# I am the Watcher. I am your guide through this vast new twtiverse.
# 
# Usage:
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/users              View list of users and latest twt date.
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/twt                View all twts.
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/mentions?uri=:uri  View all mentions for uri.
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/conv/:hash         View all twts for a conversation subject.
# 
# Options:
#     uri     Filter to show a specific users twts.
#     offset  Start index for quey.
#     limit   Count of items to return (going back in time).
# 
# twt range = 1 1295
# self = https://watcher.sour.is?uri=https://feeds.twtxt.net/news-south-china-morning-post/twtxt.txt&offset=395
# next = https://watcher.sour.is?uri=https://feeds.twtxt.net/news-south-china-morning-post/twtxt.txt&offset=495
# prev = https://watcher.sour.is?uri=https://feeds.twtxt.net/news-south-china-morning-post/twtxt.txt&offset=295
John Lee vows to undertake ‘historic mission’ and start ‘new chapter’ for Hong Kong as he wins chief executive election uncontested
With only 54 days to go before he is sworn in, Lee says forming his cabinet will be a top priority. ⌘ Read more
Australia’s Scott Morrison says he’ll ‘ensure’ no China base on Solomon Islands
The China-Solomons deal has not been publicly released but a leaked draft alarmed countries in the region, particularly sections that would allow Chinese naval deployments to the Solomons. ⌘ Read more
As New Yorkers return to outside dining, so do rats
As diners shunned the indoors for outdoor dining, so did the city’s rats. Now city data suggests that sightings are more frequent than they’ve been in a decade. ⌘ Read more
Covid-19 in China: Beijing urges residents of capital’s commercial centre not to leave unless absolutely necessary
Chaoyang district is at the centre of the capital’s outbreak and has already ordered businesses to close and residents to work from home. ⌘ Read more
Are Ukraine supporters carrying out a sabotage campaign inside Russia?**
War analysts believe infernos in Bryansk, which hit facilities sending oil to Europe, were deliberate and tied to the war. ⌘ Read more
‘Democracy with Hong Kong characteristics’: Beijing hails city’s ‘smooth’ leadership election
In a 5,000-word article, the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office lauds election for its orderliness and commends Lee as a good leader for city. ⌘ Read more
John Lee’s victory in Hong Kong chief executive election no clean sweep after 8 in small-circle committee vote against him and another 4 cast blank ballots
Sole candidate secures 1,416 votes, or 99.4 per cent of all ballots cast, a record for a chief executive election in Hong Kong. ⌘ Read more
Crowds jeer Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa in his first public outing amid economic crisis
Dozens of people carried hand-written placards and chanted slogans demanding that ‘thieves’ be banned from the sacred city, 200km north of Colombo. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong’s next leader John Lee: former schoolmates, teachers and colleagues give their measure of the man
Former schoolmates at Wah Yan College, Kowloon recall the boy who aced exams but kept a low profile. ⌘ Read more
Taiwan’s KMT opposition party reopens US office to give itself a greater voice in Washington
The office was set up this year and will be officially opened next month when the party’s chairman Eric Chu visits America. ⌘ Read more
Chinese scammers using fake charity bins make a killing tricking Good Samaritans into donating used clothes
A growing number of fake charities are placing ‘donation bins’ across China and tricking unsuspecting donors into giving them used clothes that are then sold for ‘easy golden’ profits. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong to ‘inevitably’ cut growth forecast for 2022, finance chief warns
Financial Secretary Paul Chan points to likelihood of further US rate rises and sluggish recovery of domestic market ⌘ Read more
Bollywood A-listers’ status symbol: vanity vans that include gyms, bars, party zones
Owned by leading film stars, vanity vans are used as retreats during long shooting schedules. They function as a home away from home, where stars relax, workout, conduct business meetings or even host parties. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Hong Kong reports slight uptick in number of incoming domestic helpers, welfare minister says
Welfare minister Law Chi-kwong says 4,005 and 2,188 domestic workers arrived in Hong Kong from Philippines and Indonesia, respectively, since travel curbs eased. ⌘ Read more
