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  • βœ‡Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
  • 10 people injured after truck and bus collide in Sau Mau Ping Hans Tse
    10 people have sustained minor injuries after a truck collided with a double-decker KMB bus on a downhill stretch in Kwun Tong. A KMB bus and a light-goods truck collide in Sau Mau Ping on May 12, 2026. Photo: Christine Fong, via Facebook. Police said they received a report of the crash on Po Lam Road, Sau Mau Ping, at about 6.20am on Tuesday. The collision involved a light goods vehicle and a Route 600 KMB bus, which travels between Kwun Tong and Central. The truck overturned followin
     

10 people injured after truck and bus collide in Sau Mau Ping

12 May 2026 at 11:03
A KMB bus and a light-goods truck collide in Sau Mau Ping on May 12, 2026. Photo: Christine Fong, via Facebook.

10 people have sustained minor injuries after a truck collided with a double-decker KMB bus on a downhill stretch in Kwun Tong.

A KMB bus and a light-goods truck collide in Sau Mau Ping on May 12, 2026. Photo: Christine Fong, via Facebook.
A KMB bus and a light-goods truck collide in Sau Mau Ping on May 12, 2026. Photo: Christine Fong, via Facebook.

Police said they received a report of the crash on Po Lam Road, Sau Mau Ping, at about 6.20am on Tuesday. The collision involved a light goods vehicle and a Route 600 KMB bus, which travels between Kwun Tong and Central.

The truck overturned following the crash, while the KMB bus struck a traffic light pole before coming to a halt, police said.

Eight bus passengers and both drivers were reportedly mildly injured and were sent to United Christian Hospital for treatment.

Dashcam footage circulating online appeared to show the truck violating traffic signals by making a right turn towards Po Tat Shopping Centre on Po Lam Road, as the KMB bus was travelling downhill.

Images from the scene showed the truck lying on its side, while the windscreen of the KMB bus was shattered. Traffic in the area was disrupted following the incident, according to RTHK.

In an emailed reply to HKFP’s enquiry, KMB said on Wednesday that an investigation showed its bus was crossing the intersection on a green light, while the truck ran a red light by turning right from the opposite lane.

The bus operator said it would cooperate with the police.

Sinner eliminated from French Open under scorching temperatures

28 May 2026 at 13:46
Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner was eliminated from the French Open Thursday after visibly struggling with the sweltering heat in his match against Argentine opponentΒ JuanΒ Manuel Cerundolo. And Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka beat local Elsa Jacquemot after a first-set scare, moving into the third round.

  • βœ‡Dawn Newspaper Pak
  • US spy powers lapse raises World Cup concerns none@none.com (AFP)
    WASHINGTON: A major US surveillance authority is set to expire on Friday midnight, deepening concerns over national security as the World Cup gets underway and Washington remains deadlocked over President Donald Trump’s intelligence leadership. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows US spy agencies to collect communications of foreign targets overseas without a warrant, including when they contact people inside the United States. Officials describe the programΒ­Β­me as o
     

US spy powers lapse raises World Cup concerns

13 June 2026 at 00:22

WASHINGTON: A major US surveillance authority is set to expire on Friday midnight, deepening concerns over national security as the World Cup gets underway and Washington remains deadlocked over President Donald Trump’s intelligence leadership.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows US spy agencies to collect communications of foreign targets overseas without a warrant, including when they contact people inside the United States.

Officials describe the programΒ­Β­me as one of Washington’s most imΒ­Β­portant counterterrorism and espionage tools, while privacy advocates and lawmakers in both parties have long warned that it can sweep up Americans’ communications without adequate safeguards.

The authority expires at midnight Friday going into Saturday after the House of Representatives and Senate both failed to pass a short-term extension on Thursday.

Congress fails to extend Surveillance Act’s section that allows warrantless surveillance of foreign targets overseas

The lapse comes as the United States co-hosts the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, bringing fans from the 48 participating countries to stadiums across the continent.

FBI Director Kash Patel said this week that preventing terrorist attacks during the World Cup is the bureau’s top priority, noting it is expected to be one of the largest US sporting events ever held.

The immediate consequences of expiration remain uncertain, however, because surveillance operations under Section 702 are authorised through annual certifications approved by the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

The court approved a new certification in March, meaning some existing surveillance could theoretically continue until March 2027 even without fresh congressional action. But lawmakers and intelligence experts warn that the legal picture is murkier in practice.

