分类： politics

The British government has introduced a series of sweeping reforms to the asylum system, aiming to curb immigration and increase deportations. Announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in Parliament on Monday, the proposals have sparked fierce criticism from across the political spectrum, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Green Party leader Zack Polanski. The reforms, influenced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Blue Labour founder Lord Maurice Glasman, mark a significant shift in Labour’s approach to immigration. Key measures include seizing assets from asylum seekers to cover processing costs, limiting annual asylum admissions to a few hundred initially, and making refugee status temporary with reviews every 30 months. Refugees will no longer be eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years, instead waiting up to 20 years for permanent residency. Some asylum seekers will lose state benefits, while AI-driven technology will be trialled for age verification. The government also plans to reconsider human rights law, particularly Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in migration cases. These reforms come amid public discontent over immigration figures and the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which has consistently topped opinion polls. Net migration dropped to 431,000 in 2024, down from 906,000 the previous year, due to reduced healthcare and student visas. Critics, including Corbyn and Polanski, have condemned the proposals as dehumanizing and divisive, accusing Labour of adopting far-right rhetoric. Mahmood, however, defends the reforms as necessary to restore moderate politics and control illegal migration, which she claims is tearing the country apart. Despite internal dissent, the government is unlikely to reverse course, with Mahmood emerging as a key figure in Labour’s shift to the right on immigration.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has firmly rejected allegations of illicit drug use made by his estranged sister, Senator Imee Marcos, labeling them as unfounded and politically motivated. The accusations surfaced during an anti-corruption rally on Monday, where Senator Marcos claimed, without evidence, that her brother had struggled with drug addiction since their youth and that it continued to the present day. She further asserted that this alleged drug use was a catalyst for widespread corruption in the government. In response, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed the claims as ‘a story without value,’ citing a 2021 drug test taken by President Marcos during his presidential campaign, which returned negative results. This is not the first time President Marcos has faced such allegations. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had previously accused him of being on a ‘narco-list’ during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao City, a claim denied by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Duterte, who is currently detained in The Hague over alleged human rights violations during his ‘war on drugs,’ remains a polarizing figure in Philippine politics. Senator Imee Marcos, an ally of Duterte, has distanced herself from her brother and has been critical of his policies, particularly his efforts to strengthen security ties with the United States, which contrast with Duterte’s pro-China stance. President Marcos’s son, Congressman Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos, defended his father, calling the allegations ‘a web of lies’ aimed at destabilizing the government. Meanwhile, President Marcos has initiated a comprehensive investigation into irregularities in infrastructure projects, particularly flood-control works, following an internal audit that revealed widespread substandard practices and corruption. The scandal has sparked public outrage, with many demanding accountability from implicated officials and lawmakers.

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously endorsed a 20-point plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The resolution, adopted with a 13-0 vote and abstentions from China and Russia, grants Trump significant control over Gaza’s stabilization efforts. The plan includes the establishment of an international stabilization force, a ‘Board of Peace’ chaired by Trump, and a committee of Palestinian technocrats to oversee governance for a two-year period. The resolution also outlines a potential pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, contingent on meeting specific reform and reconstruction milestones. The stabilization force, in coordination with Egypt and Israel, will secure border areas, ensure the demilitarization of Gaza, and facilitate humanitarian aid. However, Hamas has rejected the resolution, arguing it undermines Palestinian rights and imposes an international trusteeship. The plan’s success hinges on the Palestinian Authority’s reforms and Gaza’s reconstruction progress, with the US mediating discussions between Israel and Palestinians for a peaceful coexistence.

Israeli authorities have initiated the trial of Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the prominent imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on charges of incitement. The first hearing took place on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Israeli authorities and Palestinian religious leaders. The charges, filed in August 2024, stem from two condolence speeches Sabri delivered in 2022 and his public mourning of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh following his assassination in 2024. Sabri’s legal team argues that the case is part of a broader campaign of political, religious, and ideological persecution targeting the imam. Khaled Zabarka, head of Sabri’s defense team, described the trial as ‘the embodiment of racist persecution’ and accused Israeli authorities of attempting to silence influential Palestinian voices. Sabri, 86, a former grand mufti of Jerusalem and head of the Supreme Islamic Council, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian causes and the Islamic claim to Al-Aqsa Mosque. His trial coincides with an intensifying Israeli crackdown on Palestinian access to the mosque, with increasing restrictions imposed on worshippers and imams. Zabarka highlighted that Israeli authorities have banned numerous individuals, including Sabri, from entering the site, often for mentioning Gaza in sermons. He condemned these actions as ‘an outright intrusion into the Friday sermons at Al-Aqsa Mosque,’ warning of a concerning new trend. Israel’s control of East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, continues to violate international law, which prohibits occupying powers from asserting sovereignty or making permanent changes to occupied territories.

In a significant development in the Philippine flood control corruption scandal, prosecutors have filed the first criminal charges against a former congressman, public works officials, and construction firm members. The charges, which include falsification of documents, misuse of public funds, and graft law violations, stem from a substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro province. The scandal, which has sparked public outrage and protests, involves allegations that billions of taxpayer dollars were siphoned off for ghost infrastructure projects. Ombudsman spokesman Mico Clavano emphasized that public funds were intended to protect communities from flooding, not to enrich officials or private contractors. The charges mark the beginning of what is expected to be a series of indictments, with more cases currently under preliminary investigation. The scandal has already led to the resignation of several high-profile figures, including two cabinet members and the House speaker. The controversy has also deepened political tensions, with President Ferdinand Marcos’s sister accusing him of drug use, a claim vehemently denied by his son. The scandal has become a focal point of public anger, with the Iglesia ni Cristo church holding massive rallies to demand accountability.

In a significant policy address delivered on Tuesday, Sam Hou-fai, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), outlined the government’s strategic priorities for 2026. Emphasizing the need for comprehensive administrative reform and economic diversification, Sam highlighted the SAR’s commitment to enhancing livelihoods and deepening integration into national development frameworks. The address, presented at the Legislative Assembly, underscored the challenges posed by shifting global and domestic economic landscapes, urging a balanced approach that aligns short-term needs with long-term planning. Sam stressed the importance of revitalizing existing resources while fostering new growth areas, ensuring that economic development and livelihood improvements reinforce each other. The policy blueprint also aims to bolster Macao’s economic recovery, with a focus on positive GDP growth and an improved business environment. Key initiatives include leveraging the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and enhancing governance capacity through legal and administrative reforms. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to national security, ensuring robust safeguards to support high-quality and sustainable development.