Beijing’s ambassador urges Chinese-Americans to help overcome ‘serious difficulties’ in two countries’ relationship
Ambassador Qin Gang also pledged to help fight anti-Asian hate crimes at a time when racist attacks are rising sharply ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern isolates after partner Clarke Gayford tests positive for Covid-19
Ardern broke the news on social media and will work remotely as she isolates for the next seven days. Meanwhile New Zealand also reported its first case of the BA.5 variant of Omicron. ⌘ Read more
After COP26 pledge, can Vietnam revive flagging wind, solar industries to transition to clean energy?**
China’s experience could offer lessons but Hanoi remains wary of involving Chinese investors in projects deemed crucial to national security. ⌘ Read more
Hundreds of Hongkongers flock to flower market on Mother’s Day amid eased social-distancing curbs
‘The crowd is almost back to pre-pandemic levels and business is almost 70 per cent better than last year,’ says a flower shop owner. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine’s Mariupol defenders face final showdown with Russian invaders
Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol face a brutal final showdown on Sunday with Russian forces hoping to deliver a critical win ahead of the country’s victory day ⌘ Read more
Chinese vice-president on rare trip abroad to win over South Korean leader
Wang Qishan will attend South Korean president-elect’s inauguration, signalling Beijing’s focus on ties with Seoul. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: China’s central bank lends support as Shanghai eyes reopening after Covid-19 cases drop for 15th straight day
Banks are being asked to grant easy loans as more manufacturers in Shanghai prepare to reopen their factories after more than a month of citywide lockdown. New Covid-19 cases fell for a 15th day. ⌘ Read more
Nepal’s Kami Rita breaks his own record by scaling Mount Everest for 26th time
The 52-year-old sherpa first scaled Mount Everest in 1994 and has been making the trip nearly every year since then. Everest has been climbed more than 10,000 times since it was first scaled in 1953. ⌘ Read more
Blooming shame: Coronavirus, China lockdowns, Ukraine war hurts Thai orchid industry
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of orchids, but the pandemic forced one in five farms to close, and growers are expecting further hits due to the war in Ukraine. Exports to China have also dropped by more than a third in the last year. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: Evacuees afraid of ‘bleeding to death’ as they describe escape from Azovstal steel mill
Anna Zaitseva fled the plant with her six-month old baby and said there were times she lost hope, because she thought “everyone forgot about us”. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong must reopen to the world before it’s too late
The longer Hong Kong is closed off, the greater the risk of being surpassed by rivals and fading into economic irrelevance. If this means a further delay in reopening the border with the mainland, so be it. ⌘ Read more
China market loses its shine for private equity investors as nation’s economy slows, zero-Covid-19 policy remains in force
Venture capitalists are biding their time on new investments in China amid increased uncertainty in the market. ⌘ Read more
China’s robot-built 3D-printed dam ready in 2 years: scientists
Artificial intelligence at the heart of the project on the Tibetan plateau will build the structure slice by slice, with no human workers. ⌘ Read more
Elon Musk offers two thumbs up to Indonesia’s coffee candy Kopiko and its stock gets a heady buzz
Indonesia’s coordinating minister of maritime and investment affairs Luhut Pandjaitan offered Musk the candy during a meeting about Indonesia’s efforts to develop electric vehicle batteries along with other investments. ⌘ Read more
Japan considers revoking license of operator of sunken Hokkaido tour boat that killed 14 people
If enforced it would mark the heaviest administrative penalty ever imposed under Japan’s maritime transport law. ⌘ Read more
Lula launches presidential campaign to ‘rebuild Brazil’, calls Bolsonaro administration ‘criminal’**
Without mentioning incumbent Jair Bolsonaro by name, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told supporters at a rally that his adversary was unable to govern and lied constantly to the nation to hide his incompetence. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong chief executive election: sole candidate John Lee set to secure top job as small-circle voting starts
