Page 16 - AHATA SEPT 16 2020_Neat

A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 16 september 2020

A bronze statue representing the U.S first lady Melania Trump
made by Brad Downey, a Berlin-based U.S. artist, is erected in
her birthplace of Sevnica, Slovenia, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, af-
ter a previous one, made in wood, was set alight.
Associated Press

Bronze statue of

U.S. first lady is In this July 4, 2020, file photo, a woman carries an American flag during a protest outside the U.S.
Consulate in Hong Kong.
Associated Press
unveiled in Slovenia U.S. issues sweeping new travel

SEVNICA, Slovenia (AP) — to the eternal memory of warning for China, Hong Kong
A bronze statue represent- a monument to Melania
ing U.S. first lady Melania which stood at this loca-
Trump was unveiled Tues- tion." "We are here today
day in her native Slovenia because we put up again BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. on power," the advisory said, retain broad autonomy for
to replace a wooden one a statue of Melania to the Tuesday issued a sweep- adding that new legislation 50 years after the former
that was set on fire in July. place where it was burnt ing new advisory warning also covers offenses com- British colony's 1997 hando-
The new sculpture is a rep- and to commemorate the against travel to mainland mitted by non-Hong Kong ver to Chinese rule.
lica of the original one by statue that was set on fire," China and Hong Kong, cit- residents or organizations Other Western nations have
U.S. artist Brad Downey and said Slovenian artist Marko ing the risk of "arbitrary de- outside of Hong Kong, pos- also suspended their extra-
placed near Trump's home- Vivoda. tention" and "arbitrary en- sibly subjecting U.S. citizens dition treaties with Hong
town of Sevnica, in central The life-sized sculpture forcement of local laws." who have publicly criticized Kong following the national
Slovenia. bears no obvious resem- The advisory is likely to China to a "heightened risk security's law's passage.
The original statue was blance to the U.S. first lady. heighten tensions between of arrest, detention, expul- The U.S. has also acted
torched by unknown ar- Born Melanija Knavs in near- the sides that have spiked sion, or prosecution." to end special trade and
sonists on July 4th. The rus- by Novo Mesto in 1970, the since Beijing's imposition When in Hong Kong, U.S. commercial privileges that
tic figure was cut from the new U.S. first lady grew up on Hong Kong of a strict citizens are "strongly cau- Hong Kong had enjoyed
trunk of a linden tree, show- in Sevnica while Slovenia new national security law tioned to be aware of their and has imposed sanctions
ing her in a pale blue dress was part of the Communist- in June that has already surroundings and avoid on Hong Kong and Chinese
like the one she wore at ruled former Yugoslavia. An been met with a series of demonstrations," the ad- officials, including Hong
Donald Trump's presidential Alpine nation of 2 million U.S. punitive actions. visory said. Chinese for- Kong's pro-Beijing leader
inauguration. people, Slovenia is now a The statement warned U.S. eign ministry spokesperson Carrie Lam, involved in en-
A plaque next to the new member of the European citizens that China imposes Wang Wenbin told report- forcing the new security
"arbitrary detention and ers at a daily briefing Tues-
law. Tensions between Bei-
one reads it is "dedicated Union and NATO.q
exit bans" to compel coop- day that the U.S. should jing and Washington have
eration with investigations, "fully respect the facts and hit their lowest point in de-
Vietnam sentences pressure family members should not engage in un- cades amid simmering
disputes over trade, tech-
to return to China from warranted political manip-
seven for human abroad, influence civil dis- ulation" when issuing such nology, Taiwan, Tibet, the
South China Sea, the coro-
putes and "gain bargaining advisories. "China has al-
ways protected the safety navirus pandemic and,
leverage over foreign gov-
smuggling to Britain ernments." and legal rights of foreign- most recently, Hong Kong.
"U.S. citizens traveling or ers in China in accordance The impact of the tensions
residing in China or Hong with law. China is one of has been felt in the tit-for-
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A men and one woman were Kong, may be detained the safest countries in the tat closures of diplomatic
court in central Vietnam on found guilty of "organizing without access to U.S. con- world," Wang said. "Of missions as well as visa re-
Monday sentenced seven and brokering" illegal im- sular services or information course, foreigners in China strictions on students and
people to up to 7 1/2 years migration by the Ha Tinh about their alleged crime. also have an obligation to journalists.
in prison for smuggling a provincial court in central U.S. citizens may be sub- abide by Chinese laws." The latest travel advisory
woman who later died in Vietnam. jected to prolonged inter- Last month, the Trump ad- did not offer any new warn-
a truck together with 38 From the sealed container, rogations and extended ministration suspended or ings regarding COVID-19 in
other people as they were My sent a string of texts to detention without due pro- terminated three bilateral mainland China and Hong
being transported into Brit- her mother in Vietnam say- cess of law," the advisory agreements with Hong Kong, but referred travel-
ain, state media reported ing "I can't breathe," typing said. Kong covering extradition ers to earlier notices advis-
Tuesday. out her name and home In Hong Kong, China "uni- and tax exemptions, cit- ing Americans to avoid the
According to the Thanh address before passing laterally and arbitrarily ex- ing Beijing's violation of its regions and return home
Nien newspaper, the six out.q ercises police and security pledge for Hong Kong to from them if possible.q