UPDATE 2-Elon Musk ordered to testify again in US SEC probe of Twitter takeover

The Independent
Taiwan passes law favouring China and limiting new president’s powers
Thousands of protesters had gathered outside Taiwanese parliament, calling on MPs to ‘refuse Chinese political interference’
HuffPost
Washington Post Reveals Previously Unpublished Reporting On Alito Flag Controversy
Martha-Ann Alito told a Post reporter in 2021 the flag was "an international signal of distress."
CBC
Canada purchasing 16 new fighter jets out of current budget, minister says
The first 16 of the air force's new F-35 fighters will be paid for out of the current federal budget, even though Canada isn't expected to take delivery of the warplanes until 2026.Defence Minister Bill Blair pointed to the investment on Monday while defending the Liberal government's military spending plans before a House of Commons committee.In testimony to Congress, a senior U.S. military official warned late last year that the delivery of stealth fighters ordered by Canada and other allies m
Euronews
'It has gone very far:' EU countries voice exasperation over Hungary's vetoes on Ukraine aid
Hungary continues to veto EU military assistance to Ukraine, preventing member states from getting their donations partially reimbursed.
The Guardian
Perth double murder: WA police launch investigation after killer’s daughter claims officers ‘ignored’ warnings
Ariel Bombara said she contacted police three times to ‘raise the alarm’ about Mark Bombara before Jenny and Gretl Petelczyc were shot
The Guardian
Some Muslims ‘want to challenge British values’, says minister
Anne-Marie Trevelyan responds to widely criticised comments by Nigel Farage over the weekend
Reuters
Thousands protest as Taiwan's parliament passes contested reforms
Thousands of people protested outside Taiwan's parliament on Tuesday after it passed a reform package to increase oversight of the government pushed by the opposition but opposed by the ruling party, which did not have the numbers to block it. The peaceful protests, and sometimes violent confrontations in parliament over the reforms, have been taking place against a backdrop of broader concern about efforts by China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, to influence the island's politics. The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Lai Ching-te won the presidency in January elections, but the party lost its majority in parliament.
South China Morning Post
US lawmaker warns Beijing against 'unprovoked attack' on Taiwan
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has the authority to declare war if Beijing makes an unprovoked attack on Taiwan, the head of the congressional body said in Taipei on Monday. But committee chairman Michael McCaul said deterrence was the most effective strategy to prevent such an outcome. "If the island in an unprovoked manner was invaded, then it would be to the American people and the United States Congress, and my committee that has the power to declare war, how to deal with that," McCa
The Guardian
Georgian parliament overrides veto by president on ‘foreign influence’ law
Salome Zourabichvili addresses protesters outside parliament by video link, urging them to mobilise against ‘Russian slavery’
AFP News
US lawmakers affirm support for Taiwan against China's 'aggression'
A senior US lawmaker affirmed on Monday Washington's support for Taiwan against Chinese "aggression", on the first congressional visit to the self-ruled island since it swore in a new president.Beijing said Monday it "firmly opposes" the lawmakers' visit.
Reuters
Argentina's Milei swaps cabinet chief in major government shakeup
In the first cabinet shakeup of his five-month-old administration, Argentine President Javier Milei accepted the resignation of cabinet chief Nicolas Posse on Monday night amid strains over major economic reforms pitched by the government. Posse will be replaced by current Interior Minister Guillermo Francos, according to a government statement. The cabinet shuffle comes at an especially delicate moment for Milei, a far-right libertarian economist, as his signature reform bill is facing fresh obstacles in Congress and a market rally for government bonds and the local currency appears to be stalling.
Associated Press
Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognize a Palestinian state as EU rift with Israel widens
Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday in a coordinated effort by the three Western European nations to add international pressure on Israel to soften its response to last year’s Hamas-led attack. Israel condemned the diplomatic move, which will have no immediate impact on the war in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a televised address from Madrid that “this is a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace."
BBC
Labour MP Kevin Brennan says he is standing down
The MP said he had changed his mind about standing in the general election after talks with family.
Reuters Videos
Thousands protest in Taiwan as contested reforms pass
STORY: Taiwan passed a controversial reform package pushed by the opposition on Tuesday (May 28) despite days of street protests against the laws which will give lawmakers more oversight over the government.The reforms give lawmakers the power to ask the military, private companies or individuals to disclose information deemed relevant by parliamentarians.They also criminalize contempt of parliament by government officials, and require the president to give regular reports to parliament and answer lawmakers' questions, which would be a first for Taiwan.The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, opposed the law but did not have the numbers to block it.Lawmakers of the DPP were booing as the laws passed.They said the reforms were forced through without proper consultation and their content was either vague or an over-reach of power.Outside parliament, thousands of people protested.Some shouted "refuse Chinese political interference" as the changes are seen by some as a move favoring China. Here's a 65-year-old protester, Lee Si-yih.“I am worried about the next generation. Look at the politics in China now, its economy is bad and its youth do not want to work. Are they as good as a democratic Taiwan?” The protests have been taking place against a backdrop of broader concern about efforts by China to influence the island's politics.China views Taiwan as its own territory and denounces its new president Lai Ching-te as a "separatist”.Lai rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future, and has repeatedly offered talks.The protests demonstrated the intense political atmosphere Lai faces.Lai won the presidency in the January elections, but his party lost its majority in parliament. Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), along with the small Taiwan People's Party, together have the most seats.
Associated Press
Georgian parliament committee rejects presidential veto of the divisive 'foreign agents' legislation
A Georgian parliament committee on Monday rejected the president’s veto of the “foreign agents” legislation that has sparked massive protests for weeks. The move by the parliament’s judiciary committee sets up the possibility of a vote of the full legislature on Tuesday to override President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto of the measure, which she and other critics say will restrict media freedom and obstruct Georgia’s chances of joining the European Union. The ruling Georgian Dream party has insisted that the bill is needed to stem what it deems to be harmful foreign actors trying to destabilize the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million people.
Associated Press
Taiwan's legislature passes changes seen as favoring China, reducing president's power
Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature passed changes on Tuesday that are seen as favoring China and diminishing the power of the island's president, sparking protests by thousands of people. The changes pushed by the opposition Nationalist Party and its allies would give the legislature greater power to control budgets, including defense spending that the party has blocked in what many see as a concession to China. The Executive Yuan, the executive branch of government headed by the premier, may veto legislation or pass it on to the president, who has to proclaim bills into law within 10 days.
The Guardian
Taiwan passes controversial reform bill after violence and protests
Reforms will expand parliamentarians’ powers to question officials and citizens
The Telegraph
Rishi Sunak urged to bring back grammar schools in Tory manifesto
Rishi Sunak is being urged to include the return of grammar schools in the Tory manifesto as senior figures in his party argued it would be “wrong” to keep the ban.
The Hill
Federal judge rules New Hampshire law limiting teaching of race, gender topics unconstitutional
A federal judge in New Hampshire struck down a New Hampshire law that limited public schools’ teaching of race and gender topics, ruling the law is unconstitutional Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro’s decision is the first in the nation to overturn such a measure for kindergarten through 12th grade public schools, the American…
The Independent
Labour expected to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as 550 parliamentarians demand action
Ahead of the dissolution of Parliament 550 MPs and peers from across parties have demanded a dramatic change in foreign policy with Iran

