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He was the founder of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy, anti-Beijing newspaper that was forced to shut down in 2021. The trial, which began in December 2023, is the most high-profile prosecution of a Hong Kong media figure since the city was handed over from British to Chinese control in 1997. Like all national security trials in Hong Kong, Lai’s trial does not have a jury and is presided over by three judges picked from a national security committee that is approved by Hong Kong’s leader. “Jimmy Lai is a key instigator of anti-China activities, and his collusion with external forces to disrupt Hong Kong and incite division is well-known,” China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong said in a statement last week. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Hong Kong at 135 out of 180 places in its annual press freedom ranking.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, hasn’t, Hong Kong’s, Joshua Wong, “, Donald Trump, Lai, Keir Starmer, Xi Jinping, “ We’re, Jimmy Lai’s, ” Starmer, Xi, Daniel Suen, ’, Chiu Mei, “ Lai, ”, Chris Lau, CNN Lai, Trump Lai, Mike Pence, Trump, you’re, ” Lai, Hong, Anthony Kwan, John Lee, Lee, Trump’s, Hugh Hewitt, I’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Apple, White, Apple Daily, Getty, Hong, CNN, “, ” Prosecutors, Kowloon Law, Trump, Beijing, Hong Kong . Police, ” Police, HK, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Britain, British, Brazil, AFP, Beijing, Kowloon, Washington, “ Hong Kong, China , Hong Kong, Hong

☆ Hong Kong 47: Democracy leaders sentenced to lengthy jail terms in largest national security trial as Beijing tightens grip
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Chris Lau | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Benny Tai, a prominent legal scholar and veteran protest leader, received the longest prison term of 10 years – the toughest sentence to date handed down under the national security law. But since the national security law came into effect in 2020, Hong Kong’s political and legal landscape has been transformed. The administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden was also critical of Bejing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, even as it tried to recalibrate ties with Beijing. John Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the cumulative changes have reduced the city’s autonomy and citizens’ participation in politics. “The new regime has restricted human rights in Hong Kong, rights that Hong Kongers used to enjoy.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, Joshua Wong, “, –, Benny Tai, Wong, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, Claudia Mo, teared, ” –, Chris Lau, Lee Yue, ”, Hong, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, Trump, Raphael Wong Ho, John Burns, Hong Kongers, Hong Kong, John Lee –, ” Lee Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, CNN Landmark, Police, Washington, Beijing, CNN, Legislative Council, University of Hong, Authorities, Communist Party Locations: Hong Kong, Kowloon, Beijing, British, China, University of Hong Kong, Hong

☆ ‘Only in Australia’: Couple comes home to find koala in bed
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Isaac Yee | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Koalas are normally found in eucalyptus trees, but one couple came home in Australia on Wednesday and were shocked to find one in their bedroom. “I was scared, happy and excited at the same time,” Fran Dias Rufino told CNN from Adelaide in South Australia. Francielle Dias RufinoVideo showed the koala sitting on the floor beside their bed, staring at Rufino and her husband, Brunno, before climbing onto a bedside table. In South Australia, where the Rufinos live, koala numbers are stable, and in some areas, populations are so healthy they’re being managed to protect the habitat. Video showed the koala scurrying around the house, presumably looking for a way out, as Rufino screamed frantically in the background.

Persons: CNN —, ” Fran Dias Rufino, Rufino, “, ”, Francielle Dias Rufino Video, Brunno Organizations: CNN, Australian Capital Territory Locations: Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Brazil, New South Wales, Queensland

☆ Seaman rescued after more than 20 hours at sea off Australia’s east coast
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-09 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A seaman who fell off a cargo ship survived almost 20 hours at sea before being rescued off Australia’s southeastern coast on Friday, according to emergency services. Marine Rescue NSW vessels were deployed to search for a seaman who had fallen off a cargo ship. Marine Rescue NSW/Facebook“He was wearing a life jacket, he was conscious, he was able to communicate with us, he was very cold, he was hypothermic and exhausted – he was absolutely exhausted,” she added. The authority said it had deployed water police and marine rescue units for the rescue, as well as two sea vessels and two helicopters. Jason Richards from NSW Marine Rescue told 9News that they had no idea how long the man was in the water for in the beginning.

