SYDNEY: Two high-profile Australian journalists fled China overnight fearing arrest on national security charges, as Beijing pursues a targeted crackdown on foreign media.
Their dramatic escape came with relations between Beijing and Canberra at their lowest point in decades, over issues ranging from China’s role in the coronavirus pandemic to trade and the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
Bill Birtles and Michael Smith had secretly taken refuge at Australian diplomatic missions in China for several tense days until deals were struck to allow their safe return.
Landing in Sydney on Tuesday, Birtles — Beijing correspondent for public broadcaster ABC — recounted a “whirlwind” week of political manoeuvering, but said: “it’s a relief to be back in a country with genuine rule of law.”
Both Birtles and Smith — Shanghai correspondent for the Australian Financial Review — received simultaneous midnight police raids on their homes last week and a warning they would have to answer questions about a “national security case,” their employers said.
Banned from leaving the country and fearful of interrogation and arrest, the journalists fled to their closest Australian diplomatic missions until an agreement brokered by the Australian government allowed them to answer police questions safely.
The pair flew out of Shanghai accompanied by Australian diplomats on Monday and arrived in Sydney early Tuesday.
They are just the latest in a string of foreign journalists to be barred, detained or pushed out of China — as the Communist Party targets journalists mostly from the United States and Australia.
Beijing’s security services earlier this month detained another Australian journalist working for its state-run CGTN TV. Several reporters for US media have had their visas revoked and been forced to leave the country.
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday that China was “threatening, harassing, and expelling US and other foreign journalists” after Beijing refused to renew press credentials for several employees of US media organizations.
The Australian Financial Review’s editors insisted the two Australian journalists “were going about their normal reporting duties” and described the incident as “regrettable and disturbing” and “not in the interests of a co-operative relationship between Australia and China.”
James Curran, an Australian former intelligence analyst and prime ministerial adviser, told AFP the media crackdown and the fact no major Australian media were now represented in China would only narrow public understanding.
“The lens through which we are going to get a picture of this country is going to become increasingly shrouded, if not blocked altogether,” he said.
He added that the incident was another severe blow to rapidly deteriorating relations between Australia and China.
In recent years, Australia has increasingly pushed back against what it sees as China’s more aggressive projection of power and influence across Asia since President Xi Jinping took power in 2013.
Curran said the problems stem from Xi’s pursuit “a very aggressive form of Chinese exceptionalism,” with nationalism increasingly being used as “the glue holding the country together.”
“They just seem to be taking the view that as a rising power they should be able to flex their strategic, ideological and rhetorical muscle, and that other countries are just going to have to put up with it.”
Beijing was particularly infuriated by Australia’s leading role in international calls earlier this year for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
A Chinese envoy in Canberra recently described Australia’s behavior as a betrayal that caused “indignation, anger and frustration” in China.
Since then, China has taken steps to curb key Australian imports and encouraged Chinese students and tourists to avoid the country.
The lucrative trade in Australian iron ore, which is vital to both economies, has so far emerged unscathed.
Cheng is the second high-profile Australian citizen to be detained in Beijing after writer Yang Hengjun was arrested in January 2019 on suspicion of espionage.
Australia earlier this year warned its citizens they faced the risk of arbitrary detention in China.
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Australian journalists flee China under police threat
Australian journalists flee China under police threat
- The pair flew out of Shanghai accompanied by Australian diplomats on Monday
Spared from Indonesian firing squad, Filipina convict to return home after years of protests
- Mary Jane Veloso has been in Indonesian prison since 2010, awaiting execution
- She will be returned to the Philippines through a transfer of prisoners, authorities say
Jakarta: A Philippine woman who was spared from execution on drug trafficking charges in Indonesia is set to be transferred to her homeland, officials in Manila and Jakarta said on Wednesday, after nearly 15 years of protests and outcry over her case in both countries.
Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina domestic worker, was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 for allegedly smuggling 2.6 kg of heroin from Malaysia into Indonesia. She denied the charge, saying she was tricked by a recruiter to bring a suitcase with the drugs hidden in its seams.
Indonesian and Philippine officials announced on Wednesday that a deal has been reached to fulfill Manila’s longstanding request for Veloso to be brought back home to serve her sentence in her country.
“We are doing a transfer of prisoners. We will transfer the convict, and the Philippines will implement the sentence handed down by the Indonesian court,” Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration and correctional institutions, said in a video statement.
“We have submitted the conditions (for the transfer), and it has been accepted by the Philippine government,” he said. “Once she is returned to the Philippines, it is within the authority of President Marcos to grant her pardon … We remain consistent in our ways; Indonesia has never granted pardon for drug convicts.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the first announcement that Manila had reached an agreement to bring Veloso back to the Philippines after more than a decade of negotiations with the Indonesian government.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their goodwill,” he said. “Thank you, Indonesia. We look forward to welcoming Mary Jane home.”
Indonesia has one of the world’s harshest anti-narcotics laws, and drug trafficking is punishable by death.
