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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Photos of border patrol arresting a woman selling food and workers at an LA car wash
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
US and UK must turn up heat on China over Jimmy Lai trial
Jimmy Lai has been charged under the same national security laws that he once dubbed 'a death knell for Hong Kong' and against which his tabloid newspaper, Apple Daily, had campaigned VINCENT YU/AP If courage has a representative, his name is Jimmy Lai. The 77-year-old media magnate and British citizen has been imprisoned for more than 1,600 days, a prolonged ordeal which began with his arrest in 2020 over his role in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. He appeared in court on Friday to hear the closing arguments in the case brought against him by the authorities. Within a short time, however, the court was adjourned over Mr Lai's ill health. It will resume on Monday. The newspaper proprietor has been charged under the same national security laws that he once dubbed 'a death knell for Hong Kong' and against which his tabloid newspaper, Apple Daily, had campaigned. The prosecutors allege collusion with foreign powers — potentially carrying a life sentence — and that he published seditious articles intended to incite hatred or contempt towards the Beijing or Hong Kong governments. Mr Lai vigorously denies the charges, contending that he was peacefully exercising and supporting freedom of speech, as protected under the Basic Law agreed when the territory passed from British to Chinese rule in 1997. After years of delay Mr Lai's national security trial began in December 2023. From November last year he gave evidence in his own defence for a gruelling 50 days. Onlookers might reasonably conclude that the dragged-out process has become part of the intended punishment for public dissent. And although Mr Lai's spirit clearly remains undiminished, his body is increasingly weak: he suffers from diabetes and a heart condition and his family fear that under continuing detention, which has been spent in solitary confinement, his health is rapidly deteriorating. • Refugee to riches: the brash billionaire who took on Beijing (and is now in jail) In earlier days Mr Lai could have chosen to leave Hong Kong to protect himself from vengeful persecution. That he didn't is testament to his strength of character and the depth of his belief in democracy. It is a source of regret that some British judges, who still sit in Hong Kong's court of final appeal, have not displayed the same intellectual and moral clarity. One of them, Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, a former president of the UK's Supreme Court, served on a judicial panel which last year upheld the conviction of Mr Lai and other pro-democracy activists on a previous charge related to a peaceful protest in 2019. The argument that British judges could help to prop up an embattled legal system in Hong Kong has gradually crumbled in the face of Beijing's growing authoritarianism. Now their presence more resembles a gilded façade on a process riddled with rot. Lord Sumption, who resigned from the court last year, concluded that the rule of law in the territory was 'profoundly compromised' and that it was 'slowly becoming a totalitarian state'. Mr Lai's supporters, however, must not give up hope. He has recently referred to himself as a 'political prisoner' and it is through political pressure that he has the greatest hope of release. President Trump's recent promise to do 'everything I can' to help Mr Lai is a welcome one, which may carry particular weight at a time when increased US tariffs on Chinese goods hang in the balance. Sir Keir Starmer, too, raised the case in his first meeting with President Xi last year. The US and UK should intensify this pressure by every means possible. Mr Lai has taken great personal risks to defend the principles of democracy. Democrats must now stand up for him.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Dozens to be prosecuted for supporting terror group Palestine Action after hundreds were arrested in protests
The group was proscribed last month meaning it is a criminal offence to show support TERROR PROSECUTIONS Dozens to be prosecuted for supporting terror group Palestine Action after hundreds were arrested in protests Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COPS have charged a further 60 people for supporting Palestine Action after more than 700 arrests. The group was proscribed last month after they took credit for vandalising two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, in an alleged £7million attack. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Police detained 522 people who were illegally supporting Palestine Action on Saturday Credit: Getty 6 Dozens could be prosecuted for backing the terror group Credit: Peter Macdiarmid 6 Organisers Defend Our Juries said up to 700 people were at the event in Parliament Square Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Palestine Action have also been linked to claims of serious assault on staff and police officers at a business in South Gloucestershire. Since proscription, it is a criminal offence to show support for the group - carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years. This comes after more than 15,000 people held a peaceful protest in London last weekend to support Palestine, where only one person was arrested. But cops later detained 522 people who were illegally supporting Palestine Action. Five others were arrested for assaulting police officers, two for breaching public order conditions and one for racially aggravated public order. Organisers Defend Our Juries said up to 700 people were at the event in Parliament Square, with police preparing for the "largest mass arrest in their history". It turned out to be an even higher number of arrests made by the Metropolitan Police at a single protest than the poll tax riots of 1990, when 339 people were arrested. Clusters of officers could be seen holding people sat on the edge of the grass and escorting them through crowds to police vans. One man, who appeared to be in his 50s, was arrested after he entered a large group of police holding a homemade sign reading "I support Palestine Action". He was marched away by a group of nine cops. Record number arrested at Palestine Action protest as demonstrators bring chaos to London People waving Palestinian flags and signs reading "stop the genocide" continued to gather in the main square despite the risk of arrest. Another pair of protesters holding handwritten pro-Palestine Action banners sat on the statue of Millicent Garrett Fawcett. They were later arrested and carried away by police officers. As they were carried away the crowd shouted "shame on you". Three retired doctors in scrubs lay and sat holding signs in support of the controversial group - police surrounded them and arrested a woman, carrying her away through the crowd. Another was later carried away, with officers having to fight through an angry crowd. The mass protest came only days after the first three people to be charged with supporting the group were publicly named as Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, also 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53. Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: 'The decisions that we have announced today are the first significant numbers to come out of the recent protests, and many more can be expected in the next few weeks. We are ready to make swift decisions in all cases where arrests have been made. 'The public has a democratic right to protest peacefully in this country, and I understand the depth of feeling around the horrific scenes in Gaza. 'However, Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organisation and those who have chosen to break the law will be subject to criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act. 'When protest conduct crosses the line from lawful activity into criminality, we have a duty to enforce the law. 'People should be clear about the real-life consequences for anyone choosing to support Palestine Action. A terrorism conviction can severely impact your life and career – it can restrict your ability to travel overseas and work in certain professions. 'I urge people to think very carefully about their actions at protests. Anyone who chooses to disobey the law will have to face the consequences.' Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley added: 'I am proud of how our police and CPS teams have worked so speedily together to overcome misguided attempts to overwhelm the justice system. If necessary, we are able to investigate and quickly charge significant numbers of people each week if people want the potentially life-changing consequences of a terrorist conviction. 'At the same time, we will continue to police the numerous protests each week where people express their views in support of Palestine without choosing to break Counter Terrorism Laws by supporting proscribed terror groups. 'To be clear, these arrests and prosecutions do not outlaw people's right to demonstrate in support of Palestine, or any other cause. They are simply the enforcement of a specific provision under the Terrorism Act in relation to a specific proscribed terrorist organisation, Palestine Action. 'Where officers see these offences, we will continue to make arrests and, as shown today, the CPS and police will work to quickly secure charges, at whatever scale is necessary.' A Home Office spokesperson said in a previous statement: "The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights. "It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues." Consequences of Terrorism Act offences Source; Met Police •A maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment. •The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will have a record of a person's TACT conviction, and this will be seen by employers who use DBS to carry out checks on staff or new applicants. The existence of a TACT conviction may be seen by employers as grounds for a refusal to employ a person or to dismiss them. •Universities also carry out DBS checks, and may refuse entry to courses to those with terrorism convictions. •Any application to visit another country usually requires a declaration of criminal convictions. A TACT conviction will be a potential bar to entry to countries including the US, Australia, Japan, and from 2026 when the ETIAS system is introduced, countries of the European Union. •If a person is a member of a professional body, they may face disciplinary proceedings and potentially removal from the profession. 6 The mass protest came days after the first three people to be charged with supporting the group were publicly named Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Five others were arrested for assaulting police officers Credit: AFP
