Opinion | Even in the West, the era of consequence-free expression is over

Opinion | Even in the West, the era of consequence-free expression is over

Charlie Kirk’s death in the United States was a major political shock. But what followed was more revealing: employees disciplined for social media posts, celebrities facing backlash for controversial remarks and businesses scrambling to distance themselves from the fallout. The controversy highlighted a broader truth of the digital age: a single comment, whether in jest…

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Hong Kong slams European Commission report over ‘unfounded and biased’ criticism

Hong Kong slams European Commission report over ‘unfounded and biased’ criticism

Hong Kong has hit back at the European Commission’s annual report, which claimed the city’s autonomy and freedoms were in “continued erosion”, citing the enactment of domestic national security legislation and the high-profile trials of opposition activists. The Hong Kong government on Tuesday evening said it “strongly disapproved of and rejected the unfounded and biased…

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Jimmy Lai trial: judge questions defence’s understanding of Hong Kong security law

Jimmy Lai trial: judge questions defence’s understanding of Hong Kong security law

A judge has argued that an interpretation of Hong Kong’s national security law by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s defence team may not reflect Beijing’s true intentions, after the former media boss’ lawyers argued that the legislation did not penalise calls for sanctions against select Chinese officials. Lai’s lawyers on Monday argued that a strict literal approach…

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Hong Kong slams ‘smear campaigns’ as Jimmy Lai returns to court for trial

Hong Kong slams ‘smear campaigns’ as Jimmy Lai returns to court for trial

The Hong Kong government has strongly condemned “smear campaigns” by foreign forces and anti-China media companies in relation to the national security law trial of former newspaper boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who returns to court on Thursday. Prosecutors and defence lawyers will make their final oral arguments in his high-profile trial. The closing submissions procedure…

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Hong Kong slams ‘smear campaigns’ as Jimmy Lai returns to court for trial

Hong Kong slams ‘smear campaigns’ as Jimmy Lai returns to court for trial

The Hong Kong government has strongly condemned “smear campaigns” by foreign forces and anti-China media companies in relation to the national security law trial of former newspaper boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who returns to court on Thursday. Prosecutors and defence lawyers will make their final oral arguments in his high-profile trial. The closing submissions procedure…

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