Persons: “, Erin Laughton, CNN’s, –, Jason Richards, 9News, he’d Organizations: CNN, Boatrowers, NSW Ambulance, John Hunter Hospital, ” NSW Ambulance, . NSW Ambulance, Marine Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue, Facebook, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, NSW Marine Rescue Locations: Singapore, New South Wales, Beach, Newcastle, ”

☆ Hong Kong: Why Russians with wads of cash flock to Apple stores in this Asian hub
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-09 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —When the new iPhone 16 went on sale, locals couldn’t help but notice some less familiar faces flocking to Hong Kong’s Apple stores: Russians holding piles of cash. “We want to buy as many as possible,” one Russian buyer, Nick Alexenkov, told CNN outside the Apple store in Tsim Sha Tsui, a busy shopping district in Hong Kong. Alexenkov, the iPhone purchaser in Hong Kong, said he expected to turn a profit of up to 25% for each phone despite offering to pay 12% above the retail price to acquire those phones in Hong Kong. A man holds an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max ahead of the launch of sales of the new iPhone 16 series smartphones in a store in Moscow, Russia September 20, 2024. A man from Hong Kong, who tried to sell two 1-terabyte Pro Maxes, complained that, at $2,027 each, the Russian buyers weren’t offering enough.

Persons: Nick Alexenkov, Vladimir Putin, ”, Max, Alexenkov, Evgenia Novozhenina Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kong’s Apple, CNN, Apple, Mobile, MTS, ” Reuters, Reuters Locations: Hong Kong, Tsim Sha, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Eldorado, Russian, Central

☆ Young Chinese are ditching planes to travel long distances by train and bus. Meet the ‘iron butt’ travelers
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Chris Lau | Joyce Jiang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A growing group of Chinese travelers are now turning to extreme forms of transportation for their vacations. They call themselves “iron butt” travelers – inspired by the amount of time they spend traveling on uncomfortable seats that make flesh start to feel like metal. Iron butt travel lets me visit more places for less money,” another self-identified “iron butt” traveler, 27-year-old Peng Fei, told CNN. But that doesn’t mean he and his fellow “iron butt” travelers have to compromise the fun. Now, though, iron butt travelers are redefining – or perhaps gentrifying – this form of travel.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Lin En, Lin, isn’t, Lin En, Peng Fei, ‘, ”, I’d, “, Lin En's, Lin En, Peng, “ I’ve, They’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Tibet Autonomous, United Arab Emirates Locations: Hong Kong, Xinjiang, China’s, Astana, Kazakhstan’s, China, Kazakhstan, Laos, Kunming, Huay, Thailand, Myanmar, megacities, Beijing, Shanghai, Lhasa, Tibet, Tibet Autonomous Region, Guangzhou, Central Asia, Europe, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tibet Autonomous, Egypt

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati attends a press conference in Paris, France, on October 24. “We are doing our best and are optimistic that within the next few hours or days we will have a ceasefire,” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Wednesday in an interview with Lebanese media outlet Al Jadeed. Any progress at lowering temperatures in the region will be considered a win inside the White House. CIA Director Bill Burns was in Cairo on Thursday for discussions on Gaza and Lebanon, including a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Read more about the diplomatic push.

Persons: Najib Mikati, Sarah Meyssonnier, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu, Biden, –, Bill Burns, Abdel Fattah El, Amos Hochstein, Brett McGurk, Hochstein Organizations: Reuters American, CIA, White Locations: Paris, France, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Cairo, Iran

☆ How giant rodents could rat on wildlife traffickers
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Alexander Rodway | Alex Rodway | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But now the organization is turning its attention (and its rats’ noses) to the global illegal wildlife trade. “Unfortunately, organized crime knows there’s a real weak spot in detection methods of ports, seaports and airports, particularly in Africa.”Traffickers disguise wildlife products in a whole host of ways, he explains. This is particularly important given that much of the illicit wildlife trade comes from some of the world’s poorest regions. “I’m hopeful that (using rats) for detecting wildlife will be a low cost, low impact, low footprint operation,” says Allan. The illegal wildlife trade not only impacts populations of the trafficked animal or plant, it can have devastating knock-on consequences for whole ecosystems.

