Political/Legal Landscape - A Hong Kong court found Jimmy Lai guilty of national security crimes [1] - The new national security law imposed by Beijing is quashing political dissent [1]

Political Landscape - A Hong Kong court found Jimmy Lai guilty of national security crimes [1] - The new national security law imposed by Beijing is quashing political dissent [1]

A Hong Kong court this week found democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai guilty of national security crimes. Here's what to know about the new law imposed by Beijing that is quashing political dissent https://t.co/upNQ201Dwh ...

Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s most famous media mogul, has been found guilty in a landmark national security trial. On “Drum Tower”, we speak to his son https://t.co/Njg2s7iHKs ...

A Hong Kong court convicted media tycoon Jimmy Lai of violating the Chinese territory’s national-security law. President Trump said earlier this year that he would do everything he could to “save” Lai. https://t.co/A2TprvJoZW ...

Legal & Political Implications - Jimmy Lai was convicted of sedition in Hong Kong under the National Security Law [1] - He is now the most prominent public figure convicted under the National Security Law [1] Individual Profile - Alice Y. Su explains the conviction of Jimmy Lai [1]

Former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai faces a verdict on Monday in a landmark national security trial, a decision that will help define the limits of free speech in the Chinese territory and potentially strain relations with the US and UK https://t.co/fN7R48uabQ ...

Legal Analysis of Use of Force - The legality of US forces killing disarmed survivors depends on whether the situation constitutes an armed conflict; experts generally agree that the situation with drug cartels does not rise to the level of a non-international armed conflict [3] - In law enforcement operations, deadly force is only permissible when there is an imminent threat to oneself or others [4] - If the situation is deemed an armed conflict and the boat and drugs are considered lawful military objects, striking the boat may be permissible, but survivors are entitled to protection, even if previously considered combatants [5] - Determining whether an armed conflict exists requires meeting legal criteria, and the President cannot unilaterally decide this; Congressional authorization for the use of military force is necessary [6] - The application of law requires factual analysis, and shaping facts to fit a predetermined outcome is problematic [7] - Declaring an organization as a foreign terrorist organization does not, by itself, authorize the use of deadly force against its members; it primarily allows for sanctions, removal from the US, and prosecution of supporters [10][11] Rules of Engagement and War Crimes - Only the most serious violations of the law of armed conflict are considered war crimes, such as grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions [13] - Targeting survivors of a shipwreck is considered a textbook example of an unlawful order according to the Department of Defense Law of War Manual [14] - Military members are expected to follow orders unless they are patently or clearly unlawful; senior commanders should intervene when orders are unlawful [16][17] - The duty to rescue shipwrecked survivors is a long-standing rule dating back centuries, rooted in humanitarian reasons and now part of customary international law and the Geneva Convention [19][20][21] Investigation and Oversight - Congress should review the President's decision regarding armed conflict and provide oversight and authorization [8] - Access to the execution order signed by the Secretary of Defense and the rules of engagement is crucial for understanding the parameters of the operation, including the treatment of survivors [25] - Reviewing chat logs from the operations center during the operation could provide insights into communications between different levels of command [26]

Core Insights - The approval of a deal by U.S. President Donald Trump could allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., but China's response has been notably quiet, leaving uncertainty about the app's future [1][2] Group 1: Deal Structure - The deal involves the creation of a new joint-venture company to oversee TikTok's U.S. business, data, and algorithm, with ByteDance retaining less than a 20% stake [3] - This arrangement is intended to comply with U.S. national security laws that require ByteDance to divest from TikTok's U.S. operations to avoid a ban [3] Group 2: Company Operations - ByteDance is expected to establish a new U.S. company focused on e-commerce, brand advertising, and managing relationships with TikTok's international operations [4] - Details regarding the division of TikTok U.S.'s operations into two companies remain unclear, as reported by Chinese media [2]

Hong Kong prosecutors began making their final arguments for convicting former media mogul Jimmy Lai on national security charges, in a case closely monitored by Western governments https://t.co/e36lyRWcWb ...