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Minggu, 20 September 2020

US defies world to say Iran UN sanctions back in effect - CNA

WASHINGTON: The United States unilaterally proclaimed on Saturday (Sep 19) that UN sanctions against Iran are back in force and promised to punish those who violate them, in a move that risks increasing Washington's isolation but also international tensions.

"Today, the United States welcomes the return of virtually all previously terminated UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

According to him, the measures were "back in effect" from 8pm Washington time.

READ: Iran urges world to unite against US 'reckless actions'

The government of US President Donald Trump also promised to "impose consequences" on any UN member state which does not comply with the sanctions, even though it is one of the only countries in the world which believes they are in force.

The threat is formidable: Those deemed to be in defiance by Washington will be denied access to the US financial system and markets.

"If UN member states fail to fulfill their obligations to implement these sanctions, the United States is prepared to use our domestic authorities to impose consequences for those failures and ensure that Iran does not reap the benefits of UN-prohibited activity," Pompeo stated.

He promised that measures would be announced in coming days against "violators."

'FALSE CLAIM'

With 45 days to go until the Nov 3 election, Trump could unveil those measures during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

However Washington is almost alone on the issue: All the other great powers - China, Russia and also the US' own European allies - have challenged the claim.

READ: Iran's Zarif says world should oppose US sanctions or expect same

READ: Iran's friends should have defied US sanctions during COVID-19 pandemic: President Rouhani

"Any decision or action taken with a view to re-installing (the sanctions) would be incapable of legal effect," France, Britain and Germany said in a joint letter sent Friday to the Security Council and of which AFP has obtained a copy.

The Americans themselves realise the statement is a "false claim" Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said Saturday.

How did the UN arrive at this spectacular stand-off between the leading superpower and the rest of the planet? To answer that, one has to go back at least one month.

In mid-August, Trump's administration suffered a resounding defeat at the UN Security Council when it tried to extend the embargo on conventional weapons being sent to Tehran, which was due to expire in October.

Pompeo made an unusually vehement attack on France, Britain and Germany, accusing them of "siding with Iran's ayatollahs", and on Aug 20 announced a controversial move known as the "snapback", which aimed to re-establish all sanctions against Tehran a month later.

The sanctions were lifted in 2015 when Iran signed on to an international agreement not to seek to build nuclear weapons.

But Trump said that the landmark accord, negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama, was insufficient and withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018, then renewed and even strengthened Washington's bilateral sanctions.

LEGAL PIROUETTE

At the moment, the US is insisting it is still a participant in the agreement that it stormed out of, but only so that it can activate the "snapback" option.

Virtually every other member of the Security Council disputes Washington's ability to execute this legal pirouette, and the council has not taken the measure any further.

But this dialogue of the deaf has gone on unabated: The Trump administration acts as if the international sanctions are in place, while the rest of the international community continues to act as if nothing has changed.

Washington is hammering home that the arms embargo has been extended "indefinitely" and that many activities related to Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs are now subject to international sanctions.

But "I don't see anything happening", said one UN diplomat. "It would be just a statement. It's like pulling a trigger and no bullet coming out."

Another diplomat deplored the "unilateral" US act, saying that "Russia and China are sitting, happy, eating popcorn, watching" the "huge destabilising fallout" between Washington and its European partners.

But if the United States were to carry out the threat of secondary sanctions, tensions could continue to spiral.

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2020-09-20 08:46:00Z
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China's rich seek bodyguards schooled in digital dark arts - CNA

TIANJIN: At the Genghis Security Academy, which bills itself as China's only dedicated bodyguard school, students learn that the threats to the country's newly rich in the tech age are more likely to emerge from a hacker than a gunman.

Each day students in matching black business suits toil from dawn until midnight at the school in the eastern city of Tianjin, where digital defences are given equal pegging to the traditional close-protection skillset of combat, weapons training and high-speed driving.

Around a thousand graduate each year, hoping to land jobs as guards to China's burgeoning ranks of rich and famous, positions which can be worth up to US$70,000 - several times more than an annual office wage.

But the school says it can't meet demand as China's rapid growth mints millionaires - 4.4 million according to a Credit Suisse 2019 report, more than in the US.

