Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy plans to focus on smaller-drone services first
By Jiang Chuqin
A trial programme on drone operations in Hong Kong will focus on services involving smaller devices for emergency and rescue, inspection and maintenance, delivery and surveillance – rather than light shows – as the first step in building a low-altitude economy, according to authorities.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau and Civil Aviation Department jointly said the initial phase of the Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox would centre on operations involving smaller drones, and on easing restrictions on “flying beyond visual line of sight” so autonomous devices would become legally feasible.
Launched in November, the sandbox aims to assist the government in testing airspace operations and infrastructure, while also developing policies and regulatory guidelines for the industry. Applications to be in the first batch of companies are open until December 31, with the results scheduled to be announced in the first quarter of next year.
“Experience and data gathered from the sandbox will enable the Government’s informed decision-making for the formulation of appropriate infrastructure, related supporting facilities as well as standard rules and practices for low-altitude flying activities in the long run,” the bureau and department said in their joint response to Post inquiries last Thursday.
The sandbox pilot projects would be conducted under different scenarios to test various technical and ancillary facility requirements, they explained.
Authorities earlier said they had appointed the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited as venue partners to facilitate the pilot projects while developing the low-altitude economy industrial chain.
Several companies said they would apply to join the regulatory sandbox, including food delivery giant Meituan and local drone show operator X Social Group.
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By Jiang Chuqin
A trial programme on drone operations in Hong Kong will focus on services involving smaller devices for emergency and rescue, inspection and maintenance, delivery and surveillance – rather than light shows – as the first step in building a low-altitude economy, according to authorities.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau and Civil Aviation Department jointly said the initial phase of the Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox would centre on operations involving smaller drones, and on easing restrictions on “flying beyond visual line of sight” so autonomous devices would become legally feasible.
Launched in November, the sandbox aims to assist the government in testing airspace operations and infrastructure, while also developing policies and regulatory guidelines for the industry. Applications to be in the first batch of companies are open until December 31, with the results scheduled to be announced in the first quarter of next year.
“Experience and data gathered from the sandbox will enable the Government’s informed decision-making for the formulation of appropriate infrastructure, related supporting facilities as well as standard rules and practices for low-altitude flying activities in the long run,” the bureau and department said in their joint response to Post inquiries last Thursday.
The sandbox pilot projects would be conducted under different scenarios to test various technical and ancillary facility requirements, they explained.
Authorities earlier said they had appointed the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited as venue partners to facilitate the pilot projects while developing the low-altitude economy industrial chain.
Several companies said they would apply to join the regulatory sandbox, including food delivery giant Meituan and local drone show operator X Social Group.
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124 suspects arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly lending accounts to fraudsters
By Ng Kang-chung
Hong Kong police have arrested 124 suspects in a three-week crackdown on people lending or selling their bank accounts to fraud syndicates using internet or phone scams to cheat victims out of nearly HK$69 million (US$8.87 million).
Yuen Long police launched operation “Furywave” on December 2 and have since arrested 120 locals and four mainland Chinese. The suspects comprised 90 men and 34 women, aged 17 to 71.
They were arrested on suspicion of obtaining property by deception, using false instruments, money laundering or conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the force.
The operation was launched after district police recorded 3,467 scam cases from January to November, in which victims were asked to transfer money to bank accounts provided by fraudsters.
Inspector Victoria Ma Chung-yee, of the Yuen Long police district’s technology and financial crime squad, said on Tuesday: “The arrestees’ role in the case was that of money mule. They are suspected to be connected with 128 scam cases, which involved total losses of HK$68.69 million.”
Police managed to freeze about HK$890,000 of the funds, according to Ma.
A money mule is someone who lends or sells their bank accounts to help transfer or process illegally obtained funds on behalf of another person.
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By Ng Kang-chung
Hong Kong police have arrested 124 suspects in a three-week crackdown on people lending or selling their bank accounts to fraud syndicates using internet or phone scams to cheat victims out of nearly HK$69 million (US$8.87 million).
Yuen Long police launched operation “Furywave” on December 2 and have since arrested 120 locals and four mainland Chinese. The suspects comprised 90 men and 34 women, aged 17 to 71.
They were arrested on suspicion of obtaining property by deception, using false instruments, money laundering or conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the force.
