Battered Britain ‘sick man of Europe’ is hurtling towards breaking point
After Brexit and the pandemic, the nation is succumbing to intractable problems marked by plodding growth, surging inflation and a series of damaging strikes. ⌘ Read more

Nato to boost rapid reaction force in ‘biggest overhaul since Cold War’
The military alliance will increase the size by nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops, coupled with other measures including the deployment of forces to defend specific allies, chief Jens Stoltenberg says. ⌘ Read more

Indonesia’s Jokowi likely to talk food prices with Putin even as he calls for ‘peace’ amid Ukraine war
Jokowi is likely to address immediate issues like food prices that could weigh on his legacy when he leaves office in 2024. ⌘ Read more

Russia to spend US$14.5 billion on aircraft amid sanctions
The aviation industry has been in crisis since the West imposed sanctions banning airlines from countries such as Europe and the US, while foreign plane makers have stopped delivering new aircraft and spare parts. ⌘ Read more

Taiwan, US to hold first trade talks under new initiative
Taiwan’s top trade negotiator John Deng and deputy US trade representative Sarah Bianchi will meet virtually after Deng tested positive for Covid-19. ⌘ Read more

China’s May industrial profits kept tumbling, raising calls for more government support
China’s gross domestic product (GDP) may grow by about 1 per cent in the second quarter, making it ‘arguably difficult’ to reach Beijing’s full-year target, according to a central bank adviser. ⌘ Read more

China to extend yuan trading hours in bid to boost global use of its currency
Regulators led by the People’s Bank of China have told some banks to prepare for an extension of onshore yuan trading hours, according to sources, a move analysts say will help meet increasing demand for yuan transactions. ⌘ Read more

Tuvalu minister pulls out of UN Ocean Conference after China blocks its Taiwanese delegates
Foreign Minister Simon Kofe reportedly withdrew from the event after China objected to the presence of Taiwanese delegates. ⌘ Read more

Ukraine: ‘Help end the war by year’s end’, Zelensky urges world leaders
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said battle conditions in winter would make it tougher for his troops, and pleaded with Western allies to ‘not lower the pressure and to keep sanctioning Russia massively and heavily’. ⌘ Read more

Power company to remove remains of bridge and finish laying cables a week after fire that left 160,000 Hong Kong households without electricity
First phase of cable-laying work completed last Friday and second cable successfully activated on Monday. ⌘ Read more

Asean special envoy appeals to Myanmar junta to spare Suu Kyi prison
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn urged military rulers not to hold deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been put in solitary confinement, he says she plays a ‘critical role in your country’s return to normalcy’. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong star Jackie Chan attracts 5.4 million on Kuaishou as Chinese platforms deploy celebrity live-streams to lure users
In a fierce battle for viewers, Kuaishou, Douyin and WeChat’s Channels platform are making use of star power including Chan, Backstreet Boys, Jay Chou and Andy Lau. ⌘ Read more

Chinese prototype a precursor to hypersonic passenger travel anywhere in the world in 2 hours, says team
Completion of all test flights by 2025 will allow the development of a passenger aircraft that can travel more than 6,000km at Mach 6: researchers. ⌘ Read more

Singapore’s return to tighter Covid rules cannot be ruled out, deputy PM Wong says
The financial hub loosened many pandemic-related rules, including scrapping testing for vaccinated travellers and gathering limits – now average daily infections have jumped to more than 5,500. ⌘ Read more

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Hong Kong adjusts to new economic role after blazing trail for others
Formerly China’s gateway to the outside world, it now faces stiffer competition from dynamic mainland cities. ⌘ Read more

Is the US setting up an ‘Asia-style Nato’? North Korea thinks so
Pyongyang also blamed US hostility for forcing North Korea to develop stronger defences, following recent joint exercises with South Korea and Japan. ⌘ Read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to begin 2-day trip to Hong Kong on Thursday ‘but will not stay in the city overnight’
Source says outgoing leader Carrie Lam has planned banquet at Government House for the president on June 30. ⌘ Read more

China changes law so it can act if country is insulted at sporting events
National People’s Congress Standing Committee passes revision to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports, but there are no details on what constitutes an infringement of rights or dignity. ⌘ Read more

Nato to pledge aid to Baltics and Ukraine, urge Türkiye to let in Sweden and Finland
Nato leaders meeting in Madrid this week face the unprecedented challenge of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ⌘ Read more