The course fees are up to US$3,000 a student; and while they had to cancel training between February and June because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not dampened demand.

Only the best make the cut, says founder Chen Yongqing, insisting his disciplinarian standards are stricter than in the army.

"I'm quick-tempered and very demanding," the army veteran from China's northern Inner Mongolia region told AFP.

"Only by being strict can we cultivate every good sword. If you don't forge it well, it will break itself."

About half of the students are ex-military, Chen says.

They train in rows in a large, shabby sports hall, holding blue plastic guns ahead of them with a steady stare - before practising hustling their clients safely into a black Audi with smashed windows.

Some clients only trust bodyguards whose Chinese zodiac sign matches theirs AFP/WANG ZHAO

Other sessions are held in a classroom or gym, where they box in matching red T-shirts.

Mobile phones are confiscated throughout, while meals are taken in silence in a large dining hall presided over by pictures of acclaimed graduates, who have protected everyone from China's second richest man Jack Ma to visiting French presidents.

"We have been defining the standard of Chinese bodyguards," instructor Ji Pengfei told AFP.

In one class, students in pairs work through a scenario protecting a "client" from an intruder.

"Danger!" shouts Ji, prompting the guard to quickly throw their "boss" behind them and pull out a gun in the same move.

Students in matching black business suits toil from dawn until midnight at the bodyguard school in the eastern Chinese city of Tianjin AFP/WANG ZHAO

Those who fail to do it in two seconds are assigned 50 push-ups.

The guns at the Tianjin school are fake - China outlaws possession of firearms. For live firearms training, students are taken to Laos in Southeast Asia.

WIPING DATA, BLOCKING HACKS

But in a highly surveilled country with a low rate of street crime, the modern minder needs an up-to-date skillset, against state monitoring or professional hackers.

"Chinese bosses don't need you to fight," Chen tells his students of a client base which includes the country's biggest real estate and tech firms.

Repelling hacks on mobile phones, network security, spotting eavesdroppers and wiping data are all required tools in the bodyguard's armoury.

"What would you do if the boss wants to destroy a video file immediately?" Chen asks a class.

Around a thousand graduate each year from the Genghis Security Academy AFP/WANG ZHAO

Even so, old-school threats still exist in China - earlier this year billionaire He Xiangjian, founder of Midea and one of the country's richest men, was kidnapped at his home.

According to Chinese media, His son escaped by jumping into a river and was able to call the police, who said they arrested five suspects at the scene.

Student Zhu Peipei, a 33-year-old army veteran from northern Shanxi province, hopes becoming a bodyguard could offset his lack of professional skills or academic qualifications.

"And of course, it's cool," he added.

About half of the students are ex-military AFP/WANG ZHAO

But the alumni of the Genghis Academy also provide humdrum services, like accompanying children of the rich and famous to school - for a fee of 180,000 yuan (US$26,000) a year.

That in itself is far more than the base salary in private companies of around 53,000 yuan.

Students must also navigate the quirks of their wealthy clients, says trainer Ji.

Some only trust bodyguards whose Chinese zodiac sign matches theirs, he explains - while one, from a Fortune 500 company, only wanted to hire from his hometown.

Another demanded a prospective bodyguard tell him what books he liked to read - he was hired after saying he liked military novels.

The best can command as much as 500,000 yuan a year inside China, but some set their sights on a posting overseas, potentially working with foreign clients.

"I want to work in the Philippines or Myanmar," one student said, requesting anonymity.

"Then I can carry a gun ... it will be more challenging and I can earn more."

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2020-09-20 07:19:48Z
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Millions of US users to be hit by WeChat block - CNA

WASHINGTON: Washington's crackdown on WeChat will disrupt communications between millions of people in the United States and their friends, families and business partners in China.

But the app had not managed to reproduce in the US its success in China as the dominant smartphone-based payments platform.

The US Commerce Department announced partial bans on Friday (Sep 18) on WeChat as well as video app TikTok.

READ: Trump gives blessing to deal to allow TikTok to continue to operate in US

The order will slow down WeChat to make it unuseable in the United States for videochats with family and friends.