The operation was launched after district police recorded 3,467 scam cases from January to November, in which victims were asked to transfer money to bank accounts provided by fraudsters.
Inspector Victoria Ma Chung-yee, of the Yuen Long police district’s technology and financial crime squad, said on Tuesday: “The arrestees’ role in the case was that of money mule. They are suspected to be connected with 128 scam cases, which involved total losses of HK$68.69 million.”
Police managed to freeze about HK$890,000 of the funds, according to Ma.
A money mule is someone who lends or sells their bank accounts to help transfer or process illegally obtained funds on behalf of another person.
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Ukraine war: Zelensky thanks China for supporting territorial integrity
By Maple Leung
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked China for supporting his country’s territorial integrity and emphasised the two nations’ improving bilateral relations amid China’s intensified efforts to mediate peace.
Zelensky delivered the remarks when accepting a letter of credence from China’s ambassador Ma Shengkun on Monday, according to a statement from the president’s office.
“Before the war Ukraine and China had a large volume of trade. Of course, we want it to be restored and our relations to be stronger in more areas,” Zelensky said.
Ma, who arrived in Kyiv last month, said he had full confidence in deeper bilateral ties.
The Ukrainian president also addressed North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine war and urged China to leverage its influence and “a strong voice”.
Since October, Pyongyang has reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to fight for Russia in the war, including in the Kursk border region, although neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has directly confirmed reports that North Korean soldiers are taking part in the conflict.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the war.
As the Ukraine war escalates, China has continuously positioned itself as a peacemaker and presented a neutral stance in the conflict.
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By Maple Leung
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked China for supporting his country’s territorial integrity and emphasised the two nations’ improving bilateral relations amid China’s intensified efforts to mediate peace.
Zelensky delivered the remarks when accepting a letter of credence from China’s ambassador Ma Shengkun on Monday, according to a statement from the president’s office.
“Before the war Ukraine and China had a large volume of trade. Of course, we want it to be restored and our relations to be stronger in more areas,” Zelensky said.
Ma, who arrived in Kyiv last month, said he had full confidence in deeper bilateral ties.
The Ukrainian president also addressed North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine war and urged China to leverage its influence and “a strong voice”.
Since October, Pyongyang has reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to fight for Russia in the war, including in the Kursk border region, although neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has directly confirmed reports that North Korean soldiers are taking part in the conflict.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the war.
As the Ukraine war escalates, China has continuously positioned itself as a peacemaker and presented a neutral stance in the conflict.
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Singapore Post downplays concerns over operational integrity after sacking of top executives
By Kimberly Lim
Singapore’s main postal service has sought to downplay concerns over its operational integrity following the termination of three top executives over a whistle-blower’s report earlier this year.
A spokeswoman told This Week in Asia that Singapore Post (SingPost) remained “confident of our legal position”, in response to questions on two of the three executives’ claims that the termination was “without merits, and was procedurally unfair”.
“We are confident of our legal position and will address this at the appropriate time and forum if necessary. In light of possible litigation, we are unable to provide any further comment on this issue,” she said.
She added that the board’s internal controls and risk management systems were “adequate” to address financial and operational risks, though such measures could not guarantee “absolute assurance against deliberate misconduct or fraud”.
“The incident involves the Group’s non-regulated international e-commerce logistics parcels business and three staff in the International Business Unit Operations. It has no bearing on local postal services,” she said.
“The Company has been upfront with the customer regarding the whistle-blowing reports as well as the findings regarding the inaccurate status codes submitted to the customer by SingPost.”
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By Kimberly Lim
Singapore’s main postal service has sought to downplay concerns over its operational integrity following the termination of three top executives over a whistle-blower’s report earlier this year.
A spokeswoman told This Week in Asia that Singapore Post (SingPost) remained “confident of our legal position”, in response to questions on two of the three executives’ claims that the termination was “without merits, and was procedurally unfair”.
“We are confident of our legal position and will address this at the appropriate time and forum if necessary. In light of possible litigation, we are unable to provide any further comment on this issue,” she said.
She added that the board’s internal controls and risk management systems were “adequate” to address financial and operational risks, though such measures could not guarantee “absolute assurance against deliberate misconduct or fraud”.
“The incident involves the Group’s non-regulated international e-commerce logistics parcels business and three staff in the International Business Unit Operations. It has no bearing on local postal services,” she said.