With the House out of session until June 23 and Senate leaving Washington, Congress has no clear path to restore the authority.

β€˜Tighten World Cup security’

Meanwhile, a hacker group claims to have breached FBI drones and has threatened to target the World Cup that kicked off this week, a monitoring group said on Friday.

The SITE Intelligence Group published a statement from Handala said to be linked to Iran saying they had had access β€œfor months” to β€œevery image and every suspect” captured by first-person view drones used by the FBI.

β€œBetter tighten your World Cup security, we don’t like some of those teams at all. Don’t forget: FPVs are everywhere; you never know when one might end up right in your team’s bus,” Handala said in the statement quoted by SITE.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026

  • βœ‡Dawn Newspaper Pak
  • World Cup fever muted in Iran under shadow of war, hardship none@none.com (AFP)
    In a Tehran neighbourhood dotted with shops selling football jerseys and sporting goods, 10-year-old Helma was already feeling World Cup fever. β€œI’m supporting Iran because it’s always the champion!” she said, sporting a bracelet in the green, white and red of the national flag. β€œThis year, it will be number one out of all the countries!” Holding a shopping bag containing a national team jersey, her mother explained that Helma was set to appear in a video clip supporting Iran’s side, adding: β€œWe
     

World Cup fever muted in Iran under shadow of war, hardship

7 June 2026 at 07:35

In a Tehran neighbourhood dotted with shops selling football jerseys and sporting goods, 10-year-old Helma was already feeling World Cup fever.

β€œI’m supporting Iran because it’s always the champion!” she said, sporting a bracelet in the green, white and red of the national flag. β€œThis year, it will be number one out of all the countries!”

Holding a shopping bag containing a national team jersey, her mother explained that Helma was set to appear in a video clip supporting Iran’s side, adding: β€œWe came to buy Team Melli outfits for the shoot.”

But after weeks of war with Israel and the United States β€” one of the co-hosts of this year’s tournament β€” not to mention persistent economic hardship and stuttering efforts to bring the conflict to a final close, not every Iranian shares the grade-schooler’s excitement.

This handout photograph taken and released by Iran Football Federation Press Office on June 6, 2026 shows Iran’s national football team posing at Antalya Airport in Turkiye before boarding a plane ahead of their departure to Mexico for the FIFA 2026 World Cup football tournament, β€” AFP
This handout photograph taken and released by Iran Football Federation Press Office on June 6, 2026 shows Iran’s national football team posing at Antalya Airport in Turkiye before boarding a plane ahead of their departure to Mexico for the FIFA 2026 World Cup football tournament, β€” AFP

At a shop in the same district, 17-year-old employee Houman said Portugal jerseys were the bestsellers, with Spain and Brazil also popular.

β€œThis World Cup is different for Iranians,” he said. β€œI don’t see the same enthusiasm as past editions.”

Team Melli’s aspirations on the field have been overshadowed by what has been an especially trying year for Iranians. It began with anti-government protests β€” described as foreign-backed riots by the government β€” that rights groups say were met with a deadly crackdown.

Then came the US-Israeli strikes that launched the war, which only worsened an economic crunch defined by hyperinflation and a currency freefall.

The national team has also faced challenges of its own, with its US visas held up until the night before their departure.

Iran’s squad has had to change its base for the tournament to Mexico, and even with the visas, they must enter and leave US soil on the same day as any match, Tehran’s ambassador to Mexico said on Saturday.

A street vendor holds a reproduction of the FIFA World Cup Trophy near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in Tijuana, Mexico on May 30, 2026, as the Iranian national football team is set to establish its base camp there for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. β€” Reuters/File
A street vendor holds a reproduction of the FIFA World Cup Trophy near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in Tijuana, Mexico on May 30, 2026, as the Iranian national football team is set to establish its base camp there for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. β€” Reuters/File

β€˜No excitement at all’

Shervin, a 42-year-old photographer from Tehran, was among those finding it difficult to get excited about the football.

β€œIn Iran, no one truly cares about football now, just as no one seems to care about the hardship and difficult living conditions of the Iranian people,” he told AFP journalists based in Paris. β€œIt makes me angry.”

Iran’s first World Cup match will be played in Los Angeles against New Zealand.

β€œThe situation looks particularly difficult for the national team players, who have to play in a country Iran is in conflict with,” said Mohammad Pahlevan, an 18-year-old high school student wearing an AC Milan jersey.

