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Two dead in shooting at Dutch ‘care farm’**
A 16-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman were killed, say police, and two people seriously wounded in the incident near Rotterdam; it happened at farm where children, young people, adults with conditions like autism, Alzheimer’s work with animals as form of therapy. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: China invokes 1999 Belgrade embassy bombing in attack on Nato expansion
China’s ambassador to the UN renews call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. ⌘ Read more
China to send vice-president to new South Korean president’s inauguration
Wang Qishan’s visit comes at a time when Beijing is watching to see if Yoon Suk-yeol will move South Korea closer to the US. ⌘ Read more
Inaugural Retail Green Bond attracts US$4.2 billion of subscriptions, as Hong Kong takes a step towards becoming a fundraising hub for climate-friendly projects
The government’s inaugural green bond aimed at retail investors has been oversubscribed by 1.2 times, underlining the city’s potential as a major fundraising hub for environmentally friendly projects. ⌘ Read more
Belarus sentences Russian Sofia Sapega, dissident’s girlfriend, to 6 years in jail
Sapega and Belarusian boyfriend Roman Protasevich were detained in 2021 after flight forced to land in Belarus; blogger Protasevich fled his nation in 2019 and became an editor at Poland-based Nexta Live channel, which is openly hostile to Lukashenko, the Belarus leader. ⌘ Read more
China’s US ambassador decries ‘political virus’ hurting bilateral economic ties between ‘natural partners’**
Qin Gang blasts tariffs and says China is ‘mindful of more difficulties and challenges’ in trade and business with the United States. ⌘ Read more
China’s students to learn how to cook, clean and raise small animals to combat helpless maths nerd stereotype
Mainland education authorities worry growing trend towards a purely academic curriculum leaves Chinese students without basic domestic abilities and seeks to boost life skills. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus can develop partial resistance to key treatment remdesivir, lab tests show
Scientists behind study say the experiment highlights the need to watch for real-life signs of drug resistance to ensure the treatment remains effective. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong administrative officer denies link with prostitution syndicate, claims he booked hotel room for credit card points
James Lam, 30, assistant district officer in Sha Tin, says he booked room for about a month to earn points for credit card and hotel’s loyalty membership. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong to establish new residential child care centre to tackle facilities shortage in wake of abuse scandal
Welfare minister Law Chi-kwong says city currently has limited ‘space capacity’ among providers of residential child care, calls for new operators to join sector. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: Fresh efforts to evacuate Mariupol civilians begins, says Ukraine
UN-brokered evacuations of some of hundreds of residents sheltering under steel plant had to stop after renewed fighting; ‘next rescue stage’ is happening, but officials worry Russia may step up offensive before May 9, anniversary of Soviet Union’s WW2 victory over Nazi Germany. ⌘ Read more
Advisers to Hong Kong leader back 2.6 per cent pay rises for top officials, with No 2 official potentially earning HK$396,000**
Independent commission suggests adjusting pay for senior officials in line with changes in average annual inflation since 2019. ⌘ Read more
Pentagon says Ukraine will not distract from Taiwan arms commitments
Weapons support to repel Russian invasion ‘will not’ shift US focus from its obligations to provide defence support to Taipei. ⌘ Read more
US-China tech war: shares of surveillance camera maker Hikvision plunge on second day after report of harsh sanctions
Investors rushed to dump shares of Hikvision after it was reported that the Chinese firm may be added to the Specially Designated Nationals list, which would bar it from dealing with American companies or citizens. ⌘ Read more
Quirky China: Porsche owners trash farm, quarantine in a phone booth for weeks and Shanghai couple have a huge online wedding
In this week’s Quirky China, four women in a Porsche trash a farm, a woman lived in a phone booth during Shanghai’s lockdown, and a couple have a massive online wedding. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong hikers asked to help in search for missing Briton, who posted Facebook message before walking into country park
Shaun Connell has not been seen since Thursday morning and volunteers and police are searching Tai Tam Country Park. ⌘ Read more
Sun Hung Kai plans to build 9,940 flats at Yuen Long’s Tam Mei wetlands in one of Hong Kong’s biggest mass housing projects
The number of flats planned, equal to Hong Kong’s total home sales in the first seven months of 2021, is about the size of Whampoa Garden in Hung Hom, making it one of the city’s largest residential communities. ⌘ Read more
Adidas cuts profit target as China sales slump amid Covid-19 lockdowns across major market
Foreign brands are struggling to hang onto China as a growth driver after almost a year of consumer boycotts and preferential treatment for home-grown companies. ⌘ Read more
What key message will Hong Kong chief executive candidate John Lee deliver to 1,000 guests in his only election rally?**