International schoolteachers on the future of education, from pandemic-era online lessons with Zoom and Google tools, to AR and VR – and the importance of social skills and empathy too
We talk to Hong Kong’s international schoolteachers about how education is changing, from lessons learned during the pandemic, to how improved tech needs to be balanced against more human factors ⌘ Read more

Who is Louise Araneta-Marcos, the Philippines’ new first lady?
Louise Araneta-Marcos is widely believed to have been the architect of husband Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr’s campaign for the top job. ⌘ Read more

Human cost of China’s zero-Covid policy measured in stress, anxiety
Lockdowns and unpredictable restrictions have led to soaring mental health problems in numbers which may exceed global averages. ⌘ Read more

Ukraine war: Russia defaults on foreign debt for first time since 1918
The default was the culmination of ever-tougher Western sanctions that shut down Russia’s payment routes to overseas creditors. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong-mainland China ties after 25 years: a chance for a reset or will underlying unease fester?
With Hong Kong at the midway point of Beijing’s pledge to preserve ‘one country, two systems’, can residents reframe how they view the dynamic? ⌘ Read more

Rupture and reset (2017-2022): Hong Kong’s turbulent years and Covid-19 battle in 25 photos
A months-long anti-government movement that brought the city to its knees was followed by the emergence of a crippling pandemic. These are Hong Kong’s years of hard knocks, but a new chapter beckons that may offer renewal. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific back on hiring spree in anticipation of take-off in global air travel, but faces recruitment challenges
Hong Kong’s flagship carrier keen to add thousands to its roster by the end of next year, but finds many reluctant to return. ⌘ Read more

School in China ditches sleeping on desks at nap time for health reasons and lets students set up their own tents to sleep in
A school in China, concerned by the health impacts of students sleeping with heads on desks, tried something different — now its ‘sleep lying down project’ is winning praise nationally. ⌘ Read more

Why this 25-year-old is not leaving Hong Kong
To those who assert that Hong Kong is dead, that it’s high time to leave, I say: this is my home and I’m not going anywhere. ⌘ Read more

The XMPP Standards Foundation: On-Boarding Experience with XSF (Converse)
Hi, I am PawBud. I will be working as a GSoC Contributor with XSF. To know more about my project kindly read this blog. Feel free to contact me through my email to ask me anything you want!

Before I start, I feel that some things that I am going to write in this blog might offend someone. **Kindly … ⌘ Read more

Cannabis use has risen with legalisation and Covid-19 lockdowns, according to UN report
In its annual World Drug Report, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said legalisation appears to have accelerated the upwards trends in reported daily use of the drug. ⌘ Read more

Taiwan stocks facing ‘big bully’ prompt Goldman retreat as cross-strait tensions inflict 20 to 40 per cent fund losses
Cross-strait tensions are rising several notches as military threat escalates. Goldman has downgraded Taiwan market, worrying about a spillover of risk from related stocks to the broader market. ⌘ Read more

Higher oil prices help Angola pay off debts to Chinese banks
Second-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa ramping up repayments well ahead of scheduled end of three-year debt moratorium. ⌘ Read more

Dozens arrested in Istanbul as LGBT marchers try to defy Pride ban
Türkiye’s largest city has banned the march since 2015, but large crowds nonetheless gather every year to mark the end of Pride Month. Organisers called the ban unlawful. ⌘ Read more

Suspect in Norway Pride Month shooting ‘refuses to talk to police’
The suspect, described as a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, was arrested after the shooting in Oslo’s nightlife district early on Saturday ⌘ Read more

Motown singer Diana Ross spreads the love at UK’s Glastonbury music festival
Ross, 78, was due to play Glastonbury in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic caused the festival to be cancelled for two years. ⌘ Read more

Biden unveils US$600 billion global infrastructure plan at G7 summit to counter China’s Belt and Road
Clean energy, secure communications technology and health systems among focus areas for programme funded by grants, federal financing and private sector. ⌘ Read more

Iran launches rocket into space as nuclear talks to resume
It is unclear when or where the rocket, Zuljanah, was launched, but the announcement came after satellite photos showed preparations at Imam Khomeini Spaceport. ⌘ Read more

Two years on, national security law proves its worth in safer, more stable Hong Kong
Rather than ruining Hong Kong, the national security law has bolstered the status quo and returned stability to the streets. Beijing could have shown this rebellious city what abandonment looked like, but it kept faith with Hong Kong and the facts speak for themselves. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong’s largest journalist group insists it operates in accordance with law after being asked by authorities to justify activities
Hong Kong Journalists Association says it received letter from Registry of Trade Unions demanding explanation of group’s operations. ⌘ Read more