“The Company has been upfront with the customer regarding the whistle-blowing reports as well as the findings regarding the inaccurate status codes submitted to the customer by SingPost.”
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Russia says cargo ship sinks in Mediterranean after blast, 2 missing
By Reuters
An engine room explosion sank a Russian cargo ship called Ursa Major in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, and two of its crew are missing, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The vessel, built in 2009, was controlled by Oboronlogistika, a company that is part of the Russian Defence Ministry’s military construction operations, which had previously said it was en route to the Russian far eastern port of Vladivostok with two giant port cranes lashed to its deck.
The Foreign Ministry’s crisis centre said in a statement that 14 of the ship’s 16 crew members had been rescued and brought to Spain, but that two crew were still missing. It did not say what had caused the engine room explosion.
Unverified video footage of the ship heavily listing to its starboard side with its bow much lower down in the water than usual was filmed on December 23 by a passing ship and published on Russia’s life.ru news outlet on Tuesday.
Oboronlogistika, the ship’s ultimate owner, said in a statement on December 20 that the ship, which LSEG data showed was previously called Sparta III, had been carrying specialised port cranes due to be installed at the port of Vladivostok as well as parts for new icebreakers.
Two giant cranes could be seen strapped to the deck in the unverified video footage.
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By Reuters
An engine room explosion sank a Russian cargo ship called Ursa Major in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, and two of its crew are missing, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The vessel, built in 2009, was controlled by Oboronlogistika, a company that is part of the Russian Defence Ministry’s military construction operations, which had previously said it was en route to the Russian far eastern port of Vladivostok with two giant port cranes lashed to its deck.
The Foreign Ministry’s crisis centre said in a statement that 14 of the ship’s 16 crew members had been rescued and brought to Spain, but that two crew were still missing. It did not say what had caused the engine room explosion.
Unverified video footage of the ship heavily listing to its starboard side with its bow much lower down in the water than usual was filmed on December 23 by a passing ship and published on Russia’s life.ru news outlet on Tuesday.
Oboronlogistika, the ship’s ultimate owner, said in a statement on December 20 that the ship, which LSEG data showed was previously called Sparta III, had been carrying specialised port cranes due to be installed at the port of Vladivostok as well as parts for new icebreakers.
Two giant cranes could be seen strapped to the deck in the unverified video footage.
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Hong Kong teacher jailed for 6 months for taking upskirt videos of pupils
By Brian Wong
A Hong Kong teacher has been jailed for six months for taking upskirt videos of four students in class earlier this year, with the sentencing magistrate noting he had a “relatively high” chance of reoffending in the future.
Chan Yue-tak, 26, was escorted to Tuen Mun Court on Tuesday to be sentenced on five counts of unlawful recording or observation of private parts arising from as many incidents at a secondary school in the same district.
Chan admitted using his mobile phone to shoot upskirt footage of four 13-year-old girls – one of whom was targeted twice – while they were answering questions in front of a blackboard in January and February this year.
A prosecution summary of the case said the defendant committed the crimes while standing or crouching behind his victims. On some occasions, he pretended to either tie his shoelaces or pick up a chalk he deliberately dropped on the ground with his phone in his hand.
Chan’s first offence initially went unnoticed, but his students became increasingly suspicious of him as he reoffended four times in 11 days between January 22 and February 1.
The court heard the girl who was filmed twice confronted Chan after noticing he had put his phone on the ground near where she stood, but the teacher feigned ignorance and picked up his device “as if he did nothing wrong”.
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By Brian Wong
A Hong Kong teacher has been jailed for six months for taking upskirt videos of four students in class earlier this year, with the sentencing magistrate noting he had a “relatively high” chance of reoffending in the future.
Chan Yue-tak, 26, was escorted to Tuen Mun Court on Tuesday to be sentenced on five counts of unlawful recording or observation of private parts arising from as many incidents at a secondary school in the same district.
Chan admitted using his mobile phone to shoot upskirt footage of four 13-year-old girls – one of whom was targeted twice – while they were answering questions in front of a blackboard in January and February this year.
A prosecution summary of the case said the defendant committed the crimes while standing or crouching behind his victims. On some occasions, he pretended to either tie his shoelaces or pick up a chalk he deliberately dropped on the ground with his phone in his hand.