"They are slowing the speed to technically make it virtually impossible to use audio, video, or send images," said Wu Ziyi, a Chinese graduate student in political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

UNIVERSAL APP

In China, WeChat took the country toward cashless commerce in just a few years, and it is used by hundreds of millions for everyday payments.

It is a kind of universal app, a digital bank account and identification card, for ordering food or a car, sending gifts, managing medical issues, and interfacing government services.

Owned by technology giant TenCent, WeChat in the United States has around 19 million active daily users, said Adam Blacker of Apptopia, a mobile apps consultant.

"It's mostly used by Chinese visiting or working here or by Chinese-Americans staying in touch with their relatives," said William Reinsch of the Center for Strategic and international Studies in Washington.

That includes several hundred thousand Chinese students in the US, who use it for "at least 90 per cent" of their daily online conversations, according to Wu.

He said that it can be used to exchange small amounts of money.

But it cannot be connected to a US bank account or credit or debit card, and because it only works in Chinese yuan.

US businesses also use WeChat for communications with Chinese suppliers, and can possibly use it for payments, though other services -- like the Alipay function of TenCent rival Alibaba -- are better built to handle large sums and foreign exchange.

If US businesses do use its payments function, said Reinsch, "I haven't heard of anybody complaining that they might be stopped from doing that."

Now, under the Commerce Department order, WeChat cannot be used for transferring money inside the United States.

Reinsch said US businesses were mainly concerned that the long-flagged crackdown would apply to use of WeChat outside the United States, which would hamstring their China businesses.

That usage appears to still be allowed.

TOUGH COMPETITION IN US

WeChat did once try to break into the US payments market, but made few inroads due to resistance by banks and merchants, regulations that favor credit and debit cards over digital wallets, and stiff competition.

In 2018 the company declared its WeChat Pay app was poised to take off, especially in brand-name shops where Chinese tourists abound, hoping to leverage that for a broader expansion.

The gambling and tourism conglomerate Caesars Entertainment began taking WeChat payments at restaurants, shops and entertainment venues in Las Vegas, aiming to help Chinese tourists spend their money.

But with US-based rivals like Zelle, Venmo and Apple Pay contesting the market, WeChat barely registered, and Caesars appears to have given it up.

The company did not respond to a query on WeChat.

Wu said Chinese in the United States might still find ways to use the app, through VPN networks or by other means, but most are already moving to other chat apps for communications with families back home.

"My family is very traditional, so we will probably just go back to the phone call," he sighed.

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2020-09-20 05:58:18Z
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Sabtu, 19 September 2020

ByteDance gets Trump nod to avoid TikTok shutdown - CNA

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he supported a deal in principle that would allow TikTok to continue to operate in the United States, even as it appeared to conflict with his earlier order for China's ByteDance to divest the video app.

ByteDance was racing to avoid a crackdown on TikTok after the U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday it would block new downloads and updates to the app come Sunday. U.S. officials had expressed concern that the personal data of as many as 100 million Americans that use the app were being passed on to China's Communist Party government.

Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 14 giving ByteDance 90 days to sell TikTok. The deal announced on Saturday, however, is structured as a partnership rather than a divestment.

TikTok will be owned by a new company called TikTok Global and will be headquartered in the United States, possibly in Texas, Trump said. Oracle Corp will take a 12.5per cent stake in TikTok Global and store all its U.S. user data on its cloud to comply with U.S. national security requirements, the companies said. Retail giant Walmart said it would take a 7.5per cent stake in TikTok Global. The implied valuation for TikTok Global as a result of these investments could not be learned.

While Oracle and Walmart said that TikTok Global will be majority-owned by U.S. investors, this is the case only if one takes into account ByteDance's investor base, according to a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the deal's structure. This is because ByteDance will own 80per cent of TikTok Global, the source said.

Given that U.S. investors currently own about 40per cent of ByteDance, the White House will count that towards how much of TikTok Global is owned by U.S. parties, the source added. As a result, Oracle, Walmart, and ByteDance's U.S. investors will own, directly or indirectly, about 53per cent of TikTok Global, a second source said.

Beijing-based ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Walmart and Oracle also did not offer more information on TikTok Global's ownership structure.