No insurance payout over capsizing of Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant, owner says
Jumbo was insured by a type of policy that covered third-party losses instead of losses to the company, statement by Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises says. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong PLA garrison to be combat-ready for ‘toughest and most complicated’ situations amid security threats, commander vows
Major General Peng Jingtang makes promise ahead of President Xi Jinping’s attendance at events celebrating 25th anniversary of city’s handover. ⌘ Read more

Linus Torvalds threatens to punish developers by putting Rust in the Linux Kernel
Linux would join Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook in usage of Rust as a disciplinary tool. ⌘ Read more

Rent control law fails to help Hong Kong’s poorest and leaves loopholes for landlords, advocacy group says
Society for Community Organisation appeals to government to put caps on rent levels to ease the problem. ⌘ Read more

National, Hong Kong flags found damaged at public housing estates, some with black marks on yellow stars of banners
Twelve national flags hung at Lam Shek House in Kwun Tong found to have been stained, while black marks on yellow stars of some flags were spotted. ⌘ Read more

Pride parades march on with new urgency amid calls for changes in law
The marches come 2 days after a conservative justice said the Supreme Court should reconsider the right to same-sex marriage and laws criminalising gay sex. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: China’s economic slowdown looks like a ‘lifetime of debt’ for some citizens
From business owners to office workers, rising debt and falling incomes are becoming a reality for many Chinese, as the economy faces mounting domestic and external headwinds. ⌘ Read more

Chinese authorities unveils plans to ‘maximise display of police force’ two weeks after group assault on women
New public security minister Wang Xiahong promises 100-day ‘hard-fist’ campaign to target criminals in run-up to year’s biggest political event ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong customs intercepts Macau-bound riverboat suspected of smuggling HK$23 million in cash, arrests 2
Two men, aged 45 and 76, arrested earlier this month on suspicion of smuggling goods to Macau. ⌘ Read more

Russia bombs central Kyiv as world leaders gather in Europe for G7 summit
Kyiv had not faced any such Russian air strikes since June 5 and life had begun returning to normal. ⌘ Read more

This 1.63 million-year-old fossil may have been the first human (hominin) to inhabit China
Scientists used teeth analysis to show that a Homo erectus fossil nicknamed, Lantian Man, likely lived in northwest China and may represent the first known hominin to live there. ⌘ Read more

With Roe vs Wade overturned, fears grow online data could be weaponised against abortion seekers in US
Privacy groups worried that social media posts or information on apps could be used by authorities to build cases. ⌘ Read more

Pakistan loves chai so much, it may need to export green tea to fund its addiction
Tea is deeply entrenched across gender and social classes in Pakistan, even as the country explores non-import alternatives like herbal and green tea. ⌘ Read more

Regina Ip is the right choice to steer Hong Kong’s comeback as Exco convenor
Given her qualifications in the political arena and personal experience in overcoming setbacks, she is more than capable of shaping the terrain of Hong Kong’s political landscape. ⌘ Read more

Can Biden broker an Israel-Saudi Arabia normalisation deal during his Middle East trip?
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently called Israel a ‘potential ally’, while Saudis have taken to social media to express their support for normalisation. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: Hong Kong frontline workers still waiting for Covid-19 subsidies because companies are refusing to apply
Essential workers in Hong Kong still waiting on Covid-19 emergency payments. ⌘ Read more

The Chinese fact checkers taking on the Covid infodemic – a rumour at a time
Journalist Wei Xing started up China Fact Check two years ago to push back against the flood of misinformation about the coronavirus. ⌘ Read more

In reply to: Oatmeal - That one time when Buffy the Vampire Slayer maybe saved my life?

After giving my brain bleed time to heal the neurosurgeon called me back in to hospital; the plan was to reassess, attempt to fix it using the minimally invasive technique that they tried once before, and if that didn’t work, do something a bit more squidgy dir … ⌘ Read more

As Australia eyes closer ties with Indonesia, Hazara refugees hope for immigration change
Waiting to be resettled to a third country after fleeing persecution in Afghanistan, they hope PM Albanese’s new government may ease Australia’s strict refugee policies ⌘ Read more

Ukraine spy chief says Russia won’t run out of troops, military force needed to retake cities
Kyrylo Budanov said Moscow using reservists in a covert mobilisation to replenish its ranks in eastern Ukraine. ⌘ Read more

