Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Today — 22 January 2025News

中国宗教打压升级 顺德盛佳教案宣判

近日,广东佛山顺德盛佳教会的多位基督徒被当局指控“非法经营罪”一案宣判。该案再次引发人权组织对中国宗教信仰自由状况的关注。

据美国民间宗教权益组织对华援助协会和维权网发布的信息,广东佛山顺德盛佳教会朱龙飞、邓燕祥等五位基督徒被控“非法经营罪”一案,1月17日在当地法院宣判。其中,邓燕祥被判有期徒刑两年,刑期到今年5月23日。目前,除邓燕祥依然在押外,其余4人都已获释。

据介绍,盛佳教会在2006年由基督徒朱龙飞、邓燕祥等共同成立。为了满足教会信众学习圣经的需要,教会的长老和执事商议决定,从2019年开始为信众提供《每日读经释义》和内部教会章程 《盛佳教会成员手册》等读物。这些读物不是为了盈利,只是为了帮助教友读经灵修。

维权网上传的一份《广东佛山市顺德区人民法院刑事判决书》内容显示,在未经有关政府部门许可的情况下,从2019年开始,教会长老朱龙飞和教会执事邓燕祥等开始发行《每日读经释义》和《盛佳教会成员手册》等刊物。起诉书表示,经过鉴定朱龙飞,邓燕祥等共同发行的书刊是非法出版物。

广东佛山市顺德区人民法院刑事判决书
广东佛山市顺德区人民法院刑事判决书
(维权网截图)

“非法经营罪名不实”

记者试图就起诉书指控内容联系佛山市顺德区人民法院,但是拨打转播台号码却无人接听。

根据上述判决书被告人辩护部分显示,目前依然在押的邓燕祥反驳指出,警方讯问过程存在有诱导、欺骗、威胁、笔录记载不实等问题。邓燕祥还表示,《每日读经释义》是香港读经会的学习圣经资料,《盛佳教会成员手册》是教会内部章程,不是出版物,而且都是在内部传用,不是“发行”。

对于盛佳教会案,美国民间宗教权益组织对华援助协会负责人傅希秋牧师告诉自由亚洲电台,这个判决是当局用刑事的罪名行宗教迫害之实:“这是中国政府一直以来使用的手法,这一次又用非法经营罪。在这几年,还有所谓诈骗罪。因为家庭教会被视为非法,所以信徒的奉献都被视为诈骗所得。”

旅美中国维权律师、因受709大抓捕案牵连而离开中国的陈建刚对自由亚洲电台表示,习近平执政以来,中国法治空间持续遭受打压:“中国大陆的司法状况已经不仅仅限于这几个常见的口袋罪名了,你比如说寻衅滋事罪、非法集会等等,还有邪教罪之类的,非法经营也是其中的一个。”

因拒绝参加“三自爱国教会”遭打压

对华援助协会的傅希秋对本台介绍说,盛佳教会因为不愿意参加“三自爱国教会”,所以遭到当局的打压:“当公安无论私下或公开去找他们,想迫使他们加入当地的所谓“三自爱国教会” -- 共产党绝对控制的,从宗教神职人员的任命,到他们的财务,到他们的场所,每年还有年检,受当地宗教事务管理局,共产党的统战部门,还有公安,妇联等二十多个部门都可以直接管理宗教,包括管理、处罚,盛佳教会当然是坚决拒绝加入,说他们的信仰和他们的良心都不能加入这么样政教合一的怪胎“。

傅希秋还指出,该教会信徒们虽不愿意参加“三自爱国教会”,但是也没有什么激烈的冲突。所谓抵抗,也只是消极的抵抗。

根据美国国际宗教自由委员会(USCIRF)去年发布的相关报告,2023年,中国的宗教自由状况持续恶化。在习近平治下,教会信徒被要求服从共产党的领导。美国国务院也将中国再次列为“特别关注国家”。

而国际人权组织人权观察日前发布的《2025世界人权报告》也指出,习近平执政以来,中国极权状况加剧,从言论自由到宗教自由,中国当局在过去一年对全国实施了严厉的压制。

责编:何平 网编:洪伟

© 对华援助协会截图

广东佛山顺德盛佳教会多位基督徒被控“非法经营罪”一审判决

Panama Alerts United Nations to Trump’s Inaugural Remarks

On Monday, President Trump said of the Panama Canal, “We’re taking it back.” The letter from Panama cited articles of the U.N. charter that prohibit member states from using threats and force.

© Alejandro Cegarra for The New York Times

President Trump has repeatedly commented about the Panama Canal.

Rubio Oversees Halt to Foreign Aid and Meets With Asian Diplomats on Day 1

22 January 2025 at 03:44
Marco Rubio told State Department employees that changes under President Trump “are not meant to be destructive, they’re not meant to be punitive.”

© Doug Mills/The New York Times

Marco Rubio was sworn in as secretary of state on Tuesday by Vice President JD Vance.

日媒:日本外相演说草案强调日美同盟 提及增进与中国协作

By: 梒青
22 January 2025 at 03:54

据日本共同社21日独家消息,日本外相岩屋毅将在24日召集的例行国会上发表的外交演说草案曝光。他将表态把日美同盟定位为外交和安全保障的基轴,“作为石破政权的最优先事项予以充实与强化”,决心与美国特朗普政府构建牢固的信任关系,把日美合作提升到新高度。

在对华关系上,他将强调“为了减少问题和悬案,增进协调与协作,必须相互努力”。相关人士21日透露了该消息。

外交演说将与首相石破茂的施政方针演说一起,于24日在众参两院全体会议上发表。草案强调将重视三点:(1)加强日美同盟、(2)为实现“自由开放的印度太平洋”而与盟友及志同道合国家协作、(3)与被称为“全球南方”的新兴市场国家及发展中国家协作。

据本台此前报道,中日关系近年受领土主张、区域局势和福岛核废水排放等问题所扰。日方并多次呼吁中国撤销对日本食品的进口限制,以及尽早释放被关押的在华日人。

责编:梒青 网编:何足

© 路透社

图为日本外相岩屋毅2024年10月1日摄于东京官邸。

安安小小姐姐|日内瓦公约之战俘待遇VS劳动法

22 January 2025 at 03:35

《关于战俘待遇的日内瓦公约》,又称《日内瓦第三公约》,于1949年8月12日通过,1950年10月21日生效。

你可以在联合国的官方网站上,找到这份公约的中文、英文、法语、阿拉伯语和西班牙语版本。

CDT 档案卡
标题:日内瓦公约之战俘待遇VS劳动法
作者:安安小小姐姐
发表日期:2025.1.21
来源:微信公众号“安安小小姐姐”
主题归类:劳动法
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

