Tag: UK

UK unveils package to support Hong Kong families escaping Beijing’s draconian law
8Apr By Our NewsroomNo Comments
Business, China, World

UK unveils package to support Hong Kong families escaping Beijing’s draconian law

For the people who are escaping Hong Kong due to China’s draconian National security law, the UK government has announced a 43 million pound (USD 59.6 million) package with an aim to support British National (Overseas) families that settle in the country, funding local councils nationwide to help the new arrivals from Hong Kong with housing, education and employment.The scheme, announced on Thursday, comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to four Hong Kong families that moved to the country on a special visa for those with BN(O) status last month.Under the new programme, 30.7 million British Pounds will go to councils across England, to provide help for the arrivals, covering English language and housing support for those in need. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will delive
Read More
Myanmar ambassador ‘locked out’ of London embassy
8Apr By Our NewsroomNo Comments
World

Myanmar ambassador ‘locked out’ of London embassy

Myanmar’s ambassador to London Kyaw Zwar Minn has been locked out of the country’s embassy – apparently by his deputy, who was reported to have taken charge on behalf of the military.Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn said he tried to gain access to the embassy on Wednesday for several hours but was unable to enter.He also said that several of his staff were still inside the building, and were not being allowed out. Phone calls made to the embassy went unanswered and emails bounced back.Since a military coup in February, Myanmar’s army has launched a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and has been accused of hundreds of extrajudicial executions.London ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn has broken ranks with the ruling junta in recent weeks and issued a statement last month calling for the release of deta
Read More
British-Pakistani activist held in Pakistan over London speech
18Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

British-Pakistani activist held in Pakistan over London speech

Yousaf Ali Khan, a British-Pakistani activist is being held in Pakistan on charges of sedition and "conspiring to wage war" against the state.He is accused of making incendiary remarks advocating violence in a speech in London broadcast on social media.Khan has lived in the UK for some 20 years, and was visiting Pakistan for a family funeral when he was detained. He was arrested on Saturday night, when a large number of heavily armed police surrounded the family's home in Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.He is president of the UK chapter of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), which campaigns for accountability for alleged human rights abuses committed by the Pakistani army whilst fighting against Islamist militants on the border with Afghanistan.According to legal documents, Khan is ac...
Read More
UK revokes license for Chinese State Broadcaster CGTN
5Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

UK revokes license for Chinese State Broadcaster CGTN

Broadcasting regulators in the United Kingdom have pulled the license for China Global Television Network (CGTN) in a bid to put an end to content that lacks “editorial responsibility”.As per media reports, Ofcom on Thursday said that it had conducted an investigation into the company’s ownership structure and that CGTN’s parent company was beholden to Beijing.“Our investigation showed that the license for China Global Television Network is held by an entity which has no editorial control over its programmes. We are unable to approve the application to transfer the license to China Global Television Network Corporation because it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law,” Ofcom said.“We now consider it appropriate to withdraw
Read More
Lord Nazir Ahmed retires days before expulsion from UK House of Lords
17Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Lord Nazir Ahmed retires days before expulsion from UK House of Lords

Amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, Lord Nazir Ahmed, a member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, retired from Parliament after seeing a conduct report recommending that he be expelled for sexually exploiting a vulnerable woman.Lord Ahmed resigned from the House of Lords on 14 November but the report, which was agreed by the House of Lords Conduct Committee and seen by Lord Ahmed before that date, recommends that he should have been expelled.In 2019, Lord Nazir Ahmed was accused of exploiting his position to pursue sex with vulnerable women who asked him for help. As per media reports, Lord Ahmed emotionally and sexually exploited Tahira Zaman, who came to him for help in 2017."...Lord Ahmed breached the Code of Conduct by failing to act on his personal honour in the disch
Read More
Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas
31Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas

In a scathing attack against China, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged "the entire world" to stand up to Beijing and slammed the Chinese leadership over the “cover-up” of the COVID-19 crisis, saying Beijing’s "exploitation of this disaster to further its own interest has been disgraceful".In a reference to India-China border standoff, Pompeo accused Beijing of bullying its neighbors and accused it of instigating a deadly confrontation with New Delhi in eastern Ladakh."We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order. You cannot go make claims for maritime regions that you have no lawful claim to. You cannot threaten countries
Read More
“Untrustworthy Chinese Tech, Convinced Nations Not To Use Huawei”: Trump
24Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

“Untrustworthy Chinese Tech, Convinced Nations Not To Use Huawei”: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that Washington has confronted “untrustworthy” Chinese technology and has convinced many countries not to use Huawei-produced equipment because of its big security risk."We confronted untrustworthy Chinese technology and telecom providers. We convinced many countries not to use Huawei because it's a big security risk. Just today, the UK announced that they are not going to be using it," Trump said.The US had designated Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE Corp as national security threats, saying they have close ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and China’s military apparatus.After the US’ toughened stance on imposing sanctions against Chinese companies, the UK government announced its decision to ban British companies from buying Huawei-pro
Read More
UK set to end use of Huawei technology in 5G network: Reports
17Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

UK set to end use of Huawei technology in 5G network: Reports

Due to security concerns, the United Kingdom has announced that it will end the use of Huawei technology in its 5G network by this year.UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set for a major policy change after Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is believed to have reassessed the risk posed by the Chinese tech company.The report comes in the backdrop of the United States designating Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE Corp as national security threats, saying they have close ties with the Chinese Communist Party and China's military apparatus.A study by GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre has decided the US sanctions barring Huawei from using technology relying on American intellectual property has had a severe impact on the company.Now, officials are crafting proposals to pr...
Read More
UK Minister urges Britain to act against China’s intention to destroy HK autonomy
8Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Opinion, World

UK Minister urges Britain to act against China’s intention to destroy HK autonomy

United Kingdom MP Stewart McDonald has asked the UK government to act against China's intention to impose its draconian national security law which intends to destroy Hong Kong's autonomy and punish people for criticizing Beijing."China has recently decided to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, bypassing its legislature, which will criminalize any act of secession, subversion, terrorism and its broad scope could see people punished for criticizing Beijing - as they are in mainland China", McDonald said in an opinion piece in Hong Kong Free Press."I call on the UK government to match the courage of the protesters and not kowtow to China's bullying," he added.The controversial legislation comprises six chapters and 66 articles. The chapters, inter alia, cover general provisions, du...
Read More