The Canto-pop comeback: Hong Kong’s beloved brand of music returns with a bang
Having languished for decades and losing out to Mandopop and K-pop, Canto-pop’s new generation of stars are relevant, collaborative and current. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong conservationists call for protection of old Chinese banyan tree, historical dispensary in Kowloon City
Conservancy Association calls for Urban Renewal Authority to avoid transplanting 12-metre-tall Chinese Banyan, says efforts could harm its ability to absorb nutrients. ⌘ Read more

‘I will never forget the kindness’: Chinese man accidentally raises US$15,000 from self-service watermelon stall for granddaughter’s cancer treatment
A man who left his watermelon stall unmanned with a QR-code for self-service received 100,000 yuan (US$15,000) from strangers to help pay for his three-year-old granddaughter’s treatment. ⌘ Read more

Singapore lures new wave of Chinese investors eyeing good schools, stability
The city has tightened its Global Investor Programme rules over the years, such as requiring applicants to manage firms with revenues of S$200 million, but interest continues to be strong. ⌘ Read more

Officials vie to offer fulsome pledges of loyalty to Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of 20th Party Congress
At least nine provincial party chiefs have written long articles in party publications extolling China’s president and pledging loyalty to him. ⌘ Read more

‘Made in China, Sold on Amazon’ community faces gloomy future amid Covid-19 lockdowns, geopolitical tensions
Shenzhen’s ‘Made in China, sold on Amazon’ community is focusing on regulatory compliance and brand building as it bids farewell to the days of rapid growth amid a tough market environment full of uncertainty. ⌘ Read more

UK’s Boris Johnson seeks to stay in power until the mid-2030s
The British prime minister would become the country’s longest continuously serving leader in 200 years – if he remains in power. ⌘ Read more

Sievierodonetsk falls to Russia after one of Ukraine war’s bloodiest fights
President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed in a video address that Ukraine would win back the cities it lost, including Sievierodonetsk. ⌘ Read more

[47°09′21″S, 126°43′18″W] Storm recedes – back to normal work

FBI seizes Basquiat paintings from Florida exhibition amid doubts over authenticity
The FBI seized the paintings with a warrant based on ‘false information related to the alleged prior ownership of the paintings,’ The New York Times reported. ⌘ Read more

French government supports bill enshrining abortion rights in constitution
France was one of several US allies to condemn America’s decision to revoke the country’s recent nationwide legal protection for abortion. ⌘ Read more

US prepares for second day of protests against Supreme Court’s abortion ruling
America woke up to a new level of division: between states that will now or soon deny the right to abortion, enshrined for 50 years, and those that still allow it. ⌘ Read more

Biden signs landmark gun control bill into law with bipartisan support ‘to save lives’
President Biden called the legislation the most significant of its kind in decades; measures include restricting gun access for youngest buyers and bolstering mental health support. ⌘ Read more

Nato poised to harden position on China as support for Russia deepens distrust
Summit preceded by tougher China rhetoric from Nato chief, not long after survey across member states shows uptick in views of Beijing as a security threat. ⌘ Read more

Business chambers in Hong Kong urge Beijing’s liaison office to help push for removal of Covid-19 quarantine measures to revive ailing economy
Liaison office held series of closed-door individual meetings with city’s major foreign business chambers to ‘directly’ gauge their views on issues, sources say. ⌘ Read more

How’s the China-India economic relationship changed 2 years on from the deadly Galwan Valley border clash?
China’s exports to India grew to US$27.1 billion in the first quarter of 2022, but India is concerned by its ballooning trade deficit with its neighbour amid strained ties two years after the deadly Galwan Valley clash. ⌘ Read more

Chinese engineering firm builds Bangladesh longest bridge - but paid for by nation
The China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd built the structure, said to later feature a rail network connecting to Belt and Road projects. ⌘ Read more

China’s zero-Covid policy: Sri Lankan group latest to arrive as borders open to Asian students after two years
As Asian envoys press for more students to be allowed to return, the way forward of those from the West remains unclear. ⌘ Read more

[47°09′47″S, 126°43′34″W] Working impossible due to blizzard

Hong Kong’s largest public healthcare workers union opts to dissolve as journalism group lowers vote threshold to disband
Former chairman of Hospital Authority Employees Alliance confirms group voted to disband after special general meeting. ⌘ Read more

Roe vs Wade: protesters condemn ‘tragedy’ as several states impose new abortion bans
‘Women died getting abortions……we were trying to protect women’s rights, women’s lives, and now they’ve taken all that away from us’. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong national security police arrest 2 more suspected to be linked to possible bomb plots involving 30kg of chemicals
Two men, aged 27 and 29, detained for manufacture of explosives and inciting others to cause grievous bodily harm. ⌘ Read more

