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

Dilbert by Scott Adams for Sat, 25 Jun 2022

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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

[47°09′34″S, 126°43′05″W] Reading: 1.46000 PPM

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

Prince Charles says Commonwealth nations free to decide on dropping queen as head of state
Addressing a summit of Commonwealth prime ministers and presidents in Rwanda, the monarch also expressed ‘personal sorrow’ at Britain’s legacy of slavery. ⌘ Read more

Chinese firm aiming to break US dominance in chip design software gets IPO approval at home
Empyrean Technology aims to become a global leader in EDA software by 2030, in a market currently led by US firms Cadence, Synopsis and Mentor Graphics. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong court orders European firm to pay HK$150,000, apologise to former employee sacked over sexual harassment claim
Writer Shaun Tan wins lawsuit against Euromoney Institutional Investor for its pro-female bias, after being sacked over unsubstantiated sexual harassment complaint. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong customs officers arrest 5 men after seizure of HK$4.5 million worth of frozen meat from ship
Tonnes of contraband frozen meat seized by customs officers from ship in the city’s southern waters. ⌘ Read more

China’s internet watchdog launches cybersecurity investigation into country’s largest academic research database CNKI
It marks the Cyberspace Administration of China’s first investigation since the new regulation on cybersecurity review measures took effect in February this year. ⌘ Read more

UN says Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh killed by Israeli forces
The UN Human Rights Office findings showed the shots that killed Abu Akleh came from Israeli forces and not from indiscriminate firing by armed Palestinians. ⌘ Read more

Beijing’s boost to Nansha will bring opportunities for Hong Kong, not rivalry, Guangzhou mayor says
Guo Yonghang says his city needs to take advantage of Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super-connector’ to foster global partnerships in tech projects. ⌘ Read more

China’s new live-streaming guidelines set to change the influencer business known for its ‘low threshold, high income’
In the latest crackdown on China’s once-booming live streaming industry, authorities are requiring platforms to check the credentials of influencers in certain fields. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong chauffeur acquitted on charge of inciting members of drivers’ WhatsApp group to attack police with machetes
District Court accepts Fong Man-ho’s defence that he was merely venting his frustration at police’s handling of 2019 protests and posted remarks on impulse. ⌘ Read more

‘See you next year’: China’s ‘King of gaokao’ fails to get marks for dream university after sitting the entrance exam for 26th time
A man in China who shot to fame after repeatedly sitting the country’s university entrance exam has failed to get the score he wanted for the 26th time — but plans to try again next year. ⌘ Read more

Chinese security official calls for crackdown on gangs following Tangshan attack
The political and legal affairs chief urges authorities to ‘fight against evil’ in the wake of a brutal assault on women in northern China. ⌘ Read more

Why Hong Kong’s new textbooks for secondary schools have stopped calling the city a British colony
Launch of several new secondary school textbooks for Hong Kong’s new citizenship and social development course has sparked debate about city’s colonial past. ⌘ Read more

The Age of Health Misinformation: From Pandemic to Infodemic
COVID-19 has sadly fuelled a torrent of false or misleading information that has complicated efforts to limit the spread of the virus ⌘ Read more

Passing on Lessons from the Field
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Dr CHAN Siu-ming admits that his story is a rather long one. Chan joined the social work profession after completing study in social work at university to serve the community in which he himself grew up. After eight years in the field, the now Assistant Professor at CityU’s Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences has decided to embark on an academic career and share his ex … ⌘ Read more

Discovering a Passion for Literature
One of the Department of English’s most recent hires, Dr Jerrine TAN talks about how she switched away from her early interest in medicine to pursue her studies in the arts ⌘ Read more

Immigration: the Dream vs the Facts
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Waves of immigration have been seen again recently from politically and economically less stable and prosperous regions to those so-called Western democratised and industrialised countries. Rapid changes in the geopolitical terrain, along with a drastic transformation in the appeal of the defining elements of democracy and prosperity in the past decade, has made immigration … ⌘ Read more

Following Friends in Fitness Apps is Associated with Higher Levels of Physical Activity
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The past few years have seen huge growth in mobile fitness apps globally. Expecting increased revenue to be generated from this category, app designers strive to add features to enhance the user experience and motivate better performance.

