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New Jersey Route 347

Route 347 is a state highway in the southern part of New Jersey in the United States. It is a bypass of Route 47 in Dennis Township, Cape May County, and Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, that is 8.58 mi long and is completely county-maintained. Route 347 passes through dense woodland for most of its route as a two-lane undivided road. The road is a part of a major route linking the Philadelphia area with the Jersey Shore resorts of Cape May County. The route was created in the 1990s to replace Route 47 Alternate. It has been considered that Route 347 may be partially used for a potential future extension of Route 55, with improvements to the road planned.

Route description
Route 347 begins at an intersection with Route 47 in Dennis Township, Cape May County, heading to the northwest on a two-lane undivided road that is county-maintained. After passing a few residences, the road continues into dense woodland. The route passes by East Creek Pond before entering Maurice River Township in Cumberland County. After the county line, Route 347 intersects CR 550 Spur and forms a concurrency as it runs by West Creek Pond. Past the pond, CR 550 Spur splits from the road, which continues west-northwest. At the junction with CR 679, Route 347 turns to the northwest and comes to a crossroads with CR 550. The road remains on its northwest trajectory as it comes to the eastern terminus of CR 670. At this intersection, the northbound direction of Route 47 turns onto Route 347 from CR 670. Route 347 ends at the point where the ramp to southbound Route 47 splits from the road, which continues north as Route 47. Route 347, along with Route 47 and Route 55, constitutes a major route connecting the Philadelphia area to the Jersey Shore resorts of Cape May County, with Route 347 serving as a bypass of a section of Route 47. The route is also part of a hurricane evacuation route for Cape May County in which contraflow lane reversal can be used for a quicker evacuation.

History
What is now Route 347 was originally an unnumbered local road connecting to Route 47 at both ends. Route 347 was created in the 1990s, replacing what was originally designated as Route 47 Alternate. A third lane is currently being proposed along Route 347 in order to handle additional traffic at peak times in the summer season. Either a reversible lane or extra shoulder space is being considered for the additional lane. Originally, the route was to be widened to four total lanes. Auxiliary lanes are also planned to be built at the southern terminus with Route 47 in Dennis Township and the Route 47/CR 670 junction in Maurice River Township in order to alleviate traffic. The Route 347 corridor, along with a part of Route 47, is being considered for a southern expansion of Route 55 to the Garden State Parkway in Cape May County.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: New Jersey Route 347


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Jimmy Lai

Lai Chee-ying (born 8 December 1947 ), also known as Jimmy Lai, is a Hong Kong businessman and politician. He founded Giordano, an Asian clothing retailer, Next Digital (formerly Next Media), a Hong Kong-listed media company, and the popular newspaper Apple Daily. He is one of the main contributors to the pro-democracy camp, especially to the Democratic Party. Although he is known as a Hong Kong political figure, he has been a British national since 1996. Lai is also an art collector.

A prominent critic of the Chinese Communist Party, Lai was arrested on 10 August 2020 by the Hong Kong police on charges of violating the territory's new national security law,  an action which prompted widespread criticism. Lai was allowed bail on 12 August, but on 3 December, Lai was accused of fraud and his bail was revoked. The court decided to jail Lai until April 2021, marking the first time Lai has been detained. Lai regarded his imprisonment as "the summit of his own life".

In July 2019, Lai met with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Lai said "We in Hong Kong are fighting for the shared values of the US against China. We are fighting their war in the enemy camp."

In December 2020, Lai was awarded the "Freedom of Press Award" by Reporters Without Borders for his role in founding Apple Daily, a news outlet under Lai's pro-democracy leadership that "still dares to openly criticise the Chinese regime and which widely covered last year's pro-democracy protests." On 29 December, Lai resigned from his roles with Next Digital as director and chairman of the board.

In April 2021, he was sentenced to an additional 14 months in prison for organizing illegal protests. As of September 2023, Lai remains imprisoned in solitary confinement at Hong Kong’s Stanley Prison.

Early life
Lai was born in Canton (Guangzhou), China, on 8 December 1947. At the age of 12, he entered Hong Kong as a stowaway on a boat. Upon his arrival, Lai began work as a child labourer in a garment factory for a wage of the equivalent of US$8 per month. Lai is a practising Catholic.

Giordano
Lai's factory work saw him rise to the position of factory manager. In 1975, Lai used his year-end bonus on Hong Kong stocks to raise cash and bought a bankrupt garment factory, Comitex, where he began producing sweaters. Customers included J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, and other U.S. retailers.

By rewarding sellers with financial incentives in Hong Kong, he built the chain into an Asia-wide retailer. Giordano was said to have more than 8,000 employees in 2,400 shops in 30 countries.

Lai has kept Comitex active as a shell company since he left the garment industry for media and politics in the 1990s. After his arrest under National Security Law in August 2020, Lai tried to sell his asset in Hong Kong, including the entire floor of Tai Ping Industrial Centre. The current owner of the property is Comitex Knitters Ltd. Comitex, along with other private companies controlled by Lai, was reported to be the financial tools for his political activities and donations.

Other companies
In 1997 Lai put up the capital for his twin sister, Si Wai, to acquire numerous properties in the Southern Ontario wine and vacation region of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Lais Group of Companies now owns additional properties in Caledon and Jordan, both in Ontario. Lai remains the owner despite his arrest.

During the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, Lai started an Internet-based grocery retailer that offered home delivery services, adMart. The business expanded its product scope beyond groceries to include electronics and office supplies, but was shut down after losing between $100 and $150 million. Lai attributed this business failure to overconfidence and a lack of viable business strategy.

In 2011, Next Media reportedly sold 70 per cent stake of Next Media's subsidiary Colored World Holdings (CWH, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands) to Sum Tat Ventures (STV, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands), a private company 100 per cent owned by Jimmy Lai. CWH was estimated to have net asset value of US$6.1 million. STV paid US$100 million in cash for 70 per cent stake of CWH. In 2013, STV paid another US$20 million for the remaining 30 per cent stake of CWH. CWH itself had its assets sold in 2011, and ceased operation in 2011. In total, STV paid US$120 million in cash for CWH. On Lai's Form 3B disclosure form, STV is listed as having the same correspondence address as Next Media in Hong Kong.

Near the end of 2013, Lai spent approximately US$73 million (or NT$2.3 billion) to purchase a 2 per cent stake (~17 million shares) in Taiwanese electronics manufacturer HTC.

Activities in Myanmar
In 2014, leaked documents showed Jimmy Lai paid former US deputy defence secretary and former World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz US$75,000 for his help with projects in Myanmar. Lai also reportedly remitted approximately US$213,000 to businessman Phone Win, with whom Lai's Hong Kong-registered Best Combo company reportedly collaborated on Yangon real estate projects.

Media career
Lai pioneered a reader-centric philosophy with paparazzi journalism in Hong Kong based on publications such as USA Today and The Sun. His best-selling Next Magazine and Apple Daily newspaper featured a mix of racy tabloid material and news items oriented to the mass market with plenty of colour and graphics that attracts a wide range of readers, some of whom are also critics of Lai and his ideology.

Hong Kong publications
Owing to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, Lai became an advocate of democracy and critic of the People's Republic of China government. He began publishing Next Magazine, which combined tabloid sensationalism with hard-hitting political and business reporting. He proceeded to found other magazines, including Sudden Weekly (忽然一週), Eat & Travel Weekly (飲食男女), Trading Express/Auto Express (交易通/搵車快線) and the youth-oriented Easy Finder (壹本便利).

In 1995, as the Hong Kong handover approached, Lai founded Apple Daily, a newspaper start-up that he financed with $100 million of his own money. The newspaper's circulation rose to 400,000 copies by 1997, which was the territory's second largest among 60 other newspapers. According to Lai, he aspired to maintain freedom of speech in Hong Kong through Apple Daily. In addition to promoting democracy, Lai's publications often ruffled feathers of fellow Hong Kong tycoons by exposing their personal foibles and relations with local government.

In 2003, ahead of the record-breaking pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong during July, the cover of Next Magazine featured a photo-montage of the territory's embattled chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa taking a pie in the face. The magazine urged readers to take to the streets while Apple Daily distributed stickers calling for Tung to resign.

In 2006, Sudden Weekly and Next Magazine ranked first and second in circulation for Hong Kong's magazine market. Apple Daily became the No. 2 newspaper in Hong Kong.

In 2020, Lai launched an English version of Apple Daily.

Taiwan publications
Lai launched Taiwanese editions of Next Magazine in 2001 and Apple Daily in 2003, taking on heavily established rivals who made considerable effort to thwart him. Rival publishers pressed advertisers to boycott and distributors not to undertake home delivery. His Taiwan offices were vandalised on numerous occasions. As the publications grew to have the largest readership in their category, the advertising boycotts ended.

In October 2006, Lai launched Sharp Daily (Shuang Bao in Mandarin), a free daily newspaper targeting Taipei commuters. The company also launched Me! Magazine in Taiwan.

In building Taiwan's most popular newspaper, Apple Daily, and magazine, Next Magazine, Lai's racy publications were described as having a great impact on the country's hitherto staid media culture.

Publication challenges
Lai's publications remained banned in China since their inception. The ban originated from Lai's 1994 newspaper column, where he told Premier of the PRC Li Peng, seen as a driving force behind the Tiananmen Square crackdown, to "drop dead". He also called the Chinese Communist Party "a monopoly that charges a premium for lousy service". China's government retaliated against Lai by starting a shut-down of Giordano shops, prompting him to sell out of the company to save it. In addition to having his publications banned in China, businesses had distanced themselves from placing advertisements in Apple Daily to avoid retaliation from the Chinese government.

Lai had frequently faced hostility from the many Beijing-backed tycoons, including attempts to force supplier boycotts of his companies. Major Hong Kong property developers and top companies advertised only in competing publications not owned by Lai. He also faced a lengthy battle to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, which Lai sidestepped through a reverse takeover. He managed to list the company in 1999 by acquiring Paramount Publishing Group in October of that year.

