World Briefing: November 19, 2024
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Benny Tai has been jailed for 10 years over organising an unofficial primary election in 2020, as Hong Kong’s High Court delivered sentences in the city’s largest national security case to date. Tai was among 45 pro-democracy figures sentenced on Tuesday after being convicted of conspiring to commit subversion, an offence under the Beijing-imposed national security law. Handing down a 10-year sentence to Tai - the longest-ever netted out under China’s National Security Law- the panel of three handpicked national security judges described him as the “mastermind” behind the conspiracy. At the centre of the case is an unofficial primary poll held in July 2020, through which the opposition camp hoped to identify candidates that would help it win majority control of the legislature in an upcoming election. The court ruled that the democrats, had they won a majority, had intended to abuse their powers to indiscriminately veto the government budget and force the chief executive to resign - HKFP
Conservative American commentator Tom Fitton said in a post that the incoming Trump administration is prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets “to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program." Responding to Fitton's remarks, Trump wrote: "TRUE". Trump has previously warned that he will deploy the National Guard, as well as government agencies, to carry out his proposed deportation policy. However there are questions over the legal limits on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. - Newsweek
Today marks 1,000 days since the start of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. The somber anniversary comes as Russian rockets and drones continue to pummel the country’s cities and energy infrastructure. In the past 48 hours the number of victims from two separate strikes in Sumy in the east and Odesa in the south has surged to more than 20 deaths and well over 100 injuries. Images emerging from the strikes in Odesa yesterday showed apocalyptic scenes. The ramped up strikes came shortly after news broke that outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden would allow Kyiv to use American-made ATACM missiles to strike into Russia - but apparently not beyond the seized Kursk region. However, it could encourage other allies - such as Britain and France - to authorise use of their missiles for deeper strikes.
Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov has died after falling from the fifth floor of a building. The preliminary cause of death was labeled as an accident, with Russian authorities launching an investigation into the sudden death, according to RIA Novosti, a Russian state media outlet. In Feb. 2022, at the beginning of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, the dancer spoke out against the violence. “I am against the war in Ukraine! I am for the people, for a peaceful sky over my head! Politicians should be able to negotiate without shooting and killing civilians, for that they are given their tongue and head,” he was quoted saying. “It is impossible to watch everything that is happening today without tears... I wanna dance... I want to love everyone—that’s the purpose of my life... I do not want wars, no borders.” CNN reported that he was going to have “complex spinal surgery” two days before his death, and was on “serious painkillers.” He was one of the highest-ranking dancers at the Mariinsky Theater in Russia - Daily Beast
The US has said it would warn the Turkish government that there could be “no more business as usual” with Hamas after members of the Palestinian militant group’s political leadership reportedly moved to Turkey. State department spokesman Matt Miller on Monday told reporters: “We don’t believe that the leaders of a vicious terrorist organisation should be living comfortably anywhere, and that certainly includes in a major city of one of our key allies and partners.” Miller added he could neither confirm nor deny reports that officials from the Palestinian militant group’s political leadership had relocated from Qatar to the Nato ally. But he said: “There can be no more business as usual with Hamas.” The US warning comes as Biden administration officials have sought to blame Hamas for the failure of ceasefire talks with Israel, which have been stalled for months. American officials are hoping that progress with Lebanon on ending the conflict between Hizbollah and Israel might also give impetus to the Hamas-Israel negotiations. An Arab diplomat told the Financial Times that some of Hamas’s officials had relocated from Qatar to Turkey after Doha suspended its role as mediator in the talks to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of the remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip - Financial Times
A California resident has been infected with the more severe type of mpox virus, the first U.S. case of a virus that has sickened thousands and killed hundreds in an outbreak in central and eastern Africa, health officials said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the individual was treated shortly after returning from eastern Africa and received care at a local medical facility and was released. Specimens are being sent to the CDC for additional viral characterization - Washington Post
The Chinese police have confirmed that journalist Li Weizhong, who has been detained for a month, is being held incommunicado for “inciting subversion of state power”. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has demanded his immediate release. “By detaining Li Weizhong incommunicado on trumped-up charges, the Chinese regime shows its determination to silence one of the country’s last independent journalists at all costs. The international community should increase pressure on Beijing to secure Li’s release alongside all the other journalists and press freedom defenders detained in China,” said Cédric Alviani, RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director
Many have desired to flee the U.S. after Donald Trump’s election win, and one cruise company has packaged a convenient way to miss his entire White House term with its Tour La Vie program. Florida-based company Villa Vie Residences‘ four-year “escape” option allows guests to visit over 425 ports in 140 countries. While shorter time periods are available at one to three years, the program’s “Skip Forward” option will ensure you never touch American soil during Trump’s term. Packages start at around $40,000 a year aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey, which fits 600 residents. Food, drinks, WiFi, and housekeeping are all included, along with the option to have friends and family on board for $129 a day. Mikael Petterson, the company’s chief executive officer, said that the company would’ve marketed the cruise the same way even if Kamala Harris had won. “We came up with this marketing campaign before we even knew who would win,” he said. “We don’t have a political view one way or the other. We just wanted to give people who feel threatened to have a way to get out” - Daily Beast