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Balancing act between China and the US in new Marcos era in the Philippines
Marcos Jnr may move closer to Washington but also pursue a friendly policy towards Beijing. ⌘ Read more
US-China tech war: Washington may tighten restrictions on tech exports to Chinese chip makers, report says
The United States is considering banning American suppliers from selling advanced equipment to Chinese chip makers, a move that could hinder China’s drive towards technological self-sufficiency, according to a news report on Monday. ⌘ Read more
Spain fires spymaster after PM Sanchez’s phone hacked using Pegasus
Paz Esteban will be replaced as head of the intelligence services by Esperanza Casteleiro Llamazares, who is currently secretary of state for defence. ⌘ Read more
Ahead of Quad summit, US hopes Russia’s war and China’s assertiveness have shaken India
Washington has made strides in deepening security ties with New Delhi, though India maintains ties to Russia, its leading arms supplier. ⌘ Read more
Scandal-plagued UK’s Johnson vows to get ‘country back on track’ in Queen’s Speech
The government’s legislative agenda was read out for the first time in 59 years by Prince Charles rather than Queen Elizabeth due to her mobility problems. ⌘ Read more
Police seize HK$230 million worth of meth, arrest jobless man in major drug bust
Officers confiscate 332kg of crystal meth and 150kg of liquid meth from Tuen Mun flat. ⌘ Read more
China-US ties: State Department edits Taiwan fact sheet, angering Beijing for ‘hollowing’ one-China policy
Among changes published, the new fact sheet no longer included a declaration of its long-time position that the US ‘does not support Taiwan independence’. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong driver, 93, escapes serious injuries after crashing into enclosure for bumper cars
Driver loses control of car, mows down 3-metre stretch of railing at AIA Vitality Park, according to force. ⌘ Read more
Plus-size woman’s role as legendary concubine beauty of ancient China starts body diversity discussion
A fuller-figured young woman who performs at a thematically decorated shopping centre in period costume has started a conversation about China’s notoriously judgemental and negative attitudes towards weight. ⌘ Read more
Leaders of Australia’s neighbours at risk of being ‘controlled’, spy chief warns
Secret Intelligence Service boss Paul Symon also suggested discontent with Beijing’s political system could lead to more Chinese officials offering information. ⌘ Read more
Get ready to pay HK$3 more per taxi ride in Hong Kong this summer
Residents will also pay more for each jump in incremental charges for first-tier and second-tier distance travelled. ⌘ Read more
Philippine election: US$9.3 billion wiped off stock market as investors await Marcos’ economic plans
Based on the broader Philippine Stock Exchange All Share Index’s loss of up to 2.9 per cent, the sell-off on Tuesday erased as much as US$9.3 billion. ⌘ Read more
China’s big city plan for Covid testing just a 15-minute walk away
Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan says testing booths will be within easy reach for all residents in the country’s major cities. ⌘ Read more
Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong hits back at EU, G7 for criticising city’s chief executive election
Spokesman from Beijing’s liaison office says the two blocs should not interfere in city’s affairs, accusing them of ‘smearing’ the poll. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong braces for record-high rainfall this week, with rough weather setting in on Tuesday afternoon
Regional weather authorities convene meeting to discuss heavy precipitation and warning systems. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong customs arrest truck driver, seize HK$74 million worth of illegal cigarettes in 2 operations
Authorities fighting against black-market cigarette smugglers attempting to ‘stash their haul in the city while finding overseas buyers’. ⌘ Read more
Freed Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che says he did forced labour in mainland jail but was not tortured
‘It was totally a sweatshop’: Lee Ming-che described his imprisonment, including stale food and social isolation, after being found guilty of subversion by a Chinese court in 2017. ⌘ Read more
7 die in Sri Lanka unrest as military called in to rescue ex-PM from protests
Thousands of anti-government protesters stormed Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official residence on Tuesday after he had resigned. Outside Colombo, police said a lawmaker shot two people then killed himself. Over 200 people were also wounded in the violence. ⌘ Read more
South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol inaugurated as new president, suggests ‘audacious plan’ for denuclearised North Korea economy
President Yoon Suk-yeol says the new plan will vastly boost North Korea’s economy and improve the quality of life for its people. ⌘ Read more
Shenzhen hands out US$1.6 million to support ‘made in China, sold on Amazon’ community
The Shenzhen government is giving cash grants to local firms that provide services to the cross-border e-commerce sector, as part of a plan to boost sales of Chinese products to overseas consumers. ⌘ Read more
China’s Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft docks with space station 7 hours after take-off
Tianzhou 4 was sent into space atop a Long March 7 Y5 rocket from Wenchang Launch Base around 2am. ⌘ Read more
How Hong Kong employers can entice staff back to the office once Covid-19 measures are relaxed