Chan’s first offence initially went unnoticed, but his students became increasingly suspicious of him as he reoffended four times in 11 days between January 22 and February 1.
The court heard the girl who was filmed twice confronted Chan after noticing he had put his phone on the ground near where she stood, but the teacher feigned ignorance and picked up his device “as if he did nothing wrong”.
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PM Anwar’s approval rating rises, but Malaysians still feel pinch from rising costs
By CNA
More Malaysians approve of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and more also believe the country is heading in the right direction under his unity government, compared to a year ago, according to a study by an independent research firm.
It found that 39 per cent of respondents felt Malaysia was going in the right direction as of the end of November 2024, an improvement from the 36 per cent in November 2023.
“Sentiments show gradual improvement after a prolonged period of negativity, although negative sentiments remain oversized,” said the study by Merdeka Center, which published the results on Monday.
The study found that 53 per cent of Malaysians believe their country is going in the wrong direction after two years under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, with almost half citing economic concerns.
This sentiment, however, is a slight improvement from Anwar’s one-year mark in November 2023, when Merdeka Center found that 54 per cent of respondents thought Malaysia was going in the wrong direction.
Meanwhile, Anwar’s approval rating at his two-year mark stands at 54 per cent, a four percentage point improvement from his rating after one year.
Merdeka Center polled 1,207 registered voters across the country between November 27 and December 10. The respondent mix was 52 per cent Malay, 29 per cent Chinese, 7 per cent Indian, 6 per cent Muslim bumiputra and 6 per cent non-Muslim bumiputra.
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By CNA
More Malaysians approve of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and more also believe the country is heading in the right direction under his unity government, compared to a year ago, according to a study by an independent research firm.
It found that 39 per cent of respondents felt Malaysia was going in the right direction as of the end of November 2024, an improvement from the 36 per cent in November 2023.
“Sentiments show gradual improvement after a prolonged period of negativity, although negative sentiments remain oversized,” said the study by Merdeka Center, which published the results on Monday.
The study found that 53 per cent of Malaysians believe their country is going in the wrong direction after two years under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, with almost half citing economic concerns.
This sentiment, however, is a slight improvement from Anwar’s one-year mark in November 2023, when Merdeka Center found that 54 per cent of respondents thought Malaysia was going in the wrong direction.
Meanwhile, Anwar’s approval rating at his two-year mark stands at 54 per cent, a four percentage point improvement from his rating after one year.
Merdeka Center polled 1,207 registered voters across the country between November 27 and December 10. The respondent mix was 52 per cent Malay, 29 per cent Chinese, 7 per cent Indian, 6 per cent Muslim bumiputra and 6 per cent non-Muslim bumiputra.
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State Council guideline encourages private investment in China’s railways
By Alice Li
China is encouraging private sector participation in its railways as part of efforts to enhance the integration and openness of the transport industry amid a logistical revamp aimed at improving supply chain efficiency.
According to a guideline released by the State Council, China’s cabinet, on Monday, the world’s second-largest economy plans to reform natural monopolies in the transport sector – caused by high infrastructure costs and barriers to entry – by diversifying the range of service providers and fostering moderate market competition.
The investment of private capital in railway construction and operations will be encouraged, and locally controlled railway companies will be granted autonomy to determine their operational models.
Financial institutions and private investors will also be encouraged to fund the construction of transport infrastructure and establish investment funds for the sector.
The guideline follows the release of a seven-part action plan by the State Council late last month that aims to create a “unified, efficient and well-ordered logistics market” by reducing logistics costs from 14.4 per cent of gross domestic product last year to 13.5 per cent by 2027.
The ultimate goal is to achieve savings of over 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion) in the logistics chain, which would help strengthen China’s manufacturing industries and reinforce the chain’s role in driving domestic demand amid heightened external uncertainties.
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By Alice Li
China is encouraging private sector participation in its railways as part of efforts to enhance the integration and openness of the transport industry amid a logistical revamp aimed at improving supply chain efficiency.
According to a guideline released by the State Council, China’s cabinet, on Monday, the world’s second-largest economy plans to reform natural monopolies in the transport sector – caused by high infrastructure costs and barriers to entry – by diversifying the range of service providers and fostering moderate market competition.
The investment of private capital in railway construction and operations will be encouraged, and locally controlled railway companies will be granted autonomy to determine their operational models.
