Hong Kong students boycott classes after weekend of violence

A riot police holds his shield at a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station in Hong Kong, China, September 2, 2019. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

September 2, 2019
By Jessie Pang
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Thousands of Hong Kong university and school students swapped classes for democracy demonstrations on Monday, the latest act of defiance in an anti-government movement that has plunged the Chinese-ruled city into its biggest political crisis in decades.
The boycott follows a weekend marred by some of the worst violence since unrest escalated more than three months ago, with protesters burning barricades and throwing petrol bombs, and police retaliating with water cannon, tear gas and batons.
Riot police on Monday patrolled the subway, known as the MTR, where some of the most violent clashes have erupted.
Hundreds of students gathered outside the Chinese University of Hong Kong, one of the city’s largest, taking turns to make speeches from a stage with a black backdrop embossed with “Students in Unity Boycott for our City”.
“I come here just to tell others that even after summer holidays end we are not back to our normal life, we should continue to fight for Hong Kong,” said one 19-year old student who asked to be identified as just Chan.
“These protests awaken me to care more about the society and care for the voiceless.”
On the first day of the new school year, secondary students were seen singing, chanting and forming human chains, some wearing hard hats and masks. Many primary schools were closed because of a typhoon warning.
Matthew Cheung, Hong Kong government chief secretary, told reporters that schools were no place for protests.
Students have turned out in significant numbers at recent rallies and were also prominent during the 2014 pro-democracy “Umbrella Movement” that foreshadowed the current unrest.
“It’s very different from what happened back then. People are more mad now,” said Summer, a 20-year-old student who only gave his first name.
“I think this situation is a deadlock now. Both government and protesters won’t back down.”
Protesters had called for a general strike but most people appeared to return to their daily lives with shops open, trains operating and workers making their way to offices across the global financial hub.
Thousands of protesters blocked roads and public transport links to Hong Kong airport on Sunday in a bid to draw world attention to what they see as ever-tighter control by Beijing over the city, despite the promise of autonomy.
Airport authorities said 25 flights were canceled on Sunday but transport services were largely back to normal.
China denies meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs and accuses Western countries of egging on the protests. It says Hong Kong is an internal affair.
Several editorials in Chinese state media on Monday condemned the protesters.
One published by the state news agency Xinhua warned that “the end is coming” for protesters who should “never misjudge the determination and ability of the central government”.
ANGER AT CHINA
After leaving the airport on Sunday, some demonstrators targeted the MTR subway station in nearby Tung Chung district, ripping out turnstiles and smashing CCTV cameras and lamps with metal poles. Police moved in and made several arrests.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, a lightning rod for protesters’ anger at a city government they say is controlled by Beijing, said on her Facebook page on Monday that 10 subway stations were damaged by “violent offenders”.
Police and protesters had clashed on Saturday night in some of the most intense violence since unrest escalated in mid-June over concerns Beijing is eroding the freedoms granted to the territory under a “one country, two systems” agreement, including the right to protest and an independent judiciary.
John Lee, government secretary for security, told media that nearly 100 petrol bombs were thrown in various locations on Saturday with two found on a 13-year-old boy who was arrested inside an MTR station.
The unrest began over a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed people in the city to be sent to China for trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party.
The turmoil has evolved over 13 weeks to become a widespread demand for greater democracy. China is eager to quell the unrest before the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on Oct. 1.
With Hong Kong facing its first recession in a decade, China has also warned of the damage the protests are causing to the economy.
Shares of Hong Kong rail operator MTR Corp Ltd <0066 .hk=""> fell as much as 3.9% to HK$43.65, their lowest since Feb. 15.
With protesters and authorities locked in an impasse, speculation has grown that the city government may impose emergency law, giving it extra powers over detentions, censorship and curfews.
Lam has said the government would consider using all laws at its disposal to bring unrest to an end.
(Reporting by Jessie Pang, Joyce Zhou, Farah Master, Donny Kwok, Clare Jim and Twinnie Siu; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Paul Tait, Robert Birsel)

James Comey Cartoons

President Trump slams former Director Comey, calls him a ‘crooked cop’

FILE – In this Dec. 17, 2018, file photo, former FBI Director James Comey speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill Washington. The Justice Department’s inspector general says former FBI Director James Comey violated FBI policies in his handling of memos documenting private conversations with President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

President Trump slams fired FBI Director James Comey, following a bombshell report from the Department of Justice.
On Twitter Saturday, the president said he was right about Comey, whom he then called a crooked cop.
The president’s remarks come after the release of the DOJ’s inspector general’s report on the former FBI chief.
The report concluded that Comey violated policy by writing, keeping, and then leaking memos he made about his conversations with President Trump.
However, the Justice Department decided not to bring a case against him.

