Hong Kong

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, shown here during a game on Monday, has weighed in on comments made by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey.

Back From China, LeBron James Speaks Out On NBA Controversy

6:24pm October 15, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

James said he believed Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey "wasn't educated on the situation at hand" when he expressed support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

Blizzard Entertainment Faces Public Backlash Following Esports Player Ban

3:21pm October 11, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

In the days after the company banned a Hong Kong player from competing, people across the world have denounced Blizzard and shown their support for pro-democracy protests.

The NBA says basketball players, including LeBron James, will not address the media in news conferences after the preseason games.

NBA Calls Off News Conferences For Players In China As Controversy Lingers

12:56pm October 11, 2019

by Brakkton Booker

The NBA says it made the move after conferring with players. A league source tells NPR that the Lakers and Nets — who are playing Saturday — can hold their own media gatherings if they want to.

Hong Kong soccer fans protest the Chinese national anthem during a 2022 World Cup qualification game in Hong Kong, Sept. 10, 2019.

FIFA Disciplines Hong Kong Football Association After Chinese National Anthem Protest

4:47pm October 09, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

Fans at the Hong Kong vs. Iran World Cup qualifier game in September faced backward and booed as the Chinese national anthem played before kickoff.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a news conference before an NBA preseason basketball game between the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, in Saitama, near Tokyo.

NBA Defends 'Freedom Of Speech' For Employees As China Moves To Block Games

7:32pm October 08, 2019

by Brakkton Booker

"The long-held values of the NBA are to support the freedom of expression," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says, after the league was criticized for its response to a tweet about Hong Kong.

The Activision Blizzard Booth during the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

Sports

Blizzard Entertainment Bans Esports Player After Pro-Hong Kong Comments

2:45pm October 08, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

The developer of World of Warcraft and Hearthstone said a player known as Blitzchung went over the line when he said, "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times!"

Hong Kong's government is set to invoke emergency powers it hasn't used in more than 50 years, as it moves to ban face masks. Here, demonstrators stand in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay to protest the police shooting of a young demonstrator.

World News

Hong Kong May Ban Face Masks By Invoking Colonial-Era Emergency Powers

11:42am October 03, 2019

by Bill Chappell

It would be the first time in half a century that a chief executive has used those powers. News reports of the possible action emerged days after police shot a pro-democracy protester in the chest.

Pedestrians wait to cross a road in front of a floral installation celebrating the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. Streets have been cleaned and security increased before the Oct. 1 holiday.

World News

At 70, People's Republic Of China Faces Economic And Political Headwinds

9:23am September 30, 2019

by Emily Feng

This year's Golden Week celebrations mark China's Communist Party rule surpassing the longevity of the Soviet Union. But Beijing is being buffeted by an economic slowdown and dissent in Hong Kong.

Protesters flash their smartphone lights as they stage a rally at Edinburgh Place in Hong Kong on Friday. This weekend marks five years since the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement formed.

World News

Hong Kong Braces For Massive Weekend Protests

1:51pm September 27, 2019

Saturday marks five years since the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement formed and leads up to the 70^th anniversary of the People's Republic of China next week.

Graph showing twitter activity from banned accounts in the last year.

World News

China Used Twitter To Disrupt Hong Kong Protests, But Efforts Began Years Earlier

10:17pm September 17, 2019

Social media networks banned hundreds of thousands of accounts last month. In NPR's assessment of the data, telling details begin to depict large disinformation campaigns.