这份公约共分为六个部分,合计143条,以战俘的保护、在俘、在俘之终止三个部分为核心内容。

我国的《劳动法》,于1994年7月5日通过,1995年1月1日起施行,到2025年1月,刚好三十年。

我国的《劳动法》,共分为十三个章节,合计107条。

《日内瓦公约》和我国的《劳动法》,原本是风马牛不相及的两个不同领域的规章制度,但细心的网友发现,我国的《劳动法》,在实际执行中出现了较大的偏差,部分指标甚至远高于《日内瓦公约》对战俘的规定。

这其中,有三个指标,备受关注。

一 工作时间

虽然有人说,《日内瓦公约》规定每周工作时间不超过48个小时,实际上前述的公约,并没有此类规定。

原文是这样说的:“战俘每日劳动时间,包括往返路程之时间,不应过度,绝不得超过拘留国本国普通工人在该区从事同样工作者所许可之时间。”

按照这个标准,战俘每天应该工作多长时间?OECD收录了部分国家的人均工作时间,我们将其按照一年48个周的标准,换算为周工作时间,以方便进行对比。

img

换算之后,大多国家2023年人均工作时间不超过40个小时,低于我国《劳动法》规定的44个小时。

所以,如果你是一名身处欧洲的战俘,你的工作时间,会远低于我国平均工作时间。工人的待遇不如战俘,这是被很多人诟病的。

另外,前述公约还有一条关于休假的规定,原文为:“工作满一年之战俘应给予连续八日之休息,在此期间工资应予照付。”

我国《劳动法》规定,由政府制订休假办法。我国的《职工带薪年休假条例》于2008年实施(比《劳动法》的出台晚了13年)。

按照这个条例规定,工作不超过10年,带薪休假仅有5天,比前述的公约少了三天。

二 待遇

公约原文这样说,“战俘除自愿者外,不得使其从事有害健康或危险性之劳动。“

现实却是,职业病得不到保障的情况,倒也常见。

关键是,关于自愿,我们会按签名按手印,以证明是自愿的。

三 工资

公约规定了战俘也享有工资,而且要由拘留国先行垫付(”拘留国应对所有战俘按月垫发薪给,其数目应照以下所列折成该国货币“)。

我国《劳动法》,对工资这一项的规定是:”由劳动行政部门责令支付劳动者的工资报酬、经济补偿,并可以责令支付赔偿金“。

所以,没说如果拒不支付怎么办?《刑法》有一项名为《拒不支付劳动报酬罪》的罪名,规定了转移、逃匿或有能力支付而拒不支付的情况,要承担7年以下处罚。

但,没说企业主在砸锅卖铁也支付不起的情况下,要由谁来垫付这笔钱。

作者认为,如果核实欠薪属实,应参照《日内瓦公约》的做法,由劳动监管部门先行垫付工资。

其余指标,两者相差不大,在部分细节上,我国《劳动法》更为完善详细,区别仅在于落实的情况。

厚启刑辩|相比从重从快,公开更重要

22 January 2025 at 03:04

img

临近春节,本应是祥和喜庆的氛围,但是近两日笔者的朋友圈的各位同行们都在转发了两则执行死刑案件的消息,给欢乐祥和的氛围增添了一丝暗淡的色彩。

这两起被执行死刑的案件分别是:一则是,去年11月11日广东珠海樊某驾车撞伤撞死数十人的以危险方法危害公共安全的案件;二则是,去年11月16日无锡徐某持刀行凶造成多人死亡多人受伤的案件。

上述两起案件从案发到走完侦查、审查起诉、一审、二审、死刑复核程序仅仅用了50余天的时间,速度不可谓不快。

随后,著名学者刘艳红教授发表了题名《对重大恶性犯罪应当依法从快从重惩处》的文章。刘教授的观点认为:对于这两起重大恶性犯罪案件应秉持刑事一体化的严惩立场,依法从快从重并举。从快是程序法角度的惩处效率的要求,从重是实体法角度的处罚力度要求,并对各项裁量事项以严惩的标准把握。

img

这样的观点让笔者陷入了深深地沉思,笔者认为,重大敏感的案件的办理首要的任务是“公开”,而非从重、从快。

一、只有“公开”才能让民众了解案件事实的全貌

《刑诉法》第十一条规定了审判公开原则。从历史来看,法庭审判从原先的不公开审判、秘密审判到以公开审判为原则,不公开审判为例外的转变。为何有如此转变?笔者认为,其本质原因在于能够让民众监督司法权、树立司法信心、增强司法权威;而树立司法信心、增强司法权威的前提是了解案件事实的全貌。因此,审判公开、庭审直播成为了很好的媒体手段。

以上述两起案件为例,从官方报道来看,樊某是因为婚姻破裂以及对离婚财产分割不满,遂产生了报复社会的想法;徐某是因为没拿到毕业证书以及对实习工资不满,遂持刀回学校报复。

笔者认为,这两起案件如能全程公开直播,将会是非常好的普法的宣传,一则,让广大民众了解案件的事实;二则,广大民众能够进行监督,比如樊某案件中的犯罪起因,其如果是诉讼离婚,法院对其财产分割的判决是否公正?徐某案件中的犯罪起因,其没有拿到学校的毕业证,学校的决定是否合法合规。虽然案件起因事实最终可能不会影响对二人的量刑,但是,这样也可以监督法院民事诉讼以及学校发放毕业证、学位证等公权行为。如有公权力行使过程中确有问题,我们可以加以监督和改进,防止这样的悲剧再次发生;三则,公开直播更能警示教育普通人遇事要用更冷静的方式处理问题,而非极端行为。

遗憾的是,这两起案件的审判只是见诸于媒体的报道中,根本没有公开,没有让普通大众了解案件事实的全貌。以笔者为例,笔者作为一名刑辩律师,看到这两起案件被告人被执行死刑的报道,其实内心并没有什么触动,因为笔者并不了解案件的全貌,自然也没有什么触动。

因此,只有“公开”才能使民众了解案件全貌。

二、只有“公开”才能消除质疑

多年前,庭审公开网的设立标志着中国司法公开迈入了一个新的时代。但是遗憾的是,随着这几年庭审公开网的势微,占坑旁听、律师还在安检庭审就结束等事件的发生,很多案件的审判工作处于一种“名为公开,实为秘密”的模式。

这些案件最终的结果即便是公正的,这种秘密的氛围,也免不了让人产生质疑。

笔者曾经在《以看得见的方式实现正义——评来宾冯波案中的种种现象》一文中提出过:正当程序最大的作用不仅在保障实体的公正,更在于会消除公众对于裁判结果不公正性的疑虑。

