News Headlines - 23 October 2019
ong Kong’s government has officially withdrawn the controversial extradition bill which sparked over 20 weeks of protest and civil unrest. The move came a week late due to protests at the Legislative Council during the Chief Executive’s policy address.
The second reading for the bill resumed on Wednesday afternoon. Secretary for Security John Lee then announced the bill was withdrawn.
▽Beijing denies plans to replace Carrie Lam in Hong Kong | Al Jazeera
China has denied it is planning to replace Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam with an "interim" chief executive, rubbishing a report from the Financial Times (FT) as "a political rumour out of ulterior motives".
A Hong Kong murder suspect whose politically loaded case ignited the city’s extradition bill crisis begged for public forgiveness as he was released from prison on Wednesday amid an escalating row with Taiwan.
After spending 19 months in custody on money-laundering charges, Chan Tong-kai, wanted for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend in Taiwan, walked out of Pik Uk Correctional Institution in Clear Water Bay at 9am.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed in his first interview since returning to the United States that Chinese government officials tried to pressure him into firing Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey after he tweeted support for the Hong Kong protesters.
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has dismissed six palace officials for "extremely evil" conduct, a palace announcement said on Wednesday (Oct 23), in a shake-up that comes days after the sacking of the King's royal consort.
The six included a woman, a senior police official and two royal guards, all of whom worked in the palace. AFP reported that "a nurse at the bedroom guard service" and a veterinarian were among those fired.
Two separate announcements published in the official royal gazette accused the six of severe disciplinary misconduct that caused harm to the royal service, and said they had been fired and stripped of all their official ranks.
