Top Asian News 3:12 a.m. GMT

Associated Press

Updated 29 May 2024 at 11:12 pm·1-min read

Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists in the city's biggest national security case

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court Thursday convicted 14 pro-democracy activists in the city’s biggest national security case under a law imposed by Beijing that has all but wiped out public dissent. Those found guilty included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan. But the three judges approved by the government to oversee the case acquitted former district councilors Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau. Those convicted could face up to life in prison. They were among 47 democracy advocates who were prosecuted in 2021 for their involvement in an unofficial primary election. Prosecutors had accused them of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets.

NextShark
16-year-old Chinese boy beat with iron rod on New Zealand bus
On Friday morning, during the Maori New Year public holiday, a 16-year-old teen named Jason was brutally attacked on an Auckland bus by a woman wielding an iron rod. The assailant, described as a Maori woman “more than 200 kilograms," hit Jason multiple times and stabbed him in the face, knocking out five of his teeth, on board the bus after having allegedly shouted "ch*nk" at him at Johns Lane stop. Man intervenes: A 75-year-old Chinese man, Penglai Qiuyue, intervened and managed to grab the weapon, though he was also injured in the process.
Fortune
Singapore is trying to be a wealth hub. Now 6 family offices that got tax breaks are tied to the nation’s biggest money-laundering case
Singapore wants family offices to set up shop in the country. Now it’s exerting greater scrutiny after a $2.2 billion money-laundering scandal.
Reuters
Malaysia's Najib loses legal bid to serve sentence under house arrest
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -A Malaysian court dismissed jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak's legal bid to obtain a document that he said would allow him to serve his remaining prison sentence under house arrest. In a judicial review application filed on April 1, Najib said an "addendum order" issued by the former king had accompanied a pardons board's decision in February to halve his 12-year jail sentence for graft in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. Najib had sought for the court to compel the government to reply to or confirm the existence of the royal order, which he said would entitle him to serve the remainder of his term under house arrest, and to execute the order if it existed.
BBC
Singapore to cane Japanese hairdresser for rape
The 38-year-old man is the first Japanese national to receive this punishment in Singapore.
HuffPost
Reporter Reveals 'Real Anger' From Biden White House Aides After Debate
They were "shocked" and felt "they had not been told the truth," said Axios' Alex Thompson.
The Independent
Diddy sued by porn star who says he sex trafficked her at his famous ‘white parties’
Adria English alleges in a lawsuit that she was paid to have sex with guests at Diddy’s annual Labor Day ‘white party’
The Telegraph
Ukraine to be told it is too corrupt to join Nato
Ukraine will be told it is currently too corrupt to join Nato, in a major blow to Volodymyr Zelensky.
South China Morning Post
China urges 'severe punishment' for killers of citizen in Philippines
China has urged the Philippines to find and "severely punish" the killers of a kidnapped Chinese citizen in a case that has led to a diplomatic intervention by Beijing. The Chinese embassy in Manila said it had been informed a few days ago that the person had been kidnapped in the Philippines, and it assisted the family in reporting the case to the Philippine National Police's Anti-Kidnapping Bureau. It also intervened through diplomatic channels to ask for a rescue and that measures be taken to
The Independent
Chinese teenager injured in ‘racially motivated’ attack in New Zealand
The 16-year-old schoolboy was travelling by bus to Auckland City when he was attacked by a woman with a metal bar, police say
The Telegraph
200 paedophiles who paid to see ‘rape by proxy’ of children in Philippines identified
Nearly 200 paedophiles who paid to watch live-streamed sexual abuse of children in the Philippines have been identified in the biggest international police investigation of its kind.
HuffPost
Harvard Law Professor Delivers Chilling Prediction After Trump Immunity Ruling
Laurence Tribe explained what the Supreme Court decision means in "practical purposes" and it's "devastating."
CNN
A growing club led by Xi and Putin to counter the US is adding a staunchly pro-Russia member
A club of Eurasian countries spearheaded by China and Russia to advance their leaders’ vision of an alternative world order is set to expand again this week – this time adding a staunch Russian ally that has openly supported Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
HuffPost
'Very Bad News' For Trump: Lawrence O'Donnell Says Ruling Could Backfire Quickly
The MSNBC host revealed how the former president's case could be back in court sooner than anyone realizes.
NY Daily News
Ivanka Trump breaks silence on father’s conviction in hush money case
NEW YORK — Ivanka Trump broke her weekslong silence regarding her father’s recent hush money criminal conviction during a podcast appearance released Tuesday. The former White House staffer said the experience has been agonizing. “On a human level, it’s my father and I love him very much, so it’s painful to experience, but ultimately, I wish it didn’t have to be this way,” she said on “The Lex ...
The Telegraph
Biden ‘seriously considering’ leaving election race
Joe Biden has for the first time said that he is considering ending his presidential campaign, according to reports.
The Independent
iPhone theft victim is sent death threats and gun video after tracking his device to China
Christopher Bramah-Calvert told to release his stolen iPhone 13 from his Apple account or his family will be ‘slaughtered’ after he tracked device to Shenzhen in southern China
The Guardian
Amber Haigh claimed man accused of her murder would tie her to bed and have sex with her, court hears
Woman tells court about ‘shocking’ conversation she had with missing teenager, after pair got stranded at a train station in New South Wales
The Independent
Man accused of fatally slammed his wife’s Teacup Pomeranian after saying his wife loved the dog more than him
The dog was pronounced dead on arrival at a Texas veterinarian clinic
The Telegraph
Hindu priest sexually abused hundreds of followers, High Court hears
A woman accusing a religious leader of exploiting and sexually abusing her told the High Court he has done it to “hundreds” of his followers over the last 40 years.
The Telegraph
Michelle Obama the only Biden alternative who would beat Trump
The only prospective candidate who could beat Donald Trump in the presidential election is Michelle Obama, according to a new poll.

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