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Friday 23 October 2020
Irish journalist Aaron Mc Nicholas has returned from the territory and here, he documents the daily challenges faced by journalists and other activists in a politically tense Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong government first banned the wearing of masks last year.
Tens of thousands of Hong Kongers defied a ban on rallies in June to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.
Hong Kong elections were due to have taken place today but were postponed for a year by the authorities.
The government expects five million people will take part in the programme.
The semi-autonomous financial hub has long been a major global media centre but its reputation as a press haven is slipping.
Genetic sequencing of the virus showed the patient was infected twice by different strains of Covid-19.
Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill allegedly said they respected and understood new Hong Kong security laws.
The newspaper said its circulation is up from 70,000 to 550,000.
He was among seven people detained on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces.
The fresh sanctions from the US came after Donald Trump’s move against TikTok and WeChat.
The chief executive said Hong Kong has the support of the Chinese government in making the decision.
Hong Kong says only those who pledge allegiance to both local government and China can run.
The ambassador also hit out at concerns expressed by the UK and the US over China’s growing control over Hong Kong.
“We hope to let the world to know how we choose not to surrender, how we choose not to kowtow to China,” he said.
So far, 12 people have died after contracting the virus in Hong Kong – four in the last fortnight.
“Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China,” Trump said.
It warned some campaigning for recent primaries may have breached the new security law imposed on the city.
A vigil was held on 4 June after police ruled it could not take place due to coronavirus restrictions.
Locally transmitted cases hit 34 on Thursday, the highest daily total in three months
The new headquarters overlooks Victoria Square, where pro-democracy protests took place.
Under the new law, certain political views and symbols became illegal overnight.
Human rights groups have warned the law could target opposition politicians.
China has said it is determined to enact the law and its passage is expected by Tuesday.
The bureau would be used to investigate and prosecute crimes considered threatening to national security.
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam marked the occasion by calling for peace and stability.
The law was approved by Hong Kong legislators on Thursday.
Today protesters defied a ban against a mass vigil commemorating the Tienanmen anniversary.
The UK offer follows China’s decision to impose a new security law on Hong Kong.
Chinese leaders said the new law was needed to combat unspecified threats in the semi-autonomous region.
One of the politicians was forcibly carried out of the legislative chamber by security forces.
In the Central business district, police shot pepper balls at protesters and searched several people.
The scenes today were the most intense in months.
Protesters chanted slogans such as ‘Stand with Hong Kong’ as they gathered in a popular shopping district.
The proposal follows major protests in Hong Kong last year.
Although described as independent, the council is appointed by Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam.
A pro-democracy movement has shown signs of reviving in recent weeks as the coronavirus threat eases.
Hong Kong reopened in recent days after riding out the Covid-19 health emergency.
Lam Wing-kee was a bookseller from Hong Kong who disappeared and then reappeared in custody of mainland China’s authorities.
Last year’s rallies morphed into a wider movement calling for greater freedoms from Beijing.
US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump and former vice president Joe Biden took part in another debate last night, the final head-to-head before voting on 3 November.
The previous debate was fractious and almost unwatchable as the pair shouted over each other, but last night was more measured by comparison.
Trump denied being racist, saying no US president since Abraham Lincoln has “done what I’ve done for the black community”. Biden then said Trump “pours fuel on every single racist fire” and claimed he “has a dog whistle about as big as a fog horn”.
You can catch up on the main points here.
Did you stay up to watch the debate, or catch highlights this morning?
If you did, we want to know: Who won last night’s US election debate?
Poll Results:
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Showers around in the morning; some sun
Max: 11 °C
Min: 7 °C
Cloudy and windy with a little rain
Max: 12 °C
Min: 6 °C
Mainly cloudy, showers around; breezy
Max: 11 °C
Min: 7 °C
