China is no longer the top of the table when it comes to jailing journalists. The crown China wore for two years since 2014 has now been taken by Turkey, which has jailed 81 journalists, accounting for nearly a third of the global total of 259 as of December 1, 2016, an annual census has found. More journalists are jailed around the world than at any time since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping detailed records in 1990. China is the second worst offender, while this year marks the first time since 2008 that Iran was not among the top five worst jailers.
In an expected reaction to US president-elect Donald Trump’s weekend comments, China says any interference or damage to the “one China” principle would have a serious impact on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Reuters reports. The comments are in reaction to Trump’s remarks on Sunday that the United States did not necessarily have to stick to its long-standing position that Taiwan is part of “one China,” further upsetting Beijing which was already angered by Trump’s earlier telephone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
Hong Kong and Japan have sealed the two spots available to Asia and Oceania in the 12-team Women’s Rugby World Cup finals in Ireland next August, Asia Times reports. The Japanese team’s 55-0 defeat of Fiji in Tuesday night’s qualifying match in Hong Kong secured both their own berth – the first time in four tournaments they have reached a World Cup – and Hong Kong’s. Fiji, having lost 45-7 to Hong Kong in the opening tie of the three-way qualifying round on Friday, had to win in order to keep their chances alive. The outcome marks the first-time any Hong Kong team, male or female, will feature at a 15-a-side World Cup.
Long hailed as the Las Vegas of the East, Macau is taking steps with a few stumbles along the way to becoming more than just a gaming destination, writes Fatima Valente and Poo Yee Kai. The inaugural International Film Festival & Awards Macao (IFFAM) was in trouble just before its debut. Its director resigned without explanation, and the whole thing threatened to unravel. But the threat vanished like a puff of Hollywood smoke as the show went on.
Teams are getting ready for another football player shopping spree as China’s winter transfer window looks set to open with a bang, with Chelsea midfielder Oscar set to join Shanghai SIPG in a record deal, writes the South China Morning Post. The Brazilian international is set to join up in Shanghai with long-time admirer Andre Villas-Boas, according to reports in England and China. The fee has been variously put at €60 million (HK$494 million) or £60 million (HK$588 million). Either would surpass the Asian transfer record of €56 million SIPG paid for Brazilian Hulk in June.