Financial institutions and private investors will also be encouraged to fund the construction of transport infrastructure and establish investment funds for the sector.
The guideline follows the release of a seven-part action plan by the State Council late last month that aims to create a “unified, efficient and well-ordered logistics market” by reducing logistics costs from 14.4 per cent of gross domestic product last year to 13.5 per cent by 2027.
The ultimate goal is to achieve savings of over 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion) in the logistics chain, which would help strengthen China’s manufacturing industries and reinforce the chain’s role in driving domestic demand amid heightened external uncertainties.
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Muslim disunity? What Erdogan’s summit walkout could mean for Prabowo, Indonesia-Turkey ties
By Resty Woro Yuniar
A viral video showing delegates, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, supposedly walking out during a speech by his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto at a summit in Cairo has sparked heated speculation, with observers questioning whether his remarks on Muslim disunity struck a nerve.
Questions about the state of the Indonesia-Turkey relationship also swirled in Jakarta as the video shows Erdogan, either deliberately or accidentally, bumping into Prabowo’s seat when he walked out.
Prabowo was on a three-day visit to Egypt last week to attend the summit of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), an economic bloc consisting of eight Muslim-majority countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
In his remarks on December 19, Prabowo criticised the “weak” solidarity among Muslim countries, as well as internal conflicts in countries such as Sudan, Libya, and Yemen, that had hindered support for Palestine.
“The Muslim population of the world is two billion people … we have vast resources, but we cannot unite. We quarrel among ourselves. When our brothers [in Palestine] are being destroyed, we declare support and humanitarian aid,” Prabowo said.
“Let us be honest. I attend so many of the summits and all we do is give declarations of support. Indonesia will try to do its best in whatever we can do. But I call for unity, I call for cooperation. I call for us, the Muslim countries, to realise what is happening. We are not being respected, they do not care about our voice.”
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By Resty Woro Yuniar
A viral video showing delegates, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, supposedly walking out during a speech by his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto at a summit in Cairo has sparked heated speculation, with observers questioning whether his remarks on Muslim disunity struck a nerve.
Questions about the state of the Indonesia-Turkey relationship also swirled in Jakarta as the video shows Erdogan, either deliberately or accidentally, bumping into Prabowo’s seat when he walked out.
Prabowo was on a three-day visit to Egypt last week to attend the summit of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), an economic bloc consisting of eight Muslim-majority countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
In his remarks on December 19, Prabowo criticised the “weak” solidarity among Muslim countries, as well as internal conflicts in countries such as Sudan, Libya, and Yemen, that had hindered support for Palestine.
“The Muslim population of the world is two billion people … we have vast resources, but we cannot unite. We quarrel among ourselves. When our brothers [in Palestine] are being destroyed, we declare support and humanitarian aid,” Prabowo said.
“Let us be honest. I attend so many of the summits and all we do is give declarations of support. Indonesia will try to do its best in whatever we can do. But I call for unity, I call for cooperation. I call for us, the Muslim countries, to realise what is happening. We are not being respected, they do not care about our voice.”
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Malaysian police make child porn raids ahead of social media deadline
By Joseph Sipalan
Malaysian authorities have arrested 13 men across the country for alleged possession of material containing child sex abuse, one week before a deadline for social media giants to sign up for a licence the government says is essential to stem rampant online paedophilia content.
The suspects were held on Monday in raids carried out concurrently in the states of Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor and Terengganu and in capital Kuala Lumpur.
“Checks on the devices used by the suspects in their homes found an estimated 40,000 pieces of CSAM and adult pornography,” Malaysia’s police chief Razarudin Husain said in a statement, using the acronym for child sex abuse material.
Officers also confiscated seven computers, one laptop, 11 mobile phones and 16 modems and routers during the raids, which were jointly conducted with a team from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
The suspects are being investigated for allegedly having child pornography in their possession, which carries a penalty of not more than five years in jail, a maximum fine of 10,000 ringgit (US$2,273) or both.
They also face possible penalties of up to three years’ jail, a fine or both for alleged possession of obscene material, according to the police.
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By Joseph Sipalan
Malaysian authorities have arrested 13 men across the country for alleged possession of material containing child sex abuse, one week before a deadline for social media giants to sign up for a licence the government says is essential to stem rampant online paedophilia content.
