The leader of the “Umbrella Movement” – who was due to be released from prison in January 2027 following his first trial for pro-democracy activities – has found himself in the dock facing new charges of “collusion with foreign forces”. He hopes this will at least enable him to avoid a life sentence for a crime of opinion.
Ordained a priest in 1947, the Verbite clergyman passed away at almost 105 after a very long ministry that included 25 years in prison. For Bishop Lu Peisen of Yanzhou, “Fr Guo dedicated his entire life to writing a wonderful story of selflessness and love, using his life as a pen and time as ink.”
China’s official Xinhua news agency released the data while the National Health Commission presents a three-year plan to deal with rising mental disorders. The issue has come to prominence following a string of violent incidents, but it is also the legacy of the government’s zero-COVID policy.
The crash of a low-cost Jeju Air plane killed 179 of the 181 people on board. World leaders express their solidarity to the East Asian nation. An investigation into the causes of the tragedy is already underway. Meanwhile, investigators have issued an arrest warrant against President Yoon Suk Yeol for imposing martial law.
The authorities continue to claim that the target of GDP growth of ‘around 5%’ driven by electric car exports will be met in the year to come. But discontent remains widespread and even the anti-corruption crackdown in the Party is fuelling paralysis especially among senior cadres. While worrying analyses by two well-known Chinese economists have been taken off social media.
The Chinese president is on a three-day visit to the former Portuguese colony 25 years after its return to Chinese sovereignty, providing him with an opportunity to send messages to Hong Kong as well, and stress the potential of the Greater Bay Area. The stop on Hengqin Island is significant, since it is slated to help Macau diversify its economy centred on casinos and gambling (source of 80 per cent of local tax revenue).
South Korea has introduced a voluntary repatriation programme for illegal migrants that would avoid expulsion and include a waiver on heavy fines. At the end of 2023, some 423,675 foreigners were staying illegally in the East Asian country out of more than 2.5 million. About 145,000 Thais, who are more than a third of all foreigners staying illegally, could benefit from the measure.
Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing administration wants to introduce “smart ballot boxes” for next year’s legislative election, already restricted to “patriotic" candidates. Scanners would warn voters of any “error” in their ballot. The proposal was withdrawn after a few hours due to obvious objections to secrecy of the vote.
While the Constitutional Court announced a preliminary hearing, the government and the opposition are unable to agree on the veto power the prime minister can use as acting president. Several important bills are thus stuck in Parliament. South Korean bishops have issued a new appeal to politicians to work together respectful of the democratic process.
Today 204 MPs out of a total of 300 voted on the impeachment motion. There were 85 votes against, three MPs abstained and eight invalidated ballots. At least 12 members of the majority were in favour of the ouster. The constitutional judges (three out of nine are vacant) will have to approve the decision within 180 days. For experts and analysts ‘this is not the end of the turmoil’.
Whether it is football, athletics, canoeing or winter sports, officials and coaches have been caught up by the justice system. In the latest case, the 47-year-old former coach of the men's national football team Li Tie began serving a 20-year prison term today. Meanwhile, the former head of the Administration of Sports Gou Zhongwen, was kicked out of the party and is awaiting trial. In March, Yu Hongchen, former Chinese Athletics Federation president, was sentenced to 13 years. Despite suspicions over doping, swimming has not been touched.
The Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge opened to traffic yesterday, an ideal infrastructure that links up with the majestic bridge that connects Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. This is a further step to the creation of a metropolitan area of 70 million people that China wants to turn into an economic engine on a par with Tokyo and New York.
On the bitter clash triggered by President Yoon's attempt to proclaim martial law, Radio Azattyk has gathered the opinions of Kazakhs who (with or without papers) are lacorating in the Korean capital. In their voices the hope that a change in the country's leadership will make life easier for them too.
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