以笔者多年相亲的经历为例,如果对方是比较坦荡,比较直接的女生,那么笔者对其会有很大的好感;如果对方是藏着掖着,或者喜欢让你猜心思的女生,那么笔者就会对其有很大的疑虑。究其原因,人们对于陌生的人和事总是先会抱着小心、怀疑的心态,这是一种自我保护的心理,是一种人性,但是当对方比较坦荡、真诚之时,我们就会很容易接纳对方。

CDT 档案卡
标题:相比从重从快,公开更重要
作者:厚启刑辩
发表日期:2025.1.21
来源:微信公众号“厚启刑辩”
主题归类:程序正义
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

因此,只有“公开”才能消除质疑,从重从快消除不了质疑,甚至有可能带来案件事实没有查清的疑虑。

三、只有“公开”才能树立司法权威、增进司法信心

很多时候我们似乎陷入了一种笔者称之为“司法威权主义”的怪象,何为“司法威权主义”?笔者总结为,以身份判断一个人权威与否,以重刑为筹码要求服从于某一人,不讲逻辑、不讲常识、不讲情理。

这种例子最典型的莫过于中国传统家庭中的父母子女关系,诸如:“我是你爸,所以你得听我的”“、我是为你好,你得听我的”。

代入司法中的很多现象也是极为得相似,如每次重大敏感案件之后,司法机关都会找一些专家教授接受采访或者让其撰写所谓支持判决的文章,还有一些法官、检察官的口头禅“我们不会判错的,我们都是这么办的。”

笔者认为上述现象和话语都有“诉诸身份”、“诉诸权威”、“诉诸权力”的逻辑谬误,说理上都是欠缺的,是不能让人信服的。

中国经历了多年的发展,普通民众的认知能力早已今非昔比,有自身的独立判断能力,可以参与到公共事务的讨论和治理了,而不是一概拒之,就如同家庭关系中早已成人的子女,父母不能还是把成年子女当作婴幼儿般百般抚弄,以父权母权自居,而不正视子女独立的人格。父母这样的做法不仅无法树立权威,更可能破裂家庭关系。

同理,在司法领域通过真正的公开庭审,让民众真正参与司法的过程,才能让树立司法权威,让民众对司法有信心,而非是自说自话,自卖自夸。

言而总之,总而言之,与从重、从快相比,公开更重要。

剡溪小北|暂停更新的通知

22 January 2025 at 02:44

CDT编者按:该微信公众号致力于古籍整理与文史研究,尤其关于中国近代作家胡兰成作品的整理和评析。最近一期更新为2023年9月11日。评论区指出,微信公众号作者是因“非法出版”罪被判刑。


原文: 今遭牢狱之灾,无法更新,代为传话。其曰“吾在通州监狱一切平安,感谢诸友关心,惟愿天下清和,各自保重。2029年再见!”。若想与其联系,可寄信至:江苏省南通市通州区101信箱4分箱,邮编为:226336,朱永锋收

img


CDT拓展阅读:何为“非法出版”?

1.该罪涉及意识形态与社会稳定

非法出版罪在中国不仅仅是经济犯罪,还涉及意识形态与社会稳定的问题:

CDT 档案卡
标题:暂停更新的通知
作者:剡溪小北
发表日期:2025.1.21
来源:微信公众号“剡溪小北”
主题归类:非法出版
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明
  • 意识形态控制:非法出版罪常用于规制未经批准的书籍、报刊、音像制品等,这些出版物可能包含反动、淫秽、迷信等内容,直接影响社会舆论导向和思想控制。

  • 颠覆国家政权:如果非法出版物涉及分裂国家、煽动颠覆国家政权或散布反政府言论,可能被视为严重威胁国家安全的行为,执法机关会重点打击。

  • 社会影响:非法出版的内容若造成重大社会危害,如传播虚假信息、引发公众恐慌或对未成年人造成不良影响,可能会加重刑罚。

2.非法出版罪被明确规定为刑法中的独立罪名,这在世界范围内比较少见

  • 在《中华人民共和国刑法》第225条中,非法出版罪与其他扰乱市场秩序的罪名并列,显示出中国对出版活动的高度重视。

  • 中国实行严格的出版审查和许可制度,任何出版物都需经过相关部门审批。未经许可的出版行为在其他国家可能仅触犯行政法规,但在中国可能被追究刑事责任。

  • 其罪名不仅囊括传统书籍和报刊,还涵盖电子出版物、音像制品甚至网络平台的非法传播行为。

  • 与许多国家更多关注版权保护不同,中国的非法出版罪更多与政治和社会秩序相关。

3.量刑标准?

  • 普通情节:根据《刑法》第225条的规定,一般判处三年以下有期徒刑、拘役或管制,并处或单处罚金。

  • 严重情节:情节严重的,刑期为三年以上七年以下有期徒刑,并处罚金。

  • 特别严重情节:如果非法出版物对社会造成特别严重的危害,可能触及更重的法律罪名,例如煽动颠覆国家政权罪或其他危害国家安全的罪行,其刑期可能远超七年。

After Trump’s Threats, Mexico’s Leader Says She’ll ‘Always Defend’ Her Country

22 January 2025 at 03:28
On Tuesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded point by point to President Trump’s executive orders on migration, trade and other issues.

© Luis Cortes/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her daily conference on Tuesday, “It’s important to always keep a cool head.”

Leaders at Davos Economic Forum Vow to ‘Stay the Course’ on Climate Action

22 January 2025 at 03:39
Officials and business executives at the annual gathering in Switzerland said the fight against global would continue with or without the United States.

© Markus Schreiber/Associated Press

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, in Davos on Tuesday. “The Paris Agreement continues to be the best hope for all humanity,” she said.

Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders freed after Trump pardons

22 January 2025 at 02:11
Watch: Militia leader Stewart Rhodes leaves prison after Trump issues 6 January pardons

Former Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes have been released from prison, as President Donald Trump sets free more than 1,500 people charged for the US Capitol riot four years ago.

Within less than 24 hours of Trump pardoning or commuting sentences of those who tried to violently overturn the 2020 election, the riot's two most prominent leaders left prison. Trump is also dismissing charges against those charged, but not yet tried, for the riot.

"My son, Enrique Tarrio, has been released officially as of now!" Zuny Tarrio posted on X.

Rhodes, who was not pardoned but had his sentence commuted, is waiting at the jail for defendants to be freed.

Getty Images Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes after his release from prisonGetty Images
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes after his release from prison

Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, had been charged for leading a contingent of his Oath Keepers members to Washington.

Though Rhodes did not enter the Capitol, he directed his members from outside, and was sentenced in 2023 to 18 years in prison.

Tarrio was found guilty of seditious conspiracy - a rarely used charge of planning to overthrow the government - over the riot. He was not in Washington DC during the riots but directed others involved.

He received a sentence of 22 years, one of the longest given.

Amid the pardons and commutations, Trump also signed an order directing the Department of Justice to drop all pending cases against suspects accused in the riot.