The suspects were held on Monday in raids carried out concurrently in the states of Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor and Terengganu and in capital Kuala Lumpur.
“Checks on the devices used by the suspects in their homes found an estimated 40,000 pieces of CSAM and adult pornography,” Malaysia’s police chief Razarudin Husain said in a statement, using the acronym for child sex abuse material.
Officers also confiscated seven computers, one laptop, 11 mobile phones and 16 modems and routers during the raids, which were jointly conducted with a team from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
The suspects are being investigated for allegedly having child pornography in their possession, which carries a penalty of not more than five years in jail, a maximum fine of 10,000 ringgit (US$2,273) or both.
They also face possible penalties of up to three years’ jail, a fine or both for alleged possession of obscene material, according to the police.
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207 Haitians massacred for practising voodoo were abducted, hacked to death: UN
By Agence France-Presse
A massacre of more than 200 people in Haiti this month followed a gang-ordered manhunt that saw victims, many of them elderly, pulled from their homes and shot or killed with machetes, the UN said on Monday.
The victims were suspected of involvement in voodoo and accused by a gang leader of poisoning his child, with the suspects taken to a “training centre” where many were dismembered or burned after being killed.
A civil society organisation had said at the time that the gang leader was convinced his son’s illness was caused by followers of the religion.
“On the evening of December 6, (Micanor Altes) ordered the members of his gang – around 300 – to carry out a brutal ‘manhunt.’ They stormed into about 10 alleys of the (Port-au-Prince) neighbourhood and forcibly dragged the victims out of their homes,” said the report, wrote jointly by the UN office in Haiti, BINUH, and the UN Human Rights Commissioner (OCHR).
In the days that followed, the gang returned to the neighbourhood, abducting adherents from a voodoo temple, targeting individuals suspected of tipping off local media and slaughtering people seeking to escape.
Some of the bodies “were then burned with petrol, or dismembered and dumped into the sea,” the report concluded.
A total of 134 men and 73 women were killed in total over six days, the report said.
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By Agence France-Presse
A massacre of more than 200 people in Haiti this month followed a gang-ordered manhunt that saw victims, many of them elderly, pulled from their homes and shot or killed with machetes, the UN said on Monday.
The victims were suspected of involvement in voodoo and accused by a gang leader of poisoning his child, with the suspects taken to a “training centre” where many were dismembered or burned after being killed.
A civil society organisation had said at the time that the gang leader was convinced his son’s illness was caused by followers of the religion.
“On the evening of December 6, (Micanor Altes) ordered the members of his gang – around 300 – to carry out a brutal ‘manhunt.’ They stormed into about 10 alleys of the (Port-au-Prince) neighbourhood and forcibly dragged the victims out of their homes,” said the report, wrote jointly by the UN office in Haiti, BINUH, and the UN Human Rights Commissioner (OCHR).
In the days that followed, the gang returned to the neighbourhood, abducting adherents from a voodoo temple, targeting individuals suspected of tipping off local media and slaughtering people seeking to escape.
Some of the bodies “were then burned with petrol, or dismembered and dumped into the sea,” the report concluded.
A total of 134 men and 73 women were killed in total over six days, the report said.
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China wife sets sex worker trap for sham husband in bid to divorce him, pocket bride price
By Alice Yan
A woman and her accomplices in China have been handed jail terms after they set a visiting-a-prostitute trap for her husband.
According to the crime ring’s meticulously planned marriage scam, if the groom was detained for doing so, the woman could file a divorce and would not be required to return the bride price.
In China, the bride price is given by the man prior to their marriage as a traditional wedding ritual.
However, the vigilant groom did not fall into the trap and called in the police, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.
The case was heard earlier this month by a court in Longli county, Guizhou province, southwestern China.
The woman, surnamed Xiong, and her boyfriend, surnamed Li, were in debt at the beginning of this year.
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By Alice Yan
A woman and her accomplices in China have been handed jail terms after they set a visiting-a-prostitute trap for her husband.
According to the crime ring’s meticulously planned marriage scam, if the groom was detained for doing so, the woman could file a divorce and would not be required to return the bride price.
In China, the bride price is given by the man prior to their marriage as a traditional wedding ritual.
However, the vigilant groom did not fall into the trap and called in the police, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.
The case was heard earlier this month by a court in Longli county, Guizhou province, southwestern China.