Persons: “ HeroRATs, ”, Crawford Allan, Ivory, APOPO, blackwood –, Allan, who’s, Dr, Izzy Szott, you’re, “, Kate Webb, they’ve, Chris Lau Organizations: CNN, WWF, Conservation, Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Locations: Tanzania, Africa, North Carolina, Singapore, France, Dar es Salaam, Dar es

☆ China Halloween: Partygoers pushed boundaries in Shanghai last year. This year, police are taking notice
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

People stage a Halloween cosplay carnival in Shanghai, China, October 27, 2024. “Was dressing up for Halloween no longer allowed at Julu Road in Shanghai this year? A reveler dressed up as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is taken away by police in Shanghai during Halloween celebrations on October 26, 2024. “(I guess) there will never be any Halloween celebration in Shanghai as innovative as the one in 2023. The Shanghai municipal government even praised last year’s Halloween celebration as “a sign of cultural tolerance.”A partygoer dressed up as Buddha is escorted away by police in Shanghai during Halloween celebrations on October 26, 2024.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, revelers, Donald Trump, partygoers, Trump, Douyin, Alfred Wu, Lee, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Publishing, Shanghai Disney Resort, Weibo, Douyin CNN, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, National University of Singapore Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, United States, Asia, Japan, South Korea, ”, “

A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard, in Tehran, Iran, on October 26, 2024. The Israeli military said the strikes, which have now concluded, were in retaliation for Iran’s ballistic missile barrages on Israel earlier this month and in April. The Israeli military said it struck manufacturing sites used to produce missiles that Iran has fired at Israel over the past year. “The Israel Defense Forces completed precise and targeted strikes against military targets in a number of areas in Iran. “This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” a senior US administration official said after the strikes.

Persons: Majid Asgaripour, ”, ” IRNA Organizations: Wana News Agency, Reuters, Israel Defense Forces, Islamic Republic News Agency Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, United States, Yemen, Gaza, Ilam, Khuzestan

The Israeli military said the strikes, which have now concluded, were in retaliation for Iran’s ballistic missile barrages on Israel earlier this month and in April. The Israeli military said it struck manufacturing sites used to produce missiles that Iran has fired at Israel over the past year. “The Israel Defense Forces completed precise and targeted strikes against military targets in a number of areas in Iran. Our planes have safely returned home,” an Israeli military statement said. “This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” a senior US administration official said after the strikes.

Persons: ”, ” IRNA Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Islamic Republic News Agency Locations: Iran, Israel, United States, Yemen, Gaza, Tehran, Ilam, Khuzestan

Health care officials in northern Gaza warned of severe shortages in medical supplies on Wednesday as Israeli bombardment in the area intensified. The hospital faces severe shortages in staff, medical supplies, blood units, food for patients and fuel to activate medical devices, he said. “We have nothing to provide for the patients and the injured.”Repeated Israeli bombardment nearby has significantly damaged the hospital, he said, destroying patient accommodations and blocking access for emergency services. Kamal Adwan Hospital, also in Beit Lahiya, is facing severe shortages as well, its director Hussam Abu Safiya told CNN over the phone. CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for a comment on the intensive bombardment in northern Gaza.

Persons: Dr, Mohamed Saleh, Beit Lahiya, “, ”, Kamal Adwan, Hussam Abu Safiya Organizations: Al, Awda, CNN Locations: Gaza, Beit, Beit Lahiya

In yet another incident, crowds of angry drivers gather outside an apartment complex, demanding justice for a fellow delivery driver said to be bullied by security guards there. They’re among the many episodes of explosive confrontations across China involving delivery workers widely circulated on Chinese social media, showing people stretched to the breaking point. As China’s economy grapples with a raft of setbacks, from a protracted property crisis to a lack of consumer spending, delivery workers are taking a beating. That eats into delivery workers’ income as their pay is usually tied to a commission based on the price of the order. In 2019, a delivery driver died after he was hit by a tree knocked over by strong winds in Beijing, according to state media Global Times.