Hong Kong’s sole chief executive candidate John Lee Ka-chiu will hold an election rally at 4pm on Friday. ⌘ Read more
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka goes on strike demanding government, president step down: ‘He must go’**
All but one scheduled train service was cancelled on Friday as millions of the island’s workers stayed away from offices and factories in a strike organised by the trade union movement. ⌘ Read more
Singapore convicts ‘masterminds’ behind US$6 billion penny-stock crash
The 2013 scandal, which saw stocks in three companies surge multiple times in the months before they slumped, battered investor confidence and led to a series of reforms to the city state’s stock trading rules. ⌘ Read more
‘Everything was chaotic’: long post office queues for Hong Kong’s temporary vaccine pass spark calls for speedy online system
The QR code document can be used under city’s vaccine pass scheme for entry to premises such as restaurants, shopping centres and supermarkets. ⌘ Read more
UK PM Boris Johnson suffers heavy losses in London in local elections
The Conservatives will find out in the coming days as votes are tallied whether they will be made to pay the price for Boris Johnson’s scandals. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Beijing’s next steps to halt outbreak include closing offices and stopping construction
Beijing logged 72 local infections on Friday – 55 symptomatic and 17 asymptomatic – with around 40 per cent of cases in this outbreak detected in Chaoyang District. ⌘ Read more
South Africa’s daily Covid-19 cases soar 50 per cent in 24 hours amid new Omicron surge
The WHO chief said two Omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5, were behind the surge in cases in South Africa. ⌘ Read more
Ukrainian troops unlikely to get easy exit from Mariupol’s Azovstal steel mill, experts say
Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters were still holed up at Mariupol’s sprawling Azovstal steelworks, the last pocket of resistance in a city largely reduced to rubble. ⌘ Read more
Video: John Lee gains nominations from more than half of Hong Kong’s chief executive Election CommitteeRead more
Coronavirus: India slams WHO for 4.75 million pandemic death toll estimate – 10 times official count
The World Health Organization’s estimate is around 10 times the country’s official Covid-19 death toll for 2020-21. India’s health ministry said the world health body ‘conveniently chose to ignore the available data’. ⌘ Read more
Video: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam will not seek a second term as city’s chief executiveRead more
US official: we gave intel before Ukraine sank Russian warship Moskva
New evidence emerged that the US provided intelligence that helped Ukraine sink a formidable Russian warship last month. ⌘ Read more
Search for survivors of China building collapse ends, 53 confirmed dead
Authorities say all the missing are accounted for and the 10 people rescued are in good condition after hospital treatment. ⌘ Read more
CIA chief told Bolsonaro government not to mess with Brazil election, sources say
Brazil’s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro is trailing leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in early polls ahead of October 2 election. ⌘ Read more
Pig virus may have been factor in historic pig heart transplant patient’s death
Researchers are trying to learn what killed the first person to receive a heart transplant from a pig. ⌘ Read more
Karine Jean-Pierre named first black White House press secretary, succeeding Jen Psaki
Karine Jean-Pierre, who will also be the first openly gay person in the role, will replace Jen Psaki. ⌘ Read more
A Chinese spin-off would ring-fence HSBC’s golden goose amid US-China tensions
Given geopolitical pressures, a split would protect HSBC’s hugely profitable Hong Kong and mainland business, while letting its global banking business proceed with fewer regulatory burdens and better financial discipline. ⌘ Read more
Imitating a Richard Gere film, dog escapes city and travels 40km home to live the life he had before his owner died
The tale of a dog who escaped the big city and ran 40km to his home village went viral in China, reminding people of the famous Richard Gere film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong’s economic recovery, consumer spending could suffer as base lending rate rises by the most in 22 years, analysts warn
Finance chief Paul Chan says trend of rate hikes for rest of the year could reach cumulative increase of 2.5 per cent or more. ⌘ Read more
Malaysia 1MDB scandal: lawyers call for ‘walk for justice’ to defend judiciary amid anti-graft probe backlash
Legal fraternity urged to rise up after ‘total disregard by certain quarters for the hallowed principle of the independence of the judiciary’, with rising anger over a probe into the judge who convicted ex-leader Najib Razak. ⌘ Read more
Three killed in Israel in suspected Palestinian axe attack
Two others are being treated for serious flash wounds in the incident in the city of Elad, near Tel Aviv, on the country’s independence day. ⌘ Read more
Xi Jinping says China’s Covid policies will ‘stand the test of time’ in Shanghai
The Chinese leader was speaking at a meeting of the country’s top policymaking body, addressing the outbreak in the key commercial hub for the first time. ⌘ Read more
Russia’s most advanced tank obliterated by Ukraine days after it was deployed, reports say