Dr HUANG Guanxiong, Dr Crystal JIANG Li, and doctoral student SUN Mengru from CityU’s … ⌘ Read more

Hardening National Boundaries in a Globally-connected World
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Information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as the internet are often thought to have removed the boundaries among countries and brought us to a boundless world. But is that really the case? To investigate this question, research authored by Dr Jun ZHANG, Assistant Professor of CityU’s Department of Asian and International Studies, takes as e … ⌘ Read more

Why do Some Minorities Support the US Republican Party?
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In contemporary US politics, the Democratic Party is often regarded as the most welcoming to racial minority groups. Even so, each election cycle sees many members of these groups cast their vote for the Republican Party. In 2016, for example, Chinese Americans from the East Coast to Silicon Valley organised rallies for Republican candidates. Even thoug … ⌘ Read more

Into the World of Eileen Chang
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As one of the most perceptive authors of Chinese contemporary literature, Eileen Chang’s fictional writings are best known for her acute observation of all walks of life and the rich tapestry of human relationships in Hong Kong and Shanghai in the 1940s and 50s. Although it has already been 27 years since Chang’s death, her works are still loved by readers of different generations, … ⌘ Read more

Exploring Global Connectivity and Opportunities along Belt and Road
Scholars and industry experts around the globe shed light on the city’s competitive edge in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative by looking at the current development situation of seven B&R countries ⌘ Read more

Changing the World for the Better
A passionate educator in social work with profound experience in the field, there are few who are as dedicated to teaching the next generations of students in social welfare in Hong Kong as Dr Sylvia KWOK LAI Yuk-ching ⌘ Read more

EMI Research Generates Social Impacts in Healthcare and Secondary Education
As CityU’s Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Dr Jack Pun’s research into English as the medium of instruction has implications for fields such as healthcare as well as for academics ⌘ Read more

Social Worker’s Passion Wins her Top Industry Award
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“I grew up in a poor family that is why I have strong feelings about the notion of being deprived,” says Fion Li. Her saving grace was that she received charitable help during her secondary  school years. “Whether it was through church or other organisations, the ability to help others continues to be a great influence on the choices I make for the future.”

… ⌘ Read more

International Linguistic Symposium on PhD Research Training
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The Hongkong-Beijing-Lancaster Symposium on Research Methodologies for PhD Studies in Linguistics (REMLing) was held online on 17 and 18 March 2022.

REMLing 2022 was jointly organised by the Halliday Centre for Intelligent Applications for Language Studies (HCLS) at City University of Hong Kong, the MIIT Centre of AI-based Linguistic Information Proce … ⌘ Read more

Global Discussions on Sustainable Solutions for the Future of Food
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The current food system relies heavily on intensive farming which is unsustainable and harmful to both our planet and our health. Although industrial farming provides us affordable food prices and high crop yield, it is also believed that factory-farmed animals are invariably stressed and riddled with disease from cramped and unhealthy living con … ⌘ Read more

Myanmar’s NUG says junta placed Aung San Suu Kyi in solitary confinement to ‘embarrass’ her
The shadow government and UN denounced the military for transferring the ousted leader from house arrest to solitary confinement in prison this week. ⌘ Read more

CityU and Yonsei University Offer New Joint PhD Programme
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With a vision to broaden and deepen mutual scientific and pedagogical relations and cooperation in research and higher education, CityU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) recently established a partnership with Yonsei University’s College of Social Sciences to launch a two-certificate Joint PhD Programme (“Dual Degree” as named by Yonse … ⌘ Read more

Mentoring Secondary School Students in Buddy Programme
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The transition from secondary to tertiary education is an important developmental milestone in one’s life. Secondary school students may not yet have developed a clear understanding of what their aspirations are and in what fields they would like to pursue further studies. To encourage secondary school students in planning their future pathway, CityU has set … ⌘ Read more

CityU Research Cited in US Budget FY2023
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Strategic planning is regarded as a popular management approach adopted by public, private and non-profit organisations today to set priorities and steer future development. It helps define the mission of the organisation and establish realistic goals and objectives consistent with that mission in a defined time frame for implementation within the organisation’s capacity. … ⌘ Read more