In 2020, Apple Daily published a falsehood-ridden 64-page report produced by Typhoon Investigations alleging Joe Biden's son Hunter had a "problematic" connection with the Chinese Communist Party, which was widely cited by far-right influencers such as Steve Bannon. An NBC News report linked the Typhoon Investigations to a fake "intelligence firm" and claimed that the author of the document, a self-identified Swiss security analyst named Martin Aspen, was a "fabricated identity". The original poster of the document, Christopher Balding, admitted that he wrote parts of the document and later stated that the document had been commissioned by Apple Daily. Lai later said that he had personally "nothing to do with" the report, but he admitted his senior executive, Mark Simon, had "worked with the project". Simon resigned following the NBC report and apologised for having "allowed damage to Jimmy on a matter he was completely in the dark on". The report was among many incidents many US democracy experts believe was instrumental in the cause of the 2021 insurrection there.

Political activities
Lai is a longtime champion of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement. According to Lai, The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek inspired him to fight for freedom. His advocacy had been expressed through his business ventures, such as distributing Giordano t-shirts with portraits of student leaders. His high-profile support for the pro-democracy movements came under strong condemnation from the Chinese government. As the proprietor of one of few that journals that has remained staunchly supportive of the pro-democracy cause, challenging Chinese Communist Party rule, Lai is considered an "anti-China troublemaker". In May 2020, Lai told CNN news that US president Donald Trump was "the only one who can save us" from China, with Apple Daily publishing a similar plea addressed to Trump the same month. In the 2020 United States elections, Lai backed Trump, praising the latter for his "hardline approach" to Beijing.

On 13 December 2014, Lai was one of the pro-democracy leaders arrested during the clearance of the Admiralty protest site of the Umbrella Movement. On the following day, Lai announced he would step down as head of Next Media "to spend more time with his family and further pursue his personal interests."

Lai had been the target of hostile attacks and disturbances, including the leaving of machetes, axes and threatening messages in his driveway. He had been rammed by a car, and his home was firebombed several times, most recently in 2019. Lai's aide and Next Media spokesman Mark Simon condemned these attacks and stated, "This is a continual effort to intimidate the press in Hong Kong. This is raw and pure intimidation." Some activists felt that the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong government, which have been Chinese-controlled since the handover in 1997, did not always follow up on these misconducts against Lai, and that culprits are rarely found.

During the early hours of 12 January 2015, two masked men hurled petrol bombs at Lai's home on Kadoorie Avenue in Kowloon Tong. At the same time, a petrol bomb was thrown at the Next Media headquarters in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate. The fires were extinguished by security guards. The perpetrators fled and two cars used in the attacks were found torched in Shek Kip Mei and Cheung Sha Wan. The crimes were denounced as an "attack on press freedom". Between July and November 2019 Lai was able to meet with US Vice President Mike Pence and later with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss the Hong Kong protests. Pelosi published a photograph of herself, Lai, along with Martin Lee and Janet Pang and supporting words to the Hong Kong protesters. Lai also later met with then US National Security Adviser John Bolton. Bloomberg reporter, Nicholas Wadham tweeted that the meeting was meant to send a signal to Beijing, as it was very "unusual for non governmental visitors to get this kind of access".

On 28 February 2020, Lai was arrested for illegal assembly during his attendance in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, and for allegedly intimidating an Oriental Daily reporter after the reporter took photos of him in 2017. His case was scheduled to be heard at Eastern Law Court on 5 May. On 18 April 2020, Lai was among 15 high-profile democracy figures arrested in Hong Kong. According to a police statement, his arrest was based on suspicion of organising, publicizing or taking part in several unauthorized assemblies between August and October 2019.

On 3 September 2020, Lai was found not guilty of the Oriental Daily criminal intimidation charge.

In December 2020, BBC News interviewed him when he was temporarily out on bail and continuing his activism from Apple Daily newsroom. Lai tearfully admitted his fear for his family as he continues his activism. He stated that if he ended up in jail, then he was living his life meaningfully. Lai stated that "If [the government] can induce fear in you, that's the easiest way to control you", adding that inducing fear was the cheapest and most effective way to control people.

National security law and arrests
On 30 June 2020, the Hong Kong national security law was enacted by China's parliament, by-passing the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Before the law was enacted, Lai called it "a death knell for Hong Kong" and alleged that it would destroy the territory's rule of law.

On 10 August 2020, Lai was arrested at his home for alleged collusion with foreign forces (a crime under the new national security law) and fraud. Other Next Digital staff were also arrested, and police searched the home of both Lai and his son. Later in the morning, approximately 200 Hong Kong police officers raided the offices of Apple Daily in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, seizing around 25 boxes of materials. HSBC took the step to freeze his bank account.

After Lai was arrested, the stock price of Next Digital rose as high as 331 per cent on 11 August. Bail was set at HK$300,000 (approx. US$38,705), with a surety of HK$200,000 (approx. US$25,803). Apple Daily said that more than 500,000 copies of its subsequent day's paper were printed, five times the usual number. The front page of Apple Daily showed an image of Lai in handcuffs with the headline: "Apple Daily must fight on."

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, an agency of mainland China, welcomed the arrest and called for Lai to be severely punished. The Hong Kong Journalists Association described the raid as "horrendous" and unprecedented in Hong Kong. The Democratic Party accused the government of trying to create a chilling effect in the Hong Kong media industry. Former governor Chris Patten called the events "the most outrageous assault yet" on Hong Kong's press. The head of the University of Hong Kong journalism department called the raid an "outrageous, shameful attack on press freedom". On 2 December 2020, Lai reported to the police station as part of his bail condition for his August arrest related to on-going national security law violation but was immediately arrested by police for alleged fraud, in that he and two Next Digital executives allegedly violated lease terms for Next Digital office space. Police referred to a further investigation into possible national security law violation against one of the three, apparently referring to Lai. The case was adjourned until April 2021, with Lai being denied bail.

On 11 December 2020, Lai became the first high-profile figure to be charged under the new national security law for allegedly conspiring and colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. The main evidence for those charges, according to the prosecutors, consisted of statements that Lai had made on Twitter. He was accused of using Twitter and other media to request foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials.

On 23 December 2020, Lai was granted bail by the High Court with the following conditions: HK$10 million deposit; HK$100,000 deposit by each of his three guarantors; To remain at his home at all times, except when reporting to police or attending court hearings (de facto house arrest); Surrender all travel documents; Banned from attending or hosting media interviews or programmes; Banned from publishing articles on any media, posting messages or comments on social media, including Twitter; Report to police thrice a week.

On 31 December 2020, the Court of Final Appeal ordered him back to prison after the Department of Justice, under prosecutor Anthony Chau Tin-hang, appealed his release on bail. On 9 February 2021, Hong Kong's top court denied his bail; a new bail application by Lai was rejected on 19 February.

On 16 February 2021, Lai was arrested while in prison for aiding activist Andy Li in his ill-fated attempt to escape to Taiwan with eleven others in August 2020.

On 1 April, he was convicted on a separate case over "unlawful assembly" during the 2019 protests along six other activists and politicians. On 16 April 2021, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison for the unauthorised assembly charge. As the sentencing was carried out, friends and family shouted "stand strong" and other words of support.

In May 2021, Lai's assets were all frozen by the Hong Kong government, including all the shares of Next Digital Limited and the property and local bank accounts of three companies owned by him. On 28 May 2021, Lai was sentenced to additional 14 months' imprisonment over his role in an unauthorised assembly in 2019. He must now serve 20 months in prison.

On 9 December 2021, (whilst serving his 21 April 2021 sentence) Lai and two others were convicted for their roles in the banned Tiananmen candlelight vigil in Hong Kong. Lai, together with Chow Hang-tung, a vice chairperson of the now-defunct vigil organiser the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, and activist and former reporter Gwyneth Ho were convicted for either taking part in or inciting others to join the vigil. On 13 December 2021, Lai was sentenced to additional 13 months' imprisonment over his role in the banned vigil.

A documentary about the political activism of Lai was released by the Acton Institute in 2022 to significant critical acclaim called The Hong Konger. In the film, Lai refers to how COVID-19 was used as a pretext for banning protesters from organizing following the initial eruption of activity that came after the extradition law was first proposed in 2019. Lai went on to state that, "The younger generation and the older generation have never been so united." and that, "If we just surrender, we will lose everything." The documentary is also critical of the relationship between corporate investment and the lure to Western companies of Chinese markets and the potential for profit, as Jack Wolfsohn in the National Review wrote: "The documentary mentioned Wall Street's complicity in human-rights violations committed by China. Wall Street is so focused on making profits, the documentary points out, that it ignores blatant human-rights violations committed by the Chinese government against the Uyghurs, Tibetans, and the Hong Kongers. Yet, Wall Street continues to invest in China. Lai's reaction to this greed was predictable: "Any company that will bow down to China. . . that will hurt the dignity of the American people."

At an event screening the film, Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, warned of future conflicts, specifically speaking of Taiwan and beyond, "It won't stop in Taiwan. Totalitarianism is a cancer. It's spreading."

On 22 August 2022, Lai pled not-guilty to the charges related to "collusion with foreign forces."

In late 2022, Paul Lam and the Department of Justice made several appeals to the court system, in an attempt to disallow Lai from using a UK lawyer, Tim Owen. Upon rejection of the last appeal at the High Court on 28November 2022, the government turned to the NPCSC to give an interpretation of the relevant passages of the National Security Law; on 30December, the NPCSC ruled in favour of the government, giving the chief executive the power to bar foreign lawyers from cases related to national security.

On 10 December 2022, Lai was sentenced to five years and nine months, and fined 2 million Hong Kong dollars, over the fraud case.

On 17 December 2023, the U.S. State Department again called for Lai's release shortly before his trial was set to begin. Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: "We urge Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to respect press freedom in Hong Kong. Actions that stifle press freedom and restrict the free flow of information – as well as Beijing and local authorities’ changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system that reduce direct voting and preclude independent and pro-democracy party candidates from participating – have undermined Hong Kong’s democratic institutions and harmed Hong Kong’s reputation as an international business and financial hub." In December 2023, British foreign secretary David Cameron called for the release of Lai, calling the charges against him politically motivated.

The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom
The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom  is a documentary film produced by American think tank Acton Institute. In the film, Lai's various businesses are highlighted, and Lai is shown to prioritise freedom of speech and pro-democracy stances over pure entrepreneurial or profit motives. Jack Wolfsohn of National Review said that the film "...sends a vital message about the importance of preserving liberty and fighting tyranny."

