HONG KONG
No password protection
Effective yesterday, people who refuse to give police their phone or computer passwords in investigations involving the National Security Law face a year in jail and a fine of HK$100,000 (US$12,772). Previously, refusal to give police a password to unlock a phone or other electronic device did not constitute obstruction. The new rule applies to people under investigation for endangering national security and people who own or possess the equipment involved, as well as those authorized to access the equipment and anyone who knows the password or decryption method. It is designed to ensure that “activities endangering national security can be effectively prevented, suppressed and punished, and at the same time the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations are adequately protected,” a government spokesperson said.
SOUTH KOREA
BTS turnout falls short
Hybe Co’s shares yesterday plunged as much as 15 percent after a heavily promoted comeback concert by K-pop megastars BTS drew a smaller crowd than authorities initially expected. Stock in BTS’ agency recorded its biggest intraday decline since June 2022. The group’s event at Gwanghwamun square attracted 104,000 fans versus the 260,000 initially estimated by police, Chosun Ilbo reported. Stringent crowd control measures — reflecting in part the authorities’ focus on avoiding a repeat of the Itaewon incident years ago — might have played a part. The concert was live-streamed by Netflix Inc, which should release viewership figures later this week. The group performed 12 songs during the hour-long show, ranging from new tracks on their album Arirang to hits such as Butter and Dynamite.
INDONESIA
Prabowo denies US$1bn fee
President Prabowo Subianto, under fire at home for signing up to US President Donald Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace,” on Sunday said his country would not pay the US$1 billion joining fee for permanent membership. Jakarta had only committed peacekeeping troops for the initiative, Prabowo said in a statement published on the presidential YouTube channel. Countries that want to be permanent members must pay US$1 billion, sparking criticism it could become a “pay-to-play” version of the UN Security Council. Prabowo has come under criticism from Indonesian Muslim groups for joining the board and pledging to send 8,000 peacekeeping troops to Gaza. He attended the inaugural meeting of the board in “Board of Peace” in Washington last month. However, he later said he would withdraw from the board if it does not bring benefits to Palestinians or align with Indonesia’s national interests.
UNITED STATES
Trump revives Columbus
The White House has installed on its grounds a statue of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in the latest bid by President Donald Trump’s administration to reshape depictions of US history and culture. The campaign against an ideology Trump calls “anti-American” has encompassed the dismantling of slavery exhibits, restoration of Confederate statues and other moves that civil rights advocates say could reverse decades of social progress. “The statue is now residing on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus,” Trump told the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations in a letter on Sunday. He thanked the group for its gift of the statue to the government.
A humanoid robot that won a half-marathon race for robots in Beijing on Sunday ran faster than the human world record in a show of China’s technological leaps. The winner from Honor, a Chinese smartphone maker, completed the 21km race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, said a WeChat post by the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town, where the race began. That was faster than the human world record holder, Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, who finished the same distance in about 57 minutes in March at the Lisbon road race. The performance by the robot marked a significant step forward
Four contenders are squaring up to succeed Antonio Guterres as secretary-general of the UN, which faces unprecedented global instability, wars and its own crushing budget crisis. Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Senegal’s Macky Sall are each to face grillings by 193 member states and non-governmental organizations for three hours today and tomorrow. It is only the second time the UN has held a public question-and-answer, a format created in 2016 to boost transparency. Ultimately the five permanent members of the UN’s top body, the Security Council, hold the power, wielding vetoes over who leads the
South Korea’s air force yesterday apologized for a 2021 midair collision involving two fighter jets, a day after auditors said the pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight and held them responsible for the accident. “We sincerely apologize to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021,” an air force spokesman told a news conference, adding that one of the pilots involved had been suspended from flying duties, received severe disciplinary action and has since left the military. The apology followed a report released on Wednesday by the South Korean Board of Audit and Inspection,
An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 off northern Japan on Monday prompted a short-lived tsunami alert and the advisory of a higher risk of a possible mega-quake for coastal areas there. The Cabinet Office and the Japan Meteorological Agency said there was a 1% chance for a mega-quake, compared to a 0.1% chance during normal times, in the next week or so following the powerful quake near the Chishima and Japan trenches. Officials said the advisory was not a quake prediction but urged residents in 182 towns along the northeastern coasts to raise their preparedness while continuing their daily lives. Prime
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