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UK urged to tackle transnational repression, as dissidents say Beijing has targeted them with tax bills and other threats“I didn’t feel safe, even though I’m not based in Hong Kong any more,” said Christopher Mung Siu-tat after getting tax bills from Hong Kong authorities. “The regime can reach me by their long arms wherever I am.”Siu-tat, the executive director at the Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor, a UK-based NGO, fled Beijing’s sweeping national security laws years ago. The letters are the latest example of a series of transnational repression (TNR) tactics the 54-year-old has faced in recent years. Continue reading...

President’s declaration allows officials to tackle fuel hoarding or profiteering, while energy secretary says country will lean more heavily on coalMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Philippines president, Ferdinand Marcos, has declared a state of “national energy emergency” as a result of the Middle East war, which his administration said posed “an imminent danger of a critically low energy supply”.The state of emergency, which will initially last for a year, was declared just hours after the country’s energy secretary said the Philippines planned to boost the output of its coal-fired power plants to keep electricity costs down as the war wreaks havoc with gas shipments. Continue reading...

Academics and human rights experts were aghast on Tuesday as President Donald Trump condemned an advocate to what amounts to a "civil death." Francesca Albanese, who worked as a special rapporteur for the United Nations in Palestine, has faced significant public pressure from the Trump administration since she recommended that the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant, and three leaders of Hamas for committing war crimes during the war in Gaza, five experts wrote in a new op-ed for The Guardian. The Trump administration has imposed sweeping sanctions against Albanese for her recommendation, the experts noted. For instance, she can't open a bank account or draw a salary from the university where she teaches. "As the U.S. Supreme Court recognized 60 years ago, the threat of sanctions can deter speech as effectively as the sanctions themselves – and this violates both the U.S. Constitution and international human rights law," they wrote in the op-ed. "Trump’s retribution against Albanese should concern far more than those focused on Israel’s human rights record," they added. "It should trouble anyone who believes in free speech. Today, the target is a UN expert. Tomorrow it could be journalists, scholars, peaceful protesters – or any citizen who challenges those in power. When a government claims the authority to police ideas, everyone’s liberty is on the line."

Political analysts and observers were astounded by a new report on Tuesday that included leaked details about a potential peace deal for the war in Iran. Phil Stewart, chief national security correspondent at Reuters, posted a few details leaked to Israel's Channel 12 on X. The 15-point plan includes stipulations that Iran agree not to enrich uranium, close three nuclear facilities, stop funding regional proxies, and agree to a "free trade zone" in the Strait of Hormuz. The details were released at a time when the Trump administration is facing significant scrutiny for its shifting story about why the war was started and the fallout from rising energy prices due to the Iranian regime effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Political analysts and observers shared their reactions on social media. "With what leverage, sir?" military veteran John Jackson posted on X. "Iran promised Obama the same thing," Pradheep Shanker, National Review contributor, posted on X. "I have no idea why anyone thinks that #Iran will agree to this. Feels like the White House is negotiating with itself," Nadav Pollak, lecturer on the Middle East at Reichman University, posted on X. "Big question will be, how many of these 15 points are recycled from Trump 1.0’s 12-points on Iran. And if so, what are the 3 new ones, as well as how much have these points been adjusted to account for the new regional/domestic reality," Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran program senior director for FDD, a nonpartisan think tank, posted on X.

Donald Trump is searching for an exit strategy from his increasingly unpopular war with Iran, but Saudi Arabia's de facto leader is pushing hard in the opposite direction — pressuring the president to view the conflict as an opportunity to reshape the entire Middle East.According to the New York Times, controversial Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been aggressively urging Trump to intensify the war against Iran, according to people briefed by American officials on the private conversations.In discussions over the past week, Prince Mohammed has told Trump that he must accelerate efforts toward dismantling Iran's hard-line government, according to those familiar with the talks.Prince Mohammed contends that Iran represents an existential long-term threat to the Gulf region that cannot be adequately addressed without regime change, the sources said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu similarly regards Iran as a long-term threat, though the two allies have divergent strategic interests. Analysts note that Israeli officials would likely view a destabilized Iranian state consumed by internal chaos as a strategic victory, whereas Saudi Arabia sees a failed Iranian state as a direct and immediate security catastrophe.Yet senior officials within both Saudi and American governments harbor serious concerns about prolonged conflict. They fear Iran will unleash increasingly devastating strikes against Saudi oil infrastructure while the United States becomes mired in an indefinite war.Trump's public messaging has been erratic, oscillating between declarations that the war could end imminently and suggestions of escalation. On Monday, the president wrote on social media that his administration and Iran had engaged in "productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities," though Iran denied that any negotiations were taking place.The war's toll on Saudi Arabia — economically and strategically — has been severe. Iranian drone and missile strikes, launched in response to American and Israeli military action against Iran, have already triggered significant disruptions throughout global energy markets.Saudi Arabia's government flatly disputed claims that Prince Mohammed has advocated for prolonging the conflict."The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began," the Saudi government said in a statement, adding that officials "remain in close contact with the Trump administration and our commitment remains unchanged."