The Call of the Entrepreneur
The Call of the Entrepreneur is a documentary produced by Cold Water Media in which Jimmy Lai is one of the main subjects. The film premiered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US on 17 May 2007.

Personal life
Lai and his first wife, Judy, had three children. She left him for another man. In 1989 he met current wife Teresa, then a 24 year old college student; they married two years later, and have children together.

Awards
In June 2021, Lai received the 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, and in December that year, together with the staff of shuttered Apple Daily, the Golden Pen of Freedom Award from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. Sebastien Lai received the latter award on behalf of his incarcerated father.

In April 2022, Lai was amongst five Hong Kong citizens to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for "putting his freedom on the line".

In May 2022, Lai was awarded an honorary degree from The Catholic University of America, for his faith and decision to remain in Hong Kong to fight for democracy. Due to his current imprisonment, the award was accepted by Lai's son, Sebastien.

title: Jimmy Lai


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New Jersey Route 413

Route 413 is a 0.76 mi state highway located entirely in the City of Burlington, New Jersey, United States. It is an eastward extension into New Jersey of the longer Pennsylvania Route 413 (PA 413). The western terminus is in the middle of the Burlington–Bristol Bridge crossing of the Delaware River at the New Jersey–Pennsylvania state border; the eastern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 130 (US 130) and County Route 543 (CR 543). Prior to the 1953 renumbering, Route 413 was Route S25, a prefixed spur of Route 25.

Route description
Route 413 begins at the state line, midway along the vertical-lift Burlington–Bristol Bridge, as a continuation of PA 413. As the road descends from the bridge, a toll booth spans the width of the road though a toll is only collected for westbound traffic. The highway heads eastward, heading along Keim Boulevard, and becomes maintained by Burlington County. For eastbound traffic, a right-in/right-out intersection with Veterans Drive is present while for westbound traffic, an exit for Reed Street is located before the toll booths. East of here, an oblong traffic circle, bisected by a grade crossing of NJ Transit's River Line light rail, is found and has intersections with West Broad Street.

East of here, Route 413 continues as a divided highway with one lane in each direction passing through an area of commercial businesses. The road comes to another oblong traffic circle, with intersections at Oakland Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Lincoln Avenue. One house and two businesses are located along the eastern edge of the circle. East of this circle, Route 413 ends at a complex intersection with US 130 (on which CR 543 runs concurrently), Taylor Avenue, Salem Road, and Mott Avenue.

History
In the 1927 renumbering of highways in New Jersey, US 130 was assigned as a part of New Jersey State Highway Route 25, which made up US 1 and US 9 as well. During that renumbering in 1927, Route 413 was originally New Jersey State Highway Route S-25, a prefixed spur of State Highway Route 25. The highway remained intact along its alignment in Keim Road to the Burlington–Bristol Bridge until January 1, 1953.

On January 1, 1953, the New Jersey State Highway Department performed a second renumbering of state highways. State Highway Route 25, which had run at the southern terminus with Route 130, was decommissioned for the sole designation. Since State Highway Route 25 was decommissioned, State Highway Route S-25 would be orphaned and was decommissioned that day. The Highway Department renumbered S-25's alignment to Route 413, which continued as PA 413.

title: New Jersey Route 413


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Next Digital

Next Digital Limited, previously known as Next Media Limited, was the largest listed media company in Hong Kong.

Founded by Jimmy Lai, it had 2,095 employees as of 30 Sep 2020. The media outlet had a user base of 5.0 million monthly unique visitors in Hong Kong, 12.3 million monthly unique visitors in Taiwan, 1.7 million in the US and 399,0002 in Canada up till 2019. Apple Daily, the newspaper of the media group, was the most read newspaper in the city. The company became defunct on 15 December 2021.

History
From 20 October 2015, the company has changed its English name to Next Digital Limited, from Next Media Limited. Under a grim political climate, the news outlet's intrepid political activism infuriated the Beijing regime. Some companies with ties to China had refrained from putting advertisements on any publication of the media group due to the heightened political pressure exerted on the business bodies in the city.

Next Media's irreverent probe into sensitive social topics is what believed to be the reason of a triad-style vandalism targeted at the press offices, followed by the forced shut-down in 2021.

Raid by the police
On 10 August 2020, Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Digital, was arrested by the Hong Kong Police early morning that day for alleged collusion with foreign powers after a Beijing-led investigation. A post on Twitter from the media group's executive, Mark Simon, confirmed the arrest. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that "the arrest of media tycoon Jimmy Lai bears out the worst fears that Hong Kong's National Security Law would be used to suppress critical pro-democracy opinion and restrict press freedom". Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, commented, "Jimmy Lai should be released at once and any charges dropped." The Hong Kong Police made arrest of seven people aged 39 to 72 who have been accused of violating the new security law. The arrestees included Jimmy Lai (Founder of Next Digital Limited), Cheung Kim Hung (CEO of Next Digital Limited), Chow Tat Kuen, Royston (executive director and CFO of Next Digital Limited).

Political position
The news media has often offered explicit, proactive support for pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong. The paper is regarded to hold libertarian views on financial and economic issues.

Awards and recognition
A slew of news articles authored by journalists from Next Media had received recognition through news awards such as Human Rights Press Awards, Investigative Feature Writing, Excellence in Reporting on Women's Issues, Hong Kong News Awards, Hong Kong Institute of Professional Photographers Awards, Excellence in Video Reporting, Spot News Photography Prizes, Chinese-Language Cartoon / Illustration Merit, Chinese-Language News Merits, etc. On the day of shutdown, queues of citizens snapped up the total 1 million copies of Apple Daily's last print, marking a sensational end to the paper's decades of journalism and a symbol of Hong Kong's media pluralism.

The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom film
Next Digital was featured in the film, The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom. A documentary film produced by American think tank Acton Institute which received universally positive reviews from critics.

Hong Kong publications

 * Apple Daily – Formerly one of Hong Kong's largest circulation newspapers, which was published daily between 1995 and 2021.
 * Next Magazine – Published on Wednesday evenings, one of Hong Kong's largest circulation news and entertainment magazines between 1990 and 2021.
 * Easy Finder – A teen-focused entertainment magazine.

Monday Book – A set of four magazines sold together for HK$12 on Monday mornings that are more thematically male and commercially focused.
 * Face – Gossip, entertainment and fashion
 * Ketchup – Gadgets, gaming and mobile
 * JobFinder – Jobs and recruitment magazine (sales assistant-level jobs)
 * AutoExpress – Used cars, auto insurance, dating advertisements, car license plates for sale.
 * Trading Express – Classified ads for products, small companies, second-hand watches.

Friday Book – A set of three magazines sold together for HK$12 on Friday mornings that are more thematically female and leisure-focused. At the end of 2008, Next Media relinquished its holding in these three magazines, whose editorial management since early 2009 has been tied to TVB Weekly (the official magazine of Television Broadcasts Limited and owned by a joint venture between Malaysian media conglomerate company Astro All Asia Networks plc (Astro) and Albert Yeung's Emperor Group).
 * Eat and Travel Weekly – Sold to Astro in November 2006.
 * Sudden Weekly – Women-oriented entertainment magazine. Sold to Astro in November 2006.
 * Me – A cosmetics and fashion magazine. Founded by Astro in December 2006.

Hong Kong publications
The Atnext.com network is the No. 1 online Chinese new, information and current events portal from Hong Kong and reaches more than 2 million users per month, audited by Neilsen//Netratings.

Vertical/community portals In addition to original exclusive content and social networking tools, these sites aggregate content from all other sites.

 * Lady – Female-focused portal with strong community
 * Travel – Travel site
 * Education – education guide for students of all levels
 * Motor – Car vertical covering auto reviews and more
 * Life – lifestyle guide on everyday city living
 * Racing – a subscription-based horse racing guide focused on HK and Macau races (HK$1,888 per year)
 * Soccer – soccer fans' guide to everything soccer
 * Health – a vertical channel on medical and health

Taiwan publications

 * Apple Daily – Published daily, one of Taiwan's highest-circulation newspapers
 * Sharp Daily – A free daily newspaper
 * Next Magazine – Published on weekly, one of Taiwan's largest circulation news and entertainment magazines
 * Me (Taiwan version) – A weekly magazine

Corporate structure
The top management committee of the company is the Board. The Board is responsible for overseeing the successful of Next Media and devising the company's future strategy. The Board delegates the running of Next Media's day-to-day operations to carefully chosen executive directors and senior management. The Board looks to the management to ensure it is apprised of all significant developments that may affect the company and its operations.

There are four committees established by the Board, granted for different kinds of duties.
 * Executive Directors: for the purpose of approving issues and allotment of shares
 * Audit Committee: mainly to assist the Board in its oversight of the integrity of the company's financial statements; the company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the external auditor's qualifications and independence; and the performance of the company's internal audit function and external auditors.
 * Remuneration Committee; to review and develop policies in relation to the remuneration of directors and senior management of the company; to make recommendations to the Board from time to time as may be necessary in relation to such policies.
 * Ad hoc Sub-committee; made up of the financial heads of all major operation subsidiaries.

Senior leadership
Note: Senior leadership only reflects the structure since the Group's listing in 1999; previously, it was a private company with no formal structure

List of chairmen

 * 1) Jimmy Lai Chee-ying (1999–2014); executive chairman
 * 2) Cassian Cheung Ka-sing (interim Chairman 2014–2016); executive chairman
 * 3) Ip Yut-kin (2016–2018); non-executive chairman
 * 4) Jimmy Lai Chee-ying (2018–2020); second term; non-executive between 2018 and 2020; executive for part of 2020
 * 5) Ip Yut-kin (2020–2021)

List of chief executives
Note: The position of Chief Executive was not used during the years 2002–2006, as the then-Executive Chairman Jimmy Lai took on CEO responsibilities from his post

 * 1) Lim Tai-thong (2000)
 * 2) Pieter Lodewijk Schats (2001)
 * 3) Stephen Ting Ka-yu (2007)
 * 4) Jimmy Lai Chee-ying (2008)
 * 5) Chu Wah-hui (2008–2010)
 * 6) Chu Wah-hui and Cassian Cheung Ka-sing (2010–2011)
 * 7) Cassian Cheung Ka-sing (2011–2014; interim CEO 2014–2016)
 * 8) Cheung Kim-hung (2018–2021)

Subsidiaries

 * Apple Daily Limited
 * Apple Daily Online Limited
 * Apple Daily Printing Limited
 * Cameron Printing Company Limited
 * Database Gateway Limited
 * Easy Finder Limited
 * Easy Finder Hong Kong Marketing Limited
 * Easy Media Limited
 * Eat and Travel Weekly Company Limited
 * Next Media Animation Limited
 * Next Magazine Advertising Limited
 * Next Magazine Publishing Limited
 * Next Media Group Management Limited
 * Next Media Hong Kong/Publication Publishing Limited
 * Paramount Printing Company Limited
 * Rainbow Graphic & Printing Company Limited
 * Sudden Weekly Limited

title: Next Digital


text:
Media of Hong Kong

Hong Kong's media consists of several different types of communications of mass media: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, websites and other online platforms.