A leading advocate for those defendants - Edward R Martin - was also made the acting US Attorney for Washington DC, showing the depth of Trump's desire to end the years-long prosecutions. The Washington office was in charge of trying the cases connected to 6 January.

Democrats have condemned the release of more than 1,000 people as an attempt to rewrite history and sanitise the violence of the riot which led to multiple deaths.

Trump has described the day as "peaceful" and the jailed or imprisoned rioters as "hostages".

Teenager arrested over online abuse of Arsenal striker and wife

22 January 2025 at 02:29

Teenager, 17, arrested over online abuse of Havertz

Kai HavertzImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Kai Havertz joined Arsenal in 2023

  • Published

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications" following the online abuse of Arsenal striker Kai Havertz and his wife.

The boy, who is 17 years old and from St Albans, has been bailed while enquiries continue, Hertfordshire Police said.

Havertz's wife Sophia posted to her Instagram story two direct messages she had received after Arsenal's FA Cup defeat by Manchester United earlier this month, one which included threats to the couple's unborn child.

The German forward, 25, missed a chance to win the game in normal time and then had his penalty saved by United keeper Altay Bayindir in the shootout as United won 5-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw.

The couple have been together since 2018 and got married last year, with Sophia announcing in November that she was pregnant.

In response to the messages, Sophia wrote the culprit should be "ashamed" of themselves, while Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said online abuse of players has "terrible consequences" and needs to be "eradicated from the game".

Related topics

Ukrainian army psychiatrist arrested on $1m corruption charge

22 January 2025 at 01:58
Security Service of Ukraine Hundreds of dollar banknotes lying on a living room floor Security Service of Ukraine
Investigators searching the man's home home found $152,000 (£124,000) in cash

Ukraine has detained its army's chief psychiatrist for "illegal enrichment" charges related to earnings of more than $1m (£813,000) accrued since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022.

In a statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the man sat on a commission deciding whether individuals were fit for military service.

The SBU statement did not name him - however, a man called Oleh Druz was previously identified as the Ukrainian Armed Forces' chief psychiatrist.

The SBU said he owned three apartments in or near Kyiv, one in Odesa, two plots of land and several BMW luxury cars, and investigators searching his home also found $152,000 (£124,000) and €34,000 in cash.

The statement said the man did not declare the property, which was registered in the name of his wife, daughter, sons, and other third parties.

He now faces ten years in jail for the charges of illegal enrichment and making a false declaration.

Druz was implicated in a similar case in 2017 which saw him fail to declare two SUVs and several properties, leading him to be suspended.

Ukraine has long battled endemic corruption.

In May, a Ukrainian MP was charged with embezzling £220,000, while in 2023 more than 30 conscription officials accused of taking bribes and smuggling people out of the country were sacked in an anti-corruption purge.

Last year, the Ukrainian parliament voted to abolish military medical commissions after several officials were accused of accepting bribes in exchange for issuing exemptions from military service.

Government ousts UK competition watchdog chair

22 January 2025 at 02:18
UK Government Marcus BokkerinkUK Government
Marcus Bokkerink has chaired the Competition and Markets Authority since 2022

The chair of the UK's competition watchdog has been ousted by government ministers who felt that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had failed to convince them it was sufficiently focused on growth.

Government sources said that with the chancellor and business secretary at the World Economic Forum in Davos trying to drum up investment, the government wanted to send a signal that it was serious about growth.

The CMA recently held up a merger between Vodafone and Three Mobile Networks which was eventually approved.

Marcus Bokkerink, who has chaired the CMA since 2022, will be replaced on an interim basis by Doug Gurr, former boss of Amazon UK.

Mr Bokkerink and other regulators met with Chancellor Rachel Reeves last week to deliver their ideas on how to stimulate growth.

It is understood that the submission from the CMA was thought to be underwhelming.

The CMA's primary responsibility is to ensure consumers are well served by effective and fair competition.

The CMA has been contacted for comment.

'Dress smartly', NI Speaker warns assembly members

22 January 2025 at 02:32
Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots said MLAs had a "very loose interpretation of smart"

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Northern Ireland Assembly have been given a dressing down by the Speaker.

On Tuesday, during a Stormont plenary session, Edwin Poots reminded them that the dress code was "smart."

"Some of you have a very loose interpretation of smart and I would encourage members to dress smartly when it comes to the chamber," he said.

We're not demanding that people, gentlemen, wear shirts and ties, but we're asking (you) to dress smartly and to look up to doing the job."

It comes a day after the inauguration of United Stated President Donald Trump, which saw US senator John Fetterman arrive in a hoodie, shorts and trainers.

Poots also told members off for bringing in coffee cups and cans saying: "I see everything up here. People might not realise it, but I have witnessed over the last number of weeks people bringing in coffee cups and cans and so forth.

"The only thing that you are allowed in this building is the glass of water that is provided for you.

"It's not a committee meeting. It is a plenary session of Parliamentary Assembly. And all other receptacles are not to be in this part of the building."

Mr Poots, who was sporting a tartan tie for Burns' Night, also said some MLAs were not acknowledging him when they are leaving the chamber, adding "that's not following the code".

A 2014 leaflet given to MLAs called "Rules of behaviour and courtesies in the House " warns them "while there is no exact dress code the way in which you dress should demonstrate respect for the House. The Speaker expects Members to wear business attire."

However, the rules have since been relaxed meaning men no longer have to wear jackets and ties.

Prince Harry case against Sun publisher delayed

22 January 2025 at 01:37
Reuters A close-up of Prince Harry, unsmiling, and looking straight at the camera
Reuters
Prince Harry, pictured here in August 2024, did not attend Tuesday's court hearing

The opening day of Prince Harry's damages battle against the owners of The Sun newspaper has been delayed after it emerged that the two sides are involved in potential settlement talks after years of legal warfare.

The duke's lawyers were due on Tuesday to open an eight-week trial of his allegations that journalists at News Group Newspapers used unlawful techniques to pry into his private live - and executives then allegedly covered it up.

Moments before they were to begin presenting their case, they asked for an adjournment.

However, after hours of secret discussions, and no sign of a final agreement that could change the nature of the trial, the judge demanded that the two sides begin - leading them both to say they would ask the Court of Appeal to overturn that order.

The practical effect of their objection is that the case has been delayed until at least 10am on Wednesday - which means both sides have more time to negotiate.

It's not clear what has been raised in the 11th hour negotiations.

Prince Harry has repeatedly said he wants a trial so that he can get "accountability" for other alleged victims of unlawful newsgathering of private information by NGN journalists.

NGN has denied there was any wrongdoing at The Sun or that executives across the group covered it up.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned empire has long admitted that journalists at the News of the World, closed down in 2011, did use unlawful techniques but has always denied that it was widespread.

