British spies and special forces identities exposed in Afghan data leak
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Canada News.Net
5 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Western nations renew calls for Hong Kong media tycoon's release
HONG KONG: The closing arguments in the national security trial of Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai were unexpectedly postponed on August 15 after his lawyer reported that Lai had suffered heart palpitations. The 77-year-old, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was granted an adjournment until August 18 so he could receive medication and a heart monitor. Lai has pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material. Defence lawyer Robert Pang told the court that Lai had recently experienced episodes where he felt close to collapsing. While a visiting medical specialist had recommended treatment and monitoring, arrangements had not yet been completed. Judge Esther Toh expressed concern, noting that Lai had yet to receive the prescribed medication or equipment. Prosecutor Anthony Chau said a medical team was on standby at the court and confirmed that the recommended treatment and monitoring would be provided before proceedings resumed. Lai, a British citizen, has been held in solitary confinement for more than 1,700 days. His son has previously voiced fears over his declining health. The case is being closely watched abroad, with Western governments — including the United States — calling for Lai's release and describing the trial as politically motivated. Hong Kong and Beijing authorities have rejected these claims, insisting Lai is receiving a fair trial and criticising foreign "interference" in domestic affairs. On August 14, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he would "do everything I can to save him." Diplomats from at least seven countries attended the hearing, which is expected to see closing submissions run for eight days before the panel of three judges begins deliberations — a process that could take months. Lai was first arrested in August 2020. Arriving in court in a white windbreaker, Lai smiled and waved to his family and supporters, some of whom queued for hours to secure seats in the packed public gallery. His trial, which began in December 2023, stems from Hong Kong's sweeping national security law introduced in 2020. In his testimony, Lai defended his actions as a fight for free speech and denied accusations that he sought to persuade the U.S. to impose sanctions on Hong Kong or China. His Apple Daily was forced to close in June 2021 after a police raid and the freezing of its assets — a move widely viewed by critics as a decisive blow to press freedom in the city.
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
British horseracing to go on strike in protest against rise in betting taxes
LONDON (AP) — British horseracing will stage an unprecedented one-day strike on Sept. 10 to protest a proposed rise in taxes on race betting. The four scheduled meetings that day — at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton — will not take place after agreements between the owners of the courses and the British Horseracing Authority, making it the first time the sport in Britain has voluntarily refused to race in modern history. The BHA set up the 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign in response to proposals to replace the existing three-tax structure of online gambling duties with a single tax, with fears the current 15% duty on racing could be increased to the 21% levied on games of chance. Brant Dunshea, chief executive at the British Horseracing Authority, said the strike intends to 'highlight to (the) government the serious consequences of the treasury's tax proposals which threaten the very future of our sport.' 'British racing is already in a precarious financial position and research has shown that a tax rise on racing could be catastrophic for the sport and the thousands of jobs that rely on it in towns and communities across the country,' Dunshea said. 'This is the first time that British racing has chosen not to race due to government proposals. We haven't taken this decision lightly but in doing so we are urging the government to rethink this tax proposal to protect the future of our sport which is a cherished part of Britain's heritage and culture.' The British government said it was bringing the 'treatment of online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to cut down bureaucracy.' 'It is not about increasing or decreasing rates,' the government said, 'and we welcome views from all stakeholders including businesses, trade bodies, the third sector and individuals.' ___ AP sports:
Winnipeg Free Press
17 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hong Kong pro-democracy activists granted asylum in Australia and Britain
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and a former lawmaker who are wanted by the city's authorities have been granted asylum in Great Britain and Australia, respectively. Tony Chung, an activist who was imprisoned under Hong Kong's sweeping national security law, and Ted Hui, a former lawmaker who was facing trial for his role in anti-government protests in 2019, both announced over the weekend that they have received asylum in the countries where they now live. They are among dozens of activists on the run from Hong Kong authorities. Civil liberties in the city have been greatly eroded since Beijing in 2020 imposed a national security law essentially criminalizing dissent in the former British colony. Both Beijing and Hong Kong have hailed the security law as bringing stability to the financial hub. Hui, who fled Hong Kong in December 2020, is part of a group of overseas activists who are targeted by police bounties of up to 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,800). The former lawmaker is now working as a lawyer in Adelaide. He announced on Facebook on Saturday that he and his family have been granted protection visas. 'I express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Australia — both present and former — for recognising our need for asylum and granting us this protection,' Hui wrote. 'This decision reflects values of freedom, justice, and compassion that my family will never take for granted.' While in Hong Kong, Hui had been an outspoken pro-democracy lawmaker. He was also known for disrupting a legislative session after he threw a rotten plant in the chamber to stop a debate of the national anthem bill — controversial legislation making it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem. He was subsequently fined 52,000 Hong Kong dollars ($6,600) for the act. Chung, who had advocated for Hong Kong's independence, was sentenced to almost four years in prison for secession and money laundering in 2020. He was released on a supervision order, during which he traveled to Japan, from where he fled to Britain seeking asylum. In a post on social media platform Threads on Sunday, he expressed his excitement at receiving refugee status in Britain along with a five-year resident permit. He said that despite his challenges over the past few years, including persistent mental health problems, he remains committed to his activism. British and Australian authorities didn't immediately comment on the activists' statuses. Hong Kong's government did not comment directly on the cases but issued a statement on Saturday condemning 'the harbouring of criminals in any form by any country.' 'Any country that harbours Hong Kong criminals in any form shows contempt for the rule of law, grossly disrespects Hong Kong's legal systems and barbarically interferes in the affairs of Hong Kong,' the statement read.
