Hong Kong cancels passports, bans financial support for wanted activists
Hong Kong has revoked the passports of 12 overseas-based pro-democracy activists, accusing them of threatening national security through their involvement in the “Hong Kong Parliament” advocacy group, according to Al Jazeera.
The move comes after arrest warrants were issued for 19 activists last month. Authorities also barred financial and business dealings with 16 of them.
Critics, including the group itself, say the action is political persecution and part of Beijing’s growing cross-border repression. Since 2020, over 300 people have been arrested under the national security law, Al Jazeera reported.
Israel to allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants
Israel will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants, COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
"This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the U.N. and international organisations," the agency said.
On Sunday, Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western powers, according to Reuters.
Australia, Japan sign landmark $6.5bn warship deal
Australia and Japan have signed their largest-ever defense agreement, worth A$10bn (US$6.5 bn), for the production of 11 Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, Al Jazeera reported.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the stealth warships will significantly boost naval capability, offering longer range and quadrupling missile capacity. Three frigates will be built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with eight to follow in Australia.
Marles called it a “very significant moment” in Australia-Japan ties. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said the deal is a “major step” in Japan’s defense cooperation, marking its biggest arms export since lifting its military export ban in 2014, according to Al Jazeera.
US attorney general orders grand jury hearings on Trump-Russia probe
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered prosecutors to open legal proceedings into allegations of a so-called Russiagate conspiracy that Donald Trump has long claimed was concocted by political foes to smear him, BBC reported.
Bondi has ordered a federal prosecutor to seek a potential indictment, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.
It is unclear, however, what the possible charges might be and who could be charged.
Last month, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused former President Barack Obama and his national security team of a "years-long coup" against Trump as she released a declassified report that Democrats branded false, according to BBC.