This morning, lawyers for Prince Harry and former Labour MP Lord Tom Watson, the other remaining claimant, asked Mr Justice Fancourt to delay opening the case twice - meaning the court did not sit until 2pm.

EPA Prince Harry's barrister David Sherborne arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, wearing a white shirt and black coat and carrying a folder of papersEPA
Prince Harry's barrister David Sherborne arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London

David Sherborne, Prince Harry's barrister, said there was potentially a "good prospect" of an agreement that would save the court time.

"We are very close, there is an issue with time and gaining instructions," he said.

"It is not the only factor."

Anthony Hudson KC, for News Group Newspapers, added the parties needed more time because of "time differences" and said that both parties were involved in a "settlement dynamic".

Mr Justice Fancourt - who has repeatedly criticised both sides for long delays and spats over how the case should be conducted - refused to give them more time, saying that the case should start, even if there were still talks behind the scenes that could change the nature of the trial.

"I am not persuaded that if there is a real will to settle this that it could not have been done by today," said the judge.

News Group Newspapers' lawyers then asked for the court to sit in private - without the presence of the media - to hear more about what was going on.

The judge refused, saying he was not going to sit in "secret" - and then both Prince Harry's team and NGN's lawyers said they would ask senior judges to overturn the order to get underway.

Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship. Can he do it?

22 January 2025 at 02:43
Getty Images Donald Trump at a podium in the Capitol buildingGetty Images
Donald Trump has vowed to end automatic citizenship for anyone born in the US

President Donald Trump has said he plans to end "birthright citizenship" - which refers to automatic American citizenship granted to anyone born in the US.

Birthright citizenship is protected by the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

He has said he wanted to end it by an executive order in recent media interviews as well as in his previous term as president.

The plan was mentioned again in a briefing call by incoming White House administration officials on Monday.

The official provided no details on how the administration hopes to accomplish this.

Though he has vowed to end the practice, attempts to do so would face significant legal hurdles, and any executive order attempting to do so would likely immediately be overturned in court.

The bar to amend the Constitution is extremely high and requires approval from two-thirds of Congress, in both the House and Senate. It must also be ratified by three-fourths of states.

What is 'birthright citizenship'?

The first sentence of the 14th Amendment to the US constitution establishes the principle of "birthright citizenship":

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

Immigration hardliners argue that the policy is a "great magnet for illegal immigration", and that it encourages undocumented pregnant women to cross the border in order to give birth, an act that has been pejoratively called "birth tourism" or having an "anchor baby".

How did it start?

The 14th Amendment was adopted in 1868, after the close of the Civil War. The 13th Amendment had abolished slavery in 1865, while the 14th settled the question of the citizenship of freed, American-born former slaves.

Previous Supreme Court decisions, like Dred Scott v Sandford in 1857, had decided that African Americans could never be US citizens. The 14th Amendment overrode that.

In 1898, the US Supreme Court affirmed that birthright citizenship applies to the children of immigrants in the case of Wong Kim Ark v United States. Wong was a 24-year-old child of Chinese immigrants who was born in the US, but denied re-entry when he returned from a visit to China. Wong successfully argued that because he was born in the US, his parent's immigration status did not impact the application of the 14th Amendment.

"Wong Kim Ark vs United States affirmed that regardless of race or the immigration status of one's parents, all persons born in the United States were entitled to all of the rights that citizenship offered," writes Erika Lee, director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota. "The court has not re-examined this issue since then."

Can Trump overturn it?

Most legal scholars agree that President Trump cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order.

"He's doing something that's going to upset a lot of people, but ultimately this will be decided by the courts," said Saikrishna Prakash, a constitutional expert and University of Virginia Law School professor. "This is not something he can decide on his own."

Mr Prakash said that while the president can order the employees of federal agencies to interpret citizenship more narrowly - agents with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for example - that will inevitably invite legal challenges from people whose citizenship is being denied.

That could lead to a lengthy court battle that could ultimately wind up at the US Supreme Court.

A constitutional amendment could do away with birthright citizenship, but that would require a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and approval by three quarters of US states.

How many people would it impact?

According to Pew Research, about 250,000 babies were born to unauthorised immigrant parents in the United States in 2016, which is a 36% decrease from a peak in 2007. By 2022, the latest year that data is available, there are 1.2m US citizens total born to unauthorised immigrant parents, Pew found.

But as those children also have children, the cumulative effect of ending birthright citizenship would increase the number of unauthorised immigrants in the country to 4.7m in 2050, think tank the Migration Policy Institute found.

In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Trump said he thinks that the children of unauthorised immigrants should be deported alongside their parents - even if they were born in the US.

"I don't want to be breaking up families," Trump said last December. "So the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back."

What countries have it

More than 30 countries - including Canada, Mexico, Malaysia and Lesotho - practise automatic "jus soli", or "right of the soil" without restriction.

Other countries, like the UK and Australia, allow for a modified version where citizenship is automatically granted if one parent is a citizen or permanent resident.

Canada avoids Trump's tariffs - for now

21 January 2025 at 23:46
Reuters President Donald Trump holds a document he signed while he sits in the Oval Office. His expression is neutral and he is in a dark suit and tie. Reuters

After bracing for weeks for a trade war with the US, Canada has - for now - evaded tariffs that Donald Trump threatened to impose on the country as soon as he takes office.

But Trump said on Monday the tariffs on Canada and Mexico could come on 1 February as he ordered federal officials to review US trade relationships for any unfair practices - including relationships with Canada, Mexico and China.

The incoming president has pledged import duties of 25% on Canada and Mexico, as well as 10% on global imports and 60% on Chinese goods.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday: "'If the president does choose to proceed with tariffs, Canada will respond - and everything is on the table."

Canadian officials initially appeared relieved at the reprieve the review that Trump has ordered offered, but warned the tariff threat was still real.

Then in the Oval Office late in the evening, Trump told reporters he was considering 1 February as a date his administration might impose 25% levies on Canada and Mexico.

Canada is highly dependent on trade with the US, with roughly 75% of its exports heading south.

Trudeau, speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, said there was "always going to be a certain amount of unpredictability and rhetoric coming out from this administration".

He said Canada offered the US "a safe, secure and reliable partner in an uncertain world".

In an appeal to Trump's promise of an American "golden age", Trudeau noted Canada is a source of commodities like energy and critical minerals the "American economy is going to need in order to grow".

In November, Trump said his administration would impose across -the-board tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods in an effort to force the countries to crack down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the US.

Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly last week had warned the tariffs could spark the "biggest trade war between Canada and the US in decades".

Ottawa is preparing counter-tariffs in response to the threat, reportedly worth billions of dollars.