Some 1,461 members of a predominantly pro-establishment Election Committee are tasked with picking city’s next leader. ⌘ Read more
Philippine election: Ferdinand Marcos Jnr win prediction compels some business executives to make ‘emigration plans’**
With prominent election surveys indicating Marcos Jnr will likely clinch an easy victory over Leni Robredo, some businessmen say they are ‘surfing the web’ for emigration ideas. ⌘ Read more
How language changes our perception of the Chinese zodiac
Researchers in Indonesia analysed proverbs in Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia to compare and contrast how the Chinese zodiac differs in Mandarin vs Bahasa Indonesia. ⌘ Read more
UK to provide additional $US1.6 billion in military support to help Ukraine resist Russia invasion
Commitment comes ahead of Sunday’s virtual G7 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a day before Russia marks its Victory Day holiday. ⌘ Read more
Rich Strike storms to victory at 148th Kentucky Derby
The colt, which went off at 80-1 odds, crossed the finish line ahead of Messier, taking second place, and favourite Epicenter, in at third place. ⌘ Read more
The administration that changed Hong Kong forever
The violent protests over Carrie Lam’s ill-fated fugitive offenders bill, and Beijing’s subsequent strong measures to assert its overall jurisdiction have caused a sea change in Hong Kong. The next leader bears the twin responsibilities of safeguarding national security and reviving Hong Kong’s global linkages and dynamism. ⌘ Read more
Chinese military’s potential in the South China Sea boosted by Hainan amphibious assault ship, say analysts
The country’s first and largest Type 075-class amphibious assault ship was commissioned a year ago and is deemed useful for small island assault combat operations. ⌘ Read more
Acclaimed Avengers comic book artist George Perez dies at 67 after cancer battle
‘His work paved seminal stories across comics. George Perez was an artist, a writer, a role model and a friend,’ said Marvel Entertainment. ⌘ Read more
Chinese calculations on Taiwan affected by Ukraine conflict, says US CIA director William Burns
William Burns said the US believed China was unsettled by the reputational damage of being associated with the ‘brutishness’ of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military action. ⌘ Read more
Donald Trump rally draws supporters of expected ruling that will end right to abortion
If the Supreme Court overturns the 1973 ruling that established a federal right to abortion, each US state will be free to ban or allow abortion. ⌘ Read more
Australia-China relations: PM Morrison’s coalition draws flak again after senator thanks Chinese community for ‘putting up’ with racism
Liberal Party senator Andrew Bragg was referring to the ruling coalition’s ‘intemperate rhetoric’ about China; observers said that showed how ‘out of touch’ the coalition is about racism. ⌘ Read more
Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill hails ‘new era’ for Northern Ireland after historic polls
Pro-UK unionists conceded a historic election victory for O’Neill’s Irish nationalist party, while threatening anew to boycott the devolved government. ⌘ Read more
Taliban orders Afghan women to cover up from head to toe in public
The decree says that women should leave the home only when necessary, and that male relatives would face punishment for women’s dress code violations. ⌘ Read more
Explosive device found in Russian media agency in Berlin
German police said the device was discovered on Friday afternoon in the basement of a building ‘housing the office of a Russian press agency’ in the city’s Steglitz district. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: All women, children and elderly evacuated from Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol
Evacuating civilians from the mill had drawn the world’s attention, with the UN and Red Cross desperately trying to organise departures. Ukraine’s deputy prime minister made the announcement on Saturday. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Women more likely than men to gain weight during pandemic, study finds
Research also found that both sexes under the age of 45 were more likely to put on the pounds than those in other age groups; severe Covid-19 can be affected by weight. ⌘ Read more
Jill Biden praises Ukraine’s refugee mothers and teachers, calling them ‘amazingly strong and resilient’**
United States first lady met the Ukrainian women on a tour of Romania and Slovakia to see US servicemen deployed in the countries; Despite their ordeal, the women helped fellow refugees. ⌘ Read more
