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- Israel says 'landed blows' on Hezbollah as Lebanon violence intensifies
- Roma CEO steps down amid anger over club icon De Rossi's sacking
- Incoming French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Hezbollah rockets strike near Israel's Haifa as UN warns of 'catastrophe'
- Haddad Maia roars back to beat Kasatkina in Korea Open final
- All-rounder Ashwin powers India to 280-run Test win over Bangladesh
- Failed Springbok 'gamble' sets up rugby championship decider
- Lebanon strikes send Israelis to shelters as UN warns of 'catastrophe'
- Far-right AfD eyes new win in east German state vote
- Tony Popovic set to become new Socceroos coach - reports
- All-round Ashwin powers India to big Test win over Bangladesh
- NZ chase 275 to win first Sri Lanka Test after Patel bags six
- Ashwin bags six wickets as India hammer Bangladesh in first Test
- Nascent French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat
- Protect the prosciutto: Italy battles swine fever
- UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises
- Marxist leader set to become Sri Lanka's next president
- From blades to pull-up bars: UK charity tackles knife crime
- Swiss vote on pensions and environment protections
- No pain, no gain: Chinese pro wrestlers fight for recognition
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- Hezbollah takes heavy hits but still fighting Israel
- Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
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- Argentina edge South Africa to keep title hopes alive
- Biden says China 'testing us,' in hot mic remarks to Quad allies
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- Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Vinicius helps 'faster' Madrid overturn stubborn Espanyol
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- Vinicius, Mbappe on target as Madrid crush plucky Espanyol
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- Ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's lack of killer instinct in Palace stalemate
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- Kane, Olise run riot as Bayern thump Bremen
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Hong Kong leader defends mainland medics against 'divisive comments'
Hong Kong's leader on Friday warned against making "divisive comments" about mainland medics helping battle the city's deadly Omicron-fuelled wave after questions of accountability were raised by the press.
China this week sent about 400 healthcare workers to bolster the ranks of Hong Kong's anti-pandemic staff, a move that fuelled questions over the waving of working licenses for foreign doctors and medical accountability.
Local station Now TV drew the ire of Beijing supporters on Wednesday after its reporter asked how patients' complaints about mainland medics would be handled.
The channel issued an apology the next day after a pro-Beijing think tank called for the reporter to be fired and accused her of possibly breaching the city's sweeping national security law.
Imposed in 2020 by Beijing after massive and at-times violent democracy protests, the law criminalises dissent and has ensnared nearly 170 people -- including journalists.
When pressed on the incident, leader Carrie Lam dismissed the idea the attacks on Now TV's reporter were a sign of waning press freedom.
"Why do we want to make all this fuss and make divisive comments?" Lam said at a Friday press conference.
She pointed out the tough working conditions the medics face in Hong Kong -- travelling in a closed-loop bubble and toiling in makeshift hospitals far from their families.
"So please, you can ask questions to understand more about their deployment, their contributions and maybe their feelings in time to come, but don’t make it into another political issue or relate it to media freedom," she said.
In a statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said it was worrying the Now TV reporter had been attacked for doing her job, adding her employer's apology would "undoubtedly worsen the self-censorship of its editorial staff".
Hong Kong's news industry has long been known for scrutinising officials in ways unimaginable in mainland China, where local media is controlled by the state and foreign news outlets are heavily restricted.
But two of Hong Kong's most outspoken outlets -- Apple Daily and Stand News -- closed last year after being raided, while another was shuttered after its editors said they "no longer feel safe to work".
Lam's administration has been widely panned over its unclear public messaging and handling of Hong Kong's fifth Covid-19 wave, which has seen nearly a million cases recorded and about 5,000 deaths in less than three months.
W.Lapointe--BTB