Russia and Myanmar military leader commit to boosting ties at Moscow meeting - CNA

MOSCOW: Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, and Myanmar's military leader committed to further strengthening security and other ties between the two countries at a Moscow meeting on Monday (Jun 21).

Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, flew to the Russian capital on Sunday to attend a security conference this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier on Monday said President Vladimir Putin would not be meeting Min Aung Hlaing, Interfax reported.

Rights activists have accused Moscow of legitimising Myanmar’s military government, which came to power in a Feb 1 coup by continuing bilateral visits and arms deals.

Russia says it has a long-standing relationship with Myanmar and said in March it was deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian deaths in Myanmar.

Defence ties between the two nations have grown in recent years with Moscow providing army training and university scholarships to thousands of soldiers, as well as selling arms to a military blacklisted by several Western countries for alleged atrocities against civilians.

READ: EU slaps fresh sanctions on Myanmar government

READ: Myanmar rejects UN resolution urging arms embargo

Myanmar's state-run MRTV devoted the first 10 minutes of its nightly newscast to a report of Min Aung Hlaing's Russia trip, from him being met by officials at the airport to his meeting with the Security Council. 

It showed a smiling Min Aung Hlaing in a business suit, posing for pictures, shaking hands and exchanging gifts with members of the council before attending a ceremony at a Buddhist temple in Moscow. 

The MRTV report said Min Aung Hlaing and Patrushev discussed cooperation between the two countries on security measures, Myanmar’s current affairs and agreed to maintain a good relationship between their two militaries.

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2021-06-21 16:44:49Z
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After 14 days of zero local Covid-19 cases, Hong Kong to ease rules to get back on track - The Straits Times

HONG KONG - Officials will further adjust social distancing measures as the city achieved zero local coronavirus cases for 14 days in a row on Monday (June 21), with quarantine rules to be shortened to seven days soon.

From June 30, vaccinated Hong Kong residents who test positive for antibodies against Covid-19 will have their mandatory hotel quarantine cut to seven days instead of the current range of 14 to 21 days, when they return to the city.

This rule can also apply to non-residents coming to Hong Kong after officials firm up the details of the scheme.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Monday said that residents can undergo the antibody test before flying out of Hong Kong so that when they return and test negative for the virus, their quarantine can be shortened to seven days.

These were announced at a 90-minute briefing, where Mrs Lam promised that the government will continue to adopt a "vigorous yet precise approach" to keep imported cases at bay.

Currently, non-Hong Kong residents can enter Hong Kong only if they are from low-risk countries like Australia and New Zealand.

Flights from places deemed extremely high risk will continue to be banned, while flight suspensions could kick in if mutated strains are found.

Hong Kong has recorded between one and seven daily imported cases in the past month.

So far, there have been more than 11,800 infections and 210 deaths since the pandemic hit.

From Thursday, for two weeks, restaurants can run at full capacity, up from 75 per cent, if all their staff are fully vaccinated and two-thirds of their customers have had at least the first dose of a vaccine. Dine-in services can still last till 2am, but each table will be able to sit up to 12 patrons, up from eight.

Eateries where all staff have at least the first shot of a vaccine and customers use the contact tracing LeaveHomeSafe app will be allowed to run at 75 per cent capacity, up from 50 per cent. Dine-in services currently end at midnight with patrons per table capped at six. In this instance, customers do not need to be vaccinated but have to use the LeaveHomeSafe app.

Banquets will be capped at 180 guests, but the four-person cap on public gatherings stays.

Tables at bars and clubs can have up to four patrons, up from two, only if all staff and customers have had at least one jab.

In karaoke lounge and mahjong parlours, the number is raised to eight per table if they meet vaccination requirements.

Those in a gym class need not wear masks if they are fully vaccinated.

Religious gatherings, weddings and business meetings will be allowed at a venue's full capacity so long as two-thirds of the participants are inoculated.

"Some people will still think that they are on the stringent side, but we do need to rely on an enhanced vaccination rate in order to have further relaxation," said Mrs Lam.

She noted that Hong Kong's vaccination rate is "not satisfactory" and is lower than the mainland, Singapore, European countries and Israel.

Since the inoculation drive began on Feb 26, about 28.5 per cent of Hong Kong's 7.5 million population have received their first jab, while more than 3.2 million doses have been administered.