Overview
Hong Kong is home to many of Asia's biggest media entities and remains one of the world's largest film industries. The loose regulation over the establishment of a newspaper makes Hong Kong home to many international media such as the Asian Wall Street Journal and Far Eastern Economic Review, and publications with anti-Communist backgrounds such as The Epoch Times (which is funded by Falun Gong). It also once had numerous newspapers funded by Kuomintang of Taiwan but all of them were terminated due to poor financial performance. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong publishes Kung Kao Po, a weekly newspaper. Apple Daily and Oriental Daily News are the two best selling newspapers, according to AC Nielsen, accounting for more than 60% of readership. Both are known for their anti-Hong Kong government political positions, colourful presentations and sensational news reportage. Whereas Apple Daily is strongly regarded as pro-democracy, Oriental Daily is inclined to be pro-China government. Traditional PRC government-friendly journals, Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, are owned by the Central Government Liaison Office. In December 2015, the South China Morning Post – Hong Kong's newspaper of record – was acquired by the Alibaba Group, with the declared aim of promoting an alternative pro-China narrative to international media.

The freedom of press is protected by the Bill of Rights, in contrast to the rest of China where control over media is pervasive. However, this freedom has been in decline since the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. According to the Reporters Without Borders, Hong Kong enjoyed "real press freedom" and ranked second in Asia after Japan in the Press Freedom Index, although it has been rapidly declining. Different views over topics sensitive in mainland China, such as the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule, and democracy are still dynamically discussed among the media. Many books banned in China, such as the memoir of Zhao Ziyang, a former CCP party leader who stepped down in 1989, continue to be published in Hong Kong.

In 2002, Hong Kong had:
 * Daily newspapers: 52
 * Chinese-language dailies: 27
 * English-language dailies: 3
 * English-language newspapers publishing 5 or 6 days a week: 6
 * Bilingual dailies: 5
 * Newspapers in other languages: 7
 * Free-to-air commercial TV companies: 3
 * Subscription TV licensees: 4
 * Non-domestic television programme licensees: 12
 * Government radio-television station: 1
 * Commercial radio stations: 2

Media authorities
Formerly, three statutory bodies regulated media in Hong Kong, with another statutory body acting as an independent broadcaster:
 * Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority (BA) regulates broadcasters in Hong Kong by licensing and penalties according to the Broadcasting Regulation.
 * Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) is responsible for monitoring television and radio broadcasting to secure proper standards.
 * Telecommunications Authority, (OFCA) the regulatory agency which applied held legislative power over antitrust, spectrum allocation and telecommunications legislation.
 * Radio Television Hong Kong operates as an independent government broadcaster with 7 radio channels and 3 television channels, whilst also producing programmes for public dissemination.

In 2012, BA, OFCA and TELA were merged into one to form the new Communications Authority, which combined all the functions of its three predecessor organisations in one.

Non-Governmental bodies:

 * Press Council was established in July 2000. The objective of the council is to promote the professional and ethical standards of the newspaper industry, defend press freedom, and deal with public complaints against local newspapers. It is an independent organisation.

Media regulation
Freedom of the press and publication are enshrined in Article 27 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, and are also protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) under Article 39 of the Basic Law.

There is no law called "media law" in Hong Kong. Instead, the media are governed by statutory laws. In brief, there are 31 Ordinances that are directly related to mass media. Six of which are highlighted below.

 * Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance (Cap. 268), provides for the registration of local newspapers and news agencies and the licensing of newspaper distributors.
 * Books Registration Ordinance (Cap. 142) (Cap. 106), provides for the registration and preservation of copies of books first printed, produced or published in Hong Kong.
 * Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106), makes better provision for the licensing and control of telecommunications, telecommunications services and telecommunications apparatus and equipment.
 * Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Cap. 390) controls and classifies articles which consist of or contain material that is obscene or indecent. Obscene Articles Tribunals are established to determine whether an article is obscene or indecent.
 * Broadcasting Authority Ordinance (Cap. 391), provides for the establishment and functions of a Broadcasting Authority.
 * Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562), licenses companies to provide broadcasting services and regulate the provision of broadcasting services by licensees.

The rest of the Ordinances are of less importance since they do not aim at regulating mass media, but some of their provisions do affect the operation of media organisations and also the freedom of press.

The passing of Bill of Rights Ordinance (BORO) in 1986 strengthened the protection of fundamental human rights like press freedom or freedom of speech. This has been reflected in the loosening of control over mass media. Laws that violate the principle of press freedom are gradually amended. For example, section 27 of Public Order Ordinance, which criminalised the publishing of false news, was repealed in 1989.

Nonetheless, there are still concerns among the media sector that some existing laws may still undermine the freedom of the press and publication, e.g. Official Secrets Ordinance (Cap. 521) and Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245).

Television
Hong Kong has three broadcast television stations, ViuTV, Fantastic TV and TVB. The latter, launched in 1967, was the territory's first free-to-air commercial station, and is currently the predominant TV station in the territory. Paid cable and satellite television have also been widespread. The production of Hong Kong's soap drama, comedy series and variety shows have reached mass audiences throughout the Chinese-speaking world. Many international and pan-Asian broadcasters are based in Hong Kong, including News Corporation's STAR TV. Hong Kong's terrestrial commercial TV networks, Christian Broadcasting Network of Hong Kong and TVB can also be seen in neighbouring Guangdong and Macau (via cable).

However, Asia Television, Hong Kong's first TV station, has seen a gradual decline in production quality and audience rating in recent years and faces financial difficulties. Its false report of death of Jiang Zemin severely damaged its credibility. On 1 April 2015, Hong Kong's Executive Council gave notice that ATV's terrestrial television licence would not be renewed and that it would instead end on 1 April 2016. RTHK and newcomer HKTVE (owned by Richard Li's PCCW which also owns the IPTV service Now TV) took over the frequencies of ATV since 2 April 2016. In May 2017, Fantastic Television started its free-to-air broadcast.

Radio

 * Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) – government-funded, operates eight networks in Cantonese, Mandarin and English
 * Commercial Radio (CR) – operates CR1, CR2 networks in Cantonese and mediumwave (AM) English-language station AM 864
 * Metro Radio Hong Kong (MRHK) – operates Metro Showbiz, Metro Finance and English-language Metro Plus

Book publishers
Sino United Publishing, formed in 1988 through merger of some of the historic publishing agencies, is Hong Kong's largest integrated publishing group. It has an estimated 80% share of the book publishing market. It is Hong Kong's largest Chinese-language publishing group, has 51 retail outlets in the territory, and is wholly owned by Central Government Liaison Office, which also owns newspaper titles Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po.

Newspapers
According to independent surveys conducted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, South China Morning Post and Ming Pao are the most trusted newspapers in Hong Kong.

The Chinese language newspapers Headline Daily, Oriental Daily News, Apple Daily and Sun Daily have the highest shares in the Hong Kong newspaper market, while the Hong Kong Economic Times is the best-selling financial newspaper. The Standard, a free tabloid with a mass market strategy, is the most widely circulated English newspaper by a significant margin. Its rival, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's newspaper of record, has the most paid subscribers among English-language papers in Hong Kong. Since its purchase by Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok's Kerry Media The South China Morning Post has publication. It was announced on 11 December 2015 that Alibaba Group would acquire the South China Morning Post from Robert Kuok, who has owned it since 1993. Alibaba said that the acquisition was made out of the desire to improve China's image in light of the western bias of the journal. The latest to join the newspaper scene is HK01, which launched in March 2016. As a Hong Kong-based advocacy media, HK01 are dedicated to disrupting discussion with interactive multimedia storytelling through the Web, print and physical space. Readers can take advantage of its in-depth reporting and all-round analysis in current affairs, local stories and lifestyle features that will help them evolve into critical thinkers.

Magazines
• Weekly:

• Next Magazine (Service ceased)

• East Touch

• East Week

• Fashion & Beauty

• Sudden Weekly

• Face

• Ming Pao Weekly

• U Magazine

• Weekend Weekly

• Tao

• Yoho

• Three Weekly

• New Monday

• Whiz Kids Express Weekly

• Capital Weekly

• HK Magazine

• Bi-Weekly:

• bc magazine

• Time Out

• Monthly:

• JESSICA

• JESSICACODE

• Elle

• CosmoGIRL!