Veloso had been due to be executed by firing squad in 2015 after an Indonesian court convicted her of drug trafficking and gave her the death penalty. But she was granted a stay of execution at the 11th hour to testify in a human trafficking case against her recruiter in the Philippines.
The case has sparked numerous protests in both Indonesia and the Philippines, where people demanded Jakarta spare her from the firing squad. The Philippine government has also sought clemency for Veloso in high-level bilateral meetings, including when former President Joko Widodo visited Manila in January.
Should Veloso’s transfer proceed, it would remove the possibility of her facing an execution, as the Philippines has long abolished the death penalty.
Bangladeshis gear up for legendary Bengali rock star’s Riyadh Season debut
- James is widely celebrated both in Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal
- He will perform on Friday, under Riyadh Season’s Bangladeshi culture segment
Dhaka: Bangladeshi fans are anticipating the upcoming Riyadh Season concert by the legendary singer James, seeing it as an opportunity to showcase their pop culture to a Saudi audience.
A songwriter, guitarist, composer, and playback singer, James started his career with Feelings — currently known as Nagar Baul — a band considered to be the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh.
One of the most popular artists performing in Bengali, he has been widely celebrated both in Bangladesh and in the Indian state of West Bengal since the 1990s.
He will perform in the Kingdom on Friday, as part of the Bangladeshi culture segment of the Riyadh Season — an annual series of entertainment, cultural, and sporting events running in the Saudi capital throughout winter months.
It will be the first time James will perform in the Kingdom — to the great enthusiasm of the Bangladeshi expat community.
“James is a Bangladeshi music icon. He is our superstar. It’s something like a dream that I will be able to watch his performance here. During my teenage years, I grew up listening to his songs, but I never got the opportunity to attend any of his concerts. This is like the experience of a lifetime,” Alamgir Hossain, a shopkeeper who has been working in Riyadh for the past seven years, told Arab News.
Other fans living in different parts of Saudi Arabia will be coming to the capital to witness the performance too.
“Two of my friends will travel to Riyadh from their workplace in Al-Kharj. All Bangladeshis in the Kingdom are excited. We are preparing to attend the concert in a group. I have already requested leave from my employer so that we can enjoy the event,” Hossain said.
“James is popular not only in Bangladesh, he has performed for the Bollywood industry in Hindi songs, so he is popular among South Asian music lovers also. Some of my Indian and Pakistani friends will also attend the concert.”
Nagar Baul’s manager Rubaiyat Thakur Robin told the local Bangladeshi media Prothom Alo that the show would be free for attendees, and he was expecting a big turnout, given that 3 million Bangladeshis were living and working in the Kingdom.
Some of them, like Abdul Hannan, a driver in Riyadh, were excited about the whole Bangladeshi culture segment.
“It will bring us closer and strengthen the bond with Saudi Arabia … I thank the Saudi authorities for giving us this opportunity,” he said.
But the concert was for him the most important highlight, also as his friends will drive to Riyadh from places as far as Dammam, over 400 km away, to take part as well.
“I am waiting to meet old friends from different parts of the Kingdom. We have been living here for many years, far, far away from family and friends. This concert gives an opportunity for us to meet. I am very excited about it,” he told Arab News.
“I am also waiting to hear my favorite song, ‘Amar sonar Bangla, ami tomai valobashi’ — ‘My Bengal of gold, I love you.’ I can’t hold my tears when I listen to this song. It’s the best patriotic song after our national anthem written by Rabindranath Tagore. I strongly believe that James will perform this song here as well.”
Youth voices at COP29 demand a seat at the table
- Advocates on the ground are clear: climate action cannot succeed without fully integrating the voices of the generation that will live with its consequences
BAKU: At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, young climate leaders are amplifying their calls for meaningful inclusion in global climate negotiations. Despite their innovative solutions and unique perspectives, many youth-led initiatives continue to face barriers such as underfunding and tokenism. Advocates on the ground are clear: climate action cannot succeed without fully integrating the voices of the generation that will live with its consequences.
Children as climate stakeholders
Catarina Lorenzo, a 16-year-old Youth Climate Champion, emphasizes the critical need for young people to be involved in decision-making processes. “Children are among the most vulnerable groups, yet their voices are often excluded,” Lorenzo says. She highlights the unique perspectives that children bring to the table, including an innate connection to nature and firsthand experiences of climate impacts such as floods and school disruptions.
Lorenzo points to a concerning statistic: only 2 percent of global philanthropic investments in development directly benefit children, despite their making up a third of the world’s population. “We need concrete actions,” she asserts, calling for greater investment and a dedicated youth and children-focused section in national contributions to climate goals. While she acknowledges an increase in youth presence at COP events compared to earlier years, she stresses that their voices remain sidelined during key negotiations.
Progress amid tokenism
While initiatives like the COP29 Youth Delegates Program, led by Presidency Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova, aim to train young people in policy-making and technical advocacy, gaps in meaningful inclusion persist. Youth advocate Yitong Li recognizes a growing interest in youth participation but criticizes the tokenistic nature of many engagements.