Trudeau said he supports "the principle of dollar-for-dollar matching tariffs".

Members of Trudeau's cabinet are gathered in Quebec for two days of meetings focused on the US-Canada relationship.

Canadian officials say they will continue with their efforts to lobby US counterparts on the benefits of trade between the two nations, which totaled an estimated $909bn in 2022.

Canada, the US and Mexico renegotiated a trilateral free trade deal during Trump's first term in office.

The presidential memo Trump signed after his inauguration directs federal agencies to assess how that deal affects American "workers, farmers, ranchers, service providers, and other businesses".

It also asked the commerce and homeland security secretaries to assess the "unlawful migration and fentanyl flows" from Canada and Mexico.

That review is due on 1 April.

While both the northern and southern US borders have reported unlawful crossings and drug seizures, the numbers at the border with Canada are considerably lower than those at the Mexico border, according to official data.

In December, Canada promised to implement C$1.3bn ($900m; £700m) worth of new security measures along its US border, including strengthened surveillance and a joint "strike force" to target transnational organised crime.

Tariffs are a central part of Trump's economic vision - he sees them as a way of growing the US economy, protecting jobs and raising tax revenue.

But many economists have warned the policy could lead to higher prices for Americans and pain for companies hit by foreign retaliation, and slow.

BBC banner that reads 'Trump's inauguration'

中纪委晒成绩单 纪检干部涉贪人数亮了

22 January 2025 at 03:34

本周二,主导中共党内反腐的中纪委发布最新数据显示, 作为“反腐先锋”的纪检监察机关,其本身腐败问题频发。仅在去年,全国就有近四千名纪检干部被查处,其中不乏厅局级高官。有专家指出,这一现象暴露出中共自查自纠体制的根本缺陷,而缺乏外部监督的权力体系正在加剧腐败的蔓延。

据中共中央纪委国家监委网站1月21日发布的通报,2024年,中国全国纪检监察机关共接收涉及纪检监察干部问题的线索或反映2.87万余件次,对纪检监察干部立案3375人,处分3917人,并移送司法机关374人。其中,处分厅局级干部158人、县处级干部957人。同时,全国纪检监察机关运用“四种形态”批评教育和处理的纪检监察干部多达2.15万余人次。

自习近平2012年上台以来,涵盖中国官场的大规模反腐运动已导致数百万人受到波及,影响范围遍及党政军各个层级。中国民间舆论起初对时常有某位高官落马的消息反应热烈,但随着时间的推移,民众对”打老虎“式的反腐运动似乎日趋麻木。

本台记者注意到,中纪委发布上述反腐成绩单后,网民的反应似乎相当冷淡,相关消息更没能登上热搜话题。

海外政论杂志《北京之春》荣誉主编胡平认为,这一现象凸显反腐运动不但并未有效遏制腐败,反而愈演愈烈。他说:“不但贪腐的官员人数更多,而且金额更大。大量的腐败不是存量而是增量,主要发生在习近平上台之后。”

近年来,中国高层官员的腐败问题日趋突出。2023年,时任国防部长李尚福因涉嫌军队贪腐被罢免;2024年底,中共中央军委委员苗华因“严重违纪”落马。据中央纪委国家监委统计,2024年有59名中管干部受到处分,刷新反腐纪录。

2024年底,中共中央军委委员苗华因“严重违纪”落马。
2024年底,中共中央军委委员苗华因“严重违纪”落马。
(路透社资料图片)

早在2015年曝光的一份内部讲话中,原中纪委书记王岐山曾引述习近平的话说,“有人说一党执政解决不了腐败问题,但中国共产党人不信邪。”对此,胡平认为,中共早已意识到内部监督机制存在缺陷,但始终拒绝外部监督。他说:“真正的反腐就要建立起权力制衡机制,建立起新闻监督。简单的说,要民众的参与,这种监督才是治理腐败的根本之道。但对中共来说,他们的反腐败主要是为了维护共产党的专制权力,尤其是强化习近平的个人独裁。”

那么,在缺乏对公权力的民主监督之外,中共党内的严刑峻法能否实现有效反腐呢?

习近平多次强调要全面从严治党和“零容忍”反腐。他还在本月初召开的二十届中央纪委四次会议上重申,“始终坚持零容忍”。然而,美国《华尔街日报》日前指出,为了让畏惧反腐与清洗行动而不作为的中国官员重拾干劲,重振萎靡的经济,习近平还传达出另一个信息:“坚持严管和厚爱结合、激励和约束并重”,通过”三个区分开来“,纪法情理贯通融合,对明知故犯和无心之过、肆意违规和改革失误、蓄意谋私和因公差错等区别处理,以“更好激发广大党员、干部的积极性、主动性、创造性”。

就此,旅美中国政治学者王军涛指出,中共官员的消极状态并非单纯因反腐引发,而是源于习近平以反腐为由大肆开展的清洗和强化集权运动。他说:“中国现在问题在于要‘定于一尊’,一切要听中央的。‘四个意识’、‘两个维护’,就是说过去的制度、方针、政策都要颠覆。但新的是什么?不知道。而现在查腐败又不是查真的腐败,用查腐败的方式严肃政治纪律,这样就使得很多官员没有办法做事。”

与此同时,中国社会对反腐清洗运动的反应也同样复杂。去年年初,由中央纪委国家监委宣传部与央视联合制作的年度反腐纪录片《持续发力 纵深推进》播出后,在抖音等短视频平台上,民众却以戏谑态度回应影片中的相关贪腐案例。其中,“茅台倒厕所”、“动辄贪污上亿”成为中国网络的热议话题。有网友直言,“这纪录片就是战绩回放”;“没有诚心忏悔,只有愿赌服输”;“考公更有动力了。”

责编:何平 网编:洪伟

© wiki/CC BY-SA 4.0

图为位于北京的中纪委及国家监委所在地。中纪委2025年1月21日发布的最新数据显示,作为“反腐先锋”的纪检监察机关,其本身腐败问题频发。

Trump Moves Quickly to Install New Leaders at Key U.S. Attorneys’ Offices

The interim appointments, two in New York and one in Washington, signaled a break from past practice that reflects the importance of frontline prosecutors to the administration’s plans.

© Rod Lamkey Jr. for The New York Times

Current and former law enforcement officials said the new administration’s approach came as a surprise to Justice Department veterans.

Capitol riot leaders Tarrio and Rhodes released from prison

22 January 2025 at 02:11
Watch: Militia leader Stewart Rhodes leaves prison after Trump issues 6 January pardons

Former Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes have been released from prison, as President Donald Trump sets free more than 1,500 people charged for the US Capitol riot four years ago.

Within less than 24 hours of Trump pardoning or commuting sentences of those who tried to violently overturn the 2020 election, the riot's two most prominent leaders left prison. Trump is also dismissing charges against those charged, but not yet tried, for the riot.