• Cosmopolitan

• Harper's Bazaar

• Jet

• JMen

• HIM

• Elle Men

• Esquire 《君子雜誌》

• Men's Uno

• MRRM

• Marie Claire 《瑪利嘉兒》

• Capital

• Capital CEO

• Capital Entrepreneur

• ExperiXonl 中文商業雜誌月刊

• Tatler Asia

• City Magazine 《號外》

• Cheng Ming Magazine 《爭鳴》 (1977–2017 )

• Sai Kung Magazine

• PIPELINE

• BC Magazine

• BOOM Magazine

• Marketing Magazine

• CarPlus 《車王》

• PCM 《電腦廣場》

• CAZBuyer 《車買家》

• Spiral 《游絲腕表》

• CUP Magazine 《茶杯雜誌》

• Prestige Hong Kong

• The Young Reporter

• San Po Yan 《新報人》

• The Trend (1978–2017 )

• Quarterly:

• BENCHMARK Magazine（指標）

• Echelon

Public space media

 * RoadShow
 * Newsline Express

Online media
• Stand News (立場新聞) (Chinese) (Service ceased)

• Hong Kong Citizen News (眾新聞) (Chinese) (Service ceased)

• HK01 (香港01) (Chinese)

• Truth Media Hong Kong (TMHK) (Chinese)

• Initium Media (端傳媒) (Chinese)

• The News Lens (關鍵評論網) (Bilingual news in English & Chinese)

• EJInsight – English service of the Hong Kong Economic Journal

• Inkstone News (English)

• EP21.org (網政21)(Chinese) (Service ceased)

• HK Magazine / Asia City Media Group

• HIRADIO HK (係播網絡電台)(Chinese/English)  (Service suspend)

• Honeycombers Hong Kong (English, Chinese)

• Harbour Times (English)

• Hong Kong Free Press (English)

• Hong Kong In-media (香港獨立媒體網) (Chinese)

• Hong Kong Television Network, online, since HK Government controversially denied a terrestrial broadcast licence in 2013

• House News (主場新聞)  (Service ceased on 26 July 2014)

• "IBHK"(香港網絡廣播電台) / Online radio station. (Cantonese)

• Localiiz (English)

• Drastic Social (English, Chinese)

• CORPHUB

•  The Beat Asia (English)

• Lifestyle Asia (English)

• Local Press (本土新聞) (Chinese)

• HKgolden news (高登新聞) (Chinese)

• Open Radio Hong Kong (開台)(Chinese)

• Passion Times (熱血時報) (Chinese)

• People's Radio Hong Kong (香港人民廣播電台)(Chinese)  (Service ceased)

• Post 852 (852 郵報) (Chinese)

• ExperiXon中文商業雜誌 (ExperiXon 中文商業雜誌) (Chinese)

• Sassy Hong Kong (English)

• Sassy Mama Hong Kong (English)

• TALKONLY.net (講台)(Chinese)

• The Real Hong Kong News (English)

• United Social Press (社媒) (mostly Chinese)

• VJ Media (Chinese)

• Parity Media HK (社衡媒體) (Chinese)

• Lifenews HK 生活提案事務所 (Chinese)

• SAUCE Media HK (Chinese)

• PlaYeah 玩嘢！ (Chinese)

Media organisations

 * FactWire – a non-profit news agency (disbanded)
 * Next Media
 * Sing Tao News Corporation Limited
 * SCMP Group
 * Sino United Publishing – Hong Kong's largest Chinese publishing group, which has 51 retail outlets in the territory.

Media freedom
Although media freedom in Hong Kong is theoretically guaranteed by a bill of rights, the perceived freedom of the Hong Kong media according to the World Press Freedom Index ranks 148th out of 180 countries in 2022, having slid from 18th place in 2002. Concerns have been brought about by a number of factors and high-profile incidents affecting the media. Pundits and journalists alike have been alarmed at the erosion of journalists' ability to report the news in an objective manner. Journalists have complained about sensitive news stories critical of the government that they have been under undisguised pressure to change or soften. There has also been pressure on organisations including major financial institutions to pull advertising from newspapers that take a pro-democracy or anti-government stance, and the brazen attack on a respected newspaper editor; All told, the incidence of censorship, political pressure to self-censor and intimidation is increasing, according to PEN American Center and the International Federation of Journalists. The Hong Kong Journalists Association noted that there were at least 28 attacks on journalists covering the Umbrella Revolution. The aggressive moves made by publishing houses controlled by Sino United Publishing against independent publishers particularly since the 2014 protests, the unexplained disappearance in 2015 of four individuals linked to an independent publisher of sensitive books, as well as the acquisition of Hong Kong's newspaper of record by Alibaba Group all increased fears of political encroachment on press freedom by parties closely linked to the communist regime.

2003 Article 23 controversy
In 2003, the government attempted to implement the Article 23 of the Basic Law which prohibits crimes against national security and sedition. The National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill 2003 states that it is a legal offense for media to be seditious and disclose national secrets, but the vague definition led to concerns that it may become a political tool for accusing dissidents' voices, as has happened in Mainland China.

The bill caused a significant public outrage and a mass demonstration of 500,000 people, forcing the government to withdraw the bill and　several cabinet members to step down.

Booksellers disappearances
The disappearances of five Hong Kong people related to an independent publisher and bookstore in October to December 2015 precipitated an international outcry. The unprecedented disappearance of a person in Hong Kong, and the bizarre events surrounding it, shocked the city and crystallised international concern over the possible abduction of Hong Kong citizens by Chinese public security bureau officials and their likely rendition, and the violation of several articles of the Basic Law and the one country, two systems principle. There is widespread suspicion that they are under detention in mainland China.

2020 Apple Daily arrests
Following the promulgation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Apple Daily owner Jimmy Lai was arrested for alleged as part of an investigation into an online group that canvassed foreign countries to sanction Hong Kong. On the same day activist Agnes Chow was arrested over NSL offences. The paper announced its closure on 23 June 2021.

The arrests are perceived as acts of suppression on the freedom of press in Hong Kong by the Chinese and HKSAR government.

Credibility
Ethical studies have been conducted by four journalism groups (Hong Kong Journalists Association, Hong Kong News Executives' Association, Hong Kong Federation of Journalists, Hong Kong Press Photographers' Association). They could not deny the fact that the mass media were suffering decreasing respect of Hong Kong citizens. Journalism was no longer seen as a respectable profession. The public had little trust in newspapers. People are actually attributing different motives to journalists. While readers who are pro-government sees journalists advocating their personal views to be producing fake news, readers who are anti-government sees journalists defending power to be producing fake news. The news industry attributed this phenomenon to the citizens' complaints about the decreasing ethics of journalists.

Stories were exaggerated often violating privacy. A study was conducted by Hong Kong Journalists Association in early 2007 to find that 58.4% of journalists in Hong Kong considered that the degree of freedom of speech had decreased since the handover in 1997. Furthermore, nearly 60% of the interviewed journalists also thought that more self-censorship had been practised then than 1997. Thirty percent of media workers participating in the survey admitted to having self-censored, and some forty percent knew of colleagues who had practised self-censorship. The chairman of the HKJA pointed out that after this self-censorship of media is related to political and economic pressures traceable linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). She suggested that many media owners are representatives of the National People's Congress, have investments or eye investment opportunities in the mainland and are reluctant to jeopardise the political relationship.

Yellow journalism
On 19 October 1998, a woman killed her two young children by pushing them out of a window from a high-rise building and then jumped to kill herself. The husband Chan Kin Hong was widely reported to have little remorse on their death, saying he has "high libido" but his wife lost sexual drive after giving a birth to the latest baby and he had to visit prostitutes regularly. He also met another woman and planned to have his new life.

He caused a significant public outcry. Some days later, Apple Daily published a front-page photograph showing Chan with two prostitutes soon after his family's deaths. It was later revealed that the newspaper had paid Chan to pose for the photograph and the newspaper subsequently published a front-page apology.

This incident and other concerns over increasingly aggressive news coverage and paparazzi in the intensive media battles for readers and viewers began widespread public discussions regarding press practices and accompanying ethical concerns that continue to this day over issues of privacy, responsible reporting and journalistic standards.

Invasion of privacy
In August 2006, Gillian Chung of the local pop duo Twins filed a writ against Easyfinder Magazine for publishing photos of her changing backstage at a concert in Malaysia. This raised another media ethics and aggressive paparazzi concern. And again, the magazine sold well, printing two runs of the magazine, selling out twice.

The Hong Kong Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority received 2875 complaints regarding the revealing photos and the incident was referred to the Obscene Articles Tribunal for further action. On 1 November 2006, Easy Finder lost its appeal against an obscenity ruling on the published article and pictures. The appeal panel upheld the judgement, declaring the article "obscene", and saying it was a "calculated act of selling sexuality which is corrupting and revolting".

Violent assault on editor
Kevin Lau, who had been chief editor of the journal until January 2014, was attacked in the morning of 26 February 2014 as he was about to take breakfast at a restaurant in Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong. He was seriously injured in a targeted knife attack. Journalists and press of the world saw the attack as an attack on press freedom. Thousands of people, led by leading journalists, attended a rally to denounce violence and intimidation of the media.

Siege of Apple Daily and attacks aimed at media owner
During the Umbrella revolution in 2014, anti-occupation protesters besieged the headquarters of Next Media, publisher of Apple Daily. They accused the paper of biased reporting. Masked men among the protesters prevented the loading of copies of Apple Daily as well as The New York Times onto delivery vans. Apple Daily sought a court injunction and a High Court judge issued a temporary order to prevent any blocking of the entrance.

On 12 November, media tycoon Jimmy Lai was the target of an offal attack at the occupied Admiralty site by three men, who were detained by volunteer marshalls for the protest site. The offices of Next Media and the home of Jimmy Lai, who controls the group, were fire-bombed in mid January 2015.

2015 Policy address controversy
In the opening and concluding parts of his 2015 policy address, CY Leung attacked University of Hong Kong Students' Union publication, Undergrad, for allegedly advocating independence and self-determination for Hong Kong. He also criticised another HKU publication, from 2013, entitled Hong Kong Nationalism. He was criticised by pan-democrats and commentators for using the high-profile public address in an unprecedented attempt to undermine free speech and theoretical academic discussion by effectively declaring discussion of the topic "taboo". The number two and number three government officials, Carrie Lam and John Tsang respectively, distanced themselves from Leung, suggesting that Leung's controversial criticism of the magazines was personal and written by Leung himself; Leung insisted it was a team effort.