The T-90M, which features multilayered armour, a powerful engine and other upgrades, was photographed as a charred ruin by a Ukrainian journalist. ⌘ Read more
US plans to counter China ‘at risk because of allies’ reluctance to host missile systems’**
A report says Washington’s treaty allies in the region would be reluctant to provoke China by offering permanent bases for intermediate missiles. ⌘ Read more
Australia-China relations: ‘No doubt’ that Beijing wants to influence May 21 election, PM Scott Morrison’s defence minister says
Defence Minister Peter Dutton says China’s “interference” in the PM’s WeChat account and the actions of editors of Chinese newspapers in Australia are evidence Beijing is trying to influence the May 21 election. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: Israel says Vladimir Putin apologised for Russian foreign minister’s Hitler remarks
Moscow’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov sparked outrage when he claimed Hitler may have had ‘Jewish blood’ during remarks about Ukraine leader Zelensky. ⌘ Read more
China can help bridge divide with the West by offering to mediate between Russia and Ukraine
The hostility between China and the West could be seen in terms of Beijing being cast as a member to the out-group. By mediating in the current conflict, China would show that it is truly on the same page as the West in wanting peace. ⌘ Read more
Japan and UK agree on defence pact amid China’s rise in Indo-Pacific
‘Ukraine may be tomorrow’s East Asia,’ warns PM Fumio Kishida after talks with British counterpart Boris Johnson in London. ⌘ Read more
The crackdown on China’s ‘moderate’ rights voices: how tweets are now landing people in prison
A number of activists are facing years-long jail sentences for online posts and organising private gatherings, activities that would have usually attracted a reprimand in the past. ⌘ Read more
US announces seizure of superyacht owned by Russian oligarch
US Justice Department said Fijian authorities served a search warrant freezing the yacht, which earlier was prevented from leaving the South Pacific nation. American officials say the 348-foot vessel belongs to Suleiman Kerimov. ⌘ Read more
Could a small device give oxygen to China’s human moon base ambitions?**
Using lunar soil as a catalyst, scientists hope to test a life-support system for astronauts in space. ⌘ Read more
US Fed rate hike: how can China stem capital outflow and prop up the yuan?**
As the US central bank announces its sharpest rate increase in 22 years to address decades-high inflation, analysts speculate on how Beijing will try to soften the economic blow. ⌘ Read more
Prosecutors could amass more evidence against jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai after liquidators drop bid for return of 2.8 million files seized by police
By surrendering the files to police, liquidators of his Next Digital firm could end up giving prosecutors additional evidence. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong district official among 5 suspects detained in police operation against prostitution syndicate
Administrative officer arrested for allegedly helping gang to book hotel rooms for sex workers and their clients. ⌘ Read more
Covid killed nearly 15m people in two years, WHO excess deaths data shows
Toll nearly 10 times higher than official count for India, whereas China data does not offer new insight. ⌘ Read more
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth to miss royal garden parties
The 96-year-old monarch, who has mobility issues, has missed a number of events this year but has been carrying out virtual engagements and her other duties ⌘ Read more
‘Japan is a buy’ Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tells City of London before meeting with UK’s Boris Johnson
The Japanese Prime Minister said his country’s economy would see robust growth as it shifts to an upgraded form of capitalism, in which public and private sectors work together. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: WHO estimates Covid-19 pandemic killed nearly 15 million people in 2020-21, more than double official figures
The WHO estimates 15 million people were killed either by the coronavirus or by its impact on overwhelmed health systems the past two years, more than double the official death toll of 6 million. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: John Lee vows to make reopening borders a priority for city to remain competitive
Goal is to remove obstacles to satisfy the requirements for reopening even though there will be ‘lots of challenges’, Lee says. ⌘ Read more
Japanese warship, jets shadow PLA Navy strike group on western Pacific combat drills
PLA Navy carrier strike group carries out battle exercises south of Okinawa and east of Taiwan, closely monitored by Japan ⌘ Read more
UK voters go to polls in elections that could prove historic in Northern Ireland and heap further pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Poor results could reignite simmering discontent for Boris Johnson within his ruling Conservatives about his leadership, after a string of recent scandals, while Belfast could see a pro-Irish nationalist party win for the first time. ⌘ Read more
‘Drop passwords altogether’ to improve online security, expert says
One expert said passwords are ‘becoming increasingly insecure’ and ‘easily hacked’, and adopting other forms of log-in such as multi-factor authentication is better. ⌘ Read more
Many South Koreans are still wearing their masks even after the law mandating them was lifted
