Causeway Bay in the direction of Central. Some people held out their palms and five fingers to symbolize the movement's five demands, and others held black balloons. People stepped on posters of leader Carrie Lam, police commissioner Stephen Lo, and pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho that lay on the ground.Since the handover from British rule, the mainland has to an extent destroyed Hong Kong's status as an international finance center, said a marcher who gave her name as Wong, 43, an employee at a manufacturing factory. "They didn't keep their promise in implementing universal suffrage."Riot police also gathered in the Sha Tin area of the New Territories as crowds arrived. The neighborhood has seen fierce clashes between protesters and police in recent weeks. Crowds came out despite afternoon temperatures that reached 91 degrees fahrenheit (32 celsius).Protesters begin gathering (1 p.m.)Hundreds of demonstrators began arriving in central areas of Hong Kong. In Causeway Bay, some handed out "V for Vendetta" masks and chanted: "There are no rioters, only tyranny! Five demands, not one less!""We are willing to fight for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong and China. We want to show the whole world Hong Kong people are eager to use peaceful ways" to achieve their demands, said Leung Kwok-hung, a local politician and co-organizer of a Tuesday march from Causeway Bay to Central, as he joined the crowd.Hong Kong makes more arrests (11:25 a.m.)Hong Kong's police said they had made 16 arrests so far on Tuesday, with charges including participating in an illegal assembly and the illegal possession of offensive weapons. Those arrested were between the ages of 17 and 36, officials said at a briefing. More than 1,500 people have been arrested since demonstrations kicked off in early June, and amnesty for those detained has become one of the pro-democracy movement's major demands.China rolls out military might (11 a.m.)The world got a glimpse of China's newest and most advanced defense technology, as a mass military pageant rolled through Beijing. Roughly 40% of the armaments will be shown officially for the first time, according to Chinese state television. That includes the Dongfeng-17, or DF-17, a ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle that can execute evasive maneuvers at superfast speeds to evade existing missile defense systems. There was also the DF-41 -- one of the world's longest-range missiles -- which is capable of hitting the continental U.S.Xi pledges national unity (10:15 a.m.)Xi vowed to press ahead with the "complete unification of the country" in a speech to start a grand military parade through Tiananmen Square. The address, which referenced similar remarks Mao Zedong made proclaiming the People's Republic's founding on Oct. 1, 1949, briefly touched the status of Hong Kong, saying China remained committed to the "one country, two systems" framework that has governed the Asian financial center since its return from British rule in 1997."China yesterday is already engraved in the history of mankind," Xi said, wearing the dark tunic Communist Party chiefs don for such occasions. "China today is created by hundreds of millions of hard-working Chinese. And China tomorrow will be even more prosperous."The president, who also serves as head of the Communist Party's Central Military Commission, then rode past the assembled troops standing in the sunroof a dark Red Flag limousine. "Follow the party! Fight to win! Build exemplary conduct!" the troops chanted as he passed.Xi arrives in Tiananmen Square (10 a.m.)Xi arrived in Beijing's Tiananmen Square accompanied by current and former state leaders, including predecessors Hu Jintao, 76, and Jiang Zemin, 93. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang gave an official pronouncement to start the ceremony, followed by an honor guard marching from the Monument to the People's Heroes across the square to the fire of a 70-gun salute. The national flag was raised as Xi sang along with the country's anthem, "March of the Volunteers."Smoggy skies in Beijing (9:30 a.m.)The Chinese capital was wreathed in a visible layer of thick smog Tuesday morning as columns of Chinese troops lined up for the military parade in Beijing. The city was ranked the seventh most polluted city in the world by AirVisual, while the U.S. embassy air pollution monitor in Beijing showed an air quality index of 159. Generally, policy makers in Beijing -- who have been praised for making progress on smog in recent years -- try and reduce air pollution ahead of major events by shutting down industry or through other measures. A number of other Chinese cities -- including Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chongqing -- were among the top 12 most polluted cities in the world along with Hong Kong, according to AirVisual.Cheung vows dialogue (8:12 a.m.)Hong Kong's acting leader, Matthew Cheung, said China continues to be "fully supportive" of the city's government to govern the city amid the wave of unrest. "Some radical protesters have consistently escalated violence, including illegal assembly, blocking roads, throwing petrol bombs, setting fires and attacking citizens," Cheung said. "It's not only harming the social order, but also impacting on the rule of law in the city and citizens' safety, as well as weighing further on the economy, which has already seen downward pressure."He also warned about the economic fallout from the protests, saying "trade relationships have turned complicated in recent months and are getting increasingly tense." Cheung reaffirmed Hong Kong's commitment to dialogue, days after Chief Executive Carrie Lam faced a barrage of questions about her government's handling of the unrest during her first town-hall-style dialogue session.More train stations closed (8 a.m.)Amid planned protests on Tuesday, subway operator MTR Corp. announced additional station closures as a "prudent measure to ensure the safety of passengers and our staff." The operator said the Causeway Bay, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Sha Tin, Che Kung Temple, Tsuen Wan West and Tuen Mun stations would be closed from 11 a.m. The transit company had earlier said that the central Admiralty and Wan Chai stations, as well as Kowloon's Prince Edward station, would remain closed.Major malls throughout the city including the upscale mall at the International Financial Centre in Central were also closed for the day.Flag raising ceremony (8 a.m.)Riot cops guarded an early morning flag-raising ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in the center of the city amid worries that protesters would try and disrupt the event. Lam left the event to her number 2 official, chief secretary Cheung, after announcing that she would travel to Beijing for the festivities.Subway closures (10:45 p.m., Monday)The MTR Corp. announced various subway closures on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon ahead of the Oct. 1 protests. The transit company said its trains would not stop at the city's central Admiralty and Wan Chai stops or the Prince Edward station on the other side of the harbor\--With assistance from James Mayger, Peter Martin, Iain Marlow, Josie Wong, Justin Chin, Stuart Biggs, Tiago Ramos Alfaro and Aaron Mc Nicholas.To contact the reporters on this story: Natalie Lung in Hong Kong at flung6@bloomberg.net;Annie Lee in Hong Kong at olee42@bloomberg.net;Alfred Liu in Hong Kong at aliu226@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Scott at bscott66@bloomberg.net, Daniel Ten Kate, Karen LeighFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
|
| North Korea launches missiles ahead of nuclear talks Posted: 01 Oct 2019 05:38 PM PDT  North Korea fired two missiles into the sea on Wednesday, a day after Washington and Pyongyang announced they would resume stalled nuclear talks later this week. The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired from Wonsan into the East Sea (Sea of Japan). Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo would hold a meeting of the National Security Council to decide how to respond to the firing.
|
| PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - Oct 2 Posted: 01 Oct 2019 05:16 PM PDT ![PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - Oct 2]( "PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - Oct 2") - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil his final Brexit offer on Wednesday to Brussels to end the Brexit deadlock, insisting in a speech to the Conservative party conference that his plan is a "reasonable compromise" and offers the last chance to avoid a chaotic no-deal exit. - Britain's John Lewis Partnership will cut a third of management roles as a part of a plan that will bring together its department stores and supermarkets in an attempt to cut 100 million pounds($122.90 million) a year from its costs.
|
| UPDATE 2-N.Korea launches at least one more projectile after announcing U.S. talks Posted: 01 Oct 2019 04:30 PM PDT ![UPDATE 2-N.Korea launches at least one more projectile after announcing U.S. talks]( "UPDATE 2-N.Korea launches at least one more projectile after announcing U.S. talks") North Korea carried out at least one more projectile launch on Wednesday, the South Korean military and Japanese officials said, a day after North Korea announced it will hold working-level talks with the United States at the weekend. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea fired an unidentified projectile on Wednesday morning from around Wonsan, in southeast Kangwon province, towards the sea to the east.
|
| Pharmacists warn of shortages in every category of drug as HRT supply issue continues Posted: 01 Oct 2019 03:27 PM PDT  Pharmacists have warned of shortages of every major type of medicine – including HRT, antidepressants and blood pressure pills. Drugs for diabetes, epilepsy and skin problems are among the treatments in short supply, along with common contraceptives, a survey suggests. The poll of more than 400 pharmacists found hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs were worst hit, with 84 per cent of respondents struggling to get hold of these products. Meanwhile, 67 per cent of pharmacists had seen shortages of contraceptives, 58 per cent experienced supply issues of antiepileptic drugs. And around 20 per cent of those polled declared shortages of antipsychotic drugs, with even more warning of difficulties obtaining medication to treat diabetes. Experts said there are a number of reasons for the shortages, including manufacturing problems, a paucity of some raw ingredients and the discontinuation of some brands. Pharmacists said they felt on a "knife edge" trying to cope with supply problems, which some fear will worsen in the event of a no-deal Brexit. A shortfall was reported across all 36 categories of medicines included in the survey of 420 community pharmacy professionals by Chemist and Druggist magazine. Those polled said it was increasingly difficult to explain current shortages to "angry and desperate" patients. It follows warnings of growing shortages of HRT, which are expected to continue until at least next summer. Around two thirds of HRT treatments are understood to have been affected by shortages. Leading HRT brands affected include Everol and Elleste, which between them are prescribed to more than 100,000 women a year – more than half of those on the treatment. Some women said they have been forced to seek supplies abroad in order to help manage debilitating symptoms of the menopause. One respondent to the survey said difficulties trying to source medicines has caused them to hand in their notice after 35 years as a pharmacist. Another said their team felt "on a knife-edge" trying to obtain such drugs. Dr Farah Jameel, of the British Medical Association, said: "There are lots of different reasons why drug shortages happen, but they are gradually getting worse and can have a serious effect on how quickly patients receive appropriate treatment. "Practices often won't know that a drug is in short supply until patients return from the pharmacy, and these extra GP appointments can dramatically add to their already burgeoning workload – as well as distressing patients." The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has raised concerns about shortages of many contraceptive pills, warning that it could result in a rise in unplanned pregnancies. It follows warnings about shortages of fluoxetine - commonly known as Prozac - as a result of manufacturing problems. The Department of Health and Social Care has written to GPs urging them to contact their patients who take the drug to ask how many supplies they have at home. Any patient with enough pills to last until November should not be issued with a repeat prescription, the magazine Pulse reported. A separate survey by The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) in August suggested that around 21 per cent of prescription drugs had suffered shortages in the previous three months. More than 90 per cent of respondents felt the shortages had increased over the previous year. Alima Batchelor, head of policy at PDA said: "Whilst these shortages cannot be ascribed to Brexit, they do show the need for concerted action to ensure that leaving the EU will not exacerbate an already unacceptable level of drug shortages." Pharmacists have warned of shortages of every major type of medicine – including HRT, antidepressants and blood pressure pills. Drugs for diabetes, epilepsy and skin problems are among the treatments in short supply, along with common contraceptives, a survey suggests. The poll of more than 400 pharmacists found hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs were worst hit, with 84 per cent of respondents struggling to get hold of these products. Meanwhile, 67 per cent of pharmacists had seen shortages of contraceptives, 58 per cent experienced supply issues of antiepileptic drugs. And around 20 per cent of those polled declared shortages of antipsychotic drugs, with even more warning of difficulties obtaining medication to treat diabetes. Experts said there are a number of reasons for the shortages, including manufacturing problems, a paucity of some raw ingredients and the discontinuation of some brands. Pharmacists said they felt on a "knife edge" trying to cope with supply problems, which some fear will worsen in the event of a no-deal Brexit. A shortfall was reported across all 36 categories of medicines included in the survey of 420 community pharmacy professionals by Chemist and Druggist magazine. Those polled said it was increasingly difficult to explain current shortages to "angry and desperate" patients. It follows warnings of growing shortages of HRT, which are expected to continue until at least next summer. Around two thirds of HRT treatments are understood to have been affected by shortages. Leading HRT brands affected include Everol and Elleste, which between them are prescribed to more than 100,000 women a year – more than half of those on the treatment. Some women said they have been forced to seek supplies abroad in order to help manage debilitating symptoms of the menopause. One respondent to the survey said difficulties trying to source medicines has caused them to hand in their notice after 35 years as a pharmacist. Another said their team felt "on a knife-edge" trying to obtain such drugs. Dr Farah Jameel, of the British Medical Association, said: "There are lots of different reasons why drug shortages happen, but they are gradually getting worse and can have a serious effect on how quickly patients receive appropriate treatment. "Practices often won't know that a drug is in short supply until patients return from the pharmacy, and these extra GP appointments can dramatically add to their already burgeoning workload – as well as distressing patients." The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has raised concerns about shortages of many contraceptive pills, warning that it could result in a rise in unplanned pregnancies. It follows warnings about shortages of fluoxetine - commonly known as Prozac - as a result of manufacturing problems. The Department of Health and Social Care has written to GPs urging them to contact their patients who take the drug to ask how many supplies they have at home. Any patient with enough pills to last until November should not be issued with a repeat prescription, the magazine Pulse reported. A separate survey by The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) in August suggested that around 21 per cent of prescription drugs had suffered shortages in the previous three months. More than 90 per cent of respondents felt the shortages had increased over the previous year. Alima Batchelor, head of policy at PDA said: "Whilst these shortages cannot be ascribed to Brexit, they do show the need for concerted action to ensure that leaving the EU will not exacerbate an already unacceptable level of drug shortages."