Man found dead in bus at Hong Kong terminus, believed to have been in the vehicle overnight
A driver at the terminus says ambulance personnel estimated the man had been dead for at least 10 hours by the time he was discovered ⌘ Read more
China tells US it will not be scared off by sanctions over Taiwan
Foreign vice-minister Le Yucheng tells forum that Beijing will not be intimidated by Russia-style sanctions. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong chief executive candidate John Lee ‘ringing up’ voters to rally support on eve of leadership election
Former No 2 official John Lee had no public activities on Saturday, but sources said he was calling Election Committee members in a bid to secure as many votes as possible. ⌘ Read more
India’s Modi faces a dilemma: keep voters happy or feed the world
PM Narendra Modi seeks to be a dependable global leader, but faces record-high inflation, an issue that brought down India’s previous government; could he be considering export restrictions? ⌘ Read more
Why Taiwan may ultimately benefit from delays to US weapons delivery
The late delivery of Paladin howitzers and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles – as a result of the Ukraine war – is unlikely to have an immediate impact. ⌘ Read more
Two women with strangulation marks on necks found dead and naked in Macau hotel room
Police found the women on the floor by the window of a hotel room in the MGM Cotai. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong Covid-19 isolation centre at prime Kai Tak development area ‘to be used for temporary public housing’**
Developers, tourism players worry about impact on plans for residential, leisure hub in the area ⌘ Read more
Indian man dies in Nepal as climbing season peaks, record 900 permits issued
Narayanan Iyer died at around 8,200 metres above sea level; his death is the third to be reported on Nepal Himalayas during the current climbing season, which started in March and is due to close at the end of May. ⌘ Read more
Covid in China: another Beijing district works from home in rapid clearance push
Fangshan district follows Chaoyang in urging all but essential workers to avoid the office. ⌘ Read more
China urges Asean to take regional lead as US ‘tries to provoke arms race’**
Chinese foreign minister says American Indo-Pacific strategy is not in the interest of East Asia. ⌘ Read more
France’s Macron inaugurated for second term, faces immense challenges
He takes on a daunting agenda of domestic reforms he vowed to implement when he came to power as France’s youngest-ever president in 2017, as well as dealing with the Russian assault against Ukraine. ⌘ Read more
Indonesia seizes tanker over palm oil export ban violation
An Indonesian warship intercepted the Singapore-flagged MV Mathu Bhum as it headed for Malaysia carrying material that is temporarily prohibited for export, Navy said. ⌘ Read more
What will a Hong Kong civil service under John Lee look like? Sector braces for shake-up with leadership hopeful’s vow of reform
Amid talk of revamp, morale takes a beating, even among elite corps of administrative officers ⌘ Read more
South Korea: North Korea test-fired missile from submarine; violation of UN resolutions
Launch is violation of UN Security Council resolutions and ‘serious threatening act that harms international peace and stability’, South Korea said, vowing to take tougher approach to North’s nuclear ambitions. ⌘ Read more
Can China help save Gabon’s giant forests from illegal logging?**
Conditions have changed dramatically since the two countries signed a deal to promote sustainable forestry, minister says. ⌘ Read more
Qatar’s South Asian migrant army queues for glimpse of World Cup in stadiums they built
South Asia has contributed most of the labourers that built seven new stadiums and refurbished an eighth for the first World Cup in an Arab country; the mainly male workers earn the minimum wage of US$275 a month. ⌘ Read more
Chinese comedian apologises for joke that female students spend all their time making videos of them wearing silk stockings
Yang Le apologised for insulting students at Xian International Studies University and saying they neglected their studies in favour of chasing internet fame. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine seeks diplomatic efforts amid fears Russia could wipe out Mariupol’s Azovstal fighters
Kyiv said Moscow was trying to finish off forces inside the steel plant to seize it by Monday as a gift for Putin in time for the Victory Day holiday. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Shanghai defers annual college entrance exams to July as city continues to battle latest Covid-19 outbreak