The woman, surnamed Xiong, and her boyfriend, surnamed Li, were in debt at the beginning of this year.
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50% more footfall at Hong Kong malls over festive season so far
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong shopping centres have recorded a growth of up to 50 per cent in footfall, with a 15 per cent bump in business projected for the festive season, aided by a revived multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
Alan Chan Chung-yee, chief operations officer of Miramar Group, told a radio programme on Tuesday that there been had a 50 per cent increase in foot traffic in the past two weeks at the company’s shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“This year is much better. Especially on the shopping centre side where we have changed our tenant … installed many large-scale Christmas decorations, and done a number of promotions involving key opinion leaders and key opinion consumers on the mainland,” he said.
“The footfall of our shopping malls has increased by 50 per cent, which is astonishing … For our tenants, I believe the increase in footfall can be converted to a minimum 15 per cent rise in consumption.”
The visa scheme, which enables Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of trips to Hong Kong within a year, was implemented this month as one of several measures rolled out by the central government to help stimulate the city’s economy.
First introduced in 2009, it was replaced by a “one-trip-per-week” arrangement in 2015 before being relaunched in its current form.
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By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong shopping centres have recorded a growth of up to 50 per cent in footfall, with a 15 per cent bump in business projected for the festive season, aided by a revived multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
Alan Chan Chung-yee, chief operations officer of Miramar Group, told a radio programme on Tuesday that there been had a 50 per cent increase in foot traffic in the past two weeks at the company’s shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“This year is much better. Especially on the shopping centre side where we have changed our tenant … installed many large-scale Christmas decorations, and done a number of promotions involving key opinion leaders and key opinion consumers on the mainland,” he said.
“The footfall of our shopping malls has increased by 50 per cent, which is astonishing … For our tenants, I believe the increase in footfall can be converted to a minimum 15 per cent rise in consumption.”
The visa scheme, which enables Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of trips to Hong Kong within a year, was implemented this month as one of several measures rolled out by the central government to help stimulate the city’s economy.
First introduced in 2009, it was replaced by a “one-trip-per-week” arrangement in 2015 before being relaunched in its current form.
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Chinese court delivers suspended death sentence for SUV primary school attack
By Xinlu Liang
The man who drove into a group of parents and school kids in China’s central Hunan province in November has been handed a suspended death sentence just one month after the incident.
The announcement on Monday included confirmation of Huang Wen’s motivation when his white SUV rammed into the group outside a primary school injuring 30, including 18 children, at around 7.37am on November 19.
The speed of the judgment was notably rare and comes amid rising public safety concerns after a spate of violent episodes in China this year. It is also unusual for motivation to be included in the short notices which appear after such cases.
According to a notice published by the Changde Intermediate People’s Court on Monday, Huang, 39, was sentenced to death, with a two-year reprieve, and deprived of political rights for life, for his reckless act.
The court found that he was “seeking to vent his personal emotions due to investment losses and family disputes” when he carried out the attack, “accelerating and continuously ramming into a crowd of elementary school students and others”.
When his car stalled, Huang got out of the vehicle and continued his attack with a weapon. Seven individuals were seriously wounded, 16 had moderate injuries and a further seven sustained minor injuries, among them 18 schoolchildren, it said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Xinlu Liang
The man who drove into a group of parents and school kids in China’s central Hunan province in November has been handed a suspended death sentence just one month after the incident.
The announcement on Monday included confirmation of Huang Wen’s motivation when his white SUV rammed into the group outside a primary school injuring 30, including 18 children, at around 7.37am on November 19.
The speed of the judgment was notably rare and comes amid rising public safety concerns after a spate of violent episodes in China this year. It is also unusual for motivation to be included in the short notices which appear after such cases.
According to a notice published by the Changde Intermediate People’s Court on Monday, Huang, 39, was sentenced to death, with a two-year reprieve, and deprived of political rights for life, for his reckless act.
The court found that he was “seeking to vent his personal emotions due to investment losses and family disputes” when he carried out the attack, “accelerating and continuously ramming into a crowd of elementary school students and others”.
When his car stalled, Huang got out of the vehicle and continued his attack with a weapon. Seven individuals were seriously wounded, 16 had moderate injuries and a further seven sustained minor injuries, among them 18 schoolchildren, it said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