I was right about Comey, CROOKED COP!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2019

U.S. set to hit China with new round of tariffs on Sunday

In this Aug. 6, 2019, photo, a container ship is docked a port in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province. U.S. President Donald Trump angrily escalated his trade fight with China on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, raising retaliatory tariffs and ordering American companies to consider alternatives to doing business there. (Chinatopix via AP)

The U.S. is expected to impose another round of tariffs on China this weekend.
Speaking to reporters Friday, President Trump said the tariffs are set to go into effect Sunday, and noted Beijing and his administration, are still working on hashing out a trade deal.
Once in effect, Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting 15% tariffs on $112 billions worth of Chinese imports. The president also stated the move puts the U.S. in a favorable position for negotiations.
“The tariffs have put us in an incredible negotiating position and I say that to China directly,” President Trump said to reporters Friday. “And it’s only going to get worse for China. But I say it to China directly, because of the tariffs we’re in an incredible negotiating position and we happen to be taking in billions and billions and billions of dollars.”
The president also weighed in on China’s involvement in Hong Kong, saying he told Beijing officials he wants the situation to be handled in a “humane fashion.”

President Trump: suing Omarosa Newman over confidentiality agreement

President Trump said he’s filing a lawsuit against former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman.
In a tweet Saturday, the president said he’s currently suing “various people” for confidentiality agreement violations.
He said one of them included Newman, adding although he gave her a break, she went for some cheap money with a book.

…Yes, I am currently suing various people for violating their confidentiality agreements. Disgusting and foul mouthed Omarosa is one. I gave her every break, despite the fact that she was despised by everyone, and she went for some cheap money from a book. Numerous others also!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2019

The tweet comes after the president said he wouldn’t have to enforce a confidentially agreement against former personal assistant Madeline Westerhout, who stepped down earlier this week.
Newman published a book about her alleged experiences working with the president last year.

Remarks against Antifa prompt FBI seizure of former Marine’s weapons under Oregon’s ‘red flag’ law: reports

A former Marine who said at a protest that he would “slaughter” Antifa members in self-defense, if attacked, recently had his five weapons confiscated by the FBI, according to reports.
The temporary seizure came through the use of Oregon’s “red flag” law, which allows law enforcement agencies and family members to seek a court order to have weapons taken away from an individual viewed as potentially violent. Such laws are often opposed by supporters of Second Amendment gun rights.
The former Marine, Shane Kohfield, 32, was not charged with any crime, but surrendered five guns, including an AR-15 rifle, according to Phil Lemman, Oregon’s acting deputy state court administrator, the Washington Examiner reported.
The action was reportedly prompted by remarks Kohfield made in public during a demonstration outside the home of Portland, Ore., Mayor Ted Wheeler in August, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
“If Antifa gets to the point where they start killing us, I’m going to kill them next," Kohfield told a crowd, according to the Oregonian. “I’d slaughter them, and I have a detailed plan on how I would wipe out Antifa.”
Kohfield previously wrote to U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, a former Navy SEAL, to share his concern about Antifa and voice his support for having the group declared a terrorist organization, a step that President Trump has considered.
Portland has been the site of frequent violent clashes between members of far-left Antifa and supporters of conservative groups such as Proud Boys. The mayor and other city officials have faced criticism for their handling of such events.
Based on the court order, Kohfield – who served two tours of duty in Iraq -- was committed to a veterans hospital for 20 days and was barred from participating in subsequent protests in Portland.
According to the Oregonian, Kohfield conceded that he probably appeared threatening to other people, but he never intended to cause harm.
“I looked unhinged,” he told the newspaper. “I looked dangerous and have the training to be dangerous.”
The FBI would not comment about the case, the Oregonian reported. It was unclear when Kohfield’s weapons would be returned to him.
The Oregon Legislature narrowly passed the state’s red-flag law in 2017, with no Republican support in the House and backing from only one Republican in the Senate. Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, signed the bill into law on Aug. 15 of that year and the law took effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Townhall Cartoons August 2019

