Fast Facts for 7 Current Events

Asia Pacific Current Events

1. A lone gunman, Man Haron Monis, took hostages for 16 hours on Monday, Dec 15 at the Lindt Chocolate Café in Sydney, Australia. The standoff ended the following day when police quickly raided the building after hearing shots, Monis and two hostages died. NYT

2. American man denounces US in North Korea. Arturo Pierre Martinez from El Paso, Texas entered North Korea through China and denounced the United States in a press conference on Sunday, Dec 14. His statement addressed his perceived abuses by the American government, citing Ferguson and police brutality as examples. He has asked for asylum in Venezuela and his mother has come out saying her son has bipolar disorder. NYT

3. Hong Kong protests ended. Police cleared the protest area in the central business district of Hong Kong on Monday, Dec 15. The protests were in response to mainland China’s decision allowing Hong Kong residents to vote for chief executive candidates only after they had been vetted by the mainland government. Although gaining world attention over the past three months and vocal support for their democratic hopes, the protestors failed to gain any meaningful concessions from the government. The remaining protestors were arrested during the cleanup though many promised that it would not be the end of this movement. NYT

4. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the LDP maintain a supermajority in snap election. Winning 326 seats with their junior partner the Komeito party on Sunday, Dec 14, Abe said he was given a mandate to continue forward with Abenomics. However, others suggest that a clear mandate was not given due to a record low turnout and meager economic prospects. Most likely he will continue to struggle to gain robust support for his economic and security agendas. Reuters

5. Philippines charge marine with murder in the death of a transgendered woman on Dec 15. Jean Laude was found dead in a hotel after staying with Pte First Class Joseph Pemberton who is suspected of strangling her. Pemberton is currently in US custody due to the Visiting Forces Agreement between the US and Philippines, which allows American service members charged with a crime in the Philippines to stay in American custody. Laude’s death has resulted in protests calling for the end of the VFA and for Pemberton to be turned to Filipino authorities. BBC

6. Woman outraged by airline nut service. Heather Cho, a daughter of a Korean Airlines chairman (now resigned), is faulted with abusing a flight attendant from the same airlines and delaying a flight because her macadamia nuts were given in a bag, not on a dish. Cho reported to South Korean prosecutors where she may face a fine and other legal charges. Reuters

7. North Korea linked to Sony hacks. US officials reported on Dec 17 that North Korea was connected to the hacking of Sony Studios, resulting of the leak in a number of emails, salaries, scripts, and other studio projects. A humiliating and damaging attack, Sony also decided to cancel the release of the new movie The Interview, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco in an attempt to kill the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, for fear of further attacks. Following the hack, North Korea’s access to the internet went down for several hours and President Obama’s administration has also called for increased sanctions in retaliation. NYT