World leaders seek united front for Ukraine at key summits as war rages
Back-to-back summits over the next week will test Western resolve to support Ukraine as rising geopolitical tensions and economic pain cast an increasingly long shadow. ⌘ Read more

Balkans complain about stalled EU bids as war-torn Ukraine gets candidate status
Angry Balkan leaders lashed out at the European Union over their stalled bids to join, as the EU’s decision to make Ukraine a candidate nation highlighted the region’s failure to make progress. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong police arrest 1,800 people, aged 11 to 90, in first four weeks of cross-border crime crackdown
Officers seize HK$100 million worth of illegal drugs and illicit goods in operation Thunderbolt 2022. ⌘ Read more

Second Chinese rights activist Ding Jiaxi stands trial on state subversion charges in secret proceeding
No family or supporters were in court as prominent civil rights leader Ding Jiaxi went on trial in Shandong province on Friday. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong’s next leader John Lee speaks to the Post
In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview on Talking Post, incoming Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu talks about a strategy to reopen Hong Kong’s borders with mainland China and the rest of the world, how he plans to counter “fearmongering and badmouthing”, and more. ⌘ Read more

Video: China’s Chang’e 5 lunar lander finds water on the moon, but not as much as they hoped ⌘ Read more

Birthday giveaway: Richest Asian Gautam Adani pledges US$7.7 billion for social causes
Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, who turns 60 on Friday, joins the ranks of global billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Warren Buffett who have committed large parts of their wealth for philanthropy. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: Beijing making contingency plans for Hong Kong government swearing-in ceremony on July 1 after 2 top city officials catch Covid-19
Cases spark speculation on whether a state leader such as President Xi Jinping will attend ceremony on July 1, the 25th anniversary of city’s return to Chinese rule. ⌘ Read more

Covid-19 vaccines ‘saved 20 million lives’ in first year, study says
The study is the first attempt to estimate the number of deaths prevented directly and indirectly as a result of Covid-19 vaccinations. ⌘ Read more

PRGuy Unmasked ⌘ Read more

UK’s Boris Johnson suffers double by-election defeat humiliation
The defeats will undoubtedly renew calls for the embattled UK prime minister to stand down. ⌘ Read more

Pink Floyd seeking US$500 million for music catalogue
Should that deal come to fruition, it would be one of the largest sales in music history. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant has not ‘sunk’ only ‘capsized’, company insists, but spokeswoman can’t say if it’s still above water
Spokeswoman’s comments come four days after owner Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises first revealed the accident in the South China Sea. ⌘ Read more

Business groups urge Biden to return trade to heart of Asia policies
US-led chambers among 15 international associations in combined push for regional trade agreements, but China group silent. ⌘ Read more

North Korea approves ‘stronger war deterrent’ at key military meeting
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wrapped up a key meeting with top military officials, amid growing speculation that Pyongyang could conduct its first nuclear test in five years. ⌘ Read more

Darkening skies (2012-2017): Hong Kong’s years of simmering tensions in 25 photos
The city was rocked by the 2014 Occupy movement in this period, a precursor to greater unrest to come as brewing political sentiment bubbled to the forefront of society. ⌘ Read more

Woman’s anger over topless hospital X-ray by male doctor who got a week suspension starts heated debate in China and her post gets 130 million views
A woman asked to remove her clothes for an X-ray exam with a male radiologist says she felt violated and complained and then posted about the incident on social media. ⌘ Read more

UBS’s top China banker says Hong Kong still a magnet for global IPOs, with additional reforms likely to attract more start-ups in Greater Bay Area
Hong Kong can still create wider room for more stock offerings from global companies and start-ups in Greater Bay Area, according to John Lee, head of Greater China global banking at UBS. ⌘ Read more

Can Indonesia’s Jokowi breathe easy, with air pollution in Jakarta and other cities still causing tens of thousands of premature deaths?
Despite air quality in Jakarta often exceeding WHO guidelines, campaigners say the government is still not tackling pollution. It is even appealing against last year’s landmark court ruling which said air quality must be improved. ⌘ Read more

