Hong Kong's citizens were voting on Sunday in an election where the focus is on turnout, with residents grieving and traumatized after the city's worst fire in nearly 80 years and the authorities scrambling to avoid a broader public backlash.

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong is holding a tightly controlled election for its Legislative Council, just weeks after a deadly apartment fire that has left the city in mourning and fueled public anger. The election is the second since Beijing's 2021 reforms, which reduced the number of directly elected seats and limited candidacy to those loyal to the Chinese Communist Party.

Authorities have attempted to increase voter turnout through promotional efforts and expanded polling access, but many anticipate participation will remain low. Of the 90 council seats, only 20 will be chosen by the public, with the remainder appointed by pro-Beijing committees, while the government has promised more relief and reconstruction efforts in response to the recent tragedy.

Hong Kong holds tightly guarded election amid anger over deadly fire

A city, still in mourning, is being asked to elect new lawmakers. But with public anger still high in Hong Kong following the recent deadly apartment fire, many are anticipating a historically low voter turnout. I didn't have many expectations for this election, but for other residents, after the fire happened, this event might impact their mood in a bad way. As a Hong Kong resident, what happened at the fire is already in the past, I hope everyone can come out to vote. It is just the second time the city will vote in members of its Legislative Council since Beijing drastically reformed Hong Kong's electoral system in 2021. The number of directly elected seats was reduced from 35 to 20, and the laws were revised to exclude pro-democracy candidates and ensure only Chinese Communist Party loyalists could run. The result was a voter turnout of just 30 per cent. This time around, authorities tried to boost numbers through promotional campaigns and by increasing access to polling stations. But the devastating blaze on November 27th has left a mark on the city. The government has tried to quell the anger by promising more relief and reconstruction efforts. Every vote represents our push for reform, our protection of the victims of the disaster and a representation of our will to unite and move forward together. Ultimately on Sunday, the public will decide on just 20 out of 90 seats. The rest will be appointed by largely pro-Beijing committees.

A military coup declared in Benin on Sunday has failed, the country’s interior minister said, just hours after soldiers took over state television to announce the dissolution of government.

Porto-Novo

Benin coup attempt thwarted by soldiers loyal to Republic

A U.S. envoy says territorial claims remain a sticking point in a proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S.-led meetings have ended; meanwhile, Russia launched a massive strike on central Ukraine early Sunday.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

U.S.-led peace talks wrap as Russia launches strike on Ukraine

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Moscow

Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure

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Washington

Pete Hegseth on boat strikes: "We will find you and we will sink you"

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Ponce

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Residents in the Indonesian region of Aceh Tamiang have been struggling to get aid while mourning the loss of their loved ones, as the death toll from floods and landslides that hit Sumatra island this month rose to more than 900 people.

Jakarta

Indonesian families mourn loved ones as flood deaths pass 900

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that he had had a long and "substantive" phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Zelenskyy says he had 'substantive' phone call with U.S's Witkoff

Netflix is set to buy Warner Bros. in a deal valued at $72 billion, but the announcement has sparked concern among industry workers.

Hollywood

Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. sparks industry concern

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Judge orders D.C pipe bomb suspect to remain in jail

A 22-year-old woman who says she was born and raised in the United States tells "CBS Saturday Morning" about being chased down the street by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents as the Trump administration's New Orleans immigration crackdown ramps up.

New Orleans

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One of the world's most influential architects Frank Gehry has died at the age of 96. Known for his whimsical, unpredictable style, he rose to fame with his titanium design for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Bilbao

Influential architect Frank Gehry dies, 96

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Saulsville

Several killed in mass shooting west of South Africa's capital

The United States is warning its NATO allies that Europe must take on more of its own defence, and fast. According to an exclusive Reuters report, the Pentagon has set an ambitious 2027 deadline for European nations to assume most of the alliance’s conventional military capabilities.

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The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide the legality of President Donald Trump's directive to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States, a contentious part of his efforts to curb immigration and a step that would alter how a 19th century constitutional provision has long been understood.

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Delhi

Russia-India sign trade agreements despite pressure from the West

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Pentagon announces new boat strike

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Manhattan

New evidence shared in Luigi Mangione's pre-trial hearing

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Tegucigalpa

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New York

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Democrats have released never-before-seen images in the Jeffrey Epstein case. They were taken at his private island estate. It comes as the Trump administration faces a deadline to release the full Epstein case files in two weeks.

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Caracas

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Australia starts enforcing a landmark ban requiring social media platforms to take down accounts belonging to under-16s

Canberra

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Breakdown