Feb 23, 2019

Saudi crown prince defends China's mass detention of Uighur Muslims

Photo: Bandar Algaloud / Saudi Kingdom Council / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who is currently in Beijing to sign billion-dollar economic partnerships with China, said on Friday: "China has the right to carry out anti-terrorism and de-extremization work for its national security," referencing the detention of 1 million Uighur Muslims in "re-education camps," reports the Telegraph.

The big picure: Many Western countries have called for Chinese President Xi Jinping to end the mass detention of Uighurs, with the U.S. reportedly considering sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against senior Chinese officials involved in the crackdown. Turkey has also condemned China for its treatment of Uighur Muslims, one of the first Muslim-majority countries to do so.

Go deeper: U.S. firm aided Chinese DNA collection of Uighur Muslims

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Axios

Updated 24 mins ago - Politics & Policy

George Floyd protests: What you need to know

Photo: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

Clashes erupted between police and protesters in several major U.S. cities Saturday night as demonstrations over the death of George Floyd and other police-related killings of black men spread across the country.

The big picture: Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody is the latest reminder of the disparities between black and white communities in the U.S. and comes as African Americans grapple with higher death rates from the coronavirus and higher unemployment from trying to stem its spread.

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Rebecca Falconer

49 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Massive demonstrations put police response to unrest in the spotlight

Washington State Police use tear gas to disperse a crowd in Seattle during a demonstration protesting the death of George Floyd. Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

The response of some officers during demonstrations against police brutality in the U.S. has been criticized for being excessive by some officials and Black Lives Matter leaders.

Why it matters: The situation is tense across the U.S., with reports of protesters looting and burning buildings. While some police have responded with restraint and by monitoring the protests, others have used batons, tear gas, rubber bullets and other devices to disperse protesters and, in some cases, journalists.

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Axios

Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. cities crack down on protesters

The scene near the 5th police precinct during a demonstration calling for justice for George Floyd in Minneapolis on Saturday. Photo: Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Major U.S. cities have implemented curfews and called on National Guard to mobilize as thousands of demonstrators gather across the nation to continue protesting the death of George Floyd.

The state of play: Hundreds have already been arrested as tensions continue to rise between protesters and local governments. Protesters are setting police cars on fire as freeways remain blocked and windows are shattered, per the Washington Post. Law enforcement officials are using tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse crowds and send protesters home.

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