Still, Mrs Lam said life is slowly returning to normal since mid-April, with more businesses resuming operations, large-scale events like Art Basel held and the resumption of face-to-face classes in all schools - all of which are "good signs" for Hong Kong's economic recovery.

The Asian financial hub's economy grew 7.9 per cent in the first three months of the year, while the jobless rate stood at 6 per cent for the three months from March, down from 6.4 per cent for the months of February to April.

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2021-06-21 13:24:50Z
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Taiwan denounces Hong Kong after officials expelled in 'one China' row - CNA

TAIPEI: Taiwan criticised Hong Kong on Monday (Jun 21) in an escalating row over China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan, prompting the island to pull out officials from its representative office in the Chinese-run city.

Taiwanese staff working at the island's representative office in Hong Kong started leaving the city on Sunday, after Hong Kong's government demanded that the Taiwan officials sign a document supporting Beijing's "one China" claim to Taiwan.

"Their purpose obviously was to diminish our national dignity and to force our staff to bow to the Beijing authorities," Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council head Chiu Tai-san told reporters.

READ: Taiwanese staff to leave Hong Kong office in 'one China' row

He said following the "unreasonable" request from Hong Kong's government, Taiwan could no longer send officials to the financial hub and had to withdraw staff whose work visas were about to expire.

"Our government stands firm in guarding national dignity and lodges stern condemnation and a warning to the Chinese Communist Party and Hong Kong government," he said.

Hong Kong's government has not commented on the issue.

A senior Taiwan official familiar with the matter told Reuters Hong Kong's government had demanded Taiwan officials who refused to sign the document leave the city by Jun 21.

READ: Hong Kong seeking closer integration with mainland China: Chief Executive Lam

Former colonial power Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula aimed at preserving the city's freedoms and role as an international financial hub.

China considers Taiwan its own territory and has offered the island the same "one country two systems" model, under Chinese sovereignty.

No major Taiwanese political parties support the idea.

Hong Kong has become another source of tension between Taipei and Beijing, especially after Taiwan lambasted a new security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong and began welcoming Hong Kong people to settle on the democratic island.

COMMENTARY: Did Hong Kong just sever ties with Taiwan?

Chiu said the office in Hong Kong would maintain operations but Taiwan will take "necessary measures" if its presence there is further jeopardised. He did not elaborate.

Last month, Hong Kong suspended operations at its representative office in Taiwan, accusing authorities there of "gross" interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs, including with its offer to assist "violent" protesters, accusations Taiwan rejected.

Macau's government suspended operations at its office in Taiwan on Wednesday.

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2021-06-21 10:29:56Z
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Hong Kong pro-democracy paper Apple Daily to decide closure on Friday - CNA

HONG KONG: Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily said on Monday (Jun 21) its board will decide whether to close the publication at their next meeting on Friday after an asset freeze by authorities using a new national security law left the outspoken media group unable to pay staff.

Apple Daily has long been a thorn in Beijing's side, with unapologetic support for the city's pro-democracy movement and caustic criticism of China's authoritarian leaders.

Its owner Jimmy Lai is in jail and was among the first to be charged under the security law after its imposition last year.

Its chief editor and CEO were detained last week and its finances frozen under the law, which Beijing has used to stamp out dissent in the international business hub.

Apple Daily's remaining board met on Monday to discuss the paper's future.

"The board ... decided to meet again on Friday to decide whether to terminate Apple Daily," the paper said in a short push notification to readers.

Rival outlets Now TV and Oriental Daily both reported, citing sources, that Apple Daily's board has all but decided to close the paper, with the final publication date to be announced at the next meeting on Friday.

READ: Hong Kong's Apple Daily says it only has cash for few weeks after assets frozen

READ: Hong Kong's Apple Daily executives denied bail under security law

The paper's closure would shutter one of the few remaining local newspapers willing to be critical of China's authoritarian leaders.

It would also be a huge victory for authorities who have made no secret of their desire to see the outlet silenced.

"LOCKED ACCOUNTS"

In an interview with CNN, a senior aide to Lai said last week's freeze order by the city's security chief had crippled the newspaper's ability to do business.

"Our problem at Apple Daily is not that we don't have funds, we have US$50 million in the bank," he said.

