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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 30 OctOber 2019

Joshua Wong barred from election, Hong Kong nears recession

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong as the young face of Hong
Kong authorities barred Kong's "Umbrella Move-
high-profile pro-democra- ment" that peacefully oc-
cy activist Joshua Wong cupied streets for 79 days
from an election, and the in 2014, and he has since
city's leader ruled out po- been repeatedly arrested
litical solutions before the and jailed. He has been less
end of the violent protests important to the current
gripping the semi-autono- protest movement, which
mous Chinese territory. has been leaderless and
The developments Tuesday whose participants have
were likely to further wid- sought to remain anony-
en divisions in Hong Kong, mous.
which has been wracked His activities have nonethe-
by more than four months less made him a target of
of unrest driven in part by China's communist leaders,
demands for political re- who have used him to ac-
form. Hong Kong's leader, cuse foreign powers of col-
Carrie Lam, also warned luding with anti-China sep-
that the Asian financial hub aratists to foment unrest.
was on the brink of an eco- The government confirmed
nomic recession. Wong's disqualification,
A returning officer notified without identifying him.
Wong his nomination as a Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks during a press conference in Hong Kong, Tuesday, The returning officer said in
candidate in next month's Oct. 29, 2019. the letter that Wong's em-
elections was ruled invalid, Associated Press brace of the concept of
according to a copy of the self-determination includes
letter Wong posted on his clearly politically driven," officials to carry out politi- more Hong Kongers to take Hong Kong's indepen-
Twitter account . Wong told reporters. He cal screening but it would to the street and also vote dence, which goes against
"The decision to ban me said Beijing was pressur- backfire. in the election." a requirement to promise
from running for office is ing Hong Kong election "It will just trigger more and Wong, 23, became known to uphold its constitution. q

Strong quake jolts southern Philippines, 6 dead, scores hurt

DAVAO, Philippines (AP) Limbungan said about 90% nant woman was killed by
— A powerful earthquake of the houses in three rural a falling tree in Tulunan and
shook the southern Philip- villages were damaged by a 66-year-old man died
pines on Tuesday, trigger- the intense ground move- from head injuries after ap-
ing landslides and loosen- ment. Among the dead parently being hit by heavy
ing boulders that killed six were a father and his child debris in South Cotabato
people and injured more who were hit by boulders province's capital, Koro-
than 100 others in a region which rolled down a moun- nadal, where 30 other peo-
already damaged by a tain onto their small farm ple were injured as they
strong quake two weeks in hard-hit North Cotabato dashed out of their homes,
earlier, officials said. province. Another child offices and shopping malls,
The magnitude 6.6 earth- was injured, provincial di- police and other officials
quake was caused by the saster response officer Mer- said.
movement of a fault about cedita Foronda said. She Several cities and towns
7 kilometers (4.3 miles) said more than 100 villag- suspended classes to allow
deep about 25 kilometers ers received injuries, mostly inspections of school build-
(16 miles) east of Tulunan minor, in the province. ings. Several buildings dam-
in Cotabato province, the Two others died in a land- aged in another quake Office employees gather outside of buildings after a powerful
Philippine Institute of Seis- slide and falling debris in earlier this month sustained earthquake was felt in Davao City, Philippines Tuesday, Oct. 29,
mology and Volcanology Magsaysay town in Davao further damage and were 2019.
said. Tulunan Mayor Reuel del Sur province. A preg- closed to the public.q Associated Press