Sino United returns controversy
In January 2015, following CY Leung's attack on a compilation book entitled Hong Kong Nationalism, Joint Publishing, Chongwa, and Commercial Press – all owned by Sino United Publishing – de-listed the title. Hong Kong media reported that Sino had published and was distributing at least five anti-Occupy titles, and its stores were displaying these prominently, whereas popular books on the Umbrella movement by pro-democracy authors had been banished from their shelves. In March 2015, Up Publications, a small independent publishing house, complained that it was suddenly and unexpectedly faced with a large number of returns from the three main subsidiaries of Sino. Twenty titles were affected by the returns, to the serious detriment to the finances of Up Publications; many of the titles returned were not politically themed. The publisher was allegedly told by a bookshop source that its stance in the 2014 occupation and its publishing of books supportive of the Umbrella Movement were responsible. Although no reason was given for the returns, political motives were suspected as two of the delisted books about the occupation were strong sellers at independent bookshops.

title: Media of Hong Kong


text:
New Jersey Route 175

Route 175 is a short, 2.95 mi long state highway in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. The route runs along a former alignment of Route 29 before the construction of the John Fitch Parkway in the 1960s. The route begins at Route 29 in the capital city of Trenton, running along Sanhican Road, River Road, and West Upper Ferry Road into Ewing Township. The route serves primarily as a frontage road for Route 29. The northernmost portion of Route 175 is parallel to the Delaware and Raritan Canal until coming to an end at a merge with Route 29 in Ewing Township.

Route 175 originates as alignment of Route 29, which followed local roads after the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering. It remained Route 29 through the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering and was moved onto the John Fitch Parkway upon its completion in the 1960s. By 1969, the original alignment was designated as Route 175 and both roads have remained the same since.

Route description
Route 175 begins at an off-ramp from Route 29 and Aberfeldy Drive in the capital city of Trenton. Inside the city limits of Trenton, the route carries one-way traffic northbound and is maintained by the City of Trenton. The route heads northward, progressing through the northern residential districts on Sanhican Drive. The highway continues, paralleling Route 29 for a distance. At an intersection with Afton Avenue, the continuation of Abernethy Drive, Route 175 changes names from Sanhican Drive to River Road. The road becomes two-way, enters Ewing Township, and is maintained by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). The highway continues, intersecting with County Route 643 (CR 643, Lower Ferry Road) in Ewing. A short distance later, both routes pass under the West Trenton Railroad Bridge, which carries CSX's Trenton Subdivision and SEPTA's West Trenton Line, and head along the Delaware River, passing to the south of several high-end mansions. Route 175 itself passes to the south of condominium complexes, intersecting with the access road shortly afterward. A short distance later, Route 175 juts to the northeast near a commercial business, interchanging with Route 29. After the short interchange, the highway continues along the side of Route 29, intersecting with Wilburtha Road (formerly an intersection with Route 39) in Ewing. The two routes continue northward, crossing through the woodlands north of Trenton, until Route 175 makes a bend to the northeast, intersecting with West Upper Ferry Road. The highway turns onto West Upper Ferry Road, heading to the northeast, crossing through a wealthy district in Ewing surrounded by woodlands. The route begins to enter fields, crossing over the Delaware and Raritan Canal on character-less bridge. After the bridge, Route 175 turns to the north onto River Road, while West Upper Ferry Road continues as CR 634.

Route 175 heads northward along the Delaware and Raritan Canal as River Road, passing through woodlands and residential homes. A short distance later, it intersects with State Police Drive, a road serving the New Jersey State Police headquarters. Continuing along the canal, Route 175 progresses northward, intersecting with Trooper Drive before crossing under Interstate 295 at Interchange 76. Route 175 continues for a short distance, becoming a divided highway just after the overpass. A short distance later, the highway comes to end as the right-of-way continues onto Route 29.

History
Route 175 is an original alignment of Route 29 through Trenton and Ewing designated in the 1927 renumbering of state highways in New Jersey. The original plan for a freeway along Route 29 started in the 1930s, with no progress until the 1950s. The freeway section adjacent to Route 175 utilized the right-of-way of what remained of the Trenton Water Power Canal, a 19th-century waterway utilized by the mills of Trenton for water power. Route 29's construction resulted in the filling of the canal, and also took up much of Trenton's available waterfront along the Delaware River   Route 175 was designated as a No Passing Zone by NJDOT on September 14, 1982. The two highways (Route 175 and Route 29) have remained intact since.

title: New Jersey Route 175


text:
Djed

The djed, also djt (ḏd 𓊽, Coptic jōt "pillar", anglicized /dʒɛd/) is one of the more ancient and commonly found symbols in ancient Egyptian religion. It is a pillar-like symbol in Egyptian hieroglyphs representing stability. It is associated with the creator god Ptah and Osiris, the Egyptian god of the afterlife, the underworld, and the dead. It is commonly understood to represent his spine.

Myth
In the Osiris myth, Osiris was killed by Set by being tricked into a coffin made to fit Osiris exactly. Set then had the coffin with the now deceased Osiris flung into the Nile. The coffin was carried by the Nile to the ocean and on to the city of Byblos in Lebanon. It ran aground and a sacred tree took root and rapidly grew around the coffin, enclosing the coffin within its trunk. The king of the land, intrigued by the tree's quick growth, ordered the tree cut down and installed as a pillar in his palace, unaware that the tree contained Osiris's body.

Meanwhile, Isis searched for Osiris aided by Anubis, and discovered Osiris's location in Byblos. Isis maneuvered herself into the favor of the king and queen and was granted a boon. She asked for the pillar in the palace hall, and upon being granted it, extracted the coffin from the pillar. She then consecrated the pillar, anointing it with myrrh and wrapping it in linen. This pillar came to be known as the pillar of djed.

Origin and development
The djed may originally have been a fertility cult-related pillar made from reeds or sheaves or a totem from which sheaves of grain were suspended or grain was piled around. Erich Neumann remarks that the djed pillar is a tree fetish, which is significant considering that Egypt was primarily treeless. He indicates that the myth may represent the importance of the importation of trees by Egypt from Syria. The djed came to be associated with Seker, the falcon god of the Memphite Necropolis, then with Ptah, the Memphite patron god of craftsmen. Ptah was often referred to as "the noble djed", and carried a scepter that was a combination of the djed symbol and the ankh, the symbol of life. Ptah gradually came to be assimilated into Osiris. By the time of the New Kingdom, the djed was firmly associated with Osiris.

In their 2004 book The Quick and the Dead: Biomedical Theory in Ancient Egypt, Andrew Hunt Gordon and Calvin W. Schwabe speculated that the ankh, djed, and was symbols have a biological basis derived from ancient cattle culture (linked to the Egyptian belief that semen was created in the spine), thus:
 * the ankh, symbol of life, thoracic vertebra of a bull (seen in cross section)
 * the djed, symbol of stability, base on sacrum of a bull's spine
 * the was-sceptre, symbol of power and dominion, a staff featuring the head and tail of the god Set, "great of strength"

Hieroglyphic usage
The djed hieroglyph was a pillar-like symbol that represented stability. It was also sometimes used to represent Osiris himself, often combined "with a pair of eyes between the crossbars and holding the crook and flail." The djed hieroglyph is often found together with the tyet (also known as Isis knot) hieroglyph, which is translated as life or welfare. The djed and the tyet used together may depict the duality of life. The tyet hieroglyph may have become associated with Isis because of its frequent pairing with the djed.

Ceremonial usage
The djed was an important part of the ceremony called "raising the djed", which was a part of the celebrations of the Sed festival, the Egyptian jubilee celebration. The act of raising the djed has been explained as representing Osiris's triumph over Seth. Ceremonies in Memphis are described where the pharaoh, with the help of the priests, raised a wooden djed column using ropes. The ceremony took place during the period when fields were sown and the year's agricultural season would begin, corresponding to the month of Koiak, the fourth month of the Season of the Inundation. This ceremony was a part of one of the more popular holidays and celebrations of the time, a larger festival dedicated to Osiris conducted from the 13th to 30th day of the Koiak. Celebrated as it was at that time of the year when the soil and climate were most suitable for agriculture, the festival and its ceremonies can be seen as an appeal to Osiris, who was the God of vegetation, to favor the growth of the seeds sown, paralleling his own resurrection and renewal after his murder by Seth.

Further celebrations surrounding the raising of the djed are described in a relief in Amenhotep III's Luxor Temple. In the tomb in the temple, the scene shows the raising of the djed pillar taking place in the morning of Amenhotep III's third Sed festival, which took place in his thirty-seventh regnal year. The scene is described by Sigrid Hodel-Hoenes: "The anthropomorphized pillar stands at the middle left, in a shrine. It has taken the shape of a human body with the djed-pillar as its head; the eyes are udjat-eyes. The hands hold the crook and flail, the usual insignia of Osiris, the god of the dead. On its head is the tall feather crown with the solar disk. The pillar is on a high base reminiscent of the platforms visible today in many temples, on which the cult barks once stood. In front of and behind it are lotus and papyrus blossoms. Beneath the large slab of the base are two tall offering stands – one bears a libation vessel, while flowers have been laid on the other. To the right is the king himself, presenting a generously laid table. Fowl, cucumbers, blossoms, breads, and heads and ribs of beef are all lying on the upper mat, while a cow and an antelope can be seen on the lower one. Beneath these mats are four tall vessels containing unguents and oil, with bundles of lettuce sticking out among them. The vulture goddess, Wadjyt, the Mistress of the Per-nu shrine, has spread her protective wings above the sovereign, with the blue crown on his head."

There is also a scene depicted in the tomb to the right of the above scene which has not been well preserved. Hodel-Hoenes explains that it once showed the pharaoh, accompanied by his queen, using a rope to raise the djed pillar. Three men, probably priests of the temple of Memphis, help him in the process. A fourth priest was seen supporting the pillar. Various offerings were presented before the pillar below the ropes. The pharaoh and his queen are each accompanied by four pairs of young women resembling those of the sed-festival. Each of these women is rattling a Hathor sistrum, a musical instrument for percussion with a U-shaped handle and frame seen as resembling the face and horns of the cow goddess Hathor, while holding a menat, a protective amulet associated with Hathor, in the other hand. A line of hieroglyphs running just above the girls' heads in each row of women says, "Children of the king praising (or charming) the noble djed pillar." Hodel-Hoenes interprets this as identifying the girls as the daughters of Amenhotep III.

There are three additional reliefs below these two reliefs. They depict further ceremonies that accompany the erection of the djed pillar, especially games and dances. In one, food-bearers carrying edibles weave between men dancing with heavy steps. A line of singers on the far left seems to sing a short hymn to Ptah, the text of which is written alongside the line. Singing and dancing girls can be seen in the next relief, though Hodel-Hoenes comments on their seeming lack of grace, saying, "only the raised hands and the foot swinging in the air hint at the movements of a dance." The relief also depicts men involved in a boxing match and a stick dance, sports and dances which can still be seen in Egypt today.

