Tag: Press freedom

EU Urges Release of Jailed Hong Kong Newspaper Founder Lai

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The European Parliament passed a resolution Thursday calling for the immediate release of Apple Daily newspaper founder Jimmy Lai, as well as the repeal of Hong Kong’s national security law, which has been used to target pro-democracy activists and China critics such as Lai. The resolution received widespread support, with 483 votes in favor, 9 against and 42 abstentions. Lai, a British citizen, founded Apple Daily in 1995, and the newspaper became one of Hong Kong’s most popular until authorities forced it to close in 2021. Hong Kong authorities have…

China Hopes India Can Meet it Halfway in Media Dispute

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BEIJING —  China called on Monday on India to meet it halfway in a dispute over journalists working in each other’s countries after China said its reporters in India had been treated unfairly and an Indian journalist was asked to leave China. The dispute over media staff is the latest episode to highlight tension between the Asian neighbors since a deterioration in ties in mid-2020 when their troops clashed on their disputed Himalayan frontier and 24 people were killed. “In recent years, Chinese journalists in India have been accorded unfair…

UN experts express ‘grave concern’ over detention of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

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A group of UN experts have expressed “grave concern” over the arrest and detention of Jimmy Lai, a former media mogul in Hong Kong who has been charged with violating the territory’s national security law. In a joint communication sent to the Chinese government, the experts from the UN working group on arbitrary detention and several special rapporteurs focused on human rights said Lai’s arrest and multiple prosecutions related to “his criticism of the Chinese government and his support for democracy in Hong Kong”. The involvement of such a large…

Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Loses Bid to Terminate National Security Trial

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hong kong —  A Hong Kong court on Monday rejected an application to terminate a landmark national security trial against media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a case that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted. Lai, 75, is the founder of now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China’s Communist Party leadership, including President Xi Jinping. Lai and his three of his companies, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited and AD Internet Limited, faced a…

Hong Kong court rebuffs effort to dismiss Jimmy Lai national security trial

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Hong Kong’s high court has rejected an attempt by lawyers acting for the jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai to have his national security trial dismissed. The court ruled on Monday that the argument the trial may appear to be biased had “no merits”, and gave the proceedings, which are scheduled to start in September, the green light. The legal team for Lai, a former media mogul who was arrested during Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2020, had argued that the fact his trial would be presided over by judges…

Uncertainty Pervades as Macao Adopts National Security Law Amendments 

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More than a week after Macao’s legislative assembly passed controversial amendments to the former Portuguese colony’s national security law, a sense of uncertainty pervades in the vibrant and popular gambling and tourist destination, with some people remaining mum about the law taking effect this week. Since the measure’s passage, some journalists, writers, and businesspeople contacted for this article have refused to be interviewed out of fear of repercussions for expressing concerns about the amended law. “It’s not appropriate [or convenient] to accept interviews on the national security law,” was the…

Taiwanese Reporters Blocked from Covering World Health Assembly

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washington —  Two Taiwanese reporters who had been accredited to cover this week’s World Health Assembly in Geneva were told on Monday they would not be allowed to obtain their press passes in a move press freedom advocates say was likely caused by pressure from China. On Monday, Judy Tseng and Tien Hsi-ju, reporters with Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), were blocked from covering the 76th World Health Assembly held by the World Health Organization (WHO), even though the reporters had their press credentials approved a week earlier. This is…

Outcry as World Health Organization locks out Taiwan under pressure from China

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The World Health Organization has again rejected Taiwan’s request to join its annual assembly amid routine objections from China and despite strong support from a coalition of countries including the US, UK, France and Australia. The assembly in Geneva on Monday decided not to extend an invitation for Taiwan to attend the 21-30 May event as an observer. China and Pakistan spoke against the bid, while the Marshall Islands, Belize, Nauru and eSwatini – four of Taiwan’s 13 formal diplomatic allies – spoke in support. Taiwan’s ministry of foreign affairs…

Malaysian Comedian Silenced on Chinese Social Media After Jokes About China

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A Malaysian comedian better known for mocking attempts by Western chefs at Asian cooking has seen his Chinese social media account suspended after making jokes about China. Nigel Ng, who uses the name Uncle Roger, is the latest comedian to feel the consequences of jokes that could be perceived as reflecting negatively on China under increasingly intense censorship and rising nationalism. Last week, a Chinese comedian came under police investigation for a joke about stray dogs. Ng posted a video clip last Thursday from an upcoming comedy special in which…

Hong Kong Court: Jailed Media Tycoon Lai Can’t Use British Lawyer

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HONG KONG —  A Hong Kong court on Friday dismissed an attempt by jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai to challenge a decision by security officials to effectively bar his British lawyer from representing him in a landmark national security trial. Lai’s legal team filed a judicial review after Hong Kong’s National Security Committee (NSC), headed by senior Hong Kong and Chinese officials, ruled that the admission of senior British barrister Timothy Owen could harm national security and advised Hong Kong authorities to reject his visa. The use of foreign lawyers…