Hong Kong, Zambia, Iran.
Today's three stories you should know.
Hong Kong
In the latest sign of China tightening its control of Hong Kong and closing down any space for freedom of expression, police today raided the offices of the territory’s most popular newspaper. Five Apple Daily executives, including editor Ryan Law, were arrested under an expansive and controversial national security law when an absurd 500 police officers descended on their building. Apple Daily’s owner, Jimmy Lai, is already serving a 20-month prison sentence for involvement in anti-government protests in 2019.
Read Apple Daily’s own piece here. And the Associated Press here.
Zambia
Former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, a towering figure from the era of Africa’s liberation struggles, has died aged 97. Kaunda, who committed himself to peaceful agitation, helped spearhead the fight against white minority rule in countries including South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. He went on to lead Zambia as a one-party state for 27 years before losing an election and stepping down with the advent of multiparty democracy in 1991.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Iran
Iran votes in a presidential election tomorrow after a campaign that has failed to ignite much excitement. Most analysts see the vote as merely an anointment for the conservative Ebrahim Raisi, the overwhelming frontrunner in every poll. Just 40 percent of Iranians said they intended to vote, according to a survey carried out by the Iranian Student Polling Association.