The festival of the raising of the djed also involved reenactments conducted at Denderah, Edfu, Busiris, Memphis, and Philae. But the most elaborate and grand celebration occurred at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris. From around the end of the third millennium BC during the beginning of the Dynasty XII and perhaps as early as the Dynasty VI three hundred years earlier, reenactments of the Osiris myth – the deception and murder of Osiris by Seth, the search for Osiris by Isis and Osiris' mummification, funeral and his resurrection were performed. From the late fourth century BC, a recitation of the Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys, a poem describing Isis and Nephthys' search for Osiris, was added to the ceremony on the 25th day of Koiak. At the Osiris Temple in Abydos, these re-enactments are described as involving hundreds of priests and priestesses in the roles of the gods and goddesses, with 34 reed boats carrying the gods, a sculpture of Osiris inside an elaborate chest, 365 ornamental lamps, incense, and dozens of djed amulets.

Usage as amulets
The djed was often used as amulets for the living and the dead. It was placed as an amulet near the spines of mummified bodies, which was supposed to ensure the resurrection of the dead, allowing the deceased to live eternally. The Book of the Dead lists a spell which, when spoken over a gold amulet hung around the mummy's neck, ensures that the mummy would regain use of its spine and be able to sit up. It was also painted onto coffins.

Parallels in other cultures
Parallels have also been drawn between the djed pillar and various items in other cultures. Sidney Smith in 1922, first suggested a parallel with the Assyrian "sacred tree" when he drew attention to the presence of the upper four bands of the djed pillar and the bands that are present in the center of the vertical portion of the tree. He also proposed a common origin between Osiris and the Assyrian god Assur with whom he said, the sacred tree might be associated. Cohen and Kangas suggest that the tree is probably associated with the Sumerian god of male fertility, Enki and that for both Osiris and Enki, an erect pole or polelike symbol stands beneath a celestial symbol. They also point out that the Assyrian king is depicted in proximity to the sacred tree, which is similar to the depiction of the pharaoh in the raising of the djed ceremony. Additionally, the sacred tree and the Assyrian winged disk, which are generally depicted separately, are combined in certain designs, similar to the djed pillar which is sometimes surmounted with a solar disk. Katherine Harper and Robert Brown also discuss a possible strong link between the djed column and the concept of kundalini in yoga.

title: Djed


text:
Marysville

Marysville may refer to several places:

Australia

 * Marysville, Victoria

Canada

 * Marysville, British Columbia, now part of Kimberley
 * Marysville, New Brunswick
 * Marysville, Frontenac County, Ontario, on Wolfe Island
 * Marysville, Hastings County, Ontario, in Tyendinaga

United States

 * Marysville, California
 * Marysville Cemetery
 * Marysville, Florida
 * Marysville, Indiana, in Clark County
 * Marysville, Pike County, Indiana
 * Marysville, Iowa
 * Marysville, Kansas
 * Marysville, Michigan
 * Marysville, Montana
 * Marysville, Ohio
 * Corvallis, Oregon, originally known as Marysville
 * Marysville, Pennsylvania
 * Marysville, Texas
 * Marysville, Washington

title: Marysville


text:
Talk:Jimmy Lai

Alleged fraud
The current version of this article contains the following phrase:

 * ...arrested by police for alleged fraud, in that he and two Next Digital executives allegedly violated lease terms for Next Digital office space...

However, we really should explain exactly what the alleged fraud was, and what exactly the alleged violated lease terms are. What are they? 173.88.246.138 (talk) 22:12, 10 December 2022 (UTC)

title: Talk:Jimmy Lai


text:
Maria das Neves

Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa (born 1958) served as the 11th prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe. She was a key figure in the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD) and became the first woman head of government in the country.

Career
Maria das Neves received education as an economist in Cuba with specialization in public finances. Before becoming head of government, Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance, in the World Bank and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). She married and when her two daughters had grown up, she held major government posts: Minister of Economics (1999–2001), Minister of Finance 2001/02 and Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism (2002).

In 2001 Fradique de Menezes was elected President with support of the Centre Party. But there was no clear majority in parliament, and the result was an unstable cohabitation with a number of short-lived cabinets headed by the opposition. A three party coalition was formed under the socialist Gabriel Costa and das Neves was member of the government.

Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe
She held the post of Prime Minister from 7 October 2002 until 18 September 2004, and was the nation's first female head of government. President Fradique de Menezes appointed das Neves as Prime Minister after the three-party Government of National Unity led by Gabriel Costa collapsed following complaints from the army over recent promotions. The country was in a difficult situation, being heavily indebted and dependent on aid. There were disagreements and power struggles. When an oil agreement was signed with Nigeria, there was a military coup on 16 July 2003. The President was abroad and the army and mercenaries took action, arresting das Neves and other government officials. The coup leaders complained about corruption and said that the forthcoming oil revenues would not be distributed fairly. Following international pressure, an agreement was reached and Menezes reinstated after a week. das Neves was hospitalized after suffering a mild heart attack. She resigned as Prime Minister, but accepted to continue when President Menezes reaffirmed his confidence in her.

President Menezes dismissed her from the post on 15 September 2004 and asked her party to choose a new Prime Minister, after allegations of corruption were brought against her and members of her government. She denied participating in any corrupt practices. Three days after her dismissal, a new government led by Damião Vaz d'Almeida was sworn in. Das Neves was elected an alternate to parliament and became an MP.

Afterwards
Maria das Neves is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers, whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.

News articles

 * BBC news video from 14 October 2002
 * Afrol News article from September 22, 2004
 * Afrol News article from February 17, 2005

title: Maria das Neves


text:
Talk:Hironobu Sakaguchi

Contradictions?
There is some information here which conflicts with information in the Squaresoft article, in particular the information regarding the name of the company. The Squaresoft article states that the current name of the company is Square Enix, but this one says it is Square USA, Inc. Which is it? One or the other or both need to be changed with the accurate information. Other than that, though, the article looks good. By the way, 192.246.40.32, I still wish you'd register. It's cumbersome to refer to you as your IP address... ;-) — Frecklefoot 14:21 16 Jul 2003 (UTC)

 * This information looks like it was taken from some other source. Possible copyright infringement? - Kricxjo 22:29, 28 Aug 2003 (UTC)

NPOV?
What evidence is there to substantiate that Spirits Within failed due to "public apathy by the media"? I seem to think that it didn't do so well simply because lots of people thought it was a bad movie. Thunderbunny 08:44, 11 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Removed. Taco Deposit | Talk-o to Taco 20:07, Feb 26, 2005 (UTC)

stuff
What follows is copied from bungie.net; perhaps it should be included:

Final Fantasy Maven Moves to Next Gen Xbox Gaming legend Hironobu Sakaguchi (responsible for a few games you may have heard of called Final Fantasy) has announced that his Mistwalker Game Studio will create and develop role-playing games exclusively for what's finally been revealed as "the next-generation Xbox video game platform." Sounds awesome! Wonder if Bungie will make anything for it? Mr. Sakaguchi's company has committed to creating two exclusive RPG titles to be published by Microsoft Game Studios. Martschink

Sprite in Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Mentionable? 16Bit generation would love to see that here :P Mogguh (talk) 02:31, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

Edits
Ok, as a newbie, I am a little unsure of how some of this goes.

 * The Square USA vs Square Enix vs Square (etc.) is due to Square having several different names at different times, and Square USA was an offshoot that Hironobu was CEO (or whatever) of.
 * I had registered, but did not realize I was not logged in. My bad.
 * I did not write the top part of the article, but I read through it and it all jived with what I remember.

Question

Yes, I copied the last section from another site. Should I take it down and ask their permission, or can I leave it up while awaiting their response?

Final Fantasy XII
I haven`t played the game, but i check over and over again and i`m almost sure Sakaguchi-sama didn`t work on FF XII, so i think it should be removed from the list even though every Final Fantasy is his legacy. What do you think? Zidane tribal 02:20, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

 * He appears in the credits in the "Special Thanks" section... I'm not sure if that counts. Kariteh 10:10, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

The only reason he appears in the FFXII special thanks is because he is the creator of the FF concept and because he was asked to give advice when they were making FFXII.In a FFXII conference once, he was seen with the FFXII creators and when they asked why the answer was because they asked him for advice in making FFXII.Overall, he is not involved in FFXII.His involvement stopped with FFX-2. User:MorgothErmis 1.12,6 September 2007 (GMT+2) —Preceding unsigned comment added by MorgothErmis (talk • contribs) 22:13, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

His nickname
Someone should re-add his nickname, "the Gooch". Apparently it's a controversial bit of information. --156.34.72.13 13:40, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

Let's adjust the list of games Hironobu is involved with
Currently it shows a list of the game he's worked on, but doesn't show what his role is. His most frequent roles are director, producer, and executive producer I think. Although I believe also has frequent contributions to the storyline, although I'm not sure how often he can actually be credited as "scenario writer".

I would like to have this updated section be similar to the section on the page for Shigeru Miyamoto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_games_created_by_Shigeru_Miyamoto It'll show this information: Title, Year, Director, Producer, Executive Producer, and Notes. Also, it may be possible to also add columns for "Game Design" or "Scenario Writer", but I'm not sure how often he does that job.

I am willing to contribute to this, if somebody can set up the tables. Please reply to this message. What do you think? Dragonblades (talk) 03:42, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
 * I think it's a good idea. I've created the table at the bottom of the list and placed the two first entries (the table should probably go from chronological order, unlike the current list which is reversed). Think you can go on from there? Kariteh (talk) 07:51, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the table! I'm working on this, starting with the Mistwalker games. I'm using sources from Imdb.com, Wikipedia.org, and Gamefaqs.com, although there are other sources that I haven't tried yet, such as Mobygames.com also. Anyways, I don't trust all of the information from these sources. This is because Hironobu is being listed as having so many jobs for a game and also being listed as doing jobs I didn't think he did. Here's what I have so far...

 * Title Year Console Jobs

 * Blue Dragon 2			?	Xbox 360?	?

