分类： society

The individual charged with the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has formally expressed remorse to the statesman’s family during a court proceeding. Tetsuya Yamagami, who previously entered a guilty plea for murder charges, addressed the Tokyo court on Thursday with a statement directed at Abe’s widow, Akie Abe, conveying profound regret for his actions.

Yamagami utilized a custom-built firearm to carry out the attack during a public election campaign event in Nara on July 8, 2022, resulting in Abe’s demise later that same day at a medical facility. The unexpected death of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister triggered global reverberations, particularly given Abe’s influential political legacy encompassing assertive foreign policy and his pioneering economic framework dubbed ‘Abenomics’.

According to domestic press coverage, Yamagami acknowledged the extensive suffering inflicted upon the bereaved family, stating, ‘I have caused them three and a half years of anguish… I have no justification for my actions.’ His motive, as disclosed to investigative authorities, stemmed from grievances against Abe’s purported affiliations with the Unification Church. Yamagami attributed his family’s financial collapse to the organization, which he alleged received political endorsement from the former leader.

These accusations catalyzed official scrutiny into the South Korea-originated religious movement, recognized for conducting large-scale matrimonial ceremonies and controversial teachings prioritizing marital bonds for spiritual redemption. In a significant development last March, a Tokyo judicial body mandated the dissolution of the church, a verdict the organization vowed to contest vigorously through legal channels.

Historical connections between the Unification Church and Japan’s political sphere emerged during investigations, revealing associations between Abe’s grandfather, former Premier Nobusuke Kishi, and the group, primarily rooted in shared anti-communist ideologies. Abe himself had participated in events organized by the church’s affiliates.

The emotional toll on the victim’s family was underscored last month when prosecutors presented a heartfelt statement from Akie Abe, who articulated that the profound grief from losing her life partner remains unabated.

Auckland law enforcement officials have confirmed the successful recovery of a high-value Fabergé egg locket that was deliberately swallowed by an alleged thief during a jewelry store incident. The diamond-encrusted piece, valued at NZ$33,585 (approximately $19,300), was retrieved through natural bodily processes without requiring medical intervention.

The unusual case began when police apprehended a 32-year-old male suspect at Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland last week. Security footage and witness accounts indicate the man consumed the luxury item minutes before his arrest in an apparent attempt to conceal evidence.

According to the jewelry manufacturer’s specifications, the stolen artifact—marketed as the ‘Octopussy egg’ in homage to the 1983 James Bond film—features 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires mounted in precious metal. The locket mechanism reveals an intricate 18-carat gold octopus miniature when opened.

The suspect remains in police custody under continuous monitoring due to duty of care obligations following the ingestion incident. Additional charges have been filed against the individual for allegedly stealing an iPad from the same establishment on November 12th, plus separate charges for allegedly taking cat litter and flea control products worth NZ$100 from a private residence.

The defendant is scheduled for court reappearance on December 8th. Fabergé, the renowned jewelry house founded in Russia over two centuries ago, is internationally celebrated for its gemstone-adorned precious metal eggs historically created for Russian royalty.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand law enforcement has successfully recovered a luxury Fabergé pendant valued at NZ$33,000 (approximately US$19,000) through an extraordinary six-day monitoring operation of a suspect’s digestive system. The jeweled octopus-inspired piece, allegedly swallowed during a theft incident at Partridge Jewelers in Auckland on November 28, was naturally excreted on Thursday evening without requiring medical intervention.

The 32-year-old suspect, whose identity remains protected under New Zealand privacy laws, has been held in police custody since his immediate arrest at the upscale jewelry store. Authorities maintained constant surveillance of the man’s biological functions to secure the valuable evidence, demonstrating an unusual but necessary approach to evidence preservation in extraordinary circumstances.

This limited-edition pendant draws direct inspiration from the 1983 James Bond film “Octopussy,” which features a similar jewel-smuggling plot involving counterfeit Fabergé eggs. The recovered piece represents one of only 50 such creations worldwide, crafted from gold with green enamel coating and adorned with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. Measuring 8.4 centimeters in height, the pendant contains an intricate internal mechanism revealing a gold octopus embellished with white and black diamonds.

Police released photographic evidence showing the recovered pendant still attached to its gold chain with price tag intact. Both the jewelry and the suspect remain in custody as the judicial process continues. The man is scheduled for appearance in Auckland District Court on December 8, having previously appeared on November 29 without entering a plea to theft charges.

Inspector Grae Anderson explained the unusual police procedure in an official statement: “Given this man is in Police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred.” This case represents one of the most unusual evidence recovery operations in New Zealand’s law enforcement history, blending criminal investigation with extraordinary patient monitoring responsibilities.

Shanghai became the epicenter of international business education on December 2-3, 2025, as Shanghai University of Finance and Economics hosted the culminating event of The 3rd International Business Simulation Competition. The tournament witnessed extraordinary participation from 140 student teams representing 74 countries and regions worldwide, with the most exceptional 33 teams from 22 academic institutions advancing to the championship rounds.

The competition served as a dynamic platform for cultivating cross-cultural business leadership and strategic thinking capabilities among the next generation of global entrepreneurs. Participants engaged in sophisticated business scenario simulations that tested their analytical prowess, decision-making agility, and innovative problem-solving approaches within complex market environments.

