Apple Daily: Hong Kong pro-democracy paper announces closure

The paper reported extensively on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy paper Apple Daily has announced its closure, in a blow to media freedom in the city. The tabloid’s offices were raided last week over allegations that several reports had breached a controversial national security law. Police detained the chief editor and five other executives, and company-linked assets were frozen. The publication had become a leading critic of the Hong Kong and Chinese leadership. The Apple Daily management said that “in view of staff members’ safety”, it had decided “to cease operation immediately after midnight” – making…