Connect with us

Headline

UK Withdraws Serving Judges From Hong Kong Court Over National Security Law

Published

on

Following discussions with the UK government, the president and deputy president of the UK Supreme Court on Wednesday resigned from their roles in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (HKCFA).

UK Supreme Court judges have long sat on the HKCFA “in fulfillment” of the government’s obligations towards the former British colony and have done so with the support of the government, which assessed their participation “was in the UK’s national interests,” according to Supreme Court President Robert Reed.

Citing concerns over the Beijing-imposed national security law, Reed said in a statement that he and Lord Patrick Hodge had resigned as non-permanent judges in the Hong Kong court because UK Supreme court judges “cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom, and freedom of expression, to which the Justices of the Supreme Court are deeply committed.”

Advertisement

The senior judge said he had come to the conclusion in agreement with the government.

In a separate statement, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab supported the withdrawal of serving UK judges from the HKCFA.

We have seen a systematic erosion of liberty and democracy in Hong Kong. Since the National Security Law was imposed, authorities have cracked down on free speech, the free press, and free association,” Truss said.

The foreign secretary said she welcomes and “wholeheartedly” supports the withdrawal as the situation in Hong Kong has “reached a tipping point where it is no longer tenable for British judges to sit on Hong Kong’s leading court, and would risk legitimizing oppression.”

Advertisement

Raab said the introduction of the national security law “flies in the face” of the Sino–British Joint Declaration.

Therefore, “having discussed at length with [the] Foreign Secretary and the President of the Supreme Court, we regretfully agree that it is no longer appropriate for serving UK judges to continue sitting in Hong Kong courts,” Raab said.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss meeting European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic for talks in central London on Feb. 11, 2022. (Rob Pinney/PA)

READ ALSO: Ukrainian Presidential Adviser, Arestovich Reveals When War Will Be Over

Advertisement

Alistair Carmichael, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong, said the withdrawal is “a positive step” and called on the government to do more to support Hongkongers.

“The foreign secretary’s announcement sends a clear and vital message that the government does not support UK judges lending credibility to the corrupt Hong Kong judicial system. The imposition of the national security law has proven beyond doubt that those leading Hong Kong intend to govern by totalitarian force rather than by the will of the people. It is right that UK judges should no longer be a part of that system,” the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP said in an email to The Epoch Times.

“Today’s announcement from the foreign secretary is a positive step but it cannot be the last. Hongkongers, both those still in the city and here in the UK, still need our support,” he said.

Alan Mendoza, co-founder and executive director of foreign policy and national security at the Henry Jackson Society think tank, said the decision is “overdue but welcome.

Advertisement

Reacting to the news on Twitter, Mendoza said the withdrawal of British judges is “a recognition that justice is no longer being administered through the rule of law, but instead dispensed by Chinese Communist Party diktat.”

 

Advertisement

Headline

VIDEO: Arsenal Pay Tribute To 14-year-old British-Nigerian Fan Daniel Anjorin Killed In UK

Published

on

Arsenal fans have paid tribute to the late British-Nigerian teenage fan Daniel Anjorin, who was tragically killed by a sword-wielding assailant in London on Tuesday.

During the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, Arsenal paused the game in the 14th minute, with fans applauding in tribute to 14-year-old Anjorin, whose favourite player was Bukayo Saka.

Anjorin’s image was displayed on the scoreboard, accompanied by banners reading “R.I.P Daniel” in different sections of the Emirates Stadium as a mark of respect for the Arsenal supporter.

Advertisement

TV presenter Piers Morgan was among a number of Arsenal supporters who paid tribute to the young fan during the game.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Police Arrest Mastermind Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack

Anjorin’s family has issued a statement paying tribute to their son.

His family issued a statement via the Metropolitan Police that said, “We as a family are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Daniel. It is difficult for us at this time to process what has happened to him and that he will never come home. Daniel had left the house for school and then he was gone.

Advertisement

“Our children have lost their loving and precious brother and we have lost the most loved and amazing son. We would like to send our best wishes to the other victims of this unthinkable incident.

“We would also like to thank the local community for all of their support during this most difficult time. We ask that the media please respect our privacy and refrain from contacting us or our family.”

READ ALSO: 14-year-old Boy Killed In London Sword Attack

According to The Guardian, a fundraiser set up for his family has raised more than £120,000 in three days, with more than 7,000 people donating.

Anjorin died on Tuesday morning as he walked to school in Hainault, in the east of Britain’s capital, when he was attacked by a man wielding what appeared to be a Samurai-type sword.

Advertisement

The suspect, a Spanish-Brazilian national, Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, was remanded in custody by a London Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Continue Reading

Headline

Find The Man Who Stole $30000 From Me, Get $2000 Reward – Nigerian Man Cries Out

Published

on

Transaction details

A Nigerian man has offered a $2000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of a man who allegedly defrauded him and his friends of over N42 million (approximately $30,000 USD).

