Author: Jon Stokes

Elon Musk’s unique role as a “special government employee” (SGE) under the Trump administration. The designation allows Musk to serve in a limited capacity for the government, participating in activities like serving on boards and committees, without the need to make extensive public financial disclosures. The position is temporary, with Musk allowed to work no more than 130 days per year. In this role, Musk is tasked with leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which involves initiatives like streamlining federal jobs and spending. While Musk holds significant influence, including access to Treasury disbursements, his position raises concerns about potential conflicts…

Amnesty International Indonesia’s recent study reveals at least 116 cases of police brutality this year, including 29 extrajudicial killings. The report cites factors such as a lack of evaluation, normalized violence, and a government tolerance for police misconduct as contributing to the “worrying” pattern of abuse. Amnesty’s executive director, Usman Hamid, stressed that police often use excessive force with little accountability. He noted that the systemic nature of police violence continues unchecked, with weak policies to ensure adherence to human rights standards by officers. Reports from rights organizations like Kontras, YLBHI, and Imparsial indicate that the misuse of force is…

Nepal’s central bank is all set to launch the quick response (QR) code for Nepali nationals to make payments in India by the end of the current fiscal year, or July 15. “Work is ongoing,” said a senior official of Nepal Rastra Bank, who requested anonymity. “As per the plan, the QR code in India will go live by the end of the current fiscal year.” Gunakar Bhatta, executive director at the Payment Systems Department at Nepal Rastra Bank, said they are still working out the details for QR code payment and this is causing a slight delay in launching…

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “serious concern” about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry on Friday, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter. Blinken’s comments came in Beijing, shortly after he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese leaders during meetings that covered a wide range of disputes between the two powers. Near the top of Blinken’s agenda, U.S. officials said, was China’s provision of items such as microchips, machine tools, and other items Russia is using to create weapons for use in its war against Ukraine.…

The upcoming visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to China has ignited considerable enthusiasm and expectations. This visit marks the most recent in a sequence of encouraging strides aimed at reinvigorating China-Australia ties. China holds the distinction of being Australia’s largest trade partner, boasting substantial market potential for a plethora of Australian commodities and products. Therefore, it is only logical for Australia to pursue a robust and harmonious state-to-state relationship with China. Last week, Albanese was in Washington, where he was advised by U.S. President Joe Biden to “trust but verify” on the matters pertaining to relations with China.…

The Chinese intercepts are not limited to the skies in international airspace. Ratner said this is but part of a broader pattern of China’s People’s Liberation Army behavior “throughout the region, throughout domains and throughout geographies.” Chinese vessels are harassing U.S. and allied warships in the waters of the East China Sea in the South China Sea. “We’re seeing it on land against our Indian partners,” he said. “This is part of a much broader picture.” Ratner previewed some information from the soon-to-be-released Chinese Military Power Report saying that Chinese fighter jets are increasingly engaging in coercive and risky operational…

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko suggested creating a trilateral partnership between Belarus, Russia and North Korea, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. “I think that we can think about trilateral cooperation. North Korea, Russia … I know that Koreans have a great interest in cooperation with Russia,” Lukashenko said, as reported by Russian and Belarusian outlets. “I think there will be some work for Belarus. Taking into account the problems that exist.” Lukashenko traveled to Sochi for a chin-wag with his Russian counterpart on Friday, the seventh meeting between the two leaders this year, according to Russian state-run news agency TASS. The…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Elon Musk to ‘roll back’ antisemitism on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, during an in-person conversation broadcast live on Monday afternoon. After an exchange about the regulation of artificial intelligence, Netanyahu praised Musk for his commitment to freedom of speech and pleaded with him to fight back against hate speech. “I know your commitment to free speech,” Netanyahu told Musk. “But I also know your opposition to antisemitism. You’ve spoken about it, tweeted about it. And all I can say is, I hope you find, within the confines of the First…

A Manhattan Supreme Court judge issued a ruling Friday “permanently” prohibiting New York City from switching its 250,000 retired employees and their elderly or disabled dependents to a privatized Medicare Advantage plan managed by Aetna. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lyle Frank sided with city retirees, finding merit to their argument that the planned switchover violated longstanding guarantees by the city that every active and retired city worker is entitled to city-funded healthcare through a combination of Medicare and other supplemental insurance. In his decision, Frank ordered the city “permanently enjoined from requiring any City retirees, and their dependents from being removed…

Taiwan Vice President William Lai leaves on Saturday for a sensitive trip to the United States, which China has condemned and Taiwanese officials fear could prompt more Chinese military activity around the democratically governed island. Lai, the front-runner to become Taiwan’s president in elections in January, is officially making only transit stops in the United States on his way to and from Paraguay for the swearing in of its president. Taipei and Washington say such stopovers are routine and no cause for China to take “provocative” actions, but Beijing has reacted with anger at what it sees as a further…