World news in brief
Denmark suspends arms exports to Saudi Arabia
Denmark has decided to suspend approvals of weapon and military equipment exports to Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the situation in Yemen, its foreign minister Anders Samuelsen said.
The decision was made yesterday after recent discussions with other foreign ministers in the European Union. The suspension also includes some dual-use technologies, a reference to materials that might have military applications.
Denmark’s decision comes after Donald Trump refused to condemn the kingdom over the murder of Mr Khashoggi. Mr Trump said the US would not impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia or change its business or strategic relationships. He said the decision was at least partly because of Saudi Arabia’s historic opposition to Iran, and repeated Israel’s claim that Iran was “the world’s leading sponsor of terror”. Reuters
Car kills 5 outside primary school in China
At least five people have been killed and several others injured after a car ploughed into a crowd outside primary school in northeastern China. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody following the crash in the city of Huludao in Liaoning province yesterday, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Security camera footage showed a line of children had been crossing the street in front of their school when a car approached, changed lanes and swerved into the group. Five people were killed in the crash and 18 others taken to hospital, according to local media reports. It is not clear how many of the victims were children.
Hillary Clinton says EU leaders need to ‘say they can’t help refugees’ in order to quell populism
Hillary Clinton has said that Europe must tackle the issue of immigration to help stem the rise of rightwing populists across the continent. The Democrat former presidential candidate said it was the emotive issue that lit the flame behind such figures.
Though she commended German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the country’s efforts to take in Syrian refugees in particular, Ms Clinton called on Europe’s leaders to show they are “not going to be able to continue [to] provide refuge and support” for refugees. The continent must send a very clear message, the former US secretary of state told The Guardian, “because if we don’t deal with the migration issue it will continue to roil the body politic”.
Ms Clinton cautioned Europe’s leaders to take into account issues of race and identity and blamed her stunning 2016 presidential bid loss on the fact she did not. At the same time, she accused Donald Trump of exploiting those issues for his gain in 2016 and now in office. Ms Clinton also said Brexit was largely about immigration.
Hong Kong rejects legalising same-sex unions
Hong Kong’s parliament yesterday rejected a motion that could have paved the way to legalising same-sex unions, in a region where no country allows gay or lesbian couples to marry. The measure, which would have urged the government to consider granting equal rights to same-sex couples, was rejected by 27 votes to 24, with six abstentions, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council said on its website.
“The government keeps avoiding studying policies for homosexual groups,” the South China Morning Post newspaper quoted gay lawmaker Raymond Chan, who proposed the motion, as saying. “Opponents of this motion have to explain why they reject even such a small step forward.” No countries in Asia allow samesex couples to marry or enter civil unions of any kind. Socially conservative attitudes prevail across the region, and opponents of same-sex marriage say such unions could destroy society and family institutions.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1991 in Hong Kong, which is more supportive of LGBT+ rights than mainland China. However, marriage is legally defined as a monogamous union between a man and a woman and same-sex marriage is not recognised. The self-ruled island of Taiwan, regarded as a beacon of liberalism in Asia, will tomorrow vote in a referendum on whether it should recognise same-sex marriage. Thomson Reuters Foundation
‘Dine-and-dash’ dater jailed
A “dine-and-dash dater” who invited women out to restaurants before sneaking off without paying has been jailed for 120 days. Paul Gonzales, 45, has also been banned from using dating apps and ordered to repay the Los Angeles eateries that he left out of pocket. He pleaded no contest to fraud and petty theft charges.
Gonzales was arrested in August after police received complaints from 10 women who had met Gonzales online between May 2016 and April 2018. The women said he offered to take them out for dinner before vanishing without paying following the meal. Eight were forced to foot the bill themselves.
Gonzales had initially faced felony charges of extortion and grand theft, which could have led to him being jailed for years. But a judge in Pasadena ruled those charges were not appropriate and tried him only for three misdemeanour counts of defrauding an innkeeper by non-payment and one of petty theft. Hew was sentenced to three years on probation following the completion of his jail term. He will also be banned from using the Plenty of Fish website and Bumble dating app while on probation.