La Palma volcano lava reaches Atlantic Ocean, Japan's new Prime Minister, Hong Kong tightens anti-doxxing law
Yahoo Finance's Akiko Fujita breaks down today's top stories from around the world.
Video Transcript
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AKIKO FUJITA: In our "World View" today, some spectacular images out of Spain's Canary Islands as lava from the Cumbre Vieja spilled into the ocean. That sent clouds of steam and toxic gases into the sky above La Palma as emergency officials urge residents to stay indoors.
The volcanic eruption that began 10 days ago has already destroyed 600 homes and forced more than 6,000 people to evacuate now. Now there are fears that parts of the shoreline may collapse. Roads to the southern part of the Island have already been cut off by lava, stranding residents in the town of Tazacorte.
Well, Japan is poised to have a new prime minister in place for the second time in roughly a year. Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kushida won his party's leadership vote on Wednesday beating out a crowded field that included Japan's Vaccine Minister Taro Kono. He's vowed to counter China's growing influence in the region and close the growing income gap by redistributing the country's wealth. Kushida is set to formally take office on Monday following a special parliamentary session. Current Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is stepping down after just a year in office amid plummeting public support over his handling of the pandemic.
And data disclosure without consent could lead to five years in prison in Hong Kong. The legislature strengthened doxing laws, or laws banning the publication of personal information to harass people. The move is seen as yet another step to crack down on dissent in the city, with new amendments to the data privacy law carrying a maximum fine of nearly $130,000.
Internet companies have all opposed the changes saying they amount to censorship. A coalition representing tech giants including Facebook, Google, and Twitter have raised concerns saying over the summer that they could halt services in the city if the law is passed.