"My son, Enrique Tarrio, has been released officially as of now!" Zuny Tarrio posted on X.

Rhodes, who was not pardoned but had his sentence commuted, is waiting at the jail for defendants to be freed.

Getty Images Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes after his release from prisonGetty Images
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes after his release from prison

Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, had been charged for leading a contingent of his Oath Keepers members to Washington.

Though Rhodes did not enter the Capitol, he directed his members from outside, and was sentenced in 2023 to 18 years in prison.

Tarrio was found guilty of seditious conspiracy - a rarely used charge of planning to overthrow the government - over the riot. He was not in Washington DC during the riots but directed others involved.

He received a sentence of 22 years, one of the longest given.

Amid the pardons and commutations, Trump also signed an order directing the Department of Justice to drop all pending cases against suspects accused in the riot.

A leading advocate for those defendants - Edward R Martin - was also made the acting US Attorney for Washington DC, showing the depth of Trump's desire to end the years-long prosecutions. The Washington office was in charge of trying the cases connected to 6 January.

Democrats have condemned the release of more than 1,000 people as an attempt to rewrite history and sanitise the violence of the riot which led to multiple deaths.

Trump has described the day as "peaceful" and the jailed or imprisoned rioters as "hostages".

Hochul’s Budget Aims More at Pocketbook Issues Than at Trump

The $252 billion spending plan for New York addressed concerns about affordability, crime and the cost of living, but did little to anticipate President Trump’s policies.

© Cindy Schultz for The New York Times

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is expected to face a robust re-election challenge in 2026, introduced a spending plan that seemed aimed at addressing affordability concerns among voters.

Libyan general arrested in Turin on ICC warrant for alleged war crimes

22 January 2025 at 00:23
Man in military beret

A Libyan general wanted for alleged war crimes and violence against inmates at a prison near Tripoli has been arrested in the northern Italian city of Turin.

Osama Najim, also known as Almasri, was detained on Sunday on an international arrest warrant after a tipoff from Interpol, a source at the prosecutors office for the Piedmont region confirmed.

Italy’s justice minister, Carlo Nordio, is evaluating the transmission of the ICC’s request to Rome’s attorney general.

Najim was reportedly chief of Libya’s judicial police and director of Mitiga prison, a facility close to Tripoli condemned by human rights’ groups for the arbitrary detention, torture and abuse of political dissidents and migrants and refugees. It is not clear whether he is still in either role.

The arrest warrant was issued by the international criminal court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as alleged rape and murder.

The general was in Turin for a football match on Saturday between Juventus and AC Milan accompanied by other Libyans, according to the Italian press. They reported he was arrested at a hotel in the city.

The NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans wrote on X that the arrest “came after years of complaints and testimonies from victims, sent to the international criminal court, which conducted a difficult investigation”.

Nello Scavo, a journalist on the Italian newspaper Avvenire, wrote about the general in his book, Le Mani sulla Guardia Costiera, in which he described him as being “among the figures capable of blackmailing Italy and Europe with boats”. In the book, Scavo alleged that Najim illegally transferred migrants “from both unofficial and official places of detention in Tripoli to the Mitiga facility, for the primary purpose of using them for forced labour as a form of slavery”.

The Libyan judicial police reportedly condemned what they described as Najim’s “arbitrary detention”, calling his arrest an “outrageous incident” on Facebook.

The arrest puts the spotlight on a controversial pact between Italy and Libya, signed in 2017 and renewed every three years. The deal, approved by the European Council, involves Italy funding and equipping the Libyan coastguard to prevent boats of refugees leaving the north African country. Humanitarian groups have criticised it for pushing people back to detention camps where they face torture and other abuses.

In November 2022, the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a German NGO, filed a criminal complaint at the ICC against several high-profile European politicians for allegedly conspiring with Libya’s coastguard to illegally push back people trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge in Europe.

Scavo told the Guardian that many testimonies from migrants and refugees presented to the ICC had provided evidence for the investigation into Najim. “It would be a turning point if a trial could be opened before the ICC, but I fear that many countries are afraid of what he might say, because these are representatives of authorities who have relations with Italy, with Malta and in general with Europe,” he said.

The hardline immigration policies of Georgia Meloni’s government, including a similar deal with Tunisia, are at least partly credited for the sharp decrease in refugees crossing from north Africa in 2024.

英外相拉米会晤四名被通缉港人 称港府恐吓在英港人不可被接受

港府去年平安夜宣布悬红百万港元,通缉六名海外港人,当中有四人现居英国。英国外相拉米(David Lammy)联同外交部政务次官韦斯特(Catherine West)上周三(15日)和他们会面。韦斯特强调,英国港人社群的安全是英国政府的首要任务,指港府所为不可被接受。这是港府三度以国安法律悬红通缉在英港人后,英国外交大臣首次和被通缉者会面。不过有与会者表示,关键还是要看英国政府未来会否有实际行动。

韦斯特周二(21日)在社交平台X上发帖,说她上周和外相拉米和近日被香港警方通缉的在英港人会面。她明确向他们表示,英国港人社群的安全是英国政府的首要任务,任何外国政府试图胁迫、恐吓或伤害海外异见者的行为都不可被接受(unacceptable)。帖文附上会面照片,外相拉米也有转载。

与会者促制订机制协助被通缉者 吁政府制裁港官

四位被通缉者包括“香港自由委员会基金会”(CFHK)传讯及传媒助理张晞晴、“香港民主委员会”(HKDC)国际倡议与项目高级干事刘珈汶、前“学生动源”召集人钟翰林,以及香港理工大学前助理教授钟剑华。会面由英国外交部以韦斯特名义发出邀请,英国外交部及内政部都有派代表出席,长约一小时,拉米在会面中途现身约十五分钟。

钟剑华向本台表示,拉米刚坐下就有摄影师拍照;他认为拉米只是到场拍照、态度敷衍。不过刘珈汶就认为会面认真,指韦斯特几乎坐满全程、听取港人意见。

刘珈汶表示,她们四人各自交代通缉令发出后的个人状况,发现他们所收到的英国政府支援和指引都不同,要求政府制订统一机制,协助被通缉者应对。她们又呼吁英国政府作出实际行动,让港府知道其所作所为“是有后果的”,包括制裁港府官员、检控官及国安法指定法官,以及审视香港经贸办的地位等。不过她坦言,英国政府似乎未有意欲采取这些强硬措施。

英国外相拉米(David Lammy)联同外交部政务次官韦斯特(Catherine West)上周三(15日)和四名被通缉在英港人会面。
英国外相拉米(David Lammy)联同外交部政务次官韦斯特(Catherine West)上周三(15日)和四名被通缉在英港人会面。
(刘珈汶提供)

