Hong Kong politics

three diplomats shake hands in front of an embassy building

‘Open lines of communication’ are crucial to improving relations with Beijing, Amb Nicholas Burns says

US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns was in the room this week when Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Amb. Burns spoke with The World’s Marco Werman about Taiwan, Ukraine and why US and Chinese military leaders have stopped talking to one another.

‘Open lines of communication’ are crucial to improving relations with Beijing, Amb Nicholas Burns says
Pro-democracy activists, Joshua Wong, left, Sunny Cheung, center, and Nathan Law holding a placard, speak to media to urge the European leaders against national security law for Hong Kong outside the Legislative Council.

American lawmakers accuse China of spying on dissidents in the US

American lawmakers accuse China of spying on dissidents in the US
A man is shown wearing military fatigues and holding a gun with cement barriers nearby.

First commercial flight leaves Kabul

First commercial flight leaves Kabul
Taliban fighters patrol in Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan

Taliban violently quashes small protest in Jalalabad

Taliban violently quashes small protest in Jalalabad
An several storeys tall stone church is shown carved into the side of a hillside.

Tigrayan forces take over Ethiopian town known for its ancient churches

Tigrayan forces take over Ethiopian town known for its ancient churches
A line of people are shown waiting to purchase the last print edition of the Hong Kong newspaper, Apple Daily.

Hong Kong's last pro-democracy paper sells out final edition

The final edition of Hong Kong's last remaining pro-democracy paper sold out in hours Thursday, as readers scooped up all 1 million copies of the Apple Daily.

Hong Kong's last pro-democracy paper sells out final edition
Red building in China with people in masks mingling in front of it

In Hong Kong, lighting a candle for Tiananmen victims is now a crime

Wearing black, or being in or around Victoria Park on the anniversary, could also land someone a one-year sentence in jail.

In Hong Kong, lighting a candle for Tiananmen victims is now a crime
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, is shown wearing a light colored blazer with his hands handcuffed behind his back.

Pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai sentenced in Hong Kong

Top of The World: Media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 73, was sentenced Friday in Hong Kong to 14 months in prison. And, Raúl Castro is set to step down from his post as the secretary-general of his party's eighth Congress. Also, US President Joe Biden will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday.

Pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai sentenced in Hong Kong
The dark silhouetted of several people are shown with their hands in the air holding up the red, white and black-stripped Yemen flag.

In foreign policy reset, Biden ends US support for Saudi-led offensive in Yemen

Top of The World: US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday plans to end US support for the Saudi-led military offensive in Yemen. And, students in Hong Kong will have a new curriculum imposed by Beijing that includes lessons on the controversial national security law. Also, the government in Indonesia announced a ban on mandatory religious attire in public schools.

In foreign policy reset, Biden ends US support for Saudi-led offensive in Yemen
US Capitol police with guns drawn stand near a barricaded door as members of a mob try to break into the House Chamber in Washington.

The world reacts to chaotic rampage at the US Capitol; China calls out US on 'hypocrisy'; Biden victory confirmed by Congress

In the hours after pro-Trump extremists stormed the US Capitol building on Wednesday, world leaders condemned the chaos and violence that erupted as Trump loyalists attempted to overturn Nov. 3 US presidential election results won by Joe Biden.

The world reacts to chaotic rampage at the US Capitol; China calls out US on 'hypocrisy'; Biden victory confirmed by Congress
Six people wearing medical masks stand and shout slogans.

Mass arrests of opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong; Sudan and US sign historic 'Abraham Accords'; All eyes on Georgia Senate runoffs

Early morning arrests in Hong Kong were the most sweeping crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy movement since the controversial national security law was imposed by Beijing last June.

Mass arrests of opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong; Sudan and US sign historic 'Abraham Accords'; All eyes on Georgia Senate runoffs
A truck leaves Pfizer Manufacturing in Puurs, Belgium, Dec. 2, 2020.

UK greenlights Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine; Pompeo harshly criticizes Turkey; Biden signals patience on China trade

The UK has approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, with the first shots expected to roll out next week. During a virtual meeting Tuesday of NATO foreign ministers, outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo harshly criticized Turkey. And, US President-elect Joe Biden told The New York Times that he would not quickly scrap the phase one trade agreement reached by outgoing President Donald Trump with China.

UK greenlights Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine; Pompeo harshly criticizes Turkey; Biden signals patience on China trade
Three Asian men with short, dark hair wear face masks, the man in the middle wears glasses.

‘We will stand firm’ in fight for democracy in Hong Kong, former party chair says

Wu Chi-wai, chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party, resigned Wednesday after the Hong Kong government disqualified four fellow party members. He believes Beijing's latest crackdown marks the end of the "one country, two systems" model for Hong Kong.

‘We will stand firm’ in fight for democracy in Hong Kong, former party chair says
Pro-democratic legislators including Wu Chi-Wai, Claudia Mo and Lam Cheuk-ting announced plans to resign from the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, Nov. 11, 2020.

Hong Kong lawmakers resign en masse; Mozambique militants behead dozens; Explosion rocks Jeddah cemetery event

Hong Kong’s 15 remaining pro-democracy legislators have decided to resign en masse, militants in Mozambique who claimed to have ties to ISIS beheaded more than 50 people, and at least two people were wounded in an attack on a cemetery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during a World War I memorial ceremony.

Hong Kong lawmakers resign en masse; Mozambique militants behead dozens; Explosion rocks Jeddah cemetery event
An NBA sign is seen at the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, Nov. 5, 2020. 

The NBA works ‘super hard’ to reestablish ‘open dialogue’ in China

After the NBA was banned on Chinese TV, the US basketball association made a series of public and private gestures in China to quell political tensions that erupted from one NBA player’s infamous pro-Hong Kong tweet. 

The NBA works ‘super hard’ to reestablish ‘open dialogue’ in China