Heat turned up on China-Japan relationship with maritime disputes over islands and alliances
Debates in Japan over raising defence spending and potentially developing nuclear-powered submarines will be viewed with concern in Beijing. ⌘ Read more
Prince Charles’ US$3 million bags-of-cash claim, denies any wrongdoing
British royal’s office said the money, from a former prime minister of Qatar, was for the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund – it was handed over in a suitcase and in shopping bags from London’s Fortnum & Mason store. ⌘ 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
Hong Kong’s finance chief says he has ‘stood firm’ in defending national, financial security while assessing tenure
Paul Chan says in weekly blog post safeguarding national security and city’s constitutional order is a ‘core infrastructure project’. ⌘ 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
Under Xi Jinping China-Russia ties are defined by global interests and unity in opposition, report finds
A German think tank sifted through joint communiques issued by Beijing and Moscow over decades and found they increasingly opposed the West-dominated status quo. ⌘ Read more
Designer perfumes hit by war and weather as vital ingredient becomes ‘liquid gold’
Perfumes by top luxury brands, such as Christian Dior, Estee Lauder and Chanel, will be affected by commodities prices that soared after Russia invaded Ukraine, and heatwave that damaged roses and their oil – a vital ingredient. ⌘ 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
‘We have nothing’ say survivors of deadly earthquake now facing disease outbreak
There is a desperate need for clean water – cholera outbreaks in the aftermath are of particular and serious concern – after at least 1,000 people were killed, 2,000 injured and 10,000 homes destroyed in the devastating earthquake. ⌘ 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
Coronavirus Hong Kong: hospitals experience uptick in Covid-related admissions as city logs over 1,900 cases
Hong Kong records 1,917 cases, comprising 1,799 local and 118 imported infections, and no additional deaths. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Chinese factory hub Shenzhen shuts down Hong Kong border district for 3 days
Wholesale markets, public venues shut in Futian district, with some bus and subway lines suspended and window for Covid-19 test reports halved. ⌘ 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
Netflix hit RRR starring Jnr NTR shows India’s Telugu films are no longer in Bollywood’s shadow
Indian regional cinema and its Telugu, Tamil films accounted for some 47 per cent of the country’s film revenue in 2019. ⌘ Read more
Elderly rural Chinese who embrace ancient art of yoga in region dubbed ‘The First Yoga Village in China’ become unlikely internet hit
Normally practised by young city dwellers, yoga has made an unlikely appearance among a group of seniors in a rural Chinese village 200 kilometres from Beijing. ⌘ 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
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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
Isolating China will not help Hong Kong or Uygurs, Dutch prime minister says
China has been accused of running a forced-labour programme in Xinjiang targeting Uygurs and crackdowns in Hong Kong. ⌘ 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
Ghislaine Maxwell put on suicide watch ahead of sentencing, lawyer says
The British socialite was removed from the general population of inmates at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre and placed in solitary confinement. ⌘ Read more
Too fast, too furious: Hong Kong’s classic car lovers slam new anti-pollution rule as hasty fix that they say will cripple sector and hobby
Paul Ho, CEO of I Automobile Group, says new measure ‘has stifled many young people’s dreams’, suggests modification and speeding rules be tightened instead. ⌘ 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
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
Shanghai party chief declares victory in Covid battle as city records zero cases at start of major political meeting
The city endured a lengthy lockdown as it tackled China’s worst outbreak since the early days of the pandemic. ⌘ Read more
Morocco says 18 migrants died during attempted crossing of 2,000 into Spanish enclave, with ‘dozens piled on the ground’
Video images of apparent aftermath of mass crossing attempt of 2,000 into Spanish enclave Melilla showed bleeding and motionless people. ⌘ Read more
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
Brave battle of Chinese cancer boy, 8, who has overcome 4 surgeries and dozens of painful treatments, captures hearts on social media
Xiaoxuan is a plucky eight-year-old Chinese boy who has been fighting cancer despite four years of pain and endless rounds of surgery and treatment. ⌘ 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
USS Samuel B Roberts: world’s deepest shipwreck found in the Philippine Sea
The vessel, which went down during a second world war battle with Japan, was located 6,895m below sea level off the Philippines. ⌘ Read more
Man in China with no arms shows millions how the disabled can live full lives in videos of cooking, writing and sewing with his feet
A man in China who lost both his arms as a child shows millions that a disability does not mean you can’t have a full life, with videos of him cooking, farming and even sewing with his feet. ⌘ 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
Chinese military says US plane in Taiwan Strait endangered peace
Chinese firmly oppose the US actions and troops remain on high alert, PLA Eastern Theatre Command spokesman says. ⌘ 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
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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
Violence against women in China: outrage over video of furious attack by teen boy on secondary schoolgirl classmate after a board game dispute
A wave of public outrage has spread across social media in mainland China after the emergence of a graphic video of a boy violently attacking a female secondary school classmate. ⌘ 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
Philippines’ Duterte leaves brutal legacy in presidency marked by drug war, US-China policy flip-flops
The extrajudicial killings of some 8,000 people has ‘opened the floodgates for a type of governance that disregards the rule of law, due process and human rights’, activists say. ⌘ 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
Teve Costa a lata de dizer “Convém termos a noção que a generalidade das pessoas hoje ainda tem veículos de combustão normal e esse esforço de transição é um esforço enorme e que vai pender sobretudo sobre as famílias”, para adiar uma norma que regula a venda de carros… novos.