Tear gas, water cannon in Hong Kong police-protester faceoff

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police fired blue-colored water from water cannons and tear gas on Saturday in a standoff with protesters outside government headquarters.
While other protesters marched back and forth elsewhere in the city, a large crowd wearing helmets and gas masks gathered outside the city government building. Some approached barriers that had been set up to keep protesters away and appeared to throw objects at the police on the other side. Others shone laser lights at the officers.
Police fired tear gas from the other side of the barriers, then brought out a water cannon truck that fired regular water and then colored water at the protesters, staining them and nearby journalists and leaving blue puddles in the street.
Earlier, large crowds of protesters gathered in central Hong Kong as police readied for possible confrontations near the Chinese government’s main office and elsewhere in the semiautonomous territory.
A march to mark the fifth anniversary of China’s decision against fully democratic elections in Hong Kong was not permitted by police, but protesters took to the streets anyway in the 13th straight weekend of demonstrations.
The mostly young, black-shirted protesters took over roads and major intersections in shopping districts as they rallied and marched. Police erected additional barriers and brought out two water cannon trucks near the Chinese government office and deployed at various locations in riot gear.
Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting said Hong Kong citizens would keep fighting for their rights and freedoms despite the arrests of several prominent activists and lawmakers in the past two days, including activist Joshua Wong.
The protests were sparked by a now-shelved extradition bill. Protesters are demanding its full withdrawal, democratic elections and an investigation into alleged police brutality in what have been pitched battles with hard-line demonstrators.
“I do believe the government deliberately arrested several leaders of the democratic camp to try to threaten Hong Kong people not to come out to fight against the evil law,” Lam said at what was advertised as a Christian march earlier in the day.
About 1,000 people marched to a Methodist church and police headquarters. They alternated between singing hymns and chanting the slogans of the pro-democracy movement. An online flyer for the demonstration called it a “prayer for sinners” and featured images of a Christian cross and embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, who had proposed the extradition bill.
Authorities rejected an application from the Civil Human Rights Front, the organizer of pro-democracy marches that have drawn upward of a million people this summer, for a march to the Chinese government office. Police said that while previous marches have started peacefully, they have increasingly degenerated into violence in the end.
The standing committee of China’s legislature ruled on Aug. 31, 2014, that Hong Kong residents could elect their leader directly, but that the candidates would have to be approved by a nominating committee.
The decision failed to satisfy democracy advocates in the city and led to the 79-day long Occupy Central protests that fall, in which demonstrators camped out on major streets in the financial district and other parts of Hong Kong.
The participants in the religious march Saturday were peaceful and mostly older than the younger protesters who have led this summer’s movement and, in some cases, blocked streets and battled police with bricks, sticks and gasoline bombs
Religious meetings do not require police approval, though authorities said late Friday that organizers of a procession with more than 30 people must notify police.
The government shut down streets and subway service near the Chinese government’s office, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of the religious march.
“A public event is expected on Hong Kong Island this afternoon which may cause severe disruptions,” police said. “Text messages have been sent to alert members of the public to mind their personal safety.”
___
Associated Press videojournalists Alice Fung and Johnson Lai contributed to this report.

EPA cutting back on Obama-era methane regulations

FILE – In this April 24, 2015, file photo, pumpjacks work in a field near Lovington, N.M. Oil industry and environmental groups say they expect the Environmental Protection Agency to release a proposed rule over the next few days that will roll back requirements on detecting and plugging methane leaks at oil and gas facilities. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

The Environmental Protection Agency is cutting back on energy regulations created by the Obama administration, some of which are just copies of other rules.
The latest decision by President Trump’s administration is expected to help oil and gas companies, possibly boosting profits by hundreds of millions of dollars into the next decade.
This includes changing how methane is regulated. Small companies have argued against the installation of technology designed to look for and fix leaks because they say it costs them too much. The president is also planning a rollback of ethanol regulations that are expected to help American farmers.

The Farmers are going to be so happy when they see what we are doing for Ethanol, not even including the E-15, year around, which is already done. It will be a giant package, get ready! At the same time I was able to save the small refineries from certain closing. Great for all!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2019

President Trump talked about what his policies are doing for the future of the industry during a joint news conference with France at the G7 summit.
“We are now the number one energy producer in the world,” he stated. “Soon it will be, by far, the number one — it’s tremendous wealth.”
A few weeks before that speech, the president told a crowd in Pennsylvania his administration was clearing a path for energy and manufacturing companies to grow.
A public comment period will be implemented before the EPA’s new methane policy can take effect. This is just the latest effort by the president to cut regulations. He has opened the door for drilling in Alaska and for mining on public land. Additionally, there are reported plans by the EPA in regards to the Endangered Species Act as well as cutting regulations related to streams and wetlands.

CNN touts OANN during anti-Fox news panel

One America News Network received a shout from one of the most outspoken anti-Trump talk show hosts on TV. Earlier this week on CNN, anchor Don Lemon held a panel on the president’s anti-Fox News tweets. During the discussion, a Daily Beast columnist brought up the president’s new favorite news channel — One America News.
While some critics on the panel tried to downplay One America’s rise, others gave the channel some free publicity. One America News CEO Robert Herring took to Twitter in response to the discussion:

Isn't it nice how generous @CNN is?@OANN @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/MTerQo9vKG

— Robert Herring (@RobHerring) August 29, 2019