Norway ‘hate’ shooting kills 2 in gay bar rampage hours before Pride march
10 people were also seriously injured in the early-hours tragedy shortly before the city’s LGBT community was due to hold its annual Pride event; police have ‘reason to think this may be a hate crime’. ⌘ Read more

Zhang Sizhi, hailed as ‘conscience of Chinese lawyers’, dies in Beijing at 94
Zhang led defence team in historic 1980 trials of ‘counter-revolutionary’ Gang of Four and those close to disgraced Mao protégé Lin Biao. ⌘ Read more

Hongkongers all: drawn to the city for different reasons, they call it home
Living the expatriate life or struggling to make ends meet, immigrants find reasons to belong. ⌘ Read more

Why is a South Korean fringe group backing Japan’s position on WWII ‘comfort women’?
End Comfort Women Fraud group, who say there’s evidence of women signing contracts to work in brothels for Japanese military during colonial rule, are travelling to Germany, hoping a statue of a ‘comfort woman’ can be removed. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: Hong Kong hotels raise rates for quarantine rooms as number of arrivals to city outpaces available spots
More 40 quarantine hotels have raised their prices by as much as 80 per cent since the launch of the scheme 1½ years ago. ⌘ Read more

China’s space station may get the most precise clock in orbit – if it passes key test
Optical atomic clock will be delivered to Tiangong in October if it clears technical evaluation next week, according to scientist familiar with project. ⌘ Read more

US, Japan and allies form new Pacific group to blunt China’s influence
Australia, New Zealand and the UK are also part of the Partners in the Blue Pacific forum that will help Pacific island nations tackle challenges like climate change. ⌘ Read more

Roe vs Wade: How betting on Trump paid off for US anti-abortion supporters
The former president’s judiciary nominations have led the Christian right to its holy grail – the Supreme Court ending the nationwide right to abortion. ⌘ Read more

Call reveals Russia’s Putin told Macron he ‘wanted to play ice hockey’ on eve of Ukraine invasion
The final call between the French and Russian leaders just four days before Putin ordered the attack on Ukraine is filled with tension and bizarre moments. ⌘ Read more

China’s live-streaming e-commerce offers lifeline to fruit farmers amid Covid restrictions and short season
Local farmers have come to rely more on Big Tech platforms to boost sales in recent years, but a tough season for some produce is proving challenging for some. ⌘ Read more

Immigrant who swam to Hong Kong and dropped out of school to work becomes highly qualified chef honoured by Japan
Japanese royal family awards cook the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for his efforts and achievements in promoting Japanese ingredients. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong’s developers step up to fill the shortage in quality pension homes for the golden years in the world’s fastest-ageing population
Hongkongers are living longer than ever before, exerting an increasing burden on the government as the expenditure on elderly services surged 82 per cent in the 12 months ending on March 31, 2023. ⌘ Read more

Xi Jinping to attend 25th anniversary celebrations of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty and swearing-in of new city leader John Lee
President Xi Jinping will officiate the event to mark quarter-century of Chinese sovereignty over city and swearing-in of new city leader. ⌘ Read more

How Hong Kong’s redevelopment projects can be showcases of ‘organic city’ growth
The decision to bulldoze Kowloon Walled City in 1993 wasted a chance to create a cultural treasure that celebrates its history and character. Instead of cookie-cutter shopping centres and residential towers, Hong Kong needs development that evolves from the local characteristics of each district. ⌘ Read more

A bridge too far? Taipei mayor draws fire for proposal to link Quemoy and Xiamen
Ko Wen-je revives project to join Taiwan islet to mainland city, contending it would help ease cross-strait tensions, but opponents call it a ‘Trojan horse’ that would aid a People’s Liberation Army invasion. ⌘ Read more

Friends at first sniff: people drawn to others who smell like them, study shows
The odour signatures of non-romantic pairs who ‘clicked’ matched more closely than those of non-friends, researchers found. ⌘ Read more

China ‘no-limits’ vow with Russia raises Pentagon urgency to prepare for Guam attack: US commander
‘Extremely dangerous’ if Beijing and Moscow were to make good on recent doubling down of partnership, says US Indo-Pacific Commander John Aquilino. ⌘ Read more

Ukraine war highlights G7’s role as geopolitical linchpin
Despite criticism from some quarters that it should stick to economics, the G7 has often been at its best during turbulent times. The grouping’s long-standing engagement with security issues and the uncertainty in Ukraine suggest its geopolitical role will only continue to grow. ⌘ Read more