Persons: “, ”, Jenny Chan, Chan, they’ve, Greg Baker, Morningstar, Alibaba, ’, Lu Sihang, Lu, China’s, Gary Ng, ” Ng, Pedro Pardo, Workers.cn, Yang, Justin Robertson Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Polytechnic University of Hong, Getty, iiMedia Research, CNN, China New Employment Research Center, Research, China Labour Bulletin, Polytechnic University, Global Times, Chongqing Broadcasting Group Locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, China, Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, AFP, Chinese, Hunan

UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon) armoured personnel carriers depart a base to patrol near the Lebanon- Israel border on October 5. UNIFIL — the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon — has called the violations “shocking” while Israel has accused Hezbollah of operating in areas near UNIFIL posts. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established by the UN Security Council following Israel’s first invasion into southern Lebanon in 1978. It acts as a de-facto border between the two countries since Lebanon and Israel have an ongoing border dispute. The UNIFIL troops are tasked with monitoring border violations and keeping the area, which includes Hezbollah strongholds — secure.

Persons: Carl Court, Lebanon — Organizations: UNIFIL, United Nations Interim Force, UN, UNIFIL — Locations: Lebanon, Israel, UNIFIL, Indonesia, Italy, India, Nepal, Ghana, Malaysia

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari says the Israel Defense Forces will look into how a Hezbollah-launched drone entered Israel on Sunday without triggering an alert. Hezbollah said it had launched dozens of rockets towards Nahariya and Acre with the aim of engaging Israel’s air defense systems, while it also launched a swarm of drones – some used for the first time – toward areas of Acre and Haifa. The Israeli military said four soldiers were killed in the attack. Emergency services have said more than 60 people were injured. Hezbollah warned Israel that Sunday’s attack was the “easy part of what awaits if (Israel) continues its attack on our defiant people.”On Sunday, the Iran-backed group said it had launched 38 attacks on Israeli soldiers, army bases and barracks in Israel and southern Lebanon — the most since the start of Israel’s war with Hezbollah.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Hagari, “, ” Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Golani Brigade Locations: Israel, Binyamina, Lebanon, Nahariya, Acre, Haifa, Iran

• Israel: A Hezbollah drone attack on an Israeli army base killed four soldiers and injured more than 60 people in one of the bloodiest attacks on Israel since the war began last October. Israel’s military said it will look into how the drone entered Israel without triggering an alert. • Lebanon: UN peacekeepers said Israeli soldiers breached one of its posts in southern Lebanon in violation of international law. The Israeli military later said one of its tanks backed into the post as it was evacuating wounded soldiers. A string of Israeli military actions have wounded peacekeepers in Lebanon in recent days, drawing global condemnation.

Persons: • Organizations: UN Locations: • Israel, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, • Gaza, Gaza

Thailand’s foreign ministry said it was “profoundly saddened” by the death of a Thai worker in northern Israel on Friday, according to a statement. The Thai foreign ministry disputed that account, saying the death, and the injury of another of its nationals, had resulted from “an explosion of dropped ammunition” without providing additional details. The statement said the embassy was working to evacuate 10 additional Thai nationals from the kibbutz where the incident had occurred. The agriculture industry in Israel has employed thousands of Thai nationals to tend crops and work in dairies. Thais made up the largest group of foreign nationals killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

Persons: Magen David Adom, Thais Organizations: Thai Locations: Israel, Galilee, Lebanon, The Thai, Gaza

☆ China’s censorship is among the toughest in the world. So why did it let Kanye West play?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-12 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —It seemed like an unlikely stage for Kanye West to unveil his new music. Music fans cheer during Kanye West's Vultures Listening Experience at Wuyuan River Stadium on September 15, 2024. One of the fastest-growing in the world, China’s music market became the fifth-largest market globally in 2022, according to IFPI, a trade body for the recorded music industry. China’s recorded music revenues grew 28.4% in 2022 from the year prior, compared with the global market rise of 9%, IFPI said. Bieber “engaged in a series of bad behaviors, both in his social life and during a previous performance in China,” China’s Ministry of Culture announced in 2015, without going into details.