From a shop owner in India to a community worker in New South Wales, rising fuel prices are forcing people to ration oil usageMiddle East crisis – live updatesAlagesan, 35, needs liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to run his roadside drink and snack shop in Coimbatore, India, but with the fuel shortage since the US-Israel attacks on Iran, he worries his business could fold.“I am far away from the Middle East, but my life is affected,” he said. “The gas cylinder is not available because of the war. I don’t know what to do.” Continue reading...

The Trump administration was reportedly looking for ways to drop gas prices at the pump, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday. President Donald Trump has touted lowering oil prices throughout his campaign and first year of his second term, but as the Iran war hits its fourth week and oil prices skyrocket, his allies are aiming to make new moves ahead of the midterms this fall, Bloomberg's Nancy Cook reported. "I’m told Cabinet members like Energy Secretary Christopher Wright, staff at the National Economic Council and the National Energy Dominance Council as well as other White House aides are soliciting ideas from policy experts, donors and energy executives as they struggle to limit the economic damage inflicted by the war," Cook wrote. "Today, Trump himself backed down from threats he made over the weekend to begin hitting Iran’s energy infrastructure in 48 hours after allies and Gulf countries warned the president about the consequences and oil prices spiked," Cook explained. Trump allies were apparently tasked with sharing potential remedies. "Among the myriad ideas floated to the administration for consideration are asking Congress to suspend the federal gas tax; releasing more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve once the current release is finished and fast-tracking drilling permits, according to people familiar with the internal discussions," Cook reported. "A White House official said while there are many options on the table, the administration at this time isn’t pursuing a gas tax holiday or an additional SPR release.""One Trump ally acknowledged a lot of this was 'gimmicky' but said the White House has to show it’s taking action before the midterms, which inevitably will turn on the economy," Cook added. "With Republican control of Congress at risk, Trump has put his political team in a bit of a quagmire with ostensibly no clear strategy or timeline for ending the war."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy tried to deflect responsibility on Monday after two pilots were killed and dozens more people were injured in a collision at LaGuardia Airport — calling on Congress to increase their funding for air traffic control workers at airports. Duffy was speaking at a news conference with several New York state and New York City leaders discussing the new details revealed around the moments that led to the fatal collision, which was still under a National Transportation Safety Board investigation. He dodged multiple questions about what happened and attempted to shift the blame. "Congress needs to do their job," said Duffy, who cited multiple requests to lawmakers to fund air traffic controllers. "I've been asking the Congress for additional money," Duffy said. "Many of you have reported that we need more money for air traffic control. We are modernizing our system, but we can't fully modernize it until the Congress gives us additional money. It's not a partisan issue. Both Democrats and Republicans agree, but they have to have the will to finish the funding. I'm not saying that this crash would have been prevented if we had all the equipment deployed, but it's important if we care about air travel safety, we care about having a brand new air traffic control system the best in the world with the best equipment, virtually all of it developed here in America." Duffy described the staffing conditions at LaGuardia Airport. "This airport has a target of 37 controllers at LaGuardia," Duffy said. "We have 33 controllers employed and certified at LaGuardia and we have six — seven actually in training, so as our airports go, LaGuardia is a very well-staffed airport. We are a couple controllers short in total, but it is a well-staffed airport."He added that the air traffic controller was apparently not the only person on the job at the time, although the NTSB investigation is expected to provide more information. "I did want to clarify, I've heard the rumor that there was only one controller in the tower, and that is not accurate," Duffy said. This was the second fatal crash under Duffy's leadership and in President Donald Trump's second administration. Duffy has been accused of putting safety at risk by not addressing the low staffing among air traffic controllers in the United States as calls have grown for his resignation.