Some experts believe one of the reasons why some South Koreans are choosing to keep their masks on is to get some relief in a society obsessed with looks. It also shows respect for other people’s well-being. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong student jailed 14 months for carrying petrol bombs near police station
Magistrate dismisses argument that the arrest was an attempt to make the student a scapegoat for attacks on police station. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong police make first arrests under law banning sale of e-cigarettes, 2 suspects remain in custody
Two suspects, aged 28 and 31, are being held on suspicion of selling electronic cigarettes after police raided a mobile retail outlet in Mong Kok. ⌘ Read more
South Korean minister weighs in on BTS military service amid ‘rich-poor’ debate
A survey conducted last month found a majority of Koreans support an alternative to compulsory military service for BTS. Some opponents say it just highlights preferential treatment for the wealthy, powerful and connected. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine repels Russian attacks in the east; Mariupol steel plant battle rages on
Ukraine said Russian forces have pushed into the plant’s perimeter and were also bombing it from above. The Kremlin denied there was any ground assault. ⌘ Read more
Why Taiwan’s legal status has sparked fresh row among rival political camps as Japan treaty remembered
Former president Ma Ying-jeou says it is absurd for ruling Democratic Progressive Party to deny legitimacy of own administration. ⌘ Read more
China travel, tourism ‘unlikely to improve materially’ as coronavirus curbs hit Labour Day holiday
Trips taken during China’s Labour Day holiday fell by a third compared with the same period last year, with over 300 million people in 43 Chinese cities under full or partial lockdowns to contain the spread of the latest coronavirus outbreaks. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus Hong Kong: more than 6,000 workers at isolation facilities to become jobless as Covid-19 outbreak eases
Labour sector lawmaker Dennis Leung says health authorities plan to wind down operations at six community isolation facilities as early as next Thursday. ⌘ Read more
Myanmar junta court rejects Aung San Suu Kyi corruption appeal
The Nobel laureate is expected to challenge the latest decision in a higher court, as she faces a raft of other trials, including for allegedly violating the official secrets act, several counts of corruption and electoral fraud. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong police arrest 7 after dozens of victims are cheated in scams involving bogus low-interest loans
The suspects, six men and a woman, aged 20 to 38, were holders of bank accounts that were used to collect the proceeds of crime, police said. ⌘ Read more
Indian policeman arrested for raping teen sex assault victim
The officer assaulted the 13-year-old girl who went to his police station in Uttar Pradesh to report she had been gang-raped by four boys. ⌘ Read more
Why May 9 ‘Victory Day’ in Russia is different this year
This year’s Victory Day won’t just honour a conflict that ended 77 years ago. Many Russians will be thinking about the thousands of troops fighting in neighbouring Ukraine ⌘ Read more
China’s zero-Covid rules, Ukraine war creating ‘severe challenges’ for European businesses
Some 23 per cent of European companies are considering shifting current or planned investments out of China due to Covid-19 controls, a new survey shows, while the Ukraine war is adding to supply chain woes. ⌘ Read more
Chinese capital lumbers back to work as Covid-19 outbreak stalls transport
Subway, bus and taxi services have been suspended in the business hub of Chaoyang district, complicating commutes. ⌘ Read more
Why Russia is attacking Ukraine’s railway system
Russia has moved to obstruct the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine by bombarding rail stations and other supply-line targets across the country. ⌘ Read more
How Hong Kong’s role as a foreign investment gateway to China will be solidified
Although China has been strengthening its intellectual property laws, weak enforcement remains a concern, especially for foreign firms. A recent bill on reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters between Hong Kong and the mainland puts the city in a unique position. ⌘ Read more
Fraudsters swindle more than HK$132 million from victims as online investment scams in Hong Kong jump
Scammers posing as investment experts usually prey on targets through social media and sometimes deploy good-looking and sweet-talking con artists to lure victims. ⌘ Read more
North Korea blasts South’s new leader Yoon Suk-yeol, calls his minister picks ‘pro-US toadies’**
A propaganda website criticised Yoon for stirring up confrontational madness trumpeting a ‘stronger South Korea-US alliance’. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin dodges politics and sanctions to flourish
‘Nickel King’ Vladimir Potanin has moved fast to take advantage of opportunities thrown up by hurried asset sales since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. ⌘ Read more
China’s Communist Youth League the latest state-backed group to embrace NFTs, with tokens marking its centennial
To mark its centennial and Youth Day, China’s Communist Youth League issued 54,000 NFTs for free, labelling them digital collectibles as is common practice in China where cryptocurrencies are banned. ⌘ Read more
