News Headlines - 02 January 2020
Hong Kong’s first police-approved protest march of the year was cut short after officers clashed with protesters over a vandalised bank.
March organisers Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) estimated that over 1.03 million people took to the streets on Wednesday, though they said it was difficult to give an accurate figure.
▽Taiwan: Law passed to quell China′s influence ahead of elections | DW
The Anti-Infiltration Law is meant to stop Beijing from taking sides in the January 11 presidential vote. China has tried to isolate the government of President Tsai Ing-wen over the territory's sovereignty.
▽Taiwan's Chief of General Staff among 8 dead in Black Hawk crash | Taiwan News
Eight passengers aboard an Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter that crashed in the mountains of northern Taiwan this morning have died, including the Chief of the General Staff Shen Yi-ming, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The helicopter took off at 7:50 a.m. from Songshan Air Force Base bound for a base in Yilan's Dong'ao for an inspection. For unknown reasons, communication with the helicopter was lost at around 8 a.m. this morning, and it apparently made a forced landing in the mountains of New Taipei City's Wulai District, reported CNA.
▽Cyprus: British woman found guilty of lying about gang rape in resort town - CNN
A British woman has been found guilty of lying to police after alleging she was gang-raped by 12 Israeli youths in Cyprus.
The 19-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty on a single charge of causing public mischief, her lawyer told CNN.
The woman had claimed she was attacked by 12 Israeli tourists on July 17 at the Pambos Napa Rocks hotel in the resort of Ayia Napa, where she was staying. But 10 days later the woman retracted her statement, and police arrested her.
▽UNICEF Estimates 400,000 Babies Will Be Born Worldwide On New Year's Day : NPR
UNICEF, the United Nations children's agency, estimates that some 400,000 babies will be born on New Year's Day - "an auspicious day for childbirth around the world," it said in a press release.
UNICEF says the Pacific island nation of Fiji will most likely have delivered 2020's first baby - and it's expected to have 39 births on Jan. 1. The United States will deliver the last baby of New Year's Day, where women are expected to welcome 10,452 babies into the world.