Weighing up Hong Kong’s legal system 25 years after handover: making sure the law still rules
Questions about legal system’s future surface now and then, but have grown more pressing as Hong Kong nears halfway point of 50-year period of common law remaining in place. ⌘ Read more

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Dilbert by Scott Adams for Fri, 24 Jun 2022

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China relaxes barriers for transgender health, but family approval remains an obstacle
While policy changes make it easier for LGBT youth to access gender affirmation surgery, many still struggle with getting their parents’ consent. ⌘ Read more

UAE sells US$3 billion in high-quality debt amid recession fears
The oil-rich Persian Gulf nation on Thursday sold US$1.75 billion in 10-year bonds and US$1.25 billion in notes due in 2052. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong must not cling to governance structures of the past
These trying times call for a clear-eyed review of the governmental structures and procedures underlying one ‘country, two systems’. Hong Kong needs a bolder institutional reform agenda, one placing the people’s interests above bureaucracy and adherence to an obsolete status quo. ⌘ Read more

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi ‘in strong spirits’ after being moved from solitary confinement to prison
The Nobel laureate left the premises to attend hearings for her numerous trials in a junta court that could see her handed a sentence of more than 150 years. ⌘ Read more

China, South Korea battle population woes as ‘children are not a must’, adding to economic peril
Japan’s shrinking population has long been an obsession, but its East Asian neighbours of South Korea and China are now facing the same problem as fertility rates, births and marriages fall, creating an economic headache for both Seoul and Beijing. ⌘ Read more

US sending Ukraine US$450 million more in arms, including rocket systems, says White House
‘This package contains weapons and equipment, including new High Mobility Artillery Rocket systems,’ said White House spokesman John Kirby. ⌘ Read more

China’s world’s factory tag threatened by Vietnam, but ‘there’s nothing to worry about’, analysts say
Vietnam’s first quarter exports reached US$88.58 billion, up by 12.9 per cent from the previous year, with Chinese state media comparing the shipments in the first three months of the year to China’s main export hub of Shenzhen. ⌘ Read more

Bill Cosby to appeal civil ruling on US$500,000 teenage sex assault case
A civil trial heard how Cosby was said to have plied Judy Huth with alcohol and taken her to Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion where he molested Huth, who was 16 at the time, in the 1970s. ⌘ Read more

Nike to fully exit Russia, joining list of Western firms that have pulled out of the country
Nike said on Thursday it will permanently leave the Russian market. Russian authorities have warned that they were ready to nationalise foreign assets. ⌘ Read more

Cosmic Queries – NASA v. Billionaires with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Lori Garver ⌘ Read more

Ukraine takes step toward EU membership as battle in east enters ‘fearsome climax’
Ukraine on Thursday said it had formally filed a case against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights to end ‘gross human rights violations’ by Moscow. ⌘ Read more

Google pulls plug on “Sentient A.I.” after it begins using Arch Linux
“BTW, I use Arch. Therefore I am.” ⌘ Read more

Why China should brace itself for a Pacific rebuff
Pacific island leaders have repeatedly expressed their reservations about being drawn into the power struggle between Beijing and Washington. With the US navy already having a foothold in the region, China needs much more than one base to gain military relevance in the South Pacific. ⌘ Read more

Americans have right to carry guns in public, says US Supreme Court in landmark decision
The decision was a stunning victory for the National Rifle Association gun lobby group, which brought the case along with two New York men who had been denied gun permits. ⌘ Read more

Chinese radar breakthrough will see commercial drones soar in power and applications, says Shenzhen team
Lead scientist of the project says it is ‘a disruptive technology’ and can be applied to intelligent driving, logistics and emergency rescue and disaster relief ⌘ Read more

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British Airways set for ‘summer of strikes’ at London’s Heathrow
Travellers already faced lengthy delays and cancellations of hundreds of flights as airports struggle to cope with staff shortages and post-pandemic demand. Britain’s rail network is also being stifled by industrial action. ⌘ Read more

US$156million Russian superyacht in Dubai –test for US, UAE close ties amid sanctions
The 98-metre Madame Gu is moored next to US$200 million megayacht owned by the state’s ruler as Western pressure mounts for US Gulf Arab ally to apply sanctions. ⌘ Read more