Wong, 22, became one of the most recognisable faces of the "Umbrella Movement" in 2014 which paralysed key intersections of the territory for more than two months. Protesters were demanding a greater say in how the city is run, including the right for Hong Kong residents to directly elect the city's leader. The movement took its name from the umbrellas protesters used to defend themselves against police. It failed to win any concessions from the city's pro-Beijing authorities, and its leaders faced a slew of prosecutions. Wong, who was 17 when the protests began, was jailed for three months in January 2018 on a contempt charge after pleading guilty to obstructing the clearance of a major protest camp. He served only six days of that sentence before being released on bail pending an appeal. On Thursday, however, a senior judge said Wong must return to jail – albeit for a reduced sentence of two months. Justice of Appeal Jeremy Poon said Wong's age at the time of the offence … [Read more...] about Hong Kong: Umbrella movement leader sent back to jail
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Pompeo meets Hong Kong pro-democracy leader
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Hong Kong pro-democracy leader Martin Lee on Thursday, the State Department said, as Hong Kong activists seek to derail a proposed extradition law pushed by Beijing, reports Trend citing to Reuters “Secretary Pompeo expressed concern about the Hong Kong government’s proposed amendments to the Fugitive Ordinance law, which threaten Hong Kong’s rule of law,” the department said in a statement. Lee founded the first pro-democracy party in Hong Kong in 1990 and has been a prominent voice calling for civil liberties for the city’s residents. Hong Kong lawmakers loyal to Beijing are pushing to enact a law that would allow people accused of a crime, including foreigners, to be extradited from the city to countries without formal extradition agreements, including mainland China. Democracy activists fear the legislation would erode rights and legal protections in the former British colony that were guaranteed under the … [Read more...] about Pompeo meets Hong Kong pro-democracy leader
Leicester City’s next generation ready for Hong Kong challenge
Leicester City’s youngsters will be bidding to make it a hat-trick of victories for the club at the Hong Kong FC Citi Sevens tournament. City have sent a young squad of ten players, coached by under-23s manager Steve Beaglehole and coach Ben Petty, to Hong Kong to gain valuable experience as they progress through the ranks. City have won the competition twice before but face stiff competition this time as Aston Villa, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Rangers, Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion are competing. "This trip is ideal to integrate some of the younger boys into the squad,” said Beaglehole. Read More Leicester City news and views "They're the next group up from the Under-18s into the Under-23s group and I’m sure that during the 2019/20 season, those boys will figure in numerous games at Under-23s level so that’s a big plus for us. “We’ve come out here and we’ve won it twice, as you know, and it’ll be … [Read more...] about Leicester City’s next generation ready for Hong Kong challenge
Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong sent back to jail
Prominent Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong was sent back to prison Thursday after he lost an attempt to quash a jail sentence over his leadership of huge democracy protests five years ago. Wong, 22, became one of the most recognisable faces of the "Umbrella Movement" in 2014 which paralysed key intersections of the financial hub for more than two months. Protesters were demanding a greater say in how the city is run, including the right for Hong Kongers to directly elect the city's leader. The movement -- which took its name from the umbrellas protesters used to defend themselves against police -- failed to win any concessions from the city's pro-Beijing authorities, and its leaders faced a slew of prosecutions. Wong, who was 17 when the protests began, was jailed for three months in January 2018 on a contempt charge after pleading guilty to obstructing the clearance of a major protest camp. He served only six days of that sentence before being released on bail pending an appeal. … [Read more...] about Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong sent back to jail
Azerbaijan purchases Hong Kong drones for agriculture
By Leman Mammadova Azerbaijan is making efforts to improve product quality in the country as well as improve the efficiency of labor by applying high technologies in the agriculture industry. The country will begin to use drones since summer 2019 to determine the state of agricultural lands, Toghrul Gafarbayli, head of the protocol at the Ministry of Agriculture, told Interfax Azerbaijan. He noted that so far, the ministry has purchased only one drone, adding that the number of these drones will be increased to 10-15 in the near future. “The drones will be handed over to the Plant Production Institute under the Agriculture Ministry, and upon the request of the farmers, the specialists will go to the site and conduct the necessary research,” he said. In Gafarbayli’s words, drones are needed to conduct surveys in hard-to-reach areas of agricultural land. They can determine how well the irrigation was conducted as well as the condition of the soil and … [Read more...] about Azerbaijan purchases Hong Kong drones for agriculture