Greg Torode explores the controversial plan to allow extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China which has a deeply flawed justice system

Hong Kong police have used tear gas, pepper spray and high-pressure water hoses against protesters who have massed outside government buildings.

China's president Xi Jinping has said there will be no tolerance for any acts seen as jeopardising stability and security.

Barry Hawkins has progressed to the final of the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix after overwhelming Liang Wenbo 6-1.

USA: A woman talked her way past a security guard and entered the cockpit of a private plane at an Illinois airport before she was caught and taken to a hospital for psychiatric observation, authorities said.

Britain’s seven biggest lenders will have to show they can cope with a global economic slump triggered by a sharp slowdown in China and a crash in the eurozone in this year’s round of stress tests conducted by the Bank of England (BoE).

Hong Kong

A former top general in China has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party to face bribery charges, becoming the most senior figure ensnared in an anti-corruption crackdown.

The founder of a grassroots movement to boost accountability for China’s officials has gone trial on charges of disrupting public order but stayed silent during the closed-door proceedings in protest, his lawyer said.

James Wade hung on to earn his place in the second round of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Global markets have climbed after investors took the US Federal Reserve’s decision to trim its stimulus as a vote of confidence the American economy is strengthening.

Paul Stirling was the star turn as Ireland secured qualification for the ICC World Twenty20 finals in Bangladesh next year with a comfortable victory over Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.

At least eight people died and more than a dozen are missing after a ferry packed with more than 120 passengers collided with a tugboat and sank south of Hong Kong last night.

A senior BBC news executive has been appointed head of news in RTE.

Asia stock markets fell today, as ominous signs emerged that a debt crisis that has been affecting Greece and then Spain is about to erupt elsewhere on the continent.

Ed Dunlop’s incredible mare Snow Fairy will soon be back in full work as her trainer eyes up some major prizes in the second half of the season.

A man has died from bird flu in Southern China, it has emerged.

RORY McILROY is undecided whether he will contest next year’s Irish Open.

COMPLEX organic molecules normally associated with life may be common in stardust strewn throughout the universe, astronomers believe.

Hong Kong police have made their biggest ever cocaine bust, seizing more than 560kg of the drug with an estimated street value of about 600 million Hong Kong dollars (€56m) and arresting eight people.

World stock markets lost steam today after Germany’s economic growth came to a near-standstill in the second quarter, adding to fears that the global economy is slowing down.

John Higgins battled past Nigel Bond today to seal his place in the second round of the Bank of Beijing China Open.

Hundreds of Hong Kong protesters demanded today that the Chinese government exonerates the participants in pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square that it brutally suppressed 21 years ago.

Hundreds of Hong Kong journalists, lawmakers and residents marched today to protest against the alleged police beatings of three reporters covering recent unrest in western China, and demanded a government investigation.

WORK began yesterday to pave the way for the reconstruction of the railway viaduct that collapsed into the sea a week ago.

Two bottles of acid were thrown into a crowd in a popular shopping district in Hong Kong today, injuring 30 people, according to police and news reports.

Asian health authorities were on alert today, with some checking passengers and pork products from Mexico, as the World Health Organisation declared the deadly swine flu outbreak a public health emergency of “pandemic potential”.

The London market hung on to most of the near-5% rise seen in its previous session today as insurance stocks kept up their momentum.

China has resumed blocking access to the internet sites of some foreign media, including the BBC, human rights groups said today.

Mark Selby, runner-up 12 months ago, today crashed out of the 888.com World Championship in the first round in Sheffield.

Manchester City will join Italian club Juventus to face Hong Kong treble winners South China in two exhibition matches in Hong Kong next month.

New Zealand won their ninth Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens title and first since 2001 with a 26-12 victory over South Africa.

Hong Kong Football Association chairman Brian Leung has revealed that the former British colony is “very interested” in staging English Premier League games in the future.

Hong Kong cueman Marco Fu dumped out veteran Steve Davis at the SAGA Insurance Masters today.

The Government today signed the first extradition agreement between Ireland and Hong Kong.

Dutchmen Maarten Lafeber and Robert-Jan Derksen looked to have made their long journey to Malaysia worthwhile after a sparkling better-ball 61 in the third round of the World Cup qualifying tournament.

WALES lock Ian Gough has dubbed New Zealand “honest cheaters” just four days before the two countries clash at the Millennium Stadium.

A tale of two cue tips ended in success for Ronnie O’Sullivan as he enjoyed a night to remember against Ryan Day in the second round of the 888.com World Championship.

Global trade talks remained deadlocked in Hong Kong today after leading delegates meeting late into the night failed to reach agreement on setting a date for ending export subsidies on farm goods – again blaming European countries for blocking progress.

Ministers from the largest trade powers gather in Switzerland tomorrow to tackle once more the thorny issue of US and EU farm subsidies, with just two months remaining before a deadline for a framework global trade treaty.

Hong Kong Disneyland is considering serving only shark fin soup made with fins obtained by non-cruel methods.

JOHNNY Murtagh suffered a hammer blow yesterday when he was ruled out of the mount on Vodafone Derby favourite Motivator.

HONG Kong’s pro-democracy candidates scored some significant wins in yesterday’s legislative election, according to television exit polls.