Former Economist correspondent and Daily Telegraph South East Asia Correspondent. Author of 'Kathmandu' - a social and political history of the city. ****

Why did Lionel Messi not play in Hong Kong? What contract said, when government was told, news on ticket refunds

05 Feb 2024  |  South China Morning Post  |  English  |  Entertainment & Celebrity

Lionel Messi did not play in a match in Hong Kong, causing disappointment among nearly 40,000 fans who had purchased tickets to see him. Despite earlier statements from Tatler Asia's CEO Michel Lamuniere suggesting no guarantee of Messi's playtime, a government source claimed there were contract terms specifying Messi's participation barring illness or injury. Inter Miami later cited a hamstring injury for Messi's absence. The Hong Kong government, which had funded the event, was informed of Messi's non-participation shortly before the game ended. The incident led to boos and chants for refunds from the crowd, and Tatler Asia withdrew its application for event funds. The situation is under review by the Major Sports Events Committee, and the question of refunds remains unresolved.

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John Lee Ka-chiu Lionel Messi David Beckham Michel Lamuniere Kevin Yeung Yun-hung Gerardo Martino Cristiano Ronaldo

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Jake Kwon is a CNN producer based in Seoul, South Korea.

Xi Jinping to Open Asian Games at Lotus-Shaped Stadium in Hangzhou

23 Sept 2023  |  CNN  |  English  |  Environmental Responsibility

Chinese President Xi Jinping will inaugurate the Asian Games in Hangzhou at the 'Big Lotus' stadium. The event will be the largest Asian Games to date with over 12,000 athletes from 45 member countries of the Asian Olympic Council. Dignitaries from various countries will attend the opening ceremony. China will showcase its technological advancements, including cloud computing and AI, and will use digital fireworks for environmental considerations. The Games will feature 481 events and three robot mascots representing Hangzhou's heritage and modernity. The Games were delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but Xi expressed confidence in delivering a successful event.

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John Lee Ka-chiu Xi Jinping Norodom Sihamoni Bashar al-Assad Han Duck-soo Qin Haiyang Yang Liwei Sha Xiaolan

Mwangi Maina is a Multimedia journalist working for KTN News, Kenya's leading 24 Hour TV Channel in Eastern Africa as a Content Producer. I cover topics ranging from Politics, Regional affairs (Africa's Great Lakes Region), Media Freedom, Fake news as well as human interest stories. I also write ...

EU Parliament condemns arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen, 4 other Hong Kong democracy activists

07 May 2024  |  www.standardmedia.co.ke  |  English  |  International Relations

The European Parliament condemned the arrests of Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, viewing it as an attack on freedoms guaranteed by the Hong Kong Basic Law. The Parliament's resolution calls for the repeal of the National Security Law and targeted sanctions against Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights violations. The Hong Kong government criticized the EU's resolutions, defending the National Security Law as essential for maintaining order and stability under the 'one country, two systems' principle.

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John Lee Ka-Chiu Cardinal Joseph Zen Cyd Ho Denise Ho Hui Po-Keung Margaret Ng

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Political View

I'm an independent journalist, based in Amsterdam, with a keen interest in press freedom, human rights and podcasting. With experience in producing, reporting and presenting news for radio, television and online content using software like Avid Media Manager and Adobe Audition, I currently ...

EU Parliament condemns arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen, 4 other Hong Kong democracy activists

14 Jul 2022  |  South China Morning Post  |  English  |  Hong Kong Protests

The European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund in Hong Kong, viewing it as an attack on freedoms guaranteed by the Hong Kong Basic Law. The resolution calls for the charges to be dropped and for the 612 fund to resume operations. The arrests, seen as part of a broader crackdown by Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee and Beijing, have drawn condemnation from the EU, the US, and the Vatican. The resolution also urges the repeal of Hong Kong's national security law and calls for increased support for Hong Kong activists.

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John Lee Ka-chiu Cardinal Joseph Zen Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee Denise Ho Wan-sze Hui Po-keung Cyd Ho Sau Miriam Lexmann Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor Reinhard Buetikofer Pope Francis

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Rachel is a Hong Kong based journalist available for writing, photography and videography work.
She is currently covering Hong Kong's ongoing political turmoil stemming from the controversial extradition bill. 

Rachel has previously worked in the Hong Kong desk at South China Morning Post. As a ...

Most Japanese firms in Hong Kong keen on expanding operations to regions covered by world’s largest free-trade pact, survey finds

08 May 2023  |  South China Morning Post  |  English  |  Economic Partnership

At least 60% of Japanese-affiliated companies in Hong Kong are interested in expanding operations to regions covered by the RCEP, including the Greater Bay Area and Asean. Despite Hong Kong not being a member of RCEP, 90% of surveyed companies believe the city's strength lies in its business networks with mainland China. The survey by the Trade Development Council found that Hong Kong's free flow of capital and efficiency as a transshipment hub are key advantages. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu noted that RCEP economies accounted for a significant portion of Hong Kong's trade. The survey indicates that Japanese companies see Hong Kong as a strategic hub for RCEP-related business, with plans to expand into the bay area and Asean regions.

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John Lee Ka-chiu Irina Fan Corey To

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