Persons: –, Ye –, Ye, ”, Luo Yunfei, Xi Jinping, China “, Chen Dan, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Charlie Puth, Chen, Kanye, ” Chen, “, Ye’s, China’s, Hung Ho, fung, Bon, Jovi’s, Lama, Justin Bieber, Jay, Lady Gaga, Bieber “, Culture “, Ho, Johns Hopkins, it’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kanye, Communist Party, German, Adidas, Sports, Chinese Communist Party, China News Service, University of, Travelers, Xinhua, Kanye West, Visual China, Johns Hopkins University ., Oasis, China’s Ministry of Culture, Ministry, Culture, China, Nanjing University, China Daily, University of Richmond Locations: Hong Kong, China, Hainan, Hainan’s, Haikou, Beijing, Shanghai, “, Tokyo, British, Asia, Nanjing, Johns

☆ Xiaohongshu: How ‘China’s Instagram’ is transforming the travel industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Tucked away in a residential neighborhood in the west of Hong Kong, the Kennedy Town Playground’s basketball courts aren’t particularly noteworthy. It’s because the courts, perched on the side of a hilly slope, offer great views of the Hong Kong skyline. Many of them are followers of Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), China’s answer to Instagram, which has also become their travel bible. The 26-year-old relied solely on Xiaohongshu to navigate Hong Kong with his wife during their recent trip to the city. A woman takes pictures at an iconic Xiaohongshu spot in Hong Kong.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, sipping lattes, Xiaohongshu, Hong Kong's, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Kennedy, Jiao Le, Cassanelli, ” Jiao Le, Jay Chou, ”, Tokyo's, Zhizhao Wu, Giovanni Mereghetti, Mao Zedong, Charlwin Mao, Miranda Qu, it’s, Qian Gua, “, Xia Jiale, Joel Placeres, “ Will, Placeres, Jiao, Hung Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong's Kennedy, CNN, CNN Reading, Getty, Kennedy, CNN Travel, Lobos, “ Lobos, Hong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Seoul, Beijing, Asia, Copenhagen, Tivoli, Norrebro, Central, New York, Japan, Kamakura, Tokyo, Denmark, Xiaohongshu, Kennedy Town, Communist China, Shanghai, Luoyang, Europe, London, Paris, Hong, Noemi

☆ Japan has made the world’s smallest Rubik’s Cube. And it actually works
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Chris Lau | Nodoka Katsura | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Tokyo CNN —Japanese toymaker MegaHouse has unveiled a miniature Rubik’s Cube — one so tiny that you might need a pair of tweezers to solve it. Each face of the cube, which is made from aluminum, measures about five millimeters (around 0.2 inches) across. “The 5-milimeter Rubik’s Cube is the result of the trinity of machines, cutting tools, and players’ passion,” said Kiyokazu Saito, president of Iriso Precision, the company brought in for the precision cutting, in a promotional video on the toymaker’s website. Guinness World Record confirmed the micro-cube as the world’s smallest rotating puzzle cube in August. The miniature cube in comparison to a standard one.

Persons: MegaHouse, “, ”, Kiyokazu Saito, Tony Fisher, Ernő Rubik, Max Park, Wang Yiheng, Luke Garrett, Aaron Huynh, China’s Du Yusheng Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Iriso, CNN, Guinness Locations: British, Long Beach , California, China

☆ Typhoon Krathon: Two killed as slow moving storm slams into southern Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Chris Lau | Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

With winds of up to 135 kilometers per hour (85 miles per hour), Typhoon Krathon made landfall along southern Taiwan shortly after noon on Thursday, the equivalent of a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane. The other was a 70-year-old man who fell while trimming a tree during the typhoon, according to the center. A man runs amid heavy rain and powerful winds, as Typhoon Krathon makes landfall in the port city of Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan, on October 3, 2024. Daniel Ceng/Anadolu/Getty ImagesFor several hours before making landfall, Krathon moved slowly along the southern coast. Strong winds knock down trees during Typhoon Krathon in Kaohsiung.