 * Cry On				?	Xbox 360	Producer

 * Away Shuffle Dungeon		2008	DS		Scenario Writer

 * Blue Dragon Plus		2008	DS		?

 * Lost Odyssey			2007	Xbox 360	Director, Producer, Executive Producer, Game Design, Scenario Writer

 * ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat	2007	DS		Director, Producer, Executive Producer

 * Blue Dragon			2006	Xbox 360	Director, Producer, Game Design, Scenario Writer

 * Those are all the Mistwalker games made or in development, and showing the total jobs he's been shown as doing. I don't know how accurate that is! Ideally somebody could just post the jobs from the game manual, which would be accurate. What should I do next? Maybe I should skip the Mistwalker games for now and start with the older games? Dragonblades (talk) 22:38, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Dunno... There are some manuals at Replacement Docs but the credits aren't in them (not in Blue Dragon's and Lost Odyssey's manuals at least). Kariteh (talk) 07:32, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Image copyright problem with Image:Mist walker.jpg
The image Image:Mist walker.jpg is used in this article under a claim of fair use, but it does not have an adequate explanation for why it meets the requirements for such images when used here. In particular, for each page the image is used on, it must have an explanation linking to that page which explains why it needs to be used on that page. Please check

 * That there is a non-free use rationale on the image's description page for the use in this article.
 * That this article is linked to from the image description page.

iPhone game involvment
Someone may want to add this to the article. http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/04/final-fantasy-chrono-trigger-creator-working-on-an-iphone-proje/ —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.220.50.223 (talk) 10:02, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

This is an automated notice by FairuseBot. For assistance on the image use policy, see Media copyright questions. --08:48, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

out of order
''His final role as game producer was for Final Fantasy IX. In an interview at the time he described it as his favourite Final Fantasy.[3] He later went on to serve more as an executive producer of the series, as well as many of Square's other games, including Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve and Kingdom Hearts.''

He did a thing in 2000. Then, later, he did a thing in 1998. It kinda looks like someone wrote that to make sense, and someone else came along and stuck a couple of their favorite games in it without looking at the whole paragraph. 67.110.213.167 (talk) 06:06, 31 March 2010 (UTC)

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon Producer ?
As far as I know Sakaguchi wasn't the Producer in either of them. LO Producer should be Hiroshi Kawai while I dont't know who ist Blue Dragon's. Also I'm pretty sure Sakaguchi confirmed this again (that he was neither Producer nor Director in both LO and BD) when it was announced that he is TLS Director. Can anyone else confirm this ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.217.12.226 (talk) 23:00, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

Adoption
Is there a source for this somewhere? "Tiyaku Rotania" is not a Japanese name, and Googling it only pulls up quotes from this article or translations. It's also not mentioned at all on the Japanese page. --122.29.97.60 (talk) 12:00, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * If that's the case, I'll remove it until a citation appears. --68.123.158.30 (talk) 06:42, 5 March 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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"Early years" section
Hello all,

The last sentence of the "Early years" section under the "Biography" heading has what seems to be a poor source (reference 3, specifically). It's a link to someone's blog that does not itself seem to cite any other sources. I'd fix it but I'm not sure where else online you could find early biographical information about the man. Wasn't sure if I should remove it so I have left it for now, maybe the blog is more reliable than I know.

Thanks. --Surferman155 (talk) 03:07, 10 February 2020 (UTC)

Was he born in Hitachi or Hitachinaka?
Infobox says Hitachinaka, but article says Hitachi. These are two different cities in Ibaraki prefecture. Which is it? 169.234.235.88 (talk) 20:31, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Hironobu Sakaguchi


text:
Joaquim Rafael Branco

Joaquim Rafael Branco (born 7 September 1953) is a São Toméan politician who was the 16th prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2008 to 2010. He is the President of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD).

Life and career
Branco was Minister of Finance from 1995 to 1996. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2001. He was Minister of Public Works in July 2003, when he was detained by the military during a briefly successful coup d'etat led by Major Fernando Pereira.

After Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada was defeated in a May 2008 vote of no confidence proposed by the MLSTP/PSD, which was then in opposition, President Fradique de Menezes asked the MLSTP/PSD to form a government in June 2008, and it chose Branco to become the next prime minister. Trovoada's Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party denounced Menezes' designation of the MLSTP/PSD to form a government as unconstitutional.

title: Joaquim Rafael Branco


text:
Fernando Pereira

Fernando Pereira (10 May 1950 – 10 July 1985) was a Portuguese-Dutch freelance photographer, who drowned when French intelligence (DGSE) detonated a bomb and sank the Rainbow Warrior, owned by the environmental organisation Greenpeace on 10 July 1985.

The bombing of the boat had been designed to make the ship unsalvageable. The first smaller bomb bent the propeller shaft, making repair uneconomic. Pereira stayed inside the boat to get his camera and other pieces of equipment. The second, more powerful explosion, designed to sink the boat, caused a huge inrush of seawater that drowned Pereira.

The Rainbow Warrior led a flotilla of yachts protesting against French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia and was about to depart Auckland for a campaign of legal demonstrations in international waters near the French military operational areas at Moruroa Atoll.

Subsequent updates
On the twentieth anniversary of the sinking, it was revealed that the French president François Mitterrand had personally authorized the bombing. Admiral Pierre Lacoste made a statement saying Pereira's death weighed heavily on his conscience. Also on that anniversary, Television New Zealand sought to access a video record made at the preliminary hearing where the two agents pleaded guilty. The footage has remained sealed on the court record since shortly after the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. The two agents oppose release of the footage – despite having both profited from writing books themselves on the incident – and have taken the case to the New Zealand Court of Appeal and, subsequently, the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

In 2006, Antoine Royal, brother of the French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, revealed in an interview that their brother, Gérard Royal, a former French intelligence officer, had been the agent who put the bombs on the Rainbow Warrior.

title: Fernando Pereira


text:
Talk:The Independent

connection to Saudi Arabia ( more sources)
Even Al Jazeera mention that this newspaper is operated by Saudis. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/turkey-blocks-saudi-emirati-state-news-websites-200419112800587.html

"The Turkish website of the UK-based Independent newspaper, ******which is operated by a Saudi company,**** was one of the sites to be blocked on Sunday, in a move that its editor said reflected political tensions between Riyadh and Ankara."

I think it is important enough to be mention in the article.

New first sentence
Adding new content, and as the first sentence of the lede, seems a gross POV violation, even after removing the unreliable sources.

How old is this edit-war? I just happened upon it because of the unreliable sources. --Hipal (talk) 00:22, 7 February 2022 (UTC)
 * Looking at the article logs, this appears very similar to the past times the article was protected. I've requested protection again. --Hipal (talk) 17:19, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

 * That's not "a gross POV violation", and it's well-supported by reliable sources. See
 * National Review
 * The Washington Times
 * New York Post
 * Washington Examiner
 * The Dispatch
 * Reason
 * The Federalist
 * Fox News
 * Blaze Media
 * The Daily Wire
 * Daily Express
 * The Mail on Sunday
 * National Post
 * Are those also "gross POV violations"? 2601:547:500:E930:1464:A8D6:CC28:10E6 (talk) 23:03, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

 * Fox News is not regarded as a reliable source to use on Wikipedia for political matters and the Daily Express and The Mail on Sunday are both regarded as unreliable sources to use on Wikipedia. Please see WP:RSP for more information. Helper201 (talk) 23:14, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

 * Your comment is completely irrelevant. 2601:547:500:E930:1464:A8D6:CC28:10E6 (talk) 23:16, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

 * It's completely relevant if you are trying to use these sources as justification for your claim. They are not regarded as "reliable sources" on Wikipedia as you claimed. Helper201 (talk) 23:21, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

 * 1. That's not what I'm doing. 2. That's not what I claimed. Try to follow the discussion first before jumping in with lies and false claims about other users. 2601:547:500:E930:1464:A8D6:CC28:10E6 (talk) 23:30, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

 * The Daily Wire, Blaze Media, The Federalist and the New York Post are also regarded as generally unreliable for use on Wikipedia, per WP:RSP. Helper201 (talk) 23:25, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

 * This comment is also completely irrelevant. Try to follow the discussion first before jumping in with irrelevant comments. 2601:547:500:E930:1464:A8D6:CC28:10E6 (talk) 23:31, 8 February 2022 (UTC)
 * If the ip editor isn't concerned about the reliability of sources, then I don't see any reason to continue this discussion. --Hipal (talk) 00:44, 9 February 2022 (UTC)

 * What an outrageously dishonest comment. Why are you being deceptive and obfuscating the issue? I listed these as examples of outlets whose political leaning is given in the first sentence of their respective articles. I did not list them as the sources for The Independent being left-leaning. Those are different sources, and they were already present in the article.
 * Now that you're done obfuscating, please answer the question addressed to you: Are those also "gross POV violations"? 2601:547:500:E930:1464:A8D6:CC28:10E6 (talk) 03:13, 9 February 2022 (UTC)
 * As I said, I see no reason to continue this conversation. --Hipal (talk) 04:10, 9 February 2022 (UTC)
 * Because you want to avoid answering the question. 73.154.135.120 (talk) 04:54, 9 February 2022 (UTC)
 * Yes, all those articles about newspapers, magazines and media companies from the list above include subject's political alignment in the very first sentences. But these articles don't describe them as "right-leaning" newspapers, but rather as "conservative" ones. "Conservative" is a neutral term, so if newspaper is conservative, there's no reason to not call it such, it's not POV violation. Same applies to other neutral terms as "liberal", "socialist", "labourist". So if political alignment of The Independent is to be included in the first sentence, it should be "liberal", not "left-leaning". Arado Ar 196 (talk) 14:18, 9 February 2022 (UTC)
 * The Dispatch is described as "center-right".
 * The term "liberal" is ambiguous; it has almost opposite meanings in the US and the rest of the world. If used, it should link to Modern liberalism in the United States to avoid confusion. 2601:547:500:E930:9F1:7BC5:40D0:6CFE (talk) 19:19, 9 February 2022 (UTC)

KGB in UK media?

 * https://www.channel4.com/programmes/boris-the-lord-the-russian-spy-dispatches
 * ....0mtwb9gd5wx (talk) 05:10, 29 June 2023 (UTC)

title: Talk:The Independent