|
| Britain to table 'final' Brexit proposals Wednesday Posted: 01 Oct 2019 02:47 PM PDT  Prime Minister Boris Johnson will submit "final" proposals for a new Brexit agreement on Wednesday, officials said, warning that if the European Union did not engage with them, Britain would leave the bloc this month with no divorce deal. "If Brussels does not engage with the offer made tomorrow, then this government will not negotiate further until we have left the EU," the statement said. Johnson would "in no circumstances" seek to delay Brexit at the upcoming Brussels summit on October 17 and 18, it said.
|
| Trump’s Treacherous Ties to a Murderous Prince Posted: 01 Oct 2019 02:17 PM PDT  Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/GettyWarning: This post mentions violent contentPARIS—The documents have been handed over by the Trump administration ever so slowly. There may be hundreds of thousands to sift through, and at the rate things are going, as a federal judge has pointed out, that could take at least eight years. So far, after more than nine months, only a couple of thousand pages have been culled from the intelligence community, the Defense Department, the Justice Department, and the State Department, released reluctantly under the Freedom of Information Act. And most of those pages are blanked out.The subject is the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post. He was killed and butchered—literally butchered, his head cut off, his joints severed—in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, one year ago on October 2. And ever since, the Saudi government and the Trump administration have insisted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, was oblivious to the plot. Never mind that it was carried out by a well organized and well resourced hit team composed of people from the prince's entourage.We know from multiple reports in the press that the Central Intelligence Agency knew better; that it judged with "medium to high confidence" that MBS personally targeted Khashoggi, whose dissident opinions and influential contacts had made him seem a threat to the Saudi state as MBS wants it ruled, which is to say, with absolute power.The Real Reasons Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Wanted Khashoggi 'Dead or Alive'But it is clear the CIA is not going to part with that damning report any time soon, so I asked Amrit Singh with the George Soros-funded Open Society Justice Initiative, who has spearheaded the fight for the documents, the most important thing to be learned from them thus far."What the documents reveal," she said bluntly, "is that the Trump administration's cover-up of the murder continues." Bleeding the CorpseOther sources have yielded graphic details of the killing and listed the participants, drawing heavily on recordings the Turkish government made with bugs placed in the consulate.The most complete and reliable public account so far is the report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary killings, Agnès Callamard, published last June. But over the weekend, the BBC aired an interview with Baroness Helena Kennedy, who was invited to join Callamard's team listening to the tapes, and who added some grim nuances."The horror of listening to somebody's voice, the fear in someone's voice, and that you're listening to something live. It makes a shiver go through your body," Kennedy said.We know from the U.N. report and other leaked details that Khashoggi, who had gone to the consulate to pick up some papers certifying his divorce, realized very quickly he was going to be kidnapped or killed. He struggled. He was suffocated. And then he was dismembered by a Saudi forensic pathologist, Dr. Salah al-Tubaigy.Exposing Trump's Khashoggi CoverupWhat Kennedy recorded in her notes injects an added bit of horror to an already grotesque scene. The doctor apparently was trying to be nonchalant, half-joking about what was to come, about "the sacrificial animal."The doctor talks about doing autopsies, which are usually on a table. "He says, 'I often play music when I'm cutting cadavers. And sometimes I have a coffee and a cigar at hand,'" Kennedy told the BBC. "You can hear them laughing."There really was not much doubt about the way the hit team expected things to play out, little question that they'd be taking Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia alive."It's the first time in my life, I will have to cut [up] pieces on the ground," al-Tubaigy said, according to Kennedy's notes. "Even if you are a butcher you hang the animal up to do so."But there was no place to bleed out Khashoggi like a slaughtered sheep or camel, so the floor of an office in the consulate had been covered in plastic. The Litmus TestIn some form, perhaps a bit more sanitized, all this gore must be in the CIA report and other documents currently withheld by the Trump administration. But thanks to leaks from the Turks, the general picture of what happened was available to the press and the public everywhere in the world by the end of October last year. By mid-November, after changing stories multiple times, the Saudi Public Prosecutor's Office was announcing officially that 11 suspects in the Khashoggi murder had been indicted and five of them charged with murder, but no names were given except to say that MBS knew nothing about the crime. His foreign minister followed up by denouncing a "vicious" campaign to politicize the assassination.When CBS interviewed MBS just last week, it didn't really advance the story. He acknowledged "responsibility" but not guilt, and the trials that were supposed to have begun in January have remained completely opaque.The UN's Agnès Callamard summed up the inadequacy of MBS's recent declarations in a thread on Twitter. "The identity of the killers and planners point to a far closer relationship between them and him than he is prepared to admit," she wrote Monday. "The operation could not have been implemented with such flagrant confidence, resourcing and then—to this day impunity—without State sanction at the highest level."So, no, I didn't find anything new about the actual murder as I leafed through hundreds of pages of American cables and emails from late 2018. But I did find something else that hadn't struck me before.It is a measure of the fear that Mohammed bin Salman imposes not only on his people but on his neighbors that defending his personal innocence in the Khashoggi case quickly became a litmus test for loyalty and friendship on an international level.Many of the State Department documents obtained by the Open Society Justice Initiative are round-ups of reaction in the Arab world, and what we see is governments, directly or through official media, genuflecting before MBS, the rising son of Saudi Arabia's fading King Salman. The government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who seized power with Saudi backing in 2013, was especially obsequious. The heavily censored press ran coordinated coverage on October 29 "proclaiming the strength and importance of the Egypt-Saudi alliance," one State Department cable noted before pointing out some of the headlines, "Egypt and Saudi Arabia, part and parcel," was typical, and then there was this flowery gem: "The rains of Cairo irrigate the date palms of Riyadh."Barely three weeks after Khashoggi's murder, a Future Investment Initiative conference, meant to be a sort of "Davos in the Desert," was held in Riyadh. MBS, the driving force behind it, was also the guest of honor. Many American and European companies had dropped out because of the murder allegations, and U.S. embassy personnel were not allowed to attend. But those people who did show up seemed frantic to demonstrate their enthusiasm for MBS with standing ovations.Mohammed bin Rashid, the ruler of Dubai, went one step further, posting what the U.S. embassy cable calls an "impassioned poem" on Twitter: "Do not heed the noisemakers [also translated as 'screaming voices'], let them make noise," it concluded. "May you thrive and be safe, and may you win your bets." FeelingsA month later, in late November, President Donald Trump was still being asked questions about the slaughter of Jamal Khashoggi, and while he couldn't compose a poem to obscure the facts, he could weave his responses into a dense, inconclusive fog, as shown in a White House press pool report in the documents handed over by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.Asked if failure to penalize Saudi Arabia for the murder sent a message to other countries they could do as they please, Trump rambled on about how great the Saudis are at keeping the price of gas down—so great that he, Donald Trump, is blamed for traffic jams. "Can you believe this one?""But very importantly," Trump said, "they're investing billions of dollars, they're buying their equipment from us. And remember this: they don't have to buy from us. They could buy from Russia, and they could buy from China."When the pool reporter said, "The CIA has concluded...," Trump cut him off. "No, they did not. They did not come to a conclusion. They have feelings, certain ways, but—I have the report."They have not concluded. Nobody's concluded. I don't know if anyone could conclude that the crown prince did it. But I will say this, whether he did or whether he didn't, he denies it vehemently. His father denies, the king, vehemently. The CIA doesn't say they did it. They do point out certain things, and in pointing out those things, you can conclude that maybe he did or maybe he didn't. But that was another part of the false reporting. Because a lot of you said yesterday that they said he did it. Well they didn't say that. They said he might've done it. That's a big difference."Trump went on about the Saudis "vehemently denying it" then segued to "we have hundreds of thousands of jobs. Do people really want me to give up hundreds of thousands of jobs, and frankly if we went by this standard, we wouldn't be able to have anybody as an ally. Because look at what happens all over the world… Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a vicious place. The world is a very, very vicious place… Till this happened, a lot of people were saying a lot of good things about the crown prince. So he strongly denies it, he denies it. And my policy is very simply: America First, Keep America Great Again. And that's what I'm doing and we're doing better than anyone thought possible… Have a happy Thanksgiving!"The short version of all that? Mohammed bin Salman won his bets.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
|
| The Extra-Secret White House Computer System, Explained Posted: 01 Oct 2019 02:12 PM PDT  WASHINGTON -- The whistleblower who revealed President Donald Trump's attempt to pressure Ukraine's leader to open investigations that could benefit him politically also accused White House officials of essentially hiding a rough record of the conversation by placing it in the same highly restricted computer system for closely guarded government secrets.In his complaint, the whistleblower cited White House officials who portrayed the storage of the call record in that system as "solely for the purpose of protecting politically sensitive -- rather than national security sensitive -- information" and labeled it an "abuse." Here is how the restricted storage system works, according to interviews with more than a half-dozen former National Security Council staff members who spoke on the condition of anonymity.How do aides usually store records of presidential calls with foreign leaders?Most of the time, the National Security Council -- the foreign policy arm of the White House -- memorializes presidential phone or video calls with foreign heads of state on the so-called TNet system, the officials said. This is a top-secret-level computer network that is the main platform the aides use to do their jobs. It connects with a top-secret network called JWICS, which is more widely used elsewhere in the executive branch.TNet has access controls and auditing safeguards. For example, it keeps track of who created or uploaded files, who looked at them, who modified them and how and who printed them out. When officials create a "package" -- essentially, a new file -- in TNet, they can set controls so any colleague who works on a particular subject, like European affairs or counterterrorism, has access.What goes in TNet?Officials can store any file that is classified to the top-secret level -- the highest classification -- so long as it is not "code word," a term referring to a specialized category of even more delicate top-secret information that officials are permitted to know about only if they have been granted specific access to it.Officials with a general top-secret security clearance will not be given code-word clearance to learn about covert activities unrelated to their work. For example, an aide working on North Korea policy would not have been told about planning for the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. Similarly, files containing intelligence supporting the planned raid were not stored in the ordinary TNet system.Where does the National Security Council store its more sensitive files?The council also has an even more locked-down system called NICE, for NSC Intelligence Collaboration Environment. NICE appears to be what the whistleblower was referring to as a "stand alone" computer system managed by the council's directorate for intelligence programs. One former official said it was better understood as a subdomain of TNet.Foreign policy aides typically use NICE to develop and store documents related to code-word programs. For example, staff members working on a covert activity might use NICE to draft a presidential finding or decision memo about it. When they are done, they would print a copy for the president to sign.Why store secrets in NICE?It significantly reduces the number of people who can gain access to it. About only 20% of National Security Council staff members are NICE users, one former official said. They can log into the system from their work computers using virtual private network software that limits each of them to using that particular workstation.When NICE users create or upload a new file, they can give only other individual NICE users access to it by name; unlike in TNet, they cannot invite entire groups, the former official said.Is it an "abuse" to use the NICE system to store a file that is not top-secret code word?Using the NICE system to curtail access to the record of Trump's call with the leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, may very well be, as the whistleblower also wrote, a sign "that White House officials understood the gravity of what had transpired in the call." But calling it an "abuse" appears to be subjective.Generally, the national security adviser can decide who can see what files. No rule prohibits putting a file with a lower-level classification into the NICE system in order to take advantage of its greater access restrictions, a former official said.By contrast, the official said, it would clearly be an abuse -- violating a specific prohibition in an executive order governing classified information -- to mark something classified at an unjustifiably higher level in order to conceal violations of the law or prevent embarrassment. Here, however, the released call record was merely marked "secret," a lower level of classification than "top secret."How do readouts of head-of-state calls get put together?According to multiple former officials who have helped create the records, the process typically starts with a note-taker who works for the White House Situation Room and monitors the call. The Situation Room uses voice-to-text software to create a rough transcription in real time -- no recording is made -- and then the note-taker takes a first pass at cleaning it up by correcting any obvious garbled moments.That draft is then passed to a subject-matter expert on the National Security Council staff who was also listening to the call. That specialist -- who has a greater familiarity of foreign names and places -- edits the record. At the end of the process, the aides give the record to the national security adviser.Is the White House account of Trump's Ukraine call accurate and complete?Beyond the fact that the memo is not a verbatim transcript, it contains three ellipses where Trump was speaking -- and each in a place where he was asking the Ukrainian president for investigations.It is not clear if this indicates that Trump trailed off or that something was cut out of the reconstruction. It is also not clear whether any notes exist by U.S. officials that would indicate whether he said anything more in those spots.But one official said that any notes or draft documents discussed by two or more National Security Council officials counts as a "record" that may not lawfully be destroyed under the Presidential Records Act. However, the initial file produced by the voice-to-text software would not count as a record and could be lawfully deleted, the official said.What about in Ukraine?It is not clear whether the administration of Zelenskiy recorded his call with Trump. Previous Ukrainian governments did not record calls with world leaders, according to a former senior Ukrainian official familiar with the process. Instead, with high-profile and strategically important foreign officials, Ukrainian leaders would have advisers listen in and take detailed notes, he said.The transcript released by the White House of Trump's July call with Zelenskiy was accurate and comprehensive, a Ukrainian official familiar with it said, adding that significant information was not omitted, including by the ellipses.This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2019 The New York Times Company