Teve Costa a lata de dizer “Convém termos a noção que a generalidade das pessoas hoje ainda tem veículos de combustão normal e esse esforço de transição é um esforço enorme e que vai pender sobretudo sobre as famílias”, para adiar u … ⌘ 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
Roe vs Wade: Judge in US abortion ruling signals gay marriage, contraception next in firing line
Justice Clarence Thomas said the Supreme Court should ‘reconsider’ other landmark rulings, including same-sex marriage and contraception. ⌘ 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
Hong Kong’s Asian expats still see city as a ‘land of opportunities’
Amid a Western exodus, expats from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand share why they remain confident in the city’s future – even if Covid curbs are a major turn-off. ⌘ 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
Hong Kong customs seizes 3.8 tonnes of date rape drug GBL in first half of 2022, dwarfing amount detected over past decade
Despite significant rise in seizures, Customs and Excise Department says Hong Kong has not become a transit hub for illegal drugs. ⌘ Read more
Mexico woman, 22, dies climbing off-limits active volcano
She had fallen into a gully near the crater of Popocatepetl with her climbing companion, who survived but was injured in the plunge. ⌘ Read more
China jobs: facing lean times, small businesses dial back summer hiring
For years, Chinese manufacturers worried about labour shortages over summer months when production is typically at its peak, but it is a different story in 2022, industry insiders say. ⌘ 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
Cosmic Queries – Pot Luck with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Dr. Staci Gruber ⌘ Read more
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US passes first major gun control bill in decades
The legislation comes after two massacres last month that saw 10 black shoppers gunned down in New York and 21 people, mostly children, slain in Texas. ⌘ 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
Thank you to our maintainers
To celebrate Maintainer Month, GitHub has invested an additional $500,000 to help sponsor the open source projects that it depends on. ⌘ Read more
Scientists unravel structure of ocean currents in the South China Sea
Three-layered rotating circulation is key to monitoring areas like climate change and fish productivity in the waters that surround a fifth of the world’s population. ⌘ Read more
Cracks in first-floor flat hanging above passers-by in Hong Kong spark calls for inspection of nearby structures
Residents of Man Yuen Building in Jordan say they first noticed cracks on outer wall of first-floor unit that jutted out above the pavement last July. ⌘ Read more
Chinese satellites evade US surveillance probe, then stare back, according to report
The close encounter in orbit prompts experts to call for new rules and norms for the use of outer space. ⌘ Read more
Chinese-hosted BRICS summit swerves controversy over Ukraine and Taiwan
Analysts said India’s refusal to sign up to Russia and China’s anti-US agenda had derailed Beijing’s efforts to establish a common front on contentious matters. ⌘ Read more
Xinjiang ‘forced labour’ law leaves Chinese companies in a bind, with doubts over supply chain audits
Washington’s ‘forced labour’ puts an enormous burden on Chinese companies to prove their supply chains are free from rights abuses in Xinjiang. But trade experts question their ability to meet the ‘very high requirements’. ⌘ Read more
Close Xi Jinping ally appointed as China’s new public security chief
Wang Xiaohong will oversee policing and is the first professional officer in the job for 24 years. ⌘ Read more
First phase of new cable works completed, Hong Kong power firm says, days after fire from high-voltage lines caused widespread blackouts
CLP Power says its first 132kV high-voltage cable successfully activated in Yuen Long, aims to complete works for remaining two cables by Tuesday. ⌘ Read more
Covid-19 in China: Woman and ailing father threatened with detention after clash with police while trying to visit hospital
A viral video of the confrontation in which police stopped the pair going to a hospital has sparked public outrage. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong Book Fair to begin on July 20 but some publishers banned with ‘no reason’
This year’s event is themed ‘Reading the World: Stories of Hong Kong’. ⌘ Read more