Addressing the public on X.com, he said, “Hi everyone, this person defrauded my friends and I.

“We will be offering $2,000 (USD) to anyone who has info on him or knows of his whereabouts.”

Advertisement

According to the victim, the suspect, who moved into the victim’s apartment, spun a web of lies, claiming to need financial assistance for various reasons, including a dying nephew and financial problems with the Federal Inland Revenue Services

He narrated, “Roughly three months ago, The dude in the video came to my apartment in Lagos sharing that he had some financial problems with the FIRS(Federal Inland Revenue Services).

READ ALSO: Nigerian Man Extradited From Malaysia, Convicted For $6.3m Fraud In US

“He mentioned how he got locked out of his funds of over N107,000,000 (USD 71,000+).

Advertisement

“We (my friends and I), were sympathetic to his cause and decided to lend a helping hand.”

The victim revealed that he first encountered the suspect on a gaming platform, Fortnite, in 2023.

They bonded over shared interests and his alleged profession as a skilled 3D and Motion Artist.

“I was happy to connect with him because he presented himself as a well-skilled 3D & Motion Artist.

Advertisement

“He also shared his Upwork profile with me, which was very convincing,” he added.

Detailing the events that unfolded, he said the suspect moved into their apartment in early February after a period of lodging in hotels and other residences.

READ ALSO: UK Slams Fresh Sanctions On Iran After Israel Attack

He added that he even financed a computer rental for the suspect, who claimed it was essential for his work.

Advertisement

He wrote “Here is a detailed breakdown of the series of events that played out while he lived with us (myself and my flatmates):

“He was shuffling between hotels and apartments in January before he finally moved in with us early February

“He mentioned he needed a computer to continue working as he didn’t have any at the time, so, I offered to help with the rental.

“I sent him the money to purchase the computer on rental about three times and he never for once, received any computer.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Tragedy As Man Shot Dead During Fuel Queue Tumult In Lagos

“He kept on spinning lies around how there was either a delay or how the money miraculously went into thin air without achieving its purpose. At the time, I believed all these.

“We also had to raise about N1,700,000 to help assist with the admission of his dying nephew into the hospital because, according to him, the child had suffered internal bleeding after falling off a trampoline.

“He used this and other tactics to coerce us into giving him more cash.”

Advertisement

The victim revealed that in March, the suspect purportedly convinced him and his friend to accompany him to Abuja to address his FIRS-related issues.

He shared screenshots of transactions made to the suspect’s account, urging the public to scrutinise the details for evidence.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Headline

PHOTOS: Moment 23-year-old Miss Ecuador Beauty Queen Is Gunned Down In Hail Of Bullets

Published

on

Shocking CCTV footage shows two gunmen bursting into an eatery before killing the former Miss Ecuador contestant.

The former beauty queen, seen in the footage wearing a blue top, was talking to a man when the gunman, circled, walked in

Landy Párraga Goyburo can be seen standing next to a man while chatting with him inside the restaurant.

Advertisement

She can be seen glancing towards the door as her assailant sneaks into the place without her noticing.

As the first gunman runs towards them, Párraga drops to the floor while the man next to her ducks for cover.

The masked attacker quickly opens fire, shooting towards both Párraga and the man.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court Stops Yahaya Bello’s Contempt Proceedings Against EFCC

Advertisement

He then stands over her as she lies helpless on the floor and appears to shoot her repeatedly at point blank range.

Both attackers then dash out of the door and flee the scene.

Images later showed the former beauty queen lying motionless on the floor in a pool of blood.

Cops are now investigating the murder while trying to identify the assailants.

Advertisement

Párraga was a former Miss Ecuador contestant, having represented Los Ríos Province in 2022.

She had more than a million followers across her social media accounts.

READ ALSO: EFCC Chairman Narrates How 17-year-old Hacked His Computer, Bank Account

In December 2023, her name was mentioned in a chat made public by the Attorney General’s Office as part of a major organised crime case it is investigating.

Advertisement

One of the 52 people being prosecuted in the case is Helive Angulo.

In the chat, Angulo told the drug trafficker Leandro Norero, whose assets he managed, that the police had asked him about Párraga.

READ ALSO: How Two Kenyan School Dropouts Made Prosthetic Arms For People With Disabilities

Norero cryptically wrote: “If my wife comes across anything about her, I’m screwed.

Advertisement

“My friend, her name cannot come out anywhere. Otherwise, my world will come crashing down.”

Norero was killed in prison in 2022, six months after his imprisonment.

Money transfers made to Párraga’s bank account are under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office.

The office never prosecuted Párraga and she had never publicly commented on the case.

Advertisement

SOURCE: THE US SUN

Continue Reading

Trending