U.S. sanctions China officials for human rights violations
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on three senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party, including a member of the ruling Politburo, for alleged human rights abuses targeting ethnic and religious minorities whom China has detained in the western part of the country.
The decision to bar these senior officials from entering the U.S. is the latest of a series of actions the Trump administration has taken against China as relations deteriorate over the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, Hong Kong and trade. Just a day earlier, the administration announced visa bans against officials deemed responsible for barring foreigners’ access to Tibet.
“The United States will not stand idly by as the Chinese Communist Party carries out human rights abuses targeting Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang, to include forced labor, arbitrary mass detention, and forced population control, and attempts to erase their culture and Muslim faith,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
Mr. Pompeo’s statement said additional visa restrictions are being placed on other Chinese Communist Party officials believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, the unjust detention or abuse of minority groups.
The three officials targeted by name were: Chen Quanguo, the party secretary of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in northwest China and a member of the Politburo; Zhu Hailun, party secretary of the Xinjiang political and legal committee; and Wang Mingshan, party secretary of the Xinjiang public security bureau.
Seoul mayor found dead after search
The missing mayor of South Korea’s capital, reportedly embroiled in sexual harassment allegations, was found dead early Friday, more than half a day after giving his daughter a will-like message and then leaving home, police said.
Police said they located Park Won-soon’s body near a traditional restaurant in wooded hills in northern Seoul, more than seven hours after they launched a massive search for him.
Choi Ik-su, an officer from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, told reporters there were no signs of foul play and that no suicide note had been found. He refused to elaborate on the cause of Mr. Park’s death.
Mr. Park’s daughter called police Thursday afternoon and said her father had given her “a will-like” verbal message in the morning before leaving home.
‘Glee’ star Rivera believed drowned
Authorities said Thursday that they believe “Glee” star Naya Rivera drowned in a Southern California lake, but they are continuing the search for her a day after her 4-yearold son was found alone in a rented boat.
“Investigators believe Rivera drowned in what appears to be a tragic accident,” the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The boy, who was found asleep and wearing a life vest Wednesday, told investigators that he and his mother went swimming and he got back on the boat, but “his mom never made it out of the water,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said.