The exams, known as gaokao, will now be conducted from July 7 to 9, a month behind the original schedule. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau a scenic hotspot as visitors flock to island in first long weekend since early easing of pandemic curbs
Iconic bun-scrambling festival cancelled for third time since 2020, however, and businesses say revenue is still not at pre-pandemic levels. ⌘ Read more
Australia, Solomons diplomats meet to calm China security deal nerves
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Canberra remained Honiara’s ‘security partner of choice’ after meeting her Solomons counterpart Jeremiah Manele. ⌘ Read more
China debt: is Beijing using a ‘shadow stimulus’ to shore up flagging economic growth?**
China is increasingly turning to local government borrowing and regional banks to shore up growth, rather than conventional fiscal and monetary expansion, according to some analysts. ⌘ Read more
Singapore’s poop lab studies Asia’s gut health to treat more illnesses
Co-founders of the two-year-old start-up Amili have developed five probiotics supplements based on their studies of what Asian guts lack. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: home quarantine for arrivals into Hong Kong with 3 vaccine jabs? Government health adviser suggests scheme amid optimism over falling caseloads
Top infectious disease expert Professor Ivan Hung, convenor of a vaccine committee, says tracking wristbands and regular PCR tests can accompany move. ⌘ Read more
The extraordinary power of Hong Kong’s ‘two-dish-rice’ meal boxes: home-cooked food that fills the city’s people with hope
The latest Hong Kong food trend is the humble US$5 ‘two-dish-rice’ meal box. It’s more than just a cheap, filling meal – it’s the Hong Kong people’s way of sharing with the needy during tough times. ⌘ Read more
Learning from Shanghai: what not to do in an Omicron crisis
The financial hub kept Covid-19 under control without mass testing and mass lockdowns – until it didn’t. ⌘ Read more
Quirky China: Flat fishing, camping with a flock of sheep and a license to stew
In Quirky China, a man catches a nice fish out of his flat, a family camps with a flock of sheep and a woman is “licensed” as a top goose cook. ⌘ Read more
4 suspected core members of Hong Kong syndicate arrested over HK$600 million money-laundering case involving 750 bank accounts over 2 years
Customs says suspicion sparked when it was observed the money held in suspects’ accounts was not commensurate with their incomes. ⌘ Read more
Cambodian minister says Biden should ‘treat Asean leaders with respect’ to improve ties
Kao Kim Hourn comments came ahead of next week’s US-Asean summit where hot-button issues including the South China Sea are on the agenda. ⌘ Read more
Breaking up HSBC: Ping An’s call to debate the future of Hong Kong’s largest bank raises vexing question if its value is greater than the sum of its parts
Ping An, HSBC’s biggest shareholder, is making a push for change at the lender in the latest investor call to reshape and possibly break-up the London-based bank, which traces its roots to Hong Kong and Shanghai. ⌘ Read more
US judge dismisses Donald Trump’s lawsuit against Twitter ban
A federal judge rejected the former president’s argument that the social media platform violated his free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. ⌘ Read more
Outlook for emerging markets rests on China’s ability to get a grip on Covid-19
Unsurprisingly, China’s Omicron wave has cut growth, dragging down emerging market stock values. But current valuations are a reflection of recent challenges rather than a sign of things to come, as China looks to ease monetary policy and step up its vaccination drive. ⌘ Read more
Philippine election: US or China? What Marcos and Robredo want for Manila’s foreign policy
Bongbong Marcos has indicated he’s keen to adopt the Duterte administration’s stance of appeasement towards the South China Sea dispute, while Robredo has criticised Beijing’s ‘bullying’ behaviour. ⌘ Read more
New Hong Kong cross-harbour rail link a boon for commuters, but bus operators expect big loss of passengers
Bus operators brace themselves for ‘exodus’ of passengers as East Rail line MTR extension will cut travel time from New Territories. ⌘ Read more
China naval steel order sparks speculation over bigger, faster frigate
Is May delivery date of hull-grade materials to Guangzhou shipyard a signal work is about to start on first Type 054A vessel? ⌘ Read more
Sri Lanka declares state of emergency as protesters call on president to quit
The move follows a day of anti-government strikes and rallies, with police firing tear gas at demonstrators outside parliament. ⌘ Read more