It was not immediately clear what spurred the White House to compromise on its push for an outright sale of TikTok. However, the deal comes with pledges that cater to Trump's 'America First' policy agenda. It also averts alienating TikTok's young users ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. election.

ByteDance agreed to create 25,000 new U.S. jobs at TikTok, up from a little over 1,000 now. Trump, who had previously called on companies such as Oracle and Walmart to pay the United States a "fee" to participate in the TikTok deal, said there would also be a US$5 billion U.S. education fund as part of the deal.

"I said, you know, do me a favor, could you put up US$5 billion into a fund for education so we can educate people as to the real history of our country, not the fake history," Trump told a rally of supporters in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Saturday.

Oracle and Walmart described the agreement differently. They said that together with ByteDance top investors General Atlantic, Sequoia and Coatue they would create an educational initiative to deliver an artificial-intelligence driven online video curriculum for children, from basic reading and math to science, history and computer engineering.

The companies did not say how much they would spend on the education initiative. However, they said TikTok Global would pay more than US$5 billion in new taxes to the U.S. Treasury.

While ByteDance will get to keep TikTok's source code under the deal, Oracle will get to inspect it. Oracle CEO Safra Catz said her company was "100per cent confident in our ability to deliver a highly secure environment to TikTok and ensure data privacy to TikTok's American users, and users throughout the world."

Catz served on Trump's transition team in 2016, while Oracle's co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison is one of the few top technology executives to openly support the U.S. president.

ByteDance also had to give up some of its control of TikTok. Reuters reported on Thursday that TikTok Global would have a majority of American directors, a U.S. chief executive and a security expert on the board. Walmart said on Saturday its CEO Doug McMillon would serve as one of the five board members of TikTok Global.

It is possible that ByteDance's ownership of TikTok will be reduced further next year. Reuters was first to report on Thursday that ByteDance is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of TikTok Global. The filing of the IPO would be on a U.S. stock exchange and could come in about a year.

CFIUS APPROVAL

The Commerce Department said on Saturday it would delay by one week an order that had been set to take effect late Sunday that would have forced Alphabet Inc's Google and Apple Inc to stop offering TikTok for download, so the TikTok deal can be completed. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the U.S. government panel overseeing the deal talks, has to approve the transaction.

Oracle beat out Microsoft Corp , which said last week that its offer to acquire TikTok's U.S. business was rebuffed by ByteDance.

The Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to purge what it deems "untrusted" Chinese apps from U.S. digital networks. An order to require app stores to stop downloads of Tencent Holding Ltd's WeChat is still set to take effect Sunday night.

TikTok interim chief executive Vanessa Pappa said in a video posted on Saturday that "Tiktok is here to stay."

China also has to approve the deal. "We'll see whether or not it all happens," Trump said.

The first Chinese reaction to the deal came from Global Times, which is published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party. Global Times editor Hu Xijin said "this scheme is still unfair, but it avoids the worst result that TikTok is shut down or sold to a U.S. company completely."

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper, David Shepardson and Echo Wang; Editing by Chris Reese, Daniel Wallis and Jacqueline Wong)

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2020-09-20 03:29:53Z
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Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 - CNA

BANGKOK: Protesters in Bangkok on Saturday (Sep 19) repeated demands for the Thai monarchy to stay above politics and under the constitution in the biggest demonstration yet since a military coup in 2014.

They gathered at Sanam Luang, a public square in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok, to voice their opposition against the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and call for reforms, including the monarchy.

Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 (2) — Protesters gather at Sanam Luang, a public square in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok to call for reforms in the Thai monarchy. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 (6) — Protesters gather at Sanam Luang, a public square in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok to call for reforms in the Thai monarchy. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

“If we can’t change this, we’ll never have democracy,” said civil rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampha, who was recently released from jail after breaking his bail conditions.

He has been actively involved in recent student-led demonstrations and openly called for reforms of the monarchy in Thailand, where the lese majeste law imposes jail terms of three to 15 years.

In his speech on Saturday, Anon questioned if the annual budget allocations for the monarchy could be cut, and whether the king’s constitutional powers could be reduced.

“We want to see our country stay under the constitutional monarchy. We do not think otherwise,” he said.

Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 (5) — Protesters gather at Sanam Luang, a public square in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok to call for reforms in the Thai monarchy. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

READ: Thai protesters kick off weekend of rallies

READ: Thai PM pledges to maintain peace during planned anti-government protest

Saturday marked the 14th anniversary of the previous military coup, which ousted the caretaker government of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following months of political turmoil and street protests.

The Sep 19 rally is one of many recent demonstrations led by youths to call for various reforms in Thailand, including the removal of its lese majeste law.

It was organised by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) and began in the late morning on Saturday, when protesters gathered outside Thammasat University. This was despite the university’s announcement last week to prohibit the rally in its compound.

People gathered around in front of the university’s gate facing Sanam Luang, including student activists Panupong "Mike" Jadnok and Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul. The crowds demanded that university staff unlock the gate and let them inside, which was what happened soon after.

Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 — Security officers observing the protesters at Sanam Luang. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

One of the protesters 40-year-old Supatra Pranakhon told CNA she travelled by bus for eight hours from Loei in northeastern Thailand to show her support. She believes the youths are doing the right thing by “fighting for democracy” and calling for political reforms, saying the country is in “terrible” shape.

“Young people these days are expressive. They dare to think and take action. They’re better than those in the past, who didn’t dare,” said Supatra.

“Our prime minister is incompetent and lacks leadership. He already staged a coup and seized power. Now it’s time to return the power to the people. Let others run the country.”

Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 (1) — Protesters gather at Sanam Luang, a public square in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok to call for reforms in the Thai monarchy. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 (4) — Protesters gather at Sanam Luang, a public square in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok to call for reforms in the Thai monarchy. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

The rally on Saturday is not Supatra's first. Six years ago, she took part in the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)’s demonstration against the democratically elected government under then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, which paved the way for the 2014 coup.

It was led by Prayut, who was the army chief then, and welcomed by several PDRC supporters.

Today, Supatra has joined a movement calling for the end of his rule.

“I don’t like this government. They’ve stayed in power for too long. Nothing has improved,” she said.

“You’ve already seized power. You should let go now. You shouldn’t even be prime minister. You should return the power to someone else, someone competent.”

In the evening, a stage was set up at Sanam Luang nearby before demonstrators relocated to the public square as the crowds grew.

Thai protesters repeat demands for reforms of monarchy in biggest rally since 2014 (3) — Protesters gather at Sanam Luang, a public square in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok to call for reforms in the Thai monarchy. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

The rally is scheduled to continue on Sunday, when protesters plan to install a brass plaque similar to the one made after the 1932 Siam Revolution, which transitioned Thailand from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.

The original memorial brass plaque - previously located at the Royal Plaza where the People’s Party announced the revolution 88 years ago - mysteriously disappeared in April 2017 without explanation. It was replaced with another plaque, which is inscribed with a different set of words.

PROTESTERS PLACE PLAQUE IN GROUND, DELIVER LETTER FOR KING

Sanam Luang Bangkok protesters plaque — A brass plaque was placed into the ground of Sanam Luang outside the Royal Palace by youths. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

On Sunday, protesters set up an awning in front of their main stage at Sanam Luang. The sound of drilling could be heard as they prepared the area for a symbolic ceremony.

The awning was later removed, revealing a small hole in the ground.

On the stage, the new brass plaque was unveiled. It reads: “Here on 20 September 2020 at dawn, the people proclaimed this country belongs to the people and not the monarchy as they have lied."

The plaque was then placed on the ground by youths before being cemented.

Thai protests Panusaya Sep 20 — Student leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul (centre) during protests in Bangkok on Sep 20, 2020. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

At about 8.30am local time, student activist Parit Chiwarak announced on stage they would deliver a letter for King Maha Vajiralongkorn to president of his Privy Council Gen Surayud Chulanont. The letter contained three demands and ten suggestions for reforms of the monarchy.

Protesters then moved onto the road but were blocked by security officers. But before long, student leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul managed to deliver the letter to a governmental officer.

By 9.40am, the protest ended peacefully and crowds began to disperse.

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2020-09-20 03:22:30Z
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