Beijing: Security law and prison for those protesting against the fire in Hong Kong
Today's headlines: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's allies defeated in local elections in Sabah; Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia remains in hospital in “very critical” condition; In South Korea, the trial for corruption against the leader of the Unification Church begins; Israeli Prime Minister requests presidential pardon for corruption cases, over 70,000 victims in Gaza; Death toll from bad weather in Southeast Asia rises to over 600.
CHINA - HONG KONG
Beijing uses the infamous National Security Law to crack down on any form of protest linked to the tragedy in Hong Kong in recent days, when a devastating fire engulfed several buildings, causing at least 146 deaths and leaving 40 people still missing. Thousands of people paid tribute to the victims of the deadliest fire in over 75 years, the causes of which are still under investigation, while anger and discontent mount over the lack of warning and unsafe building practices. In recent hours, the police have arrested Kenneth Cheung, former district councillor of Tuen Mun, along with an unidentified volunteer who was supplying basic necessities to the victims of the fire.
MALAYSIA
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's allies were defeated in a local election in Sabah, but with repercussions for national politics. The Pakatan Harapan coalition led by the head of government won only one of the 20 seats, compared to the seven it previously held. Despite the setback for PH, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah - a coalition of parties aligned with Anwar's dominant bloc - retained control of one of the country's largest and poorest states on the island of Borneo.
BANGLADESH
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia remains in “very critical” condition in a Dhaka hospital, while her self-exiled son and interim party leader Tarique Rahman is uncertain about her return. Khaleda, 80, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was admitted to a private hospital on 23 November with a severe chest infection affecting her heart and lungs. Meanwhile, today, Labour MP and former minister Tulip Siddiq was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison along with 16 other people on corruption charges.
SOUTH KOREA
A South Korean court today opened the trial of Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, accused of bribing former first lady Kim Keon Hee with luxury items including Chanel bags and a diamond necklace. The corruption case is part of a series of investigations by special prosecutors into ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim in relation to the imposition of martial law in December 2024 and its political repercussions.
ISRAEL - PALESTINE
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon for the corruption cases in which he is involved and on trial. The head of state's office responded that it is awaiting opinions from the judiciary before deciding on a matter that “has significant implications”. Netanyahu has been on trial for the past five years on charges of corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases, charges he denies. In a video message released over the weekend, he said he would prefer to wait for the outcome of the trial, but the national interest “has demanded otherwise”. The opposition responds that he should admit guilt before asking for a pardon. Meanwhile, the Hamas Health Ministry reports that more than 70,000 people have died in Gaza since the start of Israel's war.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
The death toll in three Southeast Asian countries from floods and landslides caused by rains has risen to more than 600, while relief efforts for tens of thousands of displaced people continued throughout the weekend. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand faced widespread devastation after a rare tropical storm formed in the Strait of Malacca, fuelling heavy rains and gusty winds for a week. There were 435 deaths in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand and three reported deaths in Malaysia.
RUSSIA - UKRAINE
Moscow Duma deputy Nina Ostankina told the newspaper Vedomosti that 6,000 Russian orphans took part in military operations in Ukraine, 4,000 have returned from the front and 2,000 are still serving. However, she did not specify how many of these orphans have died, been seriously wounded or taken prisoner. Activist Ekaterina Gorelkina of the association “Life in Your Hands” claims that nearly 200 have died.
ARMENIA - TURKEY
Representatives from Armenia and Turkey have completed the second stage of technical assessments for the restoration and operation of the Gyumri-Kars railway. This was reported by the Foreign Ministry in Yerevan, meeting at the Akhuryan/Akiak border crossing and in the city of Gyumri according to the agreed programme, after the resumption of a dialogue that had been interrupted in the 1990s with the closure of the borders between the two countries.
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