Reuters, SHANGHAIBlizzard Entertainment has reduced the punishment that it dealt out to a Hong Kong-based Hearthstone e-sports player for his public support of democracy protests in the territory, after its decision sparked controversy among players and the public. Brack said that Chung still had to be penalized as he had violated rules, but that his specific views were not a factor in the decision. “I want to be clear: Our relationships in China had no influence on our decision,” he said in a post on Blizzard’s Web site. The Hong Kong protests began in opposition to a proposed bill that would allow extradition to mainland China, but have since evolved into broader calls for democracy, with activists throwing gasoline bombs, setting street fires and trashing metro stations. China has accused the West of stirring up anti-Beijing sentiment in Hong Kong and reacted strongly to expressions of support for the protests.

Source: Taipei Times October 14, 2019 15:56 UTC