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UPDATE 2-Elon Musk ordered to testify again in US SEC probe of Twitter takeover

Latest stories

Taiwan passes law favouring China and limiting new president’s powers

Washington Post Reveals Previously Unpublished Reporting On Alito Flag Controversy

Canada purchasing 16 new fighter jets out of current budget, minister says

'It has gone very far:' EU countries voice exasperation over Hungary's vetoes on Ukraine aid

Perth double murder: WA police launch investigation after killer’s daughter claims officers ‘ignored’ warnings

Some Muslims ‘want to challenge British values’, says minister

Thousands protest as Taiwan's parliament passes contested reforms

US lawmaker warns Beijing against 'unprovoked attack' on Taiwan

Georgian parliament overrides veto by president on ‘foreign influence’ law

US lawmakers affirm support for Taiwan against China's 'aggression'

Argentina's Milei swaps cabinet chief in major government shakeup

Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognize a Palestinian state as EU rift with Israel widens

Labour MP Kevin Brennan says he is standing down

Thousands protest in Taiwan as contested reforms pass

Georgian parliament committee rejects presidential veto of the divisive 'foreign agents' legislation

Taiwan's legislature passes changes seen as favoring China, reducing president's power

Taiwan passes controversial reform bill after violence and protests

Rishi Sunak urged to bring back grammar schools in Tory manifesto

Federal judge rules New Hampshire law limiting teaching of race, gender topics unconstitutional

Labour expected to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as 550 parliamentarians demand action