Still, Team Melli β€œgot lucky” with its draw, he added. β€œThey can make it out of the group stage this year.”

Meanwhile, Ali, a self-professed football fanatic from the northern city of Tonekabon, said he wasn’t in the mood this year after decades of fandom.

β€œAs someone who has loved football and followed every World Cup since 1994, it’s heartbreaking to realise that I feel no excitement at all for the upcoming tournament,” the 49-year-old told Paris-based AFP journalists.

4 students taken to hospital after school bus crashes into ditch in Edmonton

12 June 2026 at 23:26
The Edmonton Catholic School Division confirms four students have been taken to hospital after a school bus crashed into a ditch on Yellowhead Trail, in Edmonton.

World Cup 2026: Clinical USA dispatch Paraguay as Balogun and Reyna shine

Team USA put on a dominant display in their Group D opener, defeating Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Folarin Balogun scored twice and Giovanni Reyna added a fourth as the USMNT made an emphatic statement on home soil, despite visa concerns and ticket prices that have overshadowed the tournament's opening days. Read our blog to see how the match unfolded.

KLN Logistics-branded truck spotted refuelling at alleged illegal site despite crackdown

illegal refuelling

KLN Logistics has told HKFP that a vehicle bearing the firm’s logo, which was spotted filling up at an alleged illegal fuelling site in Kwai Chung last week, was operated by a subcontractor.

An alleged illegal refuelling site in Kwai Chung on May 7, 2026.
An alleged illegal refuelling site in Kwai Chung on May 7, 2026. Photo: Supplied.

An HKFP reader spotted the driver of the truck refuelling on Kwai Wo Street at around 10.30am on Thursday and shared photos of the incident.

In response to HKFP’s enquiry, a spokesperson for KLN Logistics – previously known as Kerry Logistics – said on Friday that β€œit was confirmed upon our investigation that the truck shown in the photo was operated by a subcontractor.”

The spokesperson added, β€œAs we understand, the concerned subcontractor has already filed reports with relevant law enforcement authorities about the incident. If required, KLN will fully cooperate with the authorities’ investigation but in the meantime, we are not in a position to disclose any further details.”

The incident in Kwai Chung occurred weeks after authorities launched a crackdown on illicit fuel amid soaring petrol prices due to the war in the Middle East.

A territory-wide joint operation targeting illicit fuel activities.
The Customs and Excise Department, the Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force mounted a territory-wide joint operation targeting illicit fuel activities from April 13 to 20, 2026. Photo: GovHK.

According to a Customs and Excise Department press release on Wednesday, law enforcement mounted a territory-wide joint operation codenamed β€œKnockout” targeting illicit fuel activities from April 13 to 30.

β€œOfficers of Customs, the FSD [Fire Services Department] and the Police detected 19 related cases, and seized more than 21,000 litres of illicit fuel, 15 vehicles and one speedboat with an estimated market value of about $3.3 million. A total of 27 persons were arrested,” it said.

The operation shut down β€œfive illicit mobile motor spirit fuelling stations in Lok Fu, Kowloon Bay, Wong Tai Sin, Kai Tak and Tsing Yi,” it added.

An alleged illegal refuelling site in Kwai Chung on May 7, 2026.
An alleged illegal refuelling site in Kwai Chung on May 7, 2026. Photo: Supplied.

On Thursday, HK01 reported on several illegal refuelling sites in Kwai Chung, with a number of prosecutions taking place.

HKFP has reached out to customs and police for comment.

Soaring fuel costs

The standard price of unleaded petrol as of Monday is HK$32.54 per litre, according to the Consumer Council.

See also: Hong Kong sees β€˜sharp rise’ in illegal fuel trading amid surging oil prices

Hong Kong has the highest petrol prices in the world, according to globalpetrolprices.com statistics dated March 30, giving rise to unlawful makeshift filling stations.

Last month, Hong Kong rolled out subsidies for diesel-powered public and commercial vehicles, as fuel costs soared worldwide over the US and Israel’s war on Iran and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

A petrol station in Hong Kong. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
A petrol station in Hong Kong. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), offences connected to the dealing with, possession of, selling or buying of illicit motor spirit attract a maximum penalty of HK$1 million and imprisonment for two years.

It is also an offence under the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation (Cap. 95F) to possess or control any controlled substance for the business purpose of transferring it into vehicle fuel tanks. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to HK$200,000 and imprisonment for one year.

Smugglers, meanwhile, face a maximum fine of HK$2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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