"Our problem is the Secretary of Security and the police will not let us pay our reporters, they will not let us pay our staff, and they will not let us pay our vendors. They have locked up our accounts."

Lai, 73, is in prison for attending democracy protests in 2019. He faces a life sentence if convicted of national security crimes.

Last Thursday, more than 500 police officers raided the paper's newsroom and arrested five executives over a series of articles that police said called for international sanctions.

Two of those executives - chief editor Ryan Law and CEO Cheung Kim-hung - have been charged with "colluding" with foreign forces to undermine China's national security and were remanded into custody over the weekend.

The operation was the first time political views and opinions published by a Hong Kong media outlet have triggered the security law.

SECURITY CRACKDOWN

Written in Beijing and imposed on Hong Kong last June, the law allows authorities to freeze assets of any individual or company in the international business hub that is deemed to be a security threat.

It does not require a court order.

Last month, Lai's personal assets in Hong Kong and his media company shares were frozen.

Then on Thursday, Secretary for Security John Lee said a further HK$18 million (US$2.3 million) of Apple Daily's company assets had been blocked.

"These are all orders from basically the Secretary of Security, we are facing a security agency, we are not facing courts," Simon told CNN.

Simon is himself wanted by Hong Kong police on national security charges but left the city last year and has since relocated to the United States.

Apple Daily said it was planning to ask Lee to unfreeze some money so it can pay 700 employees. If the application is unsuccessful, the paper said it planned to go to court.

Hong Kong's Security Bureau declined to comment on whether it had been contacted by Apple Daily, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

"Endangering national security is a very serious crime," a spokesperson told AFP.

"We handle such crimes according to the law, targeting at illegal acts, and invoke the power to freeze offence related properties based on need and the law."

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2021-06-21 08:37:30Z
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UMNO urges Malaysian government to reconvene parliament within 14 days; failure to do so considered 'treason' - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has given the Malaysian government a two-week deadline to reconvene parliament. 

Party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in a statement on Monday (Jun 21) that it was important to reconvene parliament to bring forth demands and hopes of the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to ensuring accountability in the government’s administrative affairs.

READ: Malaysia parliament should reconvene as soon as possible, says king after special rulers' conference

There was no need to make excuses over the terms "as soon as possible" or "immediately" which were used in the two press statements on parliament sitting, as both reflected the common stance of King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Malay rulers, Ahmad Zahid said. 

“UMNO stands firm in urging the government to respect the decree of the king and the rulers and reconvene parliament in the next 14 days from the date of this statement,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid added that failure to do so would be considered as a form of “treason” and “disrespect” to the royal institution. 

The former deputy prime minister added that his party's supreme council would be meeting in the near future to finalise its next course of action on the matter.

Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah attends a welcoming ceremony at the Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia January 31, 2019. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin/Files

On Sunday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said a committee comprising government and opposition representatives has been formed to look into important aspects before parliament is reconvened.

He added in the statement that the committee would consider whether the sitting would be a hybrid or a physical parliamentary sitting.

Adding that the government had to look into all matters to avoid problems after the implementation, Mr Muhyiddin stressed that he had no intention to delay the reconvening of parliament.

READ: Malaysia rulers say no need for state of emergency beyond Aug 1; call for political temperature to be cooled down

On Jun 16, the palace had issued a statement calling for parliamentary sittings to reconvene as soon as possible, after the king chaired a special rulers' conference.

"After reviewing all the perspectives of the leaders of the political parties, the 2021 Independent Emergency Special Committee as well as briefings by experts from government agencies, His Majesty expressed the view that parliamentary sessions should be held as soon as possible,” said the statement.

This came a day after Mr Muhyiddin said parliament could reconvene in September or October this year during the third phase of the national recovery plan.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin unveiling the Pemerkasa package on Mar 17, 2021. (Photo: Bernama) 

The king first declared a state of emergency on Jan 12 to curb the spread of COVID-19. The emergency was scheduled to last until Aug 1 or earlier depending on the state of coronavirus infections.

Since it was declared, federal parliamentary sessions and state legislative assemblies have not sat. No elections were held during this period.

The suspension of parliament was seen as a move that helped Mr Muhyiddin avoid an immediate challenge to his razor-thin majority in the august house.

Opposition leaders have pleaded with the king against extending the state of emergency and called for parliament to reconvene.

On Jun 16, the rulers also released a statement saying there was no need to extend the state of emergency beyond Aug 1.