Making the return mandatory, as some international companies have done, could be self-defeating; some firms have had to be creative to get the team to return to office. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: Germany preparing crisis plan for abrupt end to Russian gas
Last month, Russia cut Poland and Bulgaria off from its gas, raising fears it could take similar action against Germany. ⌘ Read more
Can fish farming solve China’s food security issues and the planet’s growing need for sustainable protein?**
With the Earth’s population expected to rise by 3 billion by end of the century, expert says next step after discussing food security is ‘nutrition security’, a need aquaculture can meet. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine calls for international moves to unblock ports, prevent global food crisis
Ukraine’s president said that trade at the country’s ports was at a standstill and urged the international community to take immediate steps to end a Russian blockade. ⌘ Read more
Tibetan herder known as ‘China’s most handsome man’ sues after criticism he is untalented and just pretty
‘China’s most handsome man’ is suing people online who have been using his name as a reference joke to anyone considered untalented but physically attractive. ⌘ Read more
Chinese scientists float new finding on buoyancy after eureka moment
Researchers discovered that objects dropped into water from different heights can have different submersion depths. ⌘ Read more
Elon Musk tweeted about dying mysteriously. Is he trolling Russia’s space boss?**
Elon Musk appeared to joke that he could ‘die under mysterious circumstances’ following a statement he said Roscosmos Space Chief Dmitry Rogozin made to Russian state media. ⌘ Read more
South Korea’s disabled fight to be seen after decades of being denied basic rights
Disability groups protesting on Seoul’s underground during peak morning commutes are continuing the struggle for recognition; early death, abuse and lack of access to essential services are some of the issues they face. ⌘ Read more
‘Massive’ plan for Hong Kong government restructuring will need buy-in from incoming leader John Lee, who is expected to respond next week, Carrie Lam says
Incumbent chief executive says she hopes go-ahead from her successor will give officials enough time to fight for Legco support. ⌘ Read more
Fugitive Alabama inmate Casey White captured after 10-day manhunt, ex-prison officer Vicky White dead
A bizarre drama that riveted America ended in tragedy as a female prison guard arrested with a fugitive ex-con she allegedly helped to escape died after shooting herself as police moved in to nab them. ⌘ Read more
Andy Warhol’s portrait of Marilyn Monroe sells for record US$195 million at auction
‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn’ is one in a series of portraits Andy Warhol made of the actress following her death in 1962 and has since become one of pop art’s best-known pieces. ⌘ Read more
Singapore targets super-rich with tax on homes bought through opaque trusts
The city state has been levying more duties on the wealthy to allay concerns of inequality. In February, the government announced higher taxes on some incomes, property and luxury cars. ⌘ Read more
Chinese father gives desperate unmarried son almost 20 properties to help him find a wife - triggering marriage debate in China
Property windfall for unlucky in love son sparks debate in China about parents obsessed with marrying off their children no matter the cost amid a huge gender imbalance in the country. ⌘ Read more
A tale of two airports: only a trickle of travellers into Hong Kong while crowds return to no-quarantine Singapore
Compulsory hotel quarantine the main disincentive, sudden airline route bans ‘a nightmare’. ⌘ Read more
US jails Coca-Cola engineer Xiaorong ‘Shannon’ You for 14 years in China trade secrets case
The scheme involved the theft of information on drink can coatings that cost major chemical and coating companies nearly US$120 million to develop. ⌘ Read more
Pulitzer Board honours Ukraine journalists covering Russia’s war
At least seven members of the press, including three from Ukraine, have been killed since Moscow launched its invasion in February. ⌘ Read more
Renewed alliances strengthen US approach in Indo-Pacific, Kurt Campbell says
An ‘unprecedented’ alignment with Europe and growing engagement with Asian countries will help remedy past American mistakes in the region, says White House’s Indo-Pacific policy director. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war to accelerate geopolitical trends, including US-China confrontations
Among the consequences of Russia’s invasion, analysts say, is a possibly serious erosion in China’s influence and footprint in central and eastern Europe. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine mocks Putin’s Victory Day with ‘parade of captured Russian tanks’**
The country’s defence ministry said its 93rd Mechanised Brigade ‘ruined the holiday’ for Russian occupiers with a display of trophy armoured vehicles. ⌘ Read more
Queen Elizabeth to miss opening of UK parliament because of mobility issues
The 96-year-old monarch’s son Prince Charles will take her place at the pomp-filled event on Tuesday; Prince William will also attend. ⌘ Read more
Russian envoy to Poland hit with red paint by Ukraine war protesters
Demonstrators shouted ‘fascists’, ‘murderers’, as Ambassador Sergey Andreev visited a Warsaw cemetery to pay respects to fallen Soviet soldiers on Victory Day. ⌘ Read more
How US’ new Indo-Pacific economic strategy could edge out China’s digital silk road in Asia