“There’s more interest in involving young people, but it’s often superficial,” says Li, referencing instances where youth demands were disregarded, such as the controversy surrounding the creation of a Youth Climate Champion role. Despite these setbacks, Li remains optimistic about the growing influence of youth coalitions such as the Global Youth Statement, which has gained traction with world leaders and international organizations. “Young people remind us of what truly matters beyond the technicalities of negotiations,” she adds.
Concrete demands from youth advocates
Representing the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, Anjali Chalise brings a focus on actionable outcomes. At COP29, she outlined three key demands from the Global Youth Statement: integrating children’s rights into climate policies, prioritizing children in adaptation measures, and establishing early warning systems for climate impacts.
However, Chalise expresses frustration at the lack of responsiveness from decision-makers. “We participate in negotiations and present our demands, but they are not fully reflected in final decisions,” she explained. Despite this, Chalise underscored the importance of continuing to advocate for increased climate finance, particularly for youth-driven projects that address green initiatives and adaptation strategies.
Building a framework for youth inclusion
Programs like the COP29 Youth Delegates initiative are attempting to bridge the gap between youth participation and actionable outcomes. These efforts align with the conference’s broader emphasis on amplifying the role of young leaders in addressing interconnected climate crises, such as biodiversity loss, desertification, and sustainable development.
The Presidency Youth Climate Champion has highlighted the role of youth networks in fostering collaboration across Central Asia, where the program has helped align national actions with international commitments. In parallel, events like “Youth at the Forefront of Climate Action” have underscored the urgency of meaningful youth inclusion in the climate agenda, particularly as youth advocates call for safeguards against greenwashing in nature-based solutions and demand greater accountability from world leaders.
A call for action
The growing presence of youth voices at COP29 signals a shift in global climate discourse. However, advocates insist that recognition must translate into action. They demand not just applause for their speeches but a tangible seat at the table — one that allows them to co-create policies and implement solutions.
By addressing systemic barriers and investing in youth-led initiatives, COP29 has the potential to set a new standard for inclusive climate governance. The stakes are high, but the message is clear: the future of the planet depends on listening to those who will inherit it.
Putin gifts North Korea a lion, bears and ducks
- Putin previously gifted Kim 24 purebred horses, known to be Kim’s favorite
- The two countries, both under heavy Western sanctions, signed a mutual defense pact earlier this year
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korea dozens of animals, including a lion and two bears, as a sign of friendship between Moscow and Pyongyang, Russian officials said Wednesday.
The two countries have deepened political, military and cultural ties amid Russia’s offensive on Ukraine, with Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un repeatedly professing their personal camaraderie.
“An African lion, two brown bears, two domestic yaks, five white cockatoos, 25 pheasants of various species and 40 mandarin ducks were transferred from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Zoo,” Russia’s natural resources ministry said in a post on Telegram.
It posted a video of the animals in cargo boxes being unloaded off a government plane, and another of the lion in its new enclosure at the Pyongyang Zoo.
Putin previously gifted Kim 24 purebred horses, known to be Kim’s favorite, while Kim sent Putin a pair of local dogs.
The two countries, both under heavy Western sanctions, signed a mutual defense pact earlier this year that obligates them to provide immediate military assistance if the other is invaded.
Western capitals, as well as Ukraine and South Korea, say North Korea has recently deployed more than 10,000 of its troops to Russia, to be sent into combat against Kyiv’s forces.
Trump names former wrestling executive as Education Secretary
- Linda McMahon, former CEO of WWE, will lead Department of Education that Trump has pledged to abolish
- McMahon is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team ahead of his return to the White House in January
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump nominated Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, on Tuesday to lead the Department of Education, which he has pledged to abolish.
Describing McMahon as a “fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights,” Trump said in a statement: “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”
McMahon is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team ahead of his return to the White House in January. It is tasked with filling some 4,000 positions in the government.
Regarding McMahon’s experience in education, Trump cited her two-year stint on the Connecticut Board of Education and 16 years on the board of trustees at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic school.
McMahon left WWE in 2009 to run in vain for US Senate, and has been a major donor to Trump.
Since 2021, she has chaired the Center For The American Worker at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.
During the election campaign Trump promised to do away with the federal education department when he returns to the White House.
“I say it all the time. I’m dying to get back to do this. We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education,” he said in September during a rally in Wisconsin.
At the Republican convention in Milwaukee, McMahon said she was “privileged to call Donald Trump a colleague and a boss,” as well as “a friend.”
Her ties with Trump go back to her years in the professional wrestling industry — she said she first met him as chief executive at WWE.
At the culmination of a staged feud, Trump once body-slammed her husband, legendary wrestling promoter Vince McMahon, and shaved his head in the middle of a wrestling ring on live television.
In 2017, she was confirmed as the head of the Small Business Administration, which is responsible for supporting America’s millions of small businesses, which employ around half the country’s private-sector workforce.
In nominating her, Trump pointed to her experience in business, helping to grow the WWE.
After leaving the administration, she served as chair of the pro-Trump America First Action SuperPAC, or political action committee.