US disputes report its intelligence helped Ukraine kill Russian generals
Citing multiple senior US officials, The New York Times said that of the approximately dozen Russian generals killed by Ukrainian forces, ‘many’ had been targeted with the help of US intelligence. ⌘ Read more
Mexico’s foreign minister tests negative for Covid-19 after meeting Antony Blinken
Secretary of State Antony Blinken tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, forcing him to postpone Thursday’s planned China policy speech. ⌘ Read more
After abortion, gay marriage? Fears US Supreme Court may target other rights
With America’s Supreme Court poised to roll back half a century of abortion rights, activists fear conservatives will set their sights on other constitutional freedoms. ⌘ Read more
Woman survives China building collapse after 6 days trapped in rubble
10th survivor of disaster was able to guide rescuers as they pulled her to safety soon after midnight. ⌘ Read more
Solomons-China security deal: Australia denies rift after Honiara hits out at PM Morrison over ‘invasion’ threat
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said Honiara is being ‘threatened with invasion’ after it signed a security agreement with Beijing. ⌘ Read more
Thailand’s Chinese submarine deal: why is it stuck in limbo, and will it go ahead?**
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government has struggled to defend the US$1.05 billion deal for three Chinese submarines at a time of economic hardship. ⌘ Read more
Should Hong Kong’s Christian groups be worried about national security law curbs?**
Pro-Beijing paper’s focus on discrimination against ‘Chinese religions’ an ominous sign, say some church men, but others see no reason to worry. ⌘ Read more
China’s services activity falls at second sharpest rate on record as coronavirus curbs wreak havoc
Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 36.2 in April from 42 in March, data released on Thursday showed. ⌘ Read more
Accounting war: SEC ratchets up US-China dispute by adding JD.com, Pinduoduo and 80 Chinese stocks to list liable under auditing oversight law
The US and China have been at odds for two decades over the mandate that grants access to all audit work papers for US-listed foreign companies. ⌘ Read more
Global food inflation to worsen further as India weighs wheat export curbs
To safeguard domestic supplies amid a heatwave-fuelled shortage, the government is considering limiting wheat exports. ⌘ Read more
What can commuters expect from cross-harbour section of Hong Kong’s most expensive rail project when it opens on May 15?**
Travel times are expected to be shorter, with journeys between Tai Wai and Admiralty on East Rail line taking only 17 minutes without need to change lines. ⌘ Read more
Husband goes viral because he cooks for his wife, sparking debate about why it is considered special in China
The mainland Chinese internet is debating why a husband who cooks every day for his wife went viral despite women often doing the same. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong’s base rate rises by 50 points, as the cost of money makes its biggest one-time jump in more than two decades after US Fed’s decision
The US economy had not seen a 50-point rate increase since Alan Greenspan was Fed chairman, and “irrational exuberance” was the catchphrase that defined the easy money and mood of the Dotcom era. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus Hong Kong: residents ready to enjoy sun, sea and sports without masks as Covid-19 measures further ease
Social-distancing measures further relax in Hong Kong as coronavirus situation continues to abate. ⌘ Read more
Beijing will win over Hong Kong by listening to public opinion, not by silencing it
Post-handover, Beijing sought to understand, then win over, public opinion in Hong Kong; by 2005, a willingness to embrace Chinese identity had never been higher. Recently, however, there are signs that truth and fact are under siege with attacks by state-run media on legitimate sources of information. ⌘ Read more
China-US ties: Lloyd Austin looks forward to meeting Chinese defence minister Wei Fenghe to ‘engage in the future’**
US Defence Secretary tells Senate Appropriations Committee said he hoped his engagement with China’s defence minister would be the first of many, with both sides keen to keep communication open. ⌘ Read more
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of China policy speech
The top US diplomat is experiencing mild symptoms; President Biden, whom he has not seen in person for days, is not considered a close contact. ⌘ Read more
Donald Trump’s 2020 team poll-tested idea of expelling all Chinese scientists from US, new book says
In search of a hot campaign issue, aides explored ideas like letting Americans sue China in court, and sending the National Guard into cities amid social unrest, a new book says. ⌘ Read more
Why US sanctions on ‘state-controlled’ Chinese companies smack of hypocrisy
Washington’s targeting of Chinese enterprises it claims are controlled by Beijing has seen hundreds of companies banned on national security grounds. Yet the US often exerts significant influence over businesses to comply with its ‘requests’. And, in return, they receive billions in subsidies. ⌘ Read more
Sinn Fein eyes historic win in Northern Ireland election
Voters caught in an economic crunch could propel the group – long linked to the paramilitary Irish Republican Army – to a landmark victory on Thursday. ⌘ Read more