Blinken says US should accept refugees fleeing Hong Kong amid draconian law ANI | Updated: Feb 02, 2021 06:22 IST
Washington [US], February 2 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (local time) lambasted China over its imposition of the draconian National Security Law in Hong Kong saying it acted egregiously to undermine the city.
Blinken, in an interview with With Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports, said that the US should accept people fleeing the crackdown in the region. I believe we should, the Secretary of State said when asked if the US should join the UK in opening its doors to refugees fleeing the political repression in Hong Kong, according to an official transcript released by the US Department of State.
UK slaps economic sanctions on four Zimbabwe security chiefs Zimbabwe-UK-Sanctions February 02, 2021 to 07:35 425 APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The United Kingdom has imposed travel bans, asset freezes and other economic sanctions on four Zimbabwean security chiefs whom it accuses of being responsible for serious human rights violations in the southern African country.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday that his government has decided to slap sanctions on Zimbabwe’s State Security Minister Owen Ncube, intelligence chief Isaac Moyo, police commissioner general Godwin Matanga and Presidential Guard commander Anselem Sanyatwe.
“These sanctions send a clear message that we will hold to account those responsible for the most egregious human rights violations, including the deaths of innocent Zimbabweans,” Raab said in a statement.
UK announces first set of designations of individuals under the UK’s Zimbabwe sanctions regime
Human rights violations in 2019 saw protestors killed for expressing right to free speech and protest
Sanctions go hand-in-hand with UK efforts to hold the Government of Zimbabwe to account and to make good on its promise to deliver much-needed crucial reforms.
Four Zimbabwean security sector chiefs responsible for serious human rights violations – including the deaths of 23 Zimbabwean protestors – have been designated under the UK’s new autonomous sanctions regime, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced today.
Today’s announcement ensures these individuals cannot freely travel to the UK, channel money through UK banks or profit from our economy. These restrictive measures are not targeted at, nor intended to impact, the wider economy and the people of Zimbabwe.
Security Council Report Monthly Forecast, February 2021
Format
Overview
In February, the UK will have the presidency of the Security Council. Its signature events will focus on climate change and COVID-19. The high-level meeting on security risks in climate-vulnerable contexts is expected to be chaired by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The COVID-19 meeting will focus on equitable access to vaccines, especially in conflict-affected areas; UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to chair.
There will also be a briefing on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and the Secretary-General’s twelfth strategic-level report on this issue.