This prestigious event underscores Shanghai’s growing prominence as an international education hub and its commitment to fostering global talent exchange. The competition structure emphasized practical business application over theoretical knowledge, requiring students to demonstrate comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, financial management, and strategic planning under simulated real-world conditions.

Academic institutions and corporate sponsors collaborated to create authentic business challenges that reflected current global market trends, providing participants with invaluable experiential learning opportunities. The event also facilitated meaningful cultural exchange and international networking among future business leaders from diverse geographical and academic backgrounds.

The competition’s expansion to include participants from 74 countries represents a significant increase from previous years, demonstrating its growing international recognition and appeal among business education programs worldwide.

The United Arab Emirates has introduced a groundbreaking administrative reform that merges passport and Emirates ID renewal processes into a single streamlined service. This transformative initiative, launched by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), represents a significant advancement in digital governance and citizen convenience.

Under the newly implemented system, Emirati citizens can now simultaneously renew both critical identification documents through the UAEICP smart application. This integrated approach eliminates the previously separate renewal procedures that often resulted in mismatched expiration dates and administrative complications. The innovation directly addresses one of the most frequent concerns raised by residents during the government’s ‘Zero Bureaucracy Expo’ earlier this year.

The technical implementation allows citizens whose passports have expired and whose Emirates IDs are within six months of expiration to renew both documents on a single application page. This consolidation transforms what was once a fragmented process involving multiple forms and payment procedures into a seamless, unified transaction. Users can now review personal data, submit applications, and complete payments for both documents in one efficient digital session.

Beyond individual convenience, the UAEICP application serves as a comprehensive family management portal where citizens can handle all passport and identity documentation for entire households. This development exemplifies the government’s commitment to its ‘Zero Bureaucracy’ initiative, which aims to eliminate unnecessary administrative barriers and create more efficient public services.

Officials noted that this enhancement evolved from citizen feedback into a comprehensive smart solution, demonstrating the government’s responsive approach to public service innovation. The system ensures synchronization between these essential documents, preventing the administrative confusion that previously resulted from staggered renewal schedules.

In a remarkable display of humanitarian policing, Sharjah Police have successfully reunited a mother with her son following a twelve-year separation caused by familial disputes and personal hardships. The emotional reunion marks the culmination of a complex search operation that demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to family welfare and social cohesion.

The mother, who had been separated from her child shortly after his birth due to escalating family conflicts, faced numerous challenges in her quest to reconnect. After separating from her husband and losing her primary source of income, she was compelled to leave the UAE in 2013. Her departure initiated years of relentless but unsuccessful efforts to locate her son and ascertain details about his wellbeing, education, and living conditions.

Upon exhausting all other avenues, the determined mother recently returned to the UAE and sought assistance from Sharjah Police authorities. The police force immediately launched a comprehensive search operation supported by specialized social work professionals. The team meticulously verified the young man’s whereabouts and current living situation through intensive investigative efforts conducted in record time.

The successful coordination of the long-awaited reunion highlights the evolving role of law enforcement in addressing social and family matters. Brigadier Ahmed Al Marri, Director of the Community Protection and Prevention Department, emphasized that this case reflects the humanitarian values championed by the UAE’s leadership, which prioritizes family stability and social support structures.

In an official statement, Sharjah Police articulated their philosophical approach: ‘Human beings have always been at the heart of the priorities of the UAE’s wise leadership, which has established a firm approach built on compassion, strengthening social cohesion, and supporting community welfare. Our swift response to alleviate individual suffering represents not merely an official responsibility, but a set of ethics and values deeply embedded in our daily operations.’

The authority further emphasized that their protective care extends to all segments of society without exception, noting that restoring hope and resolving human suffering constitutes one of their most significant missions. This successful reunion serves as a powerful testament to the UAE’s broader commitment to social welfare and the evolving role of police forces in addressing community needs beyond traditional law enforcement.

British broadcaster GB News has issued a formal apology and provided substantial financial compensation to UK-based charity Islamic Relief after airing baseless allegations linking the humanitarian organization to terrorist financing. The false claims originated from Emirati influencer Amjad Taha during a February 16th episode of The Camilla Tominey Show, where he erroneously stated Islamic Relief was “sending money all the way to some terrorist groups in the Middle East.

In September, GB News published a clarification acknowledging the allegations were completely unfounded, stating: “We accept the allegation that Islamic Relief has funded terrorist groups is untrue. Islamic Relief has stated it does not promote or support extremism of any kind and that it is a purely humanitarian organization.” The network has subsequently removed the controversial segment from all platforms and broadcast an on-air apology.

Islamic Relief welcomed the resolution, with a spokesperson emphasizing the particular offensiveness of the accusations given that their humanitarian workers have themselves been victims of terrorist violence. The spokesperson noted these false claims perpetuate dangerous disinformation that threatens both staff and beneficiaries.

The incident reflects broader geopolitical tensions, as the United Arab Emirates has historically targeted Islamic Relief, attempting to portray it as an extension of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Taha’s comments referenced the organization’s proscription in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as its operating ban in Israeli-occupied West Bank.

This case highlights the emerging influence of Gulf-based media figures like Taha, who present as analysts while promoting normalization with Israel and defending UAE foreign policy across Middle Eastern and African conflicts. Taha has additionally attempted to connect the Sudanese army to both Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas affiliations, coinciding with UAE support for the opposing Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

A 2023 New Yorker investigation previously revealed UAE financing of smear campaigns against Islamic Relief, attempting to falsely associate its officials with extremist organizations.