READ: Malaysian government acknowledges king's views, says PMO after palace calls for parliament to reconvene

De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said in an online interview on Jun 16 that the king had not specified an exact date on when the parliament should be in session.

"His Majesty did not say which month (parliament) should be held, just that it should be soon," he said. 

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram 

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2021-06-21 06:19:05Z
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Hong Kong to reduce quarantine for arrivals from Singapore, US - The Straits Times

HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) - Hong Kong will shorten hotel quarantine to seven days for fully vaccinated residents travelling from most places - including those classified as "high-risk" like Singapore, the United States and Britain - as long as they test positive for coronavirus antibodies, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday (June 21).

The move, which the report said would be announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam at a Monday afternoon briefing, will mark a significant easing of one of the strictest quarantine regimes in the world that currently imposes mandatory quarantine of up to 21 days for travellers.

The seven-day quarantine would be applicable to residents, including work-visa holders, returning from countries classified in high-risk Group B and medium-risk Group C under its five-tier system for assessing the overseas Covid-19 threat.

Bloomberg reported last week that the quarantine easing plan, which had been recommended by a government advisory panel earlier this month, had been approved by the government.

Places currently classified as "high risk" include Singapore, Japan, France, Germany and Italy. Fully vaccinated travellers coming from these places must currently quarantine for 14 days in a hotel.

Mrs Lam will speak at a press briefing scheduled for 3pm on Monday, according to a government statement.

The plan would be the city's most significant move yet to ease the stringent restrictions that have threatened its status as a financial hub as major western economies open up and vaccination pulls ahead in regional rival Singapore.

The current quarantine regime has been a growing source of public anger.

Travellers have to book their own hotel rooms, and they are being reserved quickly over the summer period.

In Hong Kong, fully vaccinated people are also required to serve quarantine in government facilities if they come into close contact with infected people, even if they have tested negative for the virus.

With vaccine uptake slow amid widespread distrust of the Beijing-backed government, calls have grown for the strict rules to be relaxed for inoculated people in order to boost rates.

Related Stories: 

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2021-06-21 06:04:48Z
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Adviser to jailed HK tycoon Jimmy Lai says Apple Daily to shut within days - CNA

HONG KONG: Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut "in a matter of days" after authorities froze the company's assets under a sweeping national security law, an adviser to jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai told Reuters on Monday (Jun 20). 

Mark Simon, speaking by phone from the United States, said Next Digital, publisher of the popular Hong Kong newspaper, will hold a board meeting on Monday to discuss how to move forward.

READ: Hong Kong's Apple Daily says it only has cash for few weeks after assets frozen

"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month," Simon said. "It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."

His comments signal the closure is imminent even after Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the newspaper with cash for "a few weeks" for normal operations.

The news comes two days after chief editor Ryan Law, 47, and chief executive Cheung Kim-hung, 59, were denied bail after being charged with collusion with a foreign country.

Three other executives were also arrested last Thursday when 500 police officers raided the newspaper's offices in a case that has drawn condemnation from Western nations, global rights groups and the chief UN spokesperson for human rights.

The three have been released on bail.

Simon told Reuters it had become impossible to conduct banking operations.

"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected. We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour. We just wanted to find out and it was rejected," he said.

READ: Crowds gather for hearing of two Apple Daily executives on national security charge

In an interview with CNN, Simon said: "Our problem at Apple Daily is not that we don't have funds, we have $50 million dollars in the bank." 

"Our problem is the Secretary of Security and the police will not let us pay our reporters, they will not let us pay our staff, and they will not let us pay our vendors. They have locked up our accounts."

Last month, Lai's personal assets in Hong Kong and his media company shares were frozen.

Then on Thursday, Secretary for Security John Lee said a further HK$18 million (US$2.3 million) of Apple Daily's company assets had now been blocked.

"These are all orders from basically the Secretary of Security, we are facing a security agency we are not facing courts," Simon told CNN.

Simon is himself wanted by Hong Kong police on national security charges but left the city last year and has since relocated to the United States.

The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and staunch Beijing critic Jimmy Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen.

Three companies related to Apple Daily are also being prosecuted for collusion with a foreign country and authorities have frozen HK$18 million (US$2.3 million) of their assets.

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2021-06-21 03:00:00Z
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