Persons: Krathon, Daniel Ceng, Lai Ching, Chen Chi, “, Liao Shian, ”, Julien Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Emergency Operations Center, Getty, Taiwan, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan . Schools, AFP, CNA, Getty Images University, Reuters, Philippine News Agency Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung , Southern Taiwan, Anadolu, Philippines, Krathon, Tainan, Stringer

☆ New Zealand reclaims record for world’s largest Haka on home turf, dethroning France
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —New Zealand has reclaimed the world record for the largest mass Haka, with thousands packing a major stadium on Sunday for a resounding performance of the traditional Māori routine. New Zealand band Six60 perform for participants gathered in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. They huffed out their chests, stomped on the floors, and stuck their tongues out to make intimating facial expressions, according to a video posted on Haka Record’s official Instagram. CNN has reached out to Guinness World Records for comment. New Zealand filmmaker-actor Taika Waititi, second from right, and US TV host Conan O'Brien, second from left, at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024.

Persons: Six60, DJ Mills, Nick Sautner, it’s, ”, “, Brian Sobel, Sobel, Taika Waititi, Conan O'Brien, Conan O’Brien, David Tua, Ka, Te Rauparaha Organizations: CNN, national rugby team, Blacks, Getty, Eden, Haka Record’s, Therapy, Radio New Zealand, Guinness World Records, getty, Haka, New Zealanders, Health Authority Locations: Zealand, Haka, New Zealand, Auckland, Eden, AFP, Conan O’Brien , New Zealand

☆ Seoul Halloween crowd crush: South Korea court sentences highest-ranking police officer yet to jail
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Gawon Bae | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul CNN —The former head of a local police station in Seoul has been sentenced to three years in jail over a deadly 2022 Halloween crowd crush, making him the highest-ranking law enforcement official to be held criminally liable over the disaster. Seoul Western District Court said Monday it found Lee and two other former Yongsan police officers guilty of neglecting their duties, which resulted in deaths and injuries, despite signs that “the danger of large-scale casualties” was foreseeable. Itaewon, home to some of Seoul’s popular restaurants and bars, had hosted Halloween celebrations for years. Most who died that night were young South Koreans – largely in their teens and early 20s. Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a slew of new measures “to ensure a safe Halloween” – including a new CCTV system to monitor crowd numbers.

Persons: Lee Im, Lee, Itaewon, Yoon Suk Yeol Organizations: Seoul CNN, Seoul, South Koreans, South, Seoul Metropolitan Government Locations: Seoul, Yongsan, Itaewon, Asia, Japan, Shibuya, Guangzhou, China

Displaced people gather at Beirut's central Martyrs' Square, as Israel strikes Beirut's southern suburbs on September 28, 2024. Timour Azhari/ReutersIt was 3 a.m. and southern Beirut was under the most intense bombardment it had seen in nearly 20 years. These were the displaced from neighborhoods being pummelled by Israeli warplanes. As we crisscrossed the city in our car, the Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders for the residents of not yet struck parts of southern Beirut. Meanwhile the people of Beirut wait to see what has become of their homes, their city and its civilians.

Persons: Timour Azhari, cradled, el Organizations: CNN Locations: Beirut's, Israel, Beirut

Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 storm with 140 mph sustained winds and higher gusts. Hurricanes are rated 1 through 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale based on their wind speed. Damage is exponential as wind speed increases, meaning a strong Category 3 storm could do up to 60 times as much damage as a weak Category 1 storm. Well-built homes will be heavily damaged, with most of the roof blown away. Most well-built homes will be destroyed, and many will be stripped to the foundation.

Persons: Helene Organizations: Hurricanes, Simpson Locations: Perry , Florida, Big Bend, “

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