Digital trade is the top selling point of the framework, which the US is set to discuss at the Asean special summit this week. But first, both sides have to tackle a big sticking point: intellectual property protection. ⌘ Read more
Chinese smart satellite tracks US aircraft carrier in real time, researchers say
AI-powered eye in sky could identify a wide range of tactical or strategic targets, developers say. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Omicron less likely to result in long Covid among double-jabbed, UK study shows
The chance of twice-vaccinated adults infected with Omicron BA.1 strain having long Covid 4 to 8 weeks later was 50 per cent lower than those who had Delta. ⌘ Read more
Thai army boycotts online retailer after video enrages royalists
Citizens complained that a video on Lazada’s Facebook page of a woman in Thai costume in a wheelchair referenced a member of the royal family; Thailand has strict lese-majesty laws with jail terms of 15 years. ⌘ Read more
Why are diabetic patients at higher risk from Covid-19?**
A team of Chinese researchers say it could be related to lower levels of a small molecule. ⌘ Read more
EU and Japan to forge united front against China and Russia at summit
Trade and tech on agenda at gathering now framed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ⌘ Read more
China will boost ties with Russia in military tech, energy and space, top envoy says
Ambassador Zhang Hanhui tells Russian news agency the countries ‘should strengthen coordination to solve the difficulties caused by sanctions in trade settlement and logistics’. ⌘ Read more
Australia ‘very aware’ of China plans for Solomon Islands wharves, says PM Morrison
A draft maritime cooperation agreement between China and the Solomon Islands was leaked to an Australian newspaper; PM Scott Morrison said he’s concerned about what it could mean for security in the southwest Pacific. ⌘ Read more
China food security: Beijing doubles down on domestic soybean push amid self-sufficiency drive
Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua said last week that the northeast provinces will ‘play a crucial role’ in China realising this year’s target to increase soybean planting. ⌘ Read more
South Korea mulls joining US economic pact, as incoming government is sworn in
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) could launch this month; President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is set to be sworn in on Tuesday, is said to want S Korea to ‘lead trade conditions’ in the region. ⌘ Read more
War of words erupts between Chinese and Western diplomats over Hong Kong’s chief executive election
Group of Seven nations and European Union attack the vote on Sunday as undermining political pluralism in Hong Kong, but Beijing and winner John Lee defend the process as a democratic representation of broad interests. ⌘ Read more
Another delay to BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine study in China
Phase 2 trial now not expected to end until October, according to clinical trial database. ⌘ Read more
Luckin Coffee plans to list in Hong Kong as the Chinese Starbucks wannabe plans a comeback from its Nasdaq expulsion after restructuring
Luckin’s comeback is a remarkable turnaround for a company built on speed, going from its first kiosk to a Nasdaq listing, and its subsequent expulsion in less than three years. ⌘ Read more
Who is Janet Lam?: As John Lee secures top job, Hong Kong meets charity singer who will become first lady
Chief executive-elect John Lee thanked his wife Janet Lam for ‘looking after the family’ as he clinched the vote for city’s leader on Sunday. ⌘ Read more
China’s chip import volume falls in first four months amid tech self-sufficiency push, Covid-related manufacturing disruption
The current downward trend is in sharp contrast with roaring IC import growth seen over the past two years. ⌘ Read more
Stop Shanghai’s Covid-prevention excesses, academics urge in online appeal
University professors say some action has been unconstitutional and officials should recognise the public’s rights. ⌘ Read more
China’s space programme: Tianzhou 4 readies for fuel supply mission to help build space station
The launch is the first of six planned this year and will also carry supplies for materials science, space medicine and microgravity experiments. ⌘ Read more
Singapore’s PM Lee to travel to Washington for US-Asean summit weeks after meeting Biden
Asean leaders will review the Asean-US Strategic Partnership, while Biden is expected to pitch his Indo-Pacific Economic Framework during the summit. ⌘ Read more
Sri Lanka PM resigns after supporters run riot amid country’s worst economic crisis
‘I am resigning with immediate effect so that you will be able to … guide the country out of the current economic crisis,’ Mahinda Rajapaksa said; the country has suffered months of blackouts and dire shortages. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong man believed to have drowned while diving in Sai Kung
Man, 49, was diving with a group about 20 metres off Tai Lak Lei Island when he was found unconscious in the water, according to police. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong train buffs get first look at new Exhibition Centre station ahead of opening of final section of city’s most expensive rail project
Fans wowed by new Exhibition Centre station, calling it ‘beautiful’, while a World War II bomb uncovered during construction and now on display is ‘amazing’ . ⌘ Read more
Prince Harry to reveal project based on values of New Zealand’s indigenous Māori**
The British prince is due to reveal a new project he is involved with