促英国领导各国应对跨境镇压

除了悬红通缉外,与会者又提到,中港政府正以不同方式在英国进行跨境镇压、危害香港社群的安全。钟剑华说,席间官员反问他们有何建议:“提到跨境镇压的问题时,大家都未有说些什么,官员反而反问我们,有哪个国家处理这类跨境镇压是最佳例子?真是反问我们。我就插嘴说,其实英国可以成为例子,‘你自己想想吧‘,我问他们。”

刘珈汶就建议英国政府应就跨境镇压作出明确定义,及制订实质应对措施,包括向外交及执法人员提供完善培训,使他们了解中国如何针对在英港人、维吾尔、藏人及台湾人群体,并领导各国合作应对跨境镇压。

刘珈汶说:“对英国而言,其实这些行为,就像中国很喜欢说的一句,‘侵犯领土主权‘。希望英国政府在和G7及跨太平洋合作上,可以作为一个领导的角色,因为现在流散港人社群最大就是在英国。”

刘珈汶又在会上提到英国政府在《香港半年报告》中,有关经济和贸易的部份完全配合港府的论述,呼吁英国政府重新审视香港的真实经济情况。她说,对于她们的建议,官员只表示“蛮好的”或说会回去研究。她形容这些只是“外交辞令”,并不感到满意。

英外相首晤被通缉在英港人 与会者:实际行动才是关键

这是自港府以国安法律第三次通缉在英港人以来,英国外相首次与被通缉者会面,在前朝保守党政府年代也从未出现。不过钟剑华认为,这次会面只是被指亲中的工党政府被在野党质疑下,“作秀”见面表达关心。

刘珈汶就更关注政府在会面后,会否有实际行动:“当然在会上或其他场合,他们可以口头承诺很多,或者他们和中国官员、香港官员见面时,有提到黎智英的状况。但实际行动是什么,才是大家最在意的。在会上无论他们答应什么,我们作为倡议者或作为一个在英港人的责任,就是不停敦促他们,直到他们真的会做。”

她说,2月8日在中国新使馆选址的示威,将是在英港人向英国政府施压的好时机,迫使英国政府不要把经济利益,凌驾于民主自由等英国价值之上。

责编:嘉远 网编:洪伟

© 刘珈汶提供

英国外相拉米(David Lammy)联同外交部政务次官韦斯特(Catherine West)上周三(15日)和四名被通缉在英港人会面。

Judges Begin Freeing Jan. 6 Defendants After Trump’s Clemency Order

22 January 2025 at 02:55
Two prominent far-right extremists with central roles in the Capitol attack, Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys and Stewart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers militia, have been set free.

© Roberto Schmidt/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Metropolitan Police Department officers cordon off an area outside of the DC Central Detention Facility in Washington.

Trump Just Pardoned Himself

22 January 2025 at 02:16
Because presidents exercise such unfettered discretion in granting clemency, these actions provide useful insights into their true character.

© Ioulex for The New York Times

应对中国:国务卿卢比奥上任第一天会见四方安全对话国家

22 January 2025 at 02:36

据美联社1月21日发自曼谷的报道,美国国务卿卢比奥上任第一天,就会见了四方安全对话国家,该组织由美国、印度、日本和澳大利亚组成,人口近20亿,占全球GDP的三分之一以上。该组织成立已有15年,但最近其重要性有所提升。

报道说,四方安全对话成立于2007年,旨在将共同应对2004年印度洋地震和海啸的国家聚集在一起。其成员强调其外交性质,并广泛关注基础设施、人道主义援助、灾难救济、气候变化和海上安全等区域问题。

美联社的报道说,尽管安全只是其中的一部分,但四方安全对话是美国战略的重要组成部分,旨在对抗中国在该地区日益增长的自信以及广阔的领土主张,包括几乎整个具有战略意义的南海和民主自治岛屿台湾。因此,该组织经常被称为“四方安全对话”。

报道说,四方安全对话的战略元素促使中国指责这四个国家试图组建一个“亚洲北约”,尽管这是一个非常不同的结构,也没有共同防御条约。

白宫曾经在去年九月四方安全对话峰会后强调,各成员国正在与整个地区的合作伙伴合作,“加强海上安全,提高海域意识,维护自由开放的印度太平洋”。

报道说,四方安全对话成立后不久便陷入了沉寂,并持续了十年之久。直到特朗普总统在其第一任期内与日本、澳大利亚和印度领导人达成协议,重启该对话。

在拜登担任总统期间,各国高级外交官的会晤升级为领导人峰会,最近一次是在去年九月于拜登的家乡特拉华州举行的峰会。在拜登执政的四年间,四方安全对话成员国之间的防务合作不断深化。日本、澳大利亚和美国都增加了国防开支,美国越来越多地瞄准亚太地区,而印度的国防开支则保持稳定。

在特拉华峰会上,各国同意扩大海岸警卫队之间的伙伴关系,以提高相互操作能力,印度、日本和澳大利亚人员将乘坐美国船只在该地区航行

日本和澳大利亚也一直在广泛修改其国防战略,澳大利亚与美国和英国签署了AUKUS协议,以获得核动力潜艇等。

美联社的报道说,特朗普是否会将四方安全对话保留在领导人层面,还是将其交还给各国最高外交官,尚有待观察。不过特朗普就职典礼后第二天将在华盛顿举行相关会议,这一事实表明,四方安全对话可能仍将发挥重要作用。

卢比奥在周三的确认听证会上,称中国是“美国有史以来面临的最强大、最危险的对手”。

除此之外,中国一直在更积极地推进其区域领土主张,导致与菲律宾和其他国家发生直接冲突,并致力于建立一支能够在远离中国的海域作战的真正的“远海”海军,包括推进建造核动力航空母舰,以应对日益严峻的全球挑战。

在与卢比奥会晤之前,澳大利亚外交部长黄英贤称与美国的双边关系是“我们最重要的战略关系”,并表示很高兴四方安全对话国家会议在就职典礼后不久举行。

她周末在华盛顿对记者说:“这是所有国家对四方安全对话的集体承诺的体现,在印度太平洋地区密切合作,这是一个坚定的承诺。”

据本台此前报道,印度总理莫迪1月15日曾经宣布,当天印度有三艘新的军舰开始服役,这显示印度在海上安全的领导力显著增强。外界认为,这在中国强大军力背景下,对维护印太地区秩序具有重要意义。报道说,三艘印度军舰下水的时机恰逢美国候任总统特朗普就任前夕。印度海军力量的增强对于印太地区的国际关系,尤其是印中之间的关系,可能产生重要影响。

责编:梒青 网编:洪伟

© 美联社

2025年1月21日,美国国务卿卢比奥在就职后发表讲话。
❌
❌