|
| Your Evening Briefing Posted: 01 Oct 2019 02:12 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every afternoon? Sign up hereU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to cooperate with the timing of the impeachment inquiry as Democrats warned him of the potential consequences. Pompeo is now a central figure in the probe since it was revealed he was on the line when President Donald Trump asked the president of Ukraine to reanimate unsubstantiated allegations tied to former Vice President Joseph Biden. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that Attorney General William Barr personally asked foreign officials to aid him in investigating the origins of Robert Mueller's probe of alleged collusion between Trump's campaign and the Kremlin. The president has sought to undercut the origins of the special counsel's probe of Russia's effort to throw the 2016 election. Here are today's top storiesTrump and some Republican allies are scrambling to identify the whistle-blower who triggered impeachment, blowing up years of precedent aimed at promoting government accountability. One Republican said the whistle-blower deserves to be protected while others criticized him for including secondhand accounts. The intelligence community's inspector general said the whistleblower law doesn't require first-hand knowledge. The State Department approved a $39 million sale of additional Javelin anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. This deal is separate from the $250 million of congressionally authorized military aid that was held up by Trump until after the July 25 call in which he sought Ukraine's help with Biden.Communist China's 70th birthday was marked by the first police shooting of a protester in Hong Kong as democracy demonstrations intensified. According to one account, video showed the 18-year-old, who remains in critical condition after surgery, on the ground with blood "spilling from his chest." Trump congratulated President Xi Jinping on China's anniversary, which was celebrated in Beijing with a big military parade.The global economy flashed grim warnings Tuesday as a wave of data showed manufacturing slumping, exports falling and sentiment sliding. In America, the news is particularly bad, thanks in part to the trade war. Stocks tanked.Norway unexpectedly took almost $400 million from its sovereign wealth fund in August. The mystery is what the Nordic country did with it.Credit Suisse exonerated Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam as one of his key allies took the fall for a corporate spying scandal.What's Joe Weisenthal thinking about? The Bloomberg news director is still focused on how Beijing's domestic policies suppress the well-being of Chinese and American workers. By subsidizing elites, China pushes capital abroad, boosting U.S. real estate prices and the dollar while making it harder for Americans to afford homes or remain competitive. But Joe notes there's a key beneficiary to all this suffering by people who work for a living in both countries: bankers. The Trump administration's idea of putting limits on Chinese listings on U.S. exchanges may have actually helped address this, but the White House has been backing away.What you'll need to know tomorrowThere's another Trump administration whistleblower—at the IRS. A month before the Brexit deadline, Boris Johnson is in trouble. Bonds got a taste of what happens when central banks retreat. Bitcoin isn't the world's most-used cryptocurrency. This is. Senator Bernie Sanders raised $25.3 million in the third quarter. Schwab slashed online stock and ETF fees in a growing price war. Yes, robots are hurting your pay check.What you'll want to read in Bloomberg PursuitsThe cult of midcentury architecture has been going on for so long that its aesthetic is indistinguishable from contemporary design. White walls? Check. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows? Check. Spare interiors with judicious flourishes of wood and marble? But of course. Bloomberg Pursuits explores why this style remains so pervasive. To contact the author of this story: David Rovella in New York at drovella@bloomberg.netFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
|
| Final proposal: UK PM Johnson to unveil Brexit offer to EU Posted: 01 Oct 2019 02:00 PM PDT ![Final proposal: UK PM Johnson to unveil Brexit offer to EU]( "Final proposal: UK PM Johnson to unveil Brexit offer to EU") Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday unveil his final Brexit offer to the European Union and make clear that if Brussels does not engage with the proposal, Britain will not negotiate further and will leave on Oct. 31. In his closing speech to his governing Conservatives' annual conference, Johnson will stick to his hard line on Brexit, offering the party faithful the first details of what he will describe as his "fair and reasonable compromise". With less than a month until Britain is due to leave the EU, the future of Brexit, the country's biggest trade and foreign policy shift in more than 40 years, is uncertain.
|
| Republicans split with Trump on celebrating China Posted: 01 Oct 2019 01:41 PM PDT  President Donald Trump congratulated the People's Republic of China for its 70th anniversary Tuesday morning. Senate Republicans were in no mood to celebrate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) compared China under President Xi Jinping to a "modern version of Maoist China" and criticized the government for violence against pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong and placing Uighurs — a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group — in internment camps.
|
| Shadowy Iran commander gives interview on 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war Posted: 01 Oct 2019 01:11 PM PDT  The shadowy head of Iran's elite Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, gave an insight on his role in Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, in a rare interview broadcast Tuesday on state television. The 90-minute interview was presented as the first of its kind with Soleimani, top commander of the Revolutionary Guards branch that runs foreign operations. Soleimani said he spent almost the entire duration of the 34-day conflict in Lebanon, which he entered from Syria alongside Imad Moughnieh, a commander of the Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah who was assassinated in 2008.
|
| Saudi Arabia's crown prince is trying to silence criticism of Jamal Khashoggi's murder, his fiancee says Posted: 01 Oct 2019 12:37 PM PDT  Saudi Arabia's crown prince is accepting "responsibility" for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a bid to draw a line under his killing and make the world look away, the journalist's fiancée has said. Hatice Cengiz, 37, told The Daily Telegraph that she was unimpressed by Mohammad bin Salman's recent round of interviews, on the anniversary of Khashoggi's death, in which he accepted responsibility, as a leader of the nation, but denied ordering the murder. "The crown prince's comments are a general tactic to silence the case, and quieten the media," she said. "I think the timing of his statement was very interesting. In a few days it's going to be the anniversary of Jamal's killing, and it will be hotly debated in the world. In the last year international media has exerted huge pressure on this. "Up until now, we have had nothing but silence from the Saudi side. "There is a court proceeding going on in Saudi Arabia. Eleven people are on trial. But we don't know how it is being handled. It's going on behind closed doors, and we are not informed of any details of the hearings. "So Saudi Arabia could not explain that much. Many questions remain unanswered." Jamal Khashoggi was murdered on October 2, 2018, inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul Khashoggi, a Saudi-born journalist and critic of the kingdom, was murdered on October 2. He had gone into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain a marriage licence, but never came out. A team of 15 Saudi assassins waited for him inside, killing him and dismembering his body before flying out of the country on a government plane. The murderers were heard laughing and joking about killing him, shortly before he entered the consulate, in wiretaps released by the Turkish government. Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, QC, a leading critic of human rights abuses in the Gulf state, said that Salah al-Tubaigy, a forensic pathologist, and Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, an aide of the crown prince, were caught on the recordings. "Tubaigy says: 'It's the first time in my life that I'll have had to cut pieces on the ground. Even if you're a butcher and you want to cut... he hangs the animal up to do so,' " she told the BBC One programme Panorama. "It's a sort of chilling business. They're waiting there knowing that this man is going to come in and he's going to be murdered. "There is no doubt in my mind that this was a seriously, highly organised mission coming from the top. This was not some flaky maverick operation. Something treacherous and terrible happened in that embassy. The international community has a responsibility to insist on a high-level judicial inquiry." Hatice Cengiz, Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee Miss Cengiz, a researcher on the Middle East, said she had been left "highly disappointed" by the indifference shown by world leaders to his death. She has travelled to several EU countries and the US to rally calls for justice, yet has failed to secure concrete results. Britain, she said, "didn't want to shake the ground." Asked if the crown prince's statements were an attempt to make the headlines go away, she replied: "Exactly." Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, said it was "reprehensible" that it was business as usual with Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia has bought its way out of accountability," she told The Telegraph. "It sets a terrible precedent for the world." Mrs Callamard, a French human rights expert, took it upon herself to investigate, on behalf of the UN, the murder. "No one asked me to do the investigation," she said. "But it needed to be done." Donald Trump meeting Mohammad bin Salman in the White House in March 2018 - seven months before Jamal Khashoggi's killing She began her study in January, and in June presented her report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. She concluded that there was credible evidence, warranting further investigation, of high-level Saudi officials' individual liability - including that of Mohammad bin Salman. "His killing was the result of elaborate planning involving extensive coordination and significant human and financial resources," she wrote. "It was overseen, planned and endorsed by high-level officials. It was premeditated." Mrs Callamard applauded Canada for speaking out, but said she was saddened that when Saudi responded furiously, expelling the ambassador, no other country came to Canada's defence. The country, she said, "is still licking its wounds". And she was particularly critical of the United Nations and its secretary-general, Antonio Guterres. She accused him of having "hidden behind his interpretation of the UN Charter," and lacking the courage to get involved. "The UN initially could not find its role," she said. "It was silent and ineffective. The killing has shown the accountability deficit within the UN. "Mr Guterres has resisted my demands for a full inquiry. Why has he not followed up on my investigation? I have asked for a panel of criminal law experts, to pursue the determination of criminal culpability. "I think it's a pity. It's damaging. And it hints at the inability of the UN to stand up to its most influential actors." Mr Guterres's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told The Telegraph that the UN leader had "always believed that the killing of Jamal Kashoggi was a horrendous crime." He added that Mr Guterres has "clearly condemned it and called for a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation, and accountability for those responsible." Mr Dujarric said: "The Secretary-General does not have the power or the authority to launch criminal investigations without a mandate from a competent intergovernmental body. Power and authority to do that lies with Member States. "If a full and effective criminal investigation is not conducted by Member States, the only way to effectively pursue an investigation, requiring the cooperation of relevant Member States, would be through a resolution of the Security Council, under the appropriate Charter provisions. All Member States should cooperate with those efforts." Mrs Callamard urged all those angry at Khashoggi's murder to write to their MPs, although she admitted that "part of the problem" was that Britain – a strong, historical ally of Riyadh - is "in the midst of a historical crisis." The Foreign Office pointed out that they have, in private and in public, raised the issue with the Saudi leadership. The US state department did not respond to The Telegraph's request for comment, when asked what the US had done to seek justice for a US citizen murdered abroad. Donald Trump and Mohammed Bin Salman in Osaka in June - seven months after Khashoggi's murder "It appalled me to see Donald Trump hugging Mohammad bin Salman at the G20 meeting in Osaka, while other world leaders waves and smiled at the cameras," she said. "They should absolutely have walked out. "Many companies boycotted the 'Davos in the Desert' meeting, held in Saudi shortly after his murder. But now the vast majority are back. It's reprehensible. "I'm not saying don't do business with Saudi Arabia. But do it with respect for your values, and take a stand. That's truly the best way to pay homage to Jamal Khashoggi."
|
| Brother of Iranian president sentenced to five years imprisonment on corruption charges Posted: 01 Oct 2019 12:17 PM PDT  The brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been sentenced to five years in prison on corruption charges, a spokesman for Iran's judiciary said at a press conference on Tuesday, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. The charges against Hossein Fereydoun included bribery, judiciary spokesman Gholam Hosein Esmaeili said, according to the news agency. President Rouhani, who was elected in 2013 on a platform that included fighting corruption, has not spoken publicly about the case.
|
| Ukraine Peace Talks Get Breakthrough as Kyiv Accepts Compromise Posted: 01 Oct 2019 12:09 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Talks to end the five-year conflict in eastern Ukraine produced the first major breakthrough since a lapsed 2015 peace accord, paving the way for an international summit to cement progress.Negotiators meeting Tuesday in the Belarusian capital of Minsk agreed on a schedule under which elections will be held in the breakaway regions and a new law will be passed granting them special status. The plan was proposed by Frank-Walter Steinmeier when he was Germany's foreign minister and is known as the Steinmeier formula.The agreement comes as new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy targets better relations with Russia. He reiterated Tuesday that Ukraine wants a cease-fire, a withdrawal of Russian-backed fighters and control of its border back before ballots are cast."If we want elections under Ukrainian law, we understand the border should be ours," Zelenskiy told a news conference in Kyiv. Elections can't be held if "any troops" remain in the disputed regions, he said.Ukraine and Russia, one-time allies, have been at loggerheads since protesters in Kyiv ousted Kremlin-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. Russia went on to annex Crimea and foment the conflict in Ukraine's Donbas region, which has killed more than 13,000 people.The hostilities have triggered U.S. and European Union sanctions against Russia, rekindling Cold War rivalries."The Steinmeier formula itself carries no threat or betrayal," Oleksiy Haran, a politics professor at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, said by phone. "The Ukrainian position is that security requirements are fulfilled before elections and that elections are conducted freely. So the question is: will Ukraine go back on these points, which would be very bad, or will it insist on them?"Signs of a detente between Moscow and Kyiv were on display last month in a mass exchange of prisoners, including 24 Ukrainian sailors detained last year in a naval clash with Russia.'No Capitulation'But Zelenskiy has said special status for Donbas won't include changes to Ukraine's constitution, which lays out goals for membership of the EU and NATO. The Kremlin opposes its neighbor's plans for Western integration, which sparked tensions between the two former allies back in 2013.Special-status legislation will be drafted by parliament in "close cooperation and consultation with society," Zelenskiy said. "No red lines will be crossed in the new law. That's why there will be no capitulation."The next step could be negotiations involving the leaders of Germany and France alongside Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- the so-called Normandy format for talks.Tuesday's development opens the way to such a meeting and steps toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict, according to Alexei Chesnakov, a former Kremlin official who continues to consult for the Russian authorities on Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "the door is open" to further progress in the implementation of the 2015 Minsk peace accord."Today, the final obstacles have been removed to holding a summit of the Normandy four," Zelenskiy said. "We'll know the date in the very near future."(Updates with Russian, German reaction in penultimate paragraph.)\--With assistance from Patrick Donahue and Henry Meyer.To contact the reporters on this story: Aliaksandr Kudrytski in Minsk, Belarus at akudrytski@bloomberg.net;Volodymyr Verbyany in Kyiv at vverbyany1@bloomberg.net;Kateryna Choursina in Kyiv at kchoursina@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrea Dudik at adudik@bloomberg.net, Andrew LangleyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
|
| The Latest: Protests in Iraq leave 2 dead, scores wounded Posted: 01 Oct 2019 11:47 AM PDT  The officials say the casualties occurred in the city of Nasiriyah, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad during anti-government protests that turned violent. Iraqi security forces fired live bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. The confrontations were some of the worst in the Iraqi capital in more than a year, and signaled that the war-weary country could be facing a new round of political instability.
|
| Trump Congratulates China While Republicans Fault Communist Rule Posted: 01 Oct 2019 11:42 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Republican lawmakers are harshly criticizing the Chinese Communist Party, drawing a sharp contrast with President Donald Trump's congratulatory message to President Xi Jinping on the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the occasion should serve as a reminder of the "many millions of lives lost under Chinese communist rule," a very different message than the congratulations Trump tweeted to Xi Tuesday morning."Xi Jinping's China looks disturbingly like a modern version of Maoist China," McConnell said.McConnell, along with Senators Tom Cotton and Ben Sasse, called attention to protests in Hong Kong, with Cotton saying the dissent shows the price of "a ghoulish 70 years of Chinese Communist Party control."Police in Hong Kong shot an 18-year-old man during clashes with protesters in the city, which has been the site of pro-democracy demonstrations since a controversial extradition law was introduced in June. Both chambers of Congress are working on legislation to require an annual review of the city's autonomy."Today Chinese tyrants celebrated 70 years of communist oppression with their typically brutal symbolism: by sending a police officer to shoot a pro-democracy protester at point-blank range," Sasse said.Senator Pat Toomey, a free-trade Republican, said human rights violations are "systemic" in China and that "the Orwellian surveillance state constructed by Xi should give everyone pause."While Trump has gotten bipartisan praise for taking a stronger stance against China's trade practices and theft of intellectual property, some lawmakers from both parties have urged him to hold China accountable for human rights abuses. The two countries are also negotiating a trade truce after scaling up tariffs that are beginning to drag on economic growth in both countries.Representatives Liz Cheney, a member of the House GOP leadership, and Mike Gallagher said the anniversary was not "a day for celebration" and called it "an opportunity to remember the victims, past and present, of the Chinese Communist Party."(Updates with McConnell comments beginning in second paragraph.)To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Flatley in Washington at dflatley1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Laurie AsséoFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
|
| Brexit means Europe not blameless in global trade gloom - Merkel Posted: 01 Oct 2019 11:12 AM PDT ![Brexit means Europe not blameless in global trade gloom - Merkel]( "Brexit means Europe not blameless in global trade gloom - Merkel") Europe is not blameless in the trade tensions casting a pall over the global economy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, mentioning the lengthening Brexit negotiations as a source of uncertainty to stand beside the United States-China trade war. Speaking after a meeting with leaders of multilateral financial institutions on Tuesday, Merkel declined to lay the blame for the slowing global economy solely on U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line stance on trade with China.
|
| Spain's window for Sephardic Jews to seek nationality closes Posted: 01 Oct 2019 10:53 AM PDT ![Spain's window for Sephardic Jews to seek nationality closes]( "Spain's window for Sephardic Jews to seek nationality closes") Spain's Justice Ministry says that the four-year period for the descendants of Sephardic Jews to apply for Spanish citizenship has closed. The ministry said Tuesday that 132,226 people who claim Sephardic origins have requested Spanish citizenship since the law offering them the opportunity took effect in 2015. The Spanish government issued the law to repair the "historical mistake" Spain made when it forced its Jewish population to convert or go into exile in 1492.
|
| Colombia spy chief quits over faulty dossier linking Venezuela to rebels Posted: 01 Oct 2019 10:34 AM PDT  * Gen Oswaldo Peña stresses 'need to take responsibility' * President Iván Duque brandished file during UN addressVenezuela's President Nicolás Maduro holds a placard that reads 'Fake pictures presented by Iván Duque at the UN' during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, on Monday. Photograph: Manaure Quintero/ReutersColombia's intelligence chief has resigned over a discredited dossier which supposedly proved that Venezuelan authorities were sheltering Colombian rebels, amid an escalating information war between the two neighbouring countries.The Colombian president, Iván Duque, brandished the file at the United Nations general assembly in New York last week, claiming that it was "conclusive proof" that Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, was harbouring Colombian guerrillas.Ample evidence has emerged to support Colombia's concerns; the presence of fighters from the National Liberation Army (ELN) has been reported hundreds of miles across the border, and the group is believed to be responsible for a string of massacres in rural Venezuela last October.But it soon emerged that Duque's dossier included years-old, uncredited press photos, which were actually taken in Colombia – not in Venezuela.Colombian officials dismissed the issue as a simple failure to credit sources, but late on Monday, the armed forces' intelligence chief, Gen Oswaldo Peña, resigned.In a letter to Duque, Peña claimed he was resigning for personal reasons, though made mention of the scandal. "As a general of the republic, I am conscious of the need to take responsibility for my actions and those of my subalterns, so am acting accordingly," he wrote.Diplomatic relations between Colombia and Venezuela have grown increasingly strained since Bogotá backed Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan opposition leader who has become the figurehead of opposition to Maduro.Chief among Colombia's criticisms of the Venezuelan president are accusations that he has sheltered Colombian leftist militias including the ELN and the now-demobilised Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or Farc).Farc signed a peace deal with the Colombian government in 2016, but when two dissident rebel leaders announced in August that they were returning to war, Colombian officials claimed they were already in Venezuela.However, analysts say Colombia is shooting itself in the foot with its repeated blunders, especially after photographs emerged last month of Guaidó posing with rightwing Colombian paramilitaries while crossing the border in February."It sure seems like, through sheer carelessness, the Colombian government keeps handing undeserved propaganda victories to the Maduro regime," said Adam Isacson, a security analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, a thinktank."US, Colombian and Venezuelan non-governmental organizations and media outlets have already produced credible reports of Venezuelan cooperation with Colombian guerrilla groups," Isacson went on to say. "The Duque government's sloppiness is undercutting that narrative."Maduro's government also used its appearance at the UN to weaponize false information. Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez presented coordinates for what she described as camps inside Colombia where "terrorists" were plotting against Venezuela.But the local website Colombia Reports found that two of the coordinates were locations in the Caribbean sea, while the third appeared to be the front yard of a house in the Colombian city of Maicao.
|
| U.S. hopes Brexit can be worked out in least disruptive way- commerce secretary Ross Posted: 01 Oct 2019 10:23 AM PDT ![U.S. hopes Brexit can be worked out in least disruptive way- commerce secretary Ross]( "U.S. hopes Brexit can be worked out in least disruptive way- commerce secretary Ross") The United States is hoping that Brexit can be worked out in the least disruptive way and businesses are worried about supply chains and logistics, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Tuesday. "They're very, very uncertain about the outcome and particularly worried about supply chain implications and the sheer logistics of moving goods," Ross told Sky News.
|
| Slain Saudi writer's fiancee says prince must give answers Posted: 01 Oct 2019 10:16 AM PDT  The fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said Tuesday that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has a duty to answer questions now that he has accepted responsibility for the killing inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last year. Hatice Cengiz told The Associated Press she is apprehensive about returning to the site Wednesday for a ceremony marking the anniversary of Khashoggi's death, but takes strength knowing she won't be alone this time. Cengiz waited outside the consulate last year on Oct. 2 as Khashoggi entered to collect documents needed to marry her.
|
| Chinese president declares 'no force' can shake China as it unveils advanced new weapons Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:50 AM PDT  Chinese President Xi Jinping declared on Tuesday that "no force" could rattle his nation as it celebrated 70 years of Communist party rule by showcasing its military prowess in a highly choreographed parade of 15,000 troops and high-tech missiles and weaponry. "There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation," said Mr Xi, emphasising Chinese unity and development as he addressed his citizens and the world from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the symbolic seat of power. "No force can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead," he told jubilant crowds waving the national flag during his eight-minute speech from the top of the Tiananmen Gate, where Chairman Mao Zedong announced the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Hours later, however, huge and chaotic demonstrations by thousands of protesters in Hong Kong, and public shock after the police shooting of a teenager in the chest, threatened to steal President Xi's thunder. China: Beijing celebrations mark 70 years of Communist rule in pictures Ahead of the anticipated Hong Kong unrest, Mr Xi, dressed in a dark grey Mao suit for the meticulously planned occasion, had tried to steer the domestic and international narrative towards the triumph of Chinese nationalism that had lifted the nation of 1.4 billion from the "humiliation" of colonialism. Briefly addressing the situation in Hong Kong, where pro-democracy protests have raged for four months, presenting the greatest popular challenge since he rose to power in 2012, he stressed that China was committed to "long term stability" and "to strive for the complete unification of our country." Mr Xi has grand ambitions to lead a unified China – to control semi-autonomous territories Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the democratic, self-governed Taiwan - as he steers the nation towards replacing the US as the dominant power in Asia-Pacific region. Military vehicles roll down during a parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan At the core of his projection of power on Tuesday was the ostentatious three-hour long display of modern weapons that China has amassed in its armory, including a hypersonic-glide missile, the DF-17, that experts say could be difficult for the United States to counter. The parade boasted new unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as the showpiece Dongfeng-41, an intercontinental missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, that could threaten American military assets in Asia as well as the US mainland. The missile arsenal was a "force for realising the dream of a strong nation and strong military," declared a state television announcer. Mr Xi said that his country would stay on the path of "peaceful development," but stressed that the military would resolutely safeguard the country's sovereignty and security, before he entered a black limousine to inspect his troops, who bellowed: "Follow the party! Fight to win!" The military spectacle was followed by a civilian parade, featuring symbols of the country's economic achievements, and a ceremonial 56-cannon salute – to represent the country's minority ethnic groups – was shot 70 times to mark the anniversary. China hardware Ahead of the celebration, much of the capital was on lockdown, with roads sealed and radio signals blocked. However, curious citizens still made their way to the square to view the elaborate preparations. A 34-year-old monk from Wenzhou, southeast China, who had a national flag sticker on his forehead, said he had traveled to almost all of China's provinces over the past six months in honour of the 70th anniversary. "I went on the journey in celebration of the prosperity of our country," he said.
|
| Turning farmland into 'wildlife parks' could boost farmers post-Brexit profits, campaigners say Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:42 AM PDT  Converting farmland into wildlife parks could boost landowner's profits post-Brexit, rewilding campaigners say, amid concerns over the loss of EU subsidies. If Britain leaves the EU without a deal the farming industry could lose £850m a year in profits, according to research by Andersons, a farm business consultants. The effects are expected to severely impact sheep farmers, which under the current EU subsidy model are "already clearly failing',' said Rob Stoneman, of Rewilding Europe. Instead, if farmers rewild their lands, by grazing traditional herbivores such as wild cattle or deer, and allow the natural landscape to regrow, it would create opportunities for "nature tourism", Mr Stoneman added. "If you did that you would create a really exciting landscape, a lot more woodrows, scrub, a heck of a lot more wildlife, lots more birds, mammals, big grazers like deer and wild boar, and maybe wild cats," Mr Stoneman said. A wildcat, part of Derek Gow's captive breeding programme in Devon Credit: Derek Gow/Derek Gow "That's going to attract people in, we know that tourism is part of the global economy that is continuing to grow and of tourism the fastest part of the tourism niche is landscape, nature, activity based tourism." Sheep farmers are responsible for managing "80 percent" of England's land, Mr Stoneman said. "What happens to those hill farmers? Do we as a society just abandon them, do we let them fall to their fate? "Let's not abandon farming, let's not abandon it to the fate of the market. Sheep farming isn't economic, so what are the alternatives? Rewilding is one of those." Research by Newcastle University in 2017/18 calculate the average livestock or crop farm in England was operating with an Agricultural Corporate Income of -£38,795, this figure also allowed for and unpaid labour allocation of £26,320. Mr Gow also has wild boar on his land as part of his rewilding project. Credit: Derek Gow/Derek Gow Derek Gow, a landowner in Devon, is in the process of rewilding 120 acres of his farm land. Upcott Grange Farm has a captive breeding programme for wildcats, which have been extinct from England for over 100 years, as well as a herd of feral cattle. Next year, Mr Gow will open up his farm to the public and he has already started to take bookings for tour groups. "What we've got in farming today is virtually entirely reliant on subsidies, especially when you come to the upland areas, you are not farming sheep you're farming subsidies," Mr Gow said. Wild cattle grazing on the Knepp Estate, near Horsham. Credit: Andrew Crowley /Andrew Crowley "It's very likely there will be some rabbits pulled out of a hat post-brexit just to keep those guys in place for a time, but it's not economic as it is, it only stacks up on the basis of large annual cash injections of public money and it doesn't even make people happy." Mr Gow said he would encourage anyone to look into the possibility of rewilding their land, but emphasised it is not a "walk in the park". "We've really got to start looking at how we're going to create a better life for people out there, and part of that could be the process of restoration of wildlands," he said. A Defra spokesperson said: "When we leave the EU we will maintain the same funding for farm support until the end of this Parliament and we have been clear we will intervene to provide additional support where necessary. "We have been meeting regularly with the food and farming sectors across the UK for some time to understand and anticipate the potential impacts of a no deal scenario on our agri-food industry. "We are making all necessary preparations to ensure our farming industry is ready and that Brexit works for farmers across all parts of the UK."
|
| Hong Kong protester shot in chest during demonstrations on China's 70th anniversary Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:39 AM PDT  Hong Kong police shot a teenage pro-democracy protester at close range, hitting the area around his left shoulder on Tuesday as violent skirmishes broke out across the city hours after China held a massive military parade in Beijing to celebrate 70 years of Communist Party rule. A police source confirmed to the Telegraph that two officers had been surrounded by protesters, who they said were attacking with long rods. As the "outnumbered" officers felt their lives were at threat, one drew his .38 revolver, standard police issue in Hong Kong, and fired at close range. A preliminary medical report found that the bullet had stopped in the man's lung, and did not penetrate his heart, though the 18-year-old was understood to remain in critical condition, said the police source. he 18-year-old student who was shot has also been arrested for assaulting an officer, and police are investigating to decide whether to press further charges. "Our national day is supposed to be a day to celebrate and be happy, but unfortunately some rioters choose to do all these sorts of criminal damage," said Stephen Lo Wai-chung, Hong Kong police commissioner. Protesters have already called for a citywide strike in solidarity with the man who was shot. It was the first such injury from a live round after four months of escalating unrest between protesters and police – with some nights ending as officers fired warning shots. Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, called for restraint and de-escalation from both protester and police ranks: "Whilst there is no excuse for violence, the use of live ammunition is disproportionate, and only risks inflaming the situation. This incident underlines the need for a constructive dialogue to address the legitimate concerns of the people of Hong Kong." The unrest marred Beijing's carefully choreographed birthday, meant to underscore its ambitions to replace the US as the dominant power in the Asia Pacific region. Calls of rage rang out through Hong Kong as activists took to the streets, pitching battles against police. Hong Kong protests A fireworks show was cancelled – originally meant to light up Hong Kong's harbourfront skyline for China's 70th anniversary – as police fired tear gas and bullets to clear protesters. Demonstrators shouted "free Hong Kong!", running as they flung petrol bombs in succession and set fire to barricades and subway entrances, with police deploying water cannon trucks and charging in uniformed ranks. "It's National Day, but I don't think there is anything worth celebrating," said Mr Leung, 66, a protester out in the streets, trying to beat the humid heat in a t-shirt and flip flops. "Xi Jinping just doesn't know what he is doing; he is not capable of governance over Hong Kong," said Sara Lai, 35, an office clerk. Public walls plastered with protest art – "Chinazi," "Revolution of our times, and "Hong Kong is NOT China" – were torn down by counter protesters or papered over with images of the red-and-yellow Chinese flag. Dozens of subway stations were shut down, affecting mobility for thousands of residents, many of whom were off for the public holiday. Some found themselves accidentally caught in the middle of clashes, scampering into back alleys as Molotov cocktails exploded nearby. China's 70th anniversary: Parades in Beijing, protests in Hong Kong - in pictures Others covered their faces with t-shirts and bandanas to protect against thick clouds of tear gas smoke that lingered in the air. Activists have grown increasingly upset against city leaders who they say have failed to listen to the people. Mass demonstrations kicked off early summer over an extradition proposal that would have sent suspects to face trial in mainland China, where Communist Party control of the courts leads to a 99.9 per cent conviction rate. Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam finally pledged last month to formally withdraw the bill, but many protesters said it was too little, too late. After a turbulent summer of tear gas and sweat, many were unwilling and far too angry to back down, especially given what they described as increasing police brutality. Ms Lam presided last week over the first of a series of town halls, where protesters reiterated again that they wouldn't consider returning home for good unless all demands were met. Demonstrators have continued to call for Ms Lam's resignation, an independent inquiry into police handling of the protests, direct leadership elections, and a retraction of protesters labeled as rioters, a charge that comes with a 10-year prison sentence in Hong Kong. Police have begun, in recent days, to more routinely call protesters rioters – a move that has further upset activists. Rights groups including Amnesty International keep pressing for an investigation into police brutality, especially after clashes worsened Tuesday. Hong Kong Watch, an advocacy group, also called on the UK government to produce a "robust response" by slapping economic sanctions against Chinese officials committing human rights abuses and extending the right to live and work for holders of the British National Overseas passport, a colonial era holdover that accords little beyond as a travel document. But with violence barrelling into a fifth month with no end in sight, concerns are growing that Mr Xi might use a more heavy-handed approach and deploy some of the troops showcased in the parade to restore order. He has made clear that Hong Kong will remain a part of China, governed and controlled by the Communist Party, with state media releasing ominous videos of soldiers engaging in anti-riot drills. Foreign envoys also now say that a late August buildup of troops in Hong Kong means the government has now amassed its largest-ever ranks in the city – estimated at 12,000 boots on the ground. Many protesters recognise that the broader problem of eroding freedoms under Party rule simply isn't going away. While those rights are meant to be guaranteed under an international treaty that kicked in when the former British colony was returned to Beijing, Hong Kong people see that autonomy chipped away daily. "I am worried about the future of Hong Kong, but these protests show Hong Kong people are united, and that the international community cares about us," said Ms Lai. "We are trying to fight for democracy – that's the same value with other Western countries, so I think we still have hope." 2:35PM Dominic Raab: 'Use of live ammunition only risks inflaming situation' Following today's protests in Hong Kong, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Whilst there is no excuse for violence, the use of live ammunition is disproportionate, and only risks inflaming the situation. "This incident underlines the need for a constructive dialogue to address the legitimate concerns of the people of Hong Kong. "We need to see restraint and a de-escalation from both protesters and the Hong Kong authorities." 2:34PM Map of the protests Hong Kong protests 1:13PM Bullet lodged in 18-year-old's lung, police source says A police source has told The Telegraph that two officers had been surrounded by protesters who they claimed were hitting them with long rods. The officers were "outnumbered", the source said, and felt their lives were at threat. One drew revolver and fired at close range with his .38, the standard issue in Hong Kong.. The police source also confirmed that the preliminary medical report found that the bullet stopped in the man's lung and did not penetrate his heart. His condition is still understood to be critical. 1:05PM The sea of armed police officers This video shows the sheer scale of the police operation in Hong Kong. Raptors have come, chasing protesters away. Water cannon truck again fires blue dyed water pic.twitter.com/fFymCURMQC— Sophia Yan (@sophia_yan) October 1, 2019 Follow Sophia Yan on Twitter here. 12:53PM Police confirm 18-year-old was shot because officer 'felt lethal threat to life' Senior superintendent Yolanda Yu Hoi-kwan said in a statement that an 18-year-old man got shot in the left shoulder/chest area around 4pm, and was sent to hospital, though was conscious at the time. Yu said protesters were attacking police, although it wasn't specified how, and said officers warned protesters to stop. When they continued, it led to officers to feel their lives were under threat, the superintendent said. "That officer felt there was lethal threat to life and fired a shot in protection and to keep colleagues safe," Yu added. "The police feel saddened as they wouldn't like to see anyone get hurt and call on the rioters to stop their actions." The protesters being labelled "rioters" is a significant change in the language used thus far. 12:27PM Fires being lit in Hong Kong's streets Sophia Yan witnessed protesters wearing masks to cover their faces setting fire to leaflets which had been strewn on the floor. Lighting more fires, pic.twitter.com/A2EorbNWh1— Sophia Yan (@sophia_yan) October 1, 2019 Fires have also been used to set barricades alight in the city. 12:00PM Officer shot protester after his unit was attacked, source says A Hong Kong police officer shot a protester in the chest with a live round on Tuesday after his unit was attacked by demonstrators during sustained clashes in the city, a police source said. "An officer discharged his firearm after coming under attack and a protester was struck in the chest in Tsuen Wan district today," the source said, requesting anonymity. The wounded protester received initial first aid from officers before paramedics arrived, the source said, adding the victim was then taken to Princess Margaret Hospital. 11:58AM US President congratulates China on parade Donald Trump wades in... Congratulations to President Xi and the Chinese people on the 70th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2019 Meanwhile the European Union called Tuesday for "de-escalation and restraint" in Hong Kong after a police officer shot a demonstrator during a flare-up in the political protests roiling the city. "In light of the continuing unrest and violence in Hong Kong, the European Union continues to stress that dialogue, de-escalation and restraint are the only way forward," EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters. 11:36AM Tear gas used as police and protesters clash The Telegraph's Sophia Yan is in the heart of the protests in Hong Kong. More tear gas as police push forward and protesters retreat pic.twitter.com/8LCzLiW3dj— Sophia Yan (@sophia_yan) October 1, 2019 She reports that tear gas is being used by police to push protesters back. 11:33AM Fifteen wounded, one critical, as police confirm protester was shot Fifteen people were wounded on Tuesday after a day of running clashes between police and protesters, with one person in critical condition, Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said. Police did not respond to requests for comment but have said they fired live rounds into the air in previous clashes. Video footage of a police officer firing at a protester at close range went viral, but there was not immediate verification of its authenticity. Hong Kong police say pro-democracy protester was shot in the chest by officer during clashes Tuesday, according to AP. 11:27AM Flaming barricades and water cannons in Hong Kong Our China Correspondent Sophia Yan is on the front line in Hong Kong. Her videos show just how violent the protests have become. Protesters set up barricade w fire pic.twitter.com/RZrq8T3QQY— Sophia Yan (@sophia_yan) October 1, 2019 Follow her on Twitter here. 11:18AM Survival of The Communist Party The Communist Party has repeatedly defied the odds to remain in power for seven decades. Under Mao, tens of millions of people died during the disastrous Great Leap Forward, and the country was plunged into violent chaos during the decade-long Cultural Revolution. After Mao's death in 1976, the party launched the reform and opening-up policy under paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, starting decades of breakneck growth and development. But the party retained a stranglehold on power, sending troops to end the biggest challenge to its rule in 1989 when pro-democracy protesters occupied Tiananmen Square. 11:17AM Mao portrait beamed across Beijing The Beijing festivities continued with a pageant involving 100,000 civilians and 70 floats depicting China's greatest achievements. A giant portrait of Mao, followed by those of past leaders and Xi, streamed across the avenue as the president and other officials waved. A float carrying a portrait of late Chinese leader and founder of the People's Republic of China, chairman Mao Zedong Credit: REX Replicas of a space rocket, a homegrown passenger plane and high-speed trains were followed by smiling ethnic minorities - imagery that glosses over accusations of human rights abuses in the frontier regions of Tibet and Xinjiang. 11:16AM Price of pork soars US trade war negotiations have dragged on, and African swine fever has raced through the country's pig supply, sending pork prices soaring. But a major headache remains Hong Kong. Despite increasing levels of violence, there is still huge public support for a movement that presents the most serious threat to Beijing's rule since Britain returned it to China in 1997. In his speech, Xi said China "must adhere" to the one country, two systems policy governing Hong Kong and "maintain the long-term prosperity and stability" of the city. He also called for the "peaceful development" of relations with self-governed Taiwan but also reiterated his determination to seize the island, by force if necessary. 11:15AM New weapons Xi, who wore the distinctive "Mao suit", delivered a speech invoking the "Chinese dream" of national rejuvenation - his grand vision of restoring the country to perceived past glory. "There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation," Xi said from the Tiananmen rostrum where Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Helicopters flew in a "70" formation over the city as troops goosestepped across Tiananmen Square in what state media described as the country's biggest ever military parade, featuring 580 pieces of armament and 160 aircraft. Chinese soldiers sit atop mobile rocket launchers Credit: Getty The People's Liberation Army brought out its newest hardware, including the DF-41, a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile with range enough to reach the entire United States, and the DF-17, a launcher for a hypersonic glider. Warplanes including the J-20 stealth fighter soared through the smog-choked skies, and state media said a high-altitude, high-speed reconnaissance drone made a public appearance for the first time. "The party hopes that this occasion will add to its legitimacy and rally support at a time of internal and external challenges," Adam Ni, China researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, said. 10:45AM Protester was shot in the chest 'after clashes with demonstrators', police say Police sources have told AFP that the protester was shot by an officer after his unit was 'attacked' by demonstrators. They add that the protester has now been taken to hospital. "An officer discharged his firearm after coming under attack and a protester was struck in the chest in Tsuen Wan district today," the source said, requesting anonymity. 10:42AM Tear gas fired in four districts Protests have only begun to fully get under way in Hong Kong, where it is early evening. Until now, the demonstrations have developed in a similar pattern - thousands engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with authorities. But live fire would be a significant escalation in the response from security forces. Police have fired tear gas in the areas of Wong Tai Sin, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, and ordered the evacuation of the legislative council complex.
|
| Johnson’s Plan for EU Divorce Deal Hits Trouble: Brexit Update Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:37 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson said the European Union will insist on customs checks because the whole U.K. -- including Northern Ireland -- is leaving.Blaming the bloc for the need for checks is likely to inflame tensions in both Brussels and Dublin, and the Irish government described a leak of an earlier version of the U.K.'s proposals as a "non-starter." If Johnson fails to come up with something workable this week, Britain could be on course to crash out of the bloc without a deal. That would mean a showdown -- and probably a court battle -- between the government and members of Parliament.Key Developments:Johnson says there will have to be customs checks, but wants them to be limited and handled away from borderNew blueprint expected to be presented this week; Johnson says now is when the "rubber hits the road"Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney says what has been proposed so far won't workPound reverses losses after Bloomberg reports that EU governments have discussed a time limit on the backstop -- a major concession -- subject to the U.K. accepting the provision keeping Northern Ireland in the bloc's customs unionJohnson has long rejected the backstop, while there's no indication Ireland would accept the ideaBrexit hardliners signal they may be willing to compromiseEU Ready to Consider Time Limit on Backstop (5:25 p.m.)European Union governments have discussed giving the U.K. a major concession on Brexit by possibly time-limiting the contentious backstop mechanism for the Irish border, two people familiar with the matter said.A time limit -- something the EU has long said was out of the question -- would only be on offer if the U.K. accepted the backstop, which would keep Northern Ireland in a customs union with the bloc. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is planning to reveal his own proposals for the issue this week, has said he won't accept the backstop, which was agreed to by his predecessor Theresa May but opposed by the British Parliament.Johnson Says Customs Checks Inevitable: BBC (5 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the European Union is insisting on customs checks after Brexit and the U.K. has to accept that, but argued they can be "absolutely minimal and non-intrusive.""There will have to be a system, for customs checks away from the border," Johnson said in an interview with the BBC, according to a transcript. "That is where the argument is going to be. And that's where the negotiation will be tough."Johnson also said there is a "good chance" of getting a Brexit deal, but added it's "no higher than that." He also hinted that the government could be obstructive in the EU if it was forced to ask for an extension, after Parliament passed legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit."It goes without saying that the U.K. would be held against the will of its government, and indeed against the will of the people of the U.K. who'd voted to leave," he said. "And I think that would be a very unhappy and unfortunate situation."Leadsom Says U.K. Can Deregulate After Brexit (3:15 p.m.)Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said there will be "many areas" in which the U.K. will want to cut regulations after Brexit "to make life easier for businesses."Speaking at an event at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Leadsom cited the example of European Union rules requiring farms over a certain size to grow at least three different crops, saying British farmers should have more flexibility.The minister's comments will do little to dispel concerns by opposition parties that the government may be preparing to relax standards after Britain has left the EU, despite repeated assurances by ministers to the contrary.Varadkar Is Pleased by Johnson's Denial (2:30 p.m.)Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said his government would resist customs posts as part of any Brexit deal. Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, he said he welcomed the fact that had effectively "disowned" suggestions that customs posts would be placed close to the Irish border.To do otherwise, would be an evidence of bad faith, Varadkar said.Brexit Purist Makes Case for 'Moderation' (2 p.m.)In a further sign of the way that pro-Brexit Tories are willing to compromise rather than risk losing Brexit altogether, chief hardliner Steve Baker told a Conservative Party event that he wanted to "make the case for moderation."The public are "exhausted" by Brexit, said Baker, the chairman of the European Research Group of Conservative MPs and the man who coordinated resistance to Theresa May's deal.He said that the best way of leaving the EU is with a deal. Acknowledging the concerns of those who worry about a no-deal Brexit, he said the U.K. faces a particular problem in the Dover-Calais crossing, where things can "bung up," creating problems elsewhere.Confidence Vote Before EU Council Unlikely, Says LabourJohnson's Brexit opponents are unlikely to hold a vote of confidence in the government before the EU summit on Oct. 17 and 18, said Labour's treasury spokesman John McDonnell.His comments echo those of Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson on Monday. A vote of confidence this week would "increase the risk" of a no-deal Brexit and "play into Boris Johnson's plans," Swinson said.Corbyn also said Monday there wouldn't be one until the risk of a no-deal exit has been removed. Their concern is if they time it wrong, the U.K. will crash out of the bloc without an agreement.If the government lost a vote of confidence, it would trigger a 14 day period in which MPs could try to form an emergency, or national unity government, otherwise a general election would be called.New Idea Looks a Bit Like Ireland's No-Deal Plan (1:30 p.m.)In some aspects, the idea of having checks away from the border resembles the concepts Ireland has floated for a no-deal scenario.Officially, Ireland remains locked in talks with the European Commission on how to protect Europe's single market in the event of the U.K. exiting the EU without a divorce agreement. While there's some confusion on the precise nature of the plan, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has already conceded there would have to be some checks close to the frontier, particularly on livestock and food. Others would take place at ports, airports and firms "as far as possible."Minister Says Border Reports Are 'Incorrect' (12:50 p.m.)Brexit Minister James Duddridge told the House of Commons that there are no plans for physical checks at the Irish border after Brexit and said reports that customs posts would be placed 5-10 miles from the Irish border were "incorrect.""There's no intention to have physical checks at the border, I'm not choosing my words carefully, there are no plans to do that," Duddridge said in answer to questions in the House of Commons. "Reports suggesting there might be checks near the border, those reports are simply incorrect.""I can categorically say there are no plans, there never have been plans for any physical checks at all," he said.The U.K. will set out its plans for a replacement for the border backstop "in the coming days," Duddridge said.Johnson said earlier there would have to be some checks, without saying where.SNP Frustrated at Opposition Talks (12:40 p.m.)Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party's leader in Westminster, told the BBC that bringing down Boris Johnson's government is the only way to guarantee the U.K. doesn't leave the European Union without a deal on Oct. 31."We're in a situation where we're playing with fire because we have a prime minister that may be prepared to break the law and crash us out at the end of October," Blackford told the BBC on Tuesday.His comments point to growing tensions between the opposition parties, with the SNP's interests increasingly not aligned with either Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party or Jo Swinson's Liberal Democrats. Blackford said there was a risk Johnson will prorogue, or suspend, Parliament within days to begin a new session, costing MPs valuable time to oppose the government's plans.He also said parties that voted for the Benn Act, which requires the prime minister to delay Brexit if he can't agree a divorce deal, should be prepared to go further. The idea would be to hold a no-confidence vote, agree on a candidate to lead a unity government to extend Brexit and call an general immediate election."Those who want to see that extension should have the courage of their convictions to join us and remove this toxic prime minister from office," Blackford said. "That would be real leadership."Javid: Shorting Pound Conspiracy 'Ridiculous' (11:40 a.m.)Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid dismissed a question from a Labour Member of Parliament, who asked if he is confident investors shorting the pound don't have inside information on the prospects of a no-deal split from the European Union."That is such a ridiculous suggestion it doesn't deserve an answer," Javid told the House of Commons on Tuesday.The question follows comments from former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson's sister, Rachel, claiming that "speculators" among the prime minister's financial backers stand to make large amounts of money from a no-deal Brexit.EU Sticks to Its Line (11:20 a.m.)European Commission's spokeswoman Mina Andreeva reiterated that the EU has yet to receive workable U.K proposals, and she declined to comment on media reports.She did, however, point out that any proposals must meet all the objectives of the backstop, including the integrity of the single market and the protection of the all-island Irish economy. The only proposal that meets all of these objectives currently on the table is the backstop, Andreeva told reporters in Brussels.Plan Violates EU Law: Germany's Roettgen (10:50 a.m.)The EU isn't responding particularly positively to the leak of the U.K.'s earlier proposal for the Irish border. This tweet, from the chairman of the German parliament's foreign affairs committee, sums things up."Johnson simply doesn't learn: his latest Brexit plans are not serious and violate the law," Norbert Roettgen said. "He wants to ask EU not to extend the deadline & proposes a backstop that de facto is a hard border. Not least to protect the sovereignty of the U.K. parliament, EU should give long extension."Baker Warns Johnson Over Brexit Deal (9:30 a.m.)Steve Baker, who leads the pro-Brexit European Research Group caucus in Boris Johnson's Conservative Party, warned he would vote against any deal the prime minister brought back from Brussels if it didn't mean a proper split from the European Union."I'm going to have to say to the public, to Brexit Party voters, Conservative voters, to Nigel Farage: this really is Brexit and you should back it," Baker told the BBC on Tuesday. "If I can't do that, I'll vote against it." Baker said he was "highly confident" Johnson would only ask him to vote on a "good deal."Baker said some hardening of the Irish border was an inevitable consequence of leaving the EU, but that technology and other solutions will minimize the impact on businesses and people. Additional checks are "inescapable" because the U.K. will not stay in the EU's customs union or single market, he said."People need to understand, it's these arrangements with a deal, or these arrangements with no deal," he said. "There's no world in which we're doing something other than this."Johnson Blames Sexual Allegation Woes on Brexit (8:45 a.m.)In a round of interviews on broadcast media, Johnson repeatedly said claims made about his sexual relationships are being used by his political opponents who want to frustrate Brexit.An allegation by journalist Charlotte Edwardes -- that Johnson had touched her thigh at a lunch twenty years ago -- was denied again by Johnson. He told BBC radio the reason these allegations are surfacing now is "a lot of people don't want Brexit to be done" and "rightly or wrongly they see me as the person who is helping to deliver Brexit.""There is a concerted effort to frustrate Brexit," he said.Johnson also denied suggestions from his sister, Rachel, that he is pursuing the interests of financial backers set to gain from a no-deal Brexit. He told LBC radio his sister was wrong.Johnson to Suspend Parliament for Queen Speech (8:42 a.m.)The prime minister suggested he's preparing to suspend -- or prorogue -- Parliament again in order to lay out his government's legislative agenda in what's known as a Queen's Speech.The Supreme Court ruled last week that his previous five-week suspension of Parliament to allow for the speech was "unlawful." The judges noted that pausing for a few days is more usual."To have a Queen's speech it is technically necessary to prorogue, so we will have to find out a way of doing that that we think is in conformity with the judgment and we think there probably is," Johnson said on Tuesday in an LBC radio interview. "We will have a Queen's Speech," he said, without giving a date for it.PM Hints U.K. Could Be Difficult If 'Corralled' (8:30 a.m.)Boris Johnson suggested Britain might not be a constructive member of the EU if it is trapped in the bloc with another extension to the Brexit deadline. His comment represents a break from his predecessor, Theresa May, who had insisted the U.K. would be a responsible partner.It would be "a mistake to keep the U.K. bound in beyond the time people want," he said. "It's a matter of common observation that the U.K. wants to come out," Johnson told BBC radio. "I don't think any purpose is served in corralling the U.K. inside the EU".Johnson Sees 'Questions' About Rebel Law Origins (8:25 a.m.)The prime minister said he had "questions" over origins of a law drafted by rebel Conservatives and opposition parties that now compels him to seek a delay to Brexit if he hasn't got a deal by Oct. 19.Asked about Sunday newspaper stories that his office suggested there was "foreign collusion" in the drafting process, Johnson didn't knock the idea down -- though he said "those aren't my words.""There is a legitimate question to be asked about the generation of this SO24 legislation," Johnson told BBC radio on Tuesday, referring to the clause in the Parliamentary rulebook that allowed the legislation to be debated. "We have no knowledge of how it was produced. It was not subject to normal parliamentary scrutiny."Irish Government Rebuffs U.K. Ideas (8:25 a.m.)Ireland's Europe Minister Helen McEntee said in a Newstalk radio interview that the idea of customs posts close to the Irish border is "clearly not acceptable." Such checkpoints would disrupt the all-Ireland economy and have already been dismissed by the EU, she said.While she pointed out these are not the U.K.'s final proposals, she said if they formed the basis of Johnson's plan, it brings no-deal closer. As yet, the U.K. has brought forward "no credible" proposals to solve the Irish border impasse.Johnson Denies Plan for String of Checkpoints (8:15 a.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson denied reports his government is proposing a string of border posts away from the crossing between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."That's not what we're proposing at all," Johnson told BBC radio. "There are very good reasons why that would not be a good idea and I think everybody who is familiar with the situation in Northern Ireland wouldn't want both for practical and for reasons of sentiment that we totally, totally understand."In the end, the U.K. "must have a single customs territory," Johnson said. "But there are plenty of ways we can facilitate north-south trade."Johnson Declines to Give Details on His New Deal (7:50 a.m.)Boris Johnson said the U.K. has a new plan, and he sees a way forward in talks, but he wouldn't go into details in an interview with the BBC.He said it's crucial for the U.K. not to be trapped in EU customs rules after Brexit, and he will "abolish" the backstop. Any deal will prevent a hard border and respect the Good Friday Agreement, he said."What we want to do is get rid of the backstop and that's the most important thing," Johnson said. "We also want changes to the political declaration which sets out the future shape of relationships between the U.K. and EU."Coveney Says Proposals So Far Are Non-Starter (Earlier)Coveney said the U.K. ideas on managing the border that were proposed in an earlier document were a "non-starter." He was commenting after Irish broadcaster RTE reported late Monday that U.K. has proposed customs checks five to 10 miles away from the Irish border.Earlier:U.K.'s Johnson Confronts Moment of Truth for Brexit StrategyBrexit-Backing Hedge Fund Boss Odey Rejects Conflict ClaimsWhy Ireland's Border Is Brexit's Intractable Puzzle: QuickTakeBoris Johnson's Teflon Gets a Full Sleaze Test: Therese Raphael\--With assistance from Stuart Biggs, Alex Morales, Ian Wishart, Dara Doyle and Tim Ross.To contact the reporters on this story: Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.net;Thomas Penny in London at tpenny@bloomberg.net;Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs, Thomas PennyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
|
| Yemen rebel leader meets UN envoy in efforts to revive talks Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:25 AM PDT ![Yemen rebel leader meets UN envoy in efforts to revive talks]( "Yemen rebel leader meets UN envoy in efforts to revive talks") The leader of Yemen's Houthi rebels has met with U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths in the capital Sanaa to discuss reviving peace talks to end the country's four-year-old stalemated war. The moves raised hopes of reviving stalled peace talks between the warring sides. Yemen's war has killed tens of thousands of people and sparked the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
|
| Asked about Hong Kong, U.N. calls for peaceful protests, restraint by security Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:20 AM PDT ![Asked about Hong Kong, U.N. calls for peaceful protests, restraint by security]( "Asked about Hong Kong, U.N. calls for peaceful protests, restraint by security") United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres always calls for protests to be peaceful and for security services to exercise restraint, a U.N. spokesman said when asked about anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong on Tuesday. "As a matter of principle for the Secretary-General, we've always called for demonstrations to be peaceful and for security services to exercise restraint," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
|
| Libya's coast guard intercepts 31 Europe-bound migrants Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:16 AM PDT ![Libya's coast guard intercepts 31 Europe-bound migrants]( "Libya's coast guard intercepts 31 Europe-bound migrants") Libya's coast guard says it has intercepted around three dozen Europe-bound migrants off the country's Mediterranean coast. Tuesday's statement by spokesman Ayoub Gassim says the rubber boat with 31 African migrants was stopped on Sunday off the western city of Sabratha. Sabratha is one of the biggest launching points for migrants making the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean Sea.
|
| UPDATE 1-JPMorgan cuts probability of Oct. 31 Brexit to 15% from 40% Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:13 AM PDT ![UPDATE 1-JPMorgan cuts probability of Oct. 31 Brexit to 15% from 40%]( "UPDATE 1-JPMorgan cuts probability of Oct. 31 Brexit to 15% from 40%") U.S. investment bank JPMorgan said on Tuesday it judges Britain has just a 15% chance of leaving the European Union by Oct. 31, down from an earlier estimate of 40%, despite a pledge by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to leave by then. JPMorgan sees just a 5% chance that Johnson will succeed in negotiating a new Brexit deal with the EU before Oct. 31, and a 10% chance that his minority administration will be able to overcome parliamentary opposition to a no-deal Brexit. Previously, JPMorgan had seen a 25% chance of a no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31, and a 15% chance of a new deal.
|
| UK prepared to be "very flexible" on issue of customs checks in Ireland -PM Johnson Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:00 AM PDT ![UK prepared to be "very flexible" on issue of customs checks in Ireland -PM Johnson]( "UK prepared to be \"very flexible\" on issue of customs checks in Ireland -PM Johnson") Britain is prepared to be "very flexible" to solve the problem of post-Brexit customs checks on the island of Ireland, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday. "If you can have Northern Ireland as part of a UK customs union, which is plainly essential, then somehow or other you have to solve the problem of customs checks," Johnson told Sky News. "The UK is very, very prepared to be flexible.
|
| No new infrastructure needed in Ireland for post-Brexit customs checks -UK PM Johnson Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:00 AM PDT ![No new infrastructure needed in Ireland for post-Brexit customs checks -UK PM Johnson]( "No new infrastructure needed in Ireland for post-Brexit customs checks -UK PM Johnson") Any customs checks on the island of Ireland after Brexit do not need to involve new infrastructure, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday, describing the chances of reaching an exit deal with the European Union as "good". Earlier Johnson denied a report by Irish broadcaster RTE that Britain had proposed border posts a few miles from the border between Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland. "Those checks don't need to take place at the border ... they don't need to involve new infrastructure," Johnson said in an interview with ITV.
|
| Groping Claim Tarnishes Boris Johnson’s Charm Offensive Posted: 01 Oct 2019 08:30 AM PDT  Ben Pruchnie/GettyMANCHESTER, England—There's a fine British tradition of the charming rogue. For centuries, well-heeled gentlemen with wandering eyes have been castigated—but also romanticized—as bounders, philanderers and cads.With a string of affairs to his name and an unknown number of children sprung from his loins, Boris Johnson became Britain's patron saint of bounders, bounding all the way to No. 10.That carefully-honed reputation took a dark turn this week when a former colleague came forward to describe the future prime minister touching her upper thigh without her consent at a magazine lunch 20 years ago.Charlotte Edwardes says she was sitting next to her sometime boss—she occasionally wrote articles for the Spectator where Johnson was editor—when it happened."Under the table, I feel Johnson's hand on my thigh. He gives it a squeeze. His hand is high up my leg and he has enough inner flesh beneath his fingers to make me sit suddenly upright," she wrote in The Sunday Times."Afterwards, I confide in the young woman on his other side. She replies: 'Oh God, he did exactly the same to me.'"Johnson has a long dishonorable history with women which includes cheating on them; fighting over who should pay for an abortion; having the police called to a domestic dispute; getting fired for lying to cover up an affair; and the outright refusal to admit how many children he has—it's at least five. Until now, however, he has never been publicly accused of sexual assault or harassment.The serious nature of the accusation forced him to break his rule of refusing to deny or even address stories about his private life. He says it is "not true."As they scramble to cover for him, cabinet ministers are struggling to get through interviews at the party's annual conference in Manchester. Most have tried to say they can't comment on the accusation, or simply say they trust the prime minister's denial.One cabinet minister took the contortions a step further, telling The Daily Beast that the allegation was part of an anti-Brexit plot to stop the PM."Obviously those are questions that will be put to the prime minister and I think what its symptomatic of is that people who do not want Brexit to happen will use anything they can to throw at it," said Nicky Morgan, secretary of state for culture.Surely she wasn't suggesting Edwardes had invented the allegation to try and stop Brexit? "No, but I'm not involved so how would I know?" Morgan said.Johnson himself hinted that a malign anti-Brexit motivation might lie behind the claim; bringing up the implementation of the 2016 referendum when asked about the allegation on the BBC on Tuesday."This is a very difficult time and people are thinking of the country in the sense that Brexit is about to be done and a lot of people don't want Brexit to be done," he said. "They conceive of me as the person who is helping to deliver Brexit, and it's inevitable that I'm going to come under a certain amount of shot and shell."Edwardes is not the only woman from his past who is overshadowing Johnson's policy announcements at a conference that was supposed to be a de facto general election launch. He has been accused of using his position as Mayor of London to help an American businesswoman with whom he was allegedly having an affair.The London Assembly has referred allegations of misconduct in public office to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after it was reported that Johnson helped the former model to secure grants for her company and took her on international trade missions with him despite her business not meeting the requirements.Johnson has refused to deny that he was having an affair with Jennifer Arcuri, but he claims that when it came to helping her business "everything was done entirely in the proper way." The claims of potential financial impropriety—she also reportedly secured a valuable entrepreneur visa after Johnson had promoted her start-up—mean stories about this affair will also prove difficult to sweep away.Morgan optimistically claimed that Johnson's personal troubles were a non-issue for the thousands of delegates, local politicians, Members of Parliament and Conservative campaigners at conference: "Apart from journalists no one else has talked about it, no activists, no MPs," she said.Perhaps it's true that no one has mentioned it to Morgan—one of the most senior women in the Cabinet—but the issue is most certainly being debated at the fringe events and parties here in Manchester.Some activists fear these revelations will continue to sour people's views on the prime minister ahead of an election which is expected to take place before the end of the year. A poll done last week—before the latest round of stories—already showed that 47 percent of women described Johnson as "dislikeable."One Conservative party grandee told The Daily Beast that he thought Johnson's dalliances were already so well known by the public that—in the language of stock market speculators—the latest claims had already been 'priced in' to their valuation of the prime minister."I think quite a lot of it's in the price, I don't think anybody elected Boris as leader thinking that he had a blameless private life," he said. "I also think both the party and the public are much less concerned than used to be the case, and so I don't think that's a huge concern."Opposition lawmakers are using the Arcuri claims to emphasize their attacks on the prime minister's integrity. "It is a deeply worrying pattern of behavior that speaks to the fundamental question of Boris Johnson's character," said Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson.It may be that ultimately the groping accusation—reminiscent of President Trump's Access Hollywood tape—is what sticks in the minds of the public. We won't have long to wait to find out with an election on the horizon and the chance for voters to deliver their verdict on then man the U.S. president has dubbed "Britain Trump."Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
|
| Moment of truth: UK set to submit Brexit deal proposals Posted: 01 Oct 2019 07:57 AM PDT  After months of Brexit stalemate, Britain is finally about to play its hand, setting out Prime Minister Boris Johnson's proposals for a last-minute divorce deal with the European Union. It's a crucial moment for the embattled leader, who is faced with a skeptical EU, a divided U.K. and a supportive but worried Conservative Party. Britain is due to leave the 28-nation bloc in just 30 days, and EU leaders are growing impatient with the U.K.'s failure to set out detailed plans for maintaining an open border between the U.K.'s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland — the key sticking point to a deal.
|
| Brexit delay probability raised to 85% from 60%, JPMorgan says Posted: 01 Oct 2019 07:57 AM PDT ![Brexit delay probability raised to 85% from 60%, JPMorgan says]( "Brexit delay probability raised to 85% from 60%, JPMorgan says") U.S. investment bank JPMorgan raised the probability of an extension to Brexit to 85% from 60% and cut the likelihood of a no-deal departure from the European Union. The bank cut the probability of a no-deal Brexit to 10% from 25% and cut the probability of an exit on the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement to 5% from 15%. "The big increase in probability goes to Article 50 being extended," JPMorgan analyst Malcolm Barr said in a note to clients.
|
| North Korea is reportedly ready to talk nuclear weapons with the U.S. again Posted: 01 Oct 2019 07:56 AM PDT ![North Korea is reportedly ready to talk nuclear weapons with the U.S. again]( "North Korea is reportedly ready to talk nuclear weapons with the U.S. again") And we're back.North Korean state media said Pyongyang and Washington are set to revive denuclearization talks with a preliminary meeting Friday followed by official negotiations Saturday, The Wall Street Journal reports. Morgan Ortagus, a State Department spokeswoman, confirmed Tuesday that U.S. and North Korean officials "plan to meet within the next week" to continue the stalled negotiations. Ortagus did not share any further details about the meeting.The talks broke down in February after President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were unable to come to an agreement about the future of North Korea's nuclear program during a summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. The two leaders did meet briefly after Trump made an impromptu visit to the Demilitarized Zone in June where they agreed their countries would restart official talks at a later date, which appears to be approaching swiftly.The timing may have something to do with the exit of Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was more hawkish than the president when it came to dealing with Kim. North Korea reportedly considered Bolton a "nasty troublemaker," and officials were pleased when Trump forced him out of the White House. Bolton warned as recently as Monday that the Trump administration shouldn't trust Pyongyang, though there's not much he can do about it now. Read more at The Wall Street Journal.
|
| Trump’s Big Bet on Saudis Goes Bad as Ragtag Yemen Rebels Resist Posted: 01 Oct 2019 07:55 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- The Yemeni fighters could be heard in the video chanting "Death to America, Death to Israel" from a barren desert ridge after firing on a distant Saudi military vehicle.While denouncing the Houthis' battlefield enemies, the clip was really aimed at the rebel army's own members. With Iran's help, they've held off a vast military machine funded by Yemen's rich Gulf neighbors for more than four years, and their commanders know the value of morale-boosting propaganda.A flurry of recent developments, including Saudi Arabia's reported agreement to a partial cease-fire in Yemen, are recognition that the Houthis remain an obstinate enemy that's gaining in military sophistication.Their claims to have carried out Sept. 14 drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities were rejected by most observers, who concluded the sophisticated strikes were launched by Iran. But as the hottest frontline in the proxy tussle between the Middle East's preeminent Sunni and Shiite Muslim powers, the war across Saudi Arabia's southern border is posing an ever greater threat to the kingdom."The Iranians have never taken the Saudis seriously," said Kamran Bokhari, founding director of the Center for Global Policy in Washington. "The war in Yemen only confirmed their view. The fact that Tehran engaged in this unprecedented attack speaks volumes of how weak it sees Riyadh."The setback for the Saudis is shared by Donald Trump, who visited the kingdom in his first overseas visit as U.S. president and put it at the heart of his policy to counter Iran.While many of their military claims are exaggerated, the Houthis have come a long way since the early months of the war, when Pat Lang, a retired senior U.S. intelligence officer, described them drinking "Red Label by the quart in the afternoon to come down from their Qat high," adding: "They LOVE to fight."Missiles have been repeatedly fired into Saudi cities, reaching as far as the capital Riyadh, and since 2018 they've attacked using drones.Their beginnings were more humble. Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, the group's leader, studied the Koran in Saada, a mud-walled city of about 50,000 people high in the mountains of north Yemen, an hour's drive from the Saudi border. He built a force that, according to one estimate, had about 10,000 fighters before the war.The Houthis, who had long complained of their community's marginalization, fought unsuccessful rebellions in the north from 2004 to 2010; they took Saudi territory in a three-month conflict starting in 2009 that killed about 100 Saudi soldiers.March on Sana'aSeeing an opportunity in the chaos that followed the Arab Spring uprising and the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Houthis rejected a 2014 proposal to transform Yemen into a federation. In the plan, their northern strongholds had been included in a district with limited resources and no access to ports. Instead, having won the ousted Saleh to their side, the rebels marched on Yemen's capital.In September 2014, residents of Sana'a awoke to find the streets full of unshaven rebel gunmen wearing ragged traditional clothing and brandishing AK-47s.The Houthis, members of the Zaidi branch of Shiite Islam to which at least a third of Yemen's population belongs, used frustration over an increase in fuel prices to extend their control over the city. An embittered Saleh helped them take over military bases and seize arsenals, though the group eventually turned on the former president, killing him during clashes in the capital in December 2017.As they took over, President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi fled to Oman and then Riyadh, prompting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to enter the war to reinstate their ally -- and prevent the establishment of a Shiite-ruled state sympathetic to Iran on the Arabian peninsula.Islamist ThreatSince 2015, the war in a country awash with guns has caused the death of thousands of civilians, displaced millions of hungry people and allowed a resurgence by al-Qaeda and Islamic State.Despite the imbalance of wealth and weapons, the Houthis have held off the U.S.-backed forces of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two major military spenders. They still control Sana'a, territory along the Saudi border and the Red Sea city of Hodeidah, using slogans and folk music to boost the fighters' zeal."They are militarily well-organized and have an ideology or dogma," said Maysaa Shujaaeddin, an independent Yemeni researcher. "The Houthis have developed their fighting capacity throughout the war and got logistic and training support from Hezbollah and Iran."They've been aided by a splintering in their rivals' ranks, with U.A.E.-assisted southern separatists in recent months fighting their nominal allies loyal to Hadi's government.The attacks on the Saudi oil facilities have now spurred efforts to end the conflict.The Saudi cease-fire reported on Friday followed a visit to the region by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, who said Washington was talking with the Houthis. The rebels had themselves declared a halt to drone and rocket strikes a week earlier.The Wall Street Journal reported the Trump administration was trying to cajole Saudi Arabia into negotiations with rebel leaders, as concerns over a broader conflict with Iran grew. In a CBS interview Sunday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he wanted a peaceful resolution, though Iranian involvement was complicating the task.Bullet ShowerBuilding a peace process will require addressing regional and sectarian rifts that widened during the war. Thousands of militias must be disarmed, while the Houthis have to agree to share power.In a sign of the challenges, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the ruling Political Council, said the group would accept nothing short of "a comprehensive stop" to Saudi "aggression" in return for its truce.And at the weekend, the Houthis claimed without providing clinching evidence to have killed hundreds of troops in an attack on Saudi territory and taken thousands more captive.On Monday, Saudi coalition spokesman Colonel Turki Al-Maliki refused to answer questions about the matter, accusing the Houthis of waging "a deceptive media campaign."Abdullah Al-Mikhlafi, a field commander with anti-Houthi forces in the southern city of Taiz, has witnessed first hand the rebels' tenacity."We showered them with bullets and killed many of them," he said by phone. "But they still continued their attacks."\--With assistance from Daniel Flatley and Ben Holland.To contact the reporters on this story: Mohammed Hatem in Dubai at mhatem1@bloomberg.net;Glen Carey in Washington at gcarey8@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Bill Faries at wfaries@bloomberg.net, ;Lin Noueihed at lnoueihed@bloomberg.net, Mark WilliamsFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
|
| The Latest: Johnson learns hard way about disposable cups Posted: 01 Oct 2019 07:38 AM PDT  British Prime Minster Boris Johnson is learning that while Brexit is contentious there's more than one kind of hot potato. The U.K. leader was walking swiftly between meetings at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester when roving cameras captured images of an aide handing him what appeared to be a hot beverage in a disposable cup. A British transport minister says a no-deal Brexit will be "very bumpy" and could see the flow of goods through the U.K.'s biggest sea port cut in half.
|
| As ocean fears gather pace, WTO fishing talks stall Posted: 01 Oct 2019 07:00 AM PDT ![As ocean fears gather pace, WTO fishing talks stall]( "As ocean fears gather pace, WTO fishing talks stall") The oceans are under siege, campaigners warn, and fish stocks could collapse unless a global deal is struck swiftly to ban harmful fisheries subsidies. The World Trade Organization, meanwhile, can't agree on who will head the committee to discuss the issue, according to sources close to the negotiations. More than 90 percent of fish stocks are at maximum sustainable levels or overfished, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and environmentalists say a subsidies deal is needed quickly to protect those remaining.
|
| 'Backstop' explained: Irish border issue halting Brexit deal Posted: 01 Oct 2019 06:52 AM PDT !['Backstop' explained: Irish border issue halting Brexit deal]( "'Backstop' explained: Irish border issue halting Brexit deal") Much of the opposition to the Brexit deal negotiated by former Prime Minister Theresa May and European Union leaders is over the "backstop." The provision was designed to prevent the reintroduction of border controls between Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., and the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU. After Brexit, the border will be the U.K.'s only land frontier with the EU, but this is a frontier with huge political as well as economic significance. Since both Britain and Ireland are currently part of the European Union with its single market, people and goods flow freely between Ireland and Northern Ireland, with no need for checks.
|
| US, North Korea to hold working-level talks this week after months of diplomatic standstill Posted: 01 Oct 2019 06:20 AM PDT  The U.S. and North Korea will convene working-level nuclear talks for the first time since before President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi, Vietnam, for their second summit in February.
|
| Varadkar glad customs posts not part of British government's plan to replace backstop Posted: 01 Oct 2019 06:14 AM PDT ![Varadkar glad customs posts not part of British government's plan to replace backstop]( "Varadkar glad customs posts not part of British government's plan to replace backstop") Ireland's prime minister on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's denial that Britain intends to propose putting customs posts on the Irish border as part of a plan to replace the contentious "backstop" insurance policy. Irish national broadcaster RTE reported on Monday that Britain proposed in a technical, or so-called "non-paper", to set up "customs clearance centres" on both sides of the Irish border after Brexit in order to avoid the need for checks on the border itself.
|
| Cardiff jihadi Aseel Muthana begs to return to UK from overcrowded Isil prison in northern Syria Posted: 01 Oct 2019 05:51 AM PDT  A Welsh man who left the UK at 17 as one of the first British recruits to join the Islamic State group has been found in a secret prison in northern Syria, where up to 5,000 inmates are living packed into tiny cells. Aseel Muthana left his job as an ice-cream salesman in his Cardiff hometown in 2014 to follow his brother to Syria. Mr Muthana's brother Nasser was a prominent recruiter for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), and their close friend Reeyad Khan appeared in one of the first Isil propaganda videos. Both Nasser and Aseel were added to the United Nations sanctions list in 2015. Nasser is believed to have been killed in an air strike in 2016. Mr Muthana's family say they tried to de-radicalise him in the run-up to his departure, even confiscating his passport, but he managed to obtain forged travel documents. In 2015 his father Ahmed Muthana accused British authorities of not doing enough to stop his son from travelling to Syria. The 'Beatles' | Who are the notorious British jihadists? Mr Muthana told interviewers he had been lured to Syria by false Isil propaganda. "We came when [Isil] propaganda and [Isil] media was all about helping the poor, helping the Syrian people." "We stuck with the people you know from the UK and from Wales... the Welsh guys... me and my brother and Reeyad [Khan]." Mr Muthana told ITV News that he missed his mother and his life in Cardiff, and wanted to return home. He had been presumed dead until the discovery. When Mr Muthana's mother was told her son was alive, she said told ITV she felt "extreme joy" and begged British authorities to bring him home. Western governments are facing increasing criticism for their unwillingness to repatriate their citizens who allegedly fought or cooperated with Isil and try them in domestic courts. Legal experts warn that local forces currently organising detention of these foreigners will soon be unable to cope, and predict mass jail breaks and a resurgence of Isil attacks if nothing is done. "The only way for the international community to share this burden is for each country to step up and do its part, otherwise it becomes a problem too big to solve and that's a very dangerous scenario," said Jasmine El-Gamal, a former Syria advisor to the Pentagon.
|
| North Korea, US say nuclear talks to resume this weekend Posted: 01 Oct 2019 05:48 AM PDT  North Korea and the United States have agreed to resume nuclear negotiations this weekend following a months-long stalemate over the withdrawal of sanctions in exchange for disarmament, a senior North Korean diplomat said Tuesday. Choe Son Hui, North Korea's first vice minister of foreign affairs, said the two nations will have preliminary contact on Friday before holding working-level talks on Saturday. In a statement released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Choe expressed optimism over the outcome of the meeting but did not say where it would take place.
|