How investing in Hong Kong’s evening economy can revive the city’s culture and identity
Hong Kong’s nightlife need not be limited to eating and drinking; art galleries, book stores, museums and other cultural spaces should be encouraged to stay open late. Diversifying the evening economy will bolster local tourism and foster a new sense of identity and culture. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: Italy seizes Vladimir Putin-linked superyacht as it prepares to set sail
The US$700 million Scheherazade had been undergoing repairs in the port of Marina di Carrara, but recent activity suggested the crew was be preparing to depart. ⌘ Read more
UN Security Council makes first statement on Ukraine ‘dispute’ – but doesn’t call it a war
Russia had blocked all previous attempts to adopt a presidential statement, but the latest text expressing support for the UN chief’s peace efforts was adopted. ⌘ Read more
To counter China, Biden launches 3D printing initiative with GE Aviation and other large firms
Honeywell, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin among firms committing to help SME suppliers boost output of 3D printed components. ⌘ Read more
Foreign companies in China confronting unprecedented threats, executives say
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pandemic-hampered supply chains and rising US-China tensions have combined to create a ‘time of maximum risk’, one analyst says. ⌘ Read more
Elon Musk’s deal for Twitter raises concern about China’s influence over the platform
Musk’s long-time dealings with China, which accounts for about 25 per cent of Tesla’s global revenues, leave him susceptible to pressure from Beijing, some say. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: China manufacturing sentiment trails world’s major economies amid lockdowns
China had the lowest manufacturing purchasing managers’ index reading among 22 major economies last month, once again putting the spotlight on the impact of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy. ⌘ Read more
Texas woman’s US$35 thrift store find turns out to be ancient Roman bust
The centuries-old marble sculpture, bought by art collector Laura Young, had been missing from Germany since World War II. ⌘ Read more
At least 8 killed in explosion at hotel in Cuba’s capital
The blast at the famous Hotel Saratoga in downtown Havana was not caused by a bomb, and a gas leak appears to be the most likely cause. ⌘ Read more
US First Lady Jill Biden to meet Ukrainian refugees during border visit
On her second solo trip overseas Biden will visit Romania and Slovakia, where many Ukrainians have fled since Russia’s invasion of their country began; it is ‘so important to the president and to me that the Ukrainian people know we stand with them’. ⌘ Read more
How John Lee’s election rally compares with those of other Hong Kong chief executive candidates
Some observers say Lee’s presentation lacked human touch compared with Carrie Lam’s in 2017 and Leung Chun-ying’s in 2011. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong chief executive candidate John Lee vows to restore hope, build vibrant metropolis in ‘new chapter’ for city at final election rally
Former policeman offers rare glimpse into childhood, sharing story about how his father was able to afford luxury of buying television set. ⌘ Read more
Queen’s jubilee: Andrew, Harry, will not appear on Buckingham Palace balcony
British queen is soon marking 70 years on the throne but out-of-favour royals – her son Andrew and grandson Harry – will be excluded from the famous balcony scene. ⌘ Read more
China hits out at Japanese PM’s five-nation tour of ‘confrontation’**
Beijing says Kishida is hyping the ‘China threat’ and playing up regional tensions. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong could get first offshore wind farm in 2027, providing carbon-free electric power to up to 120,000 families
HK Electric reveals plan to build 600-hectare wind farm, including proposal to erect up to 19 wind turbines, about 4km southwest of Lamma Island. ⌘ Read more
China inflation: Beijing prioritises price stabilisation as stagflation risks increases
China’s consumer price index (CPI) could rise to as much as 2.1 per cent in April from 1.5 per cent in March, with the World Bank warning of ‘the largest commodity shock we’ve experienced since the 1970s’. ⌘ Read more
UK police to investigate Labour leader over possible lockdown breach
Police previously looked into Keir Starmer and said there’d been no offence but on Friday said investigation opened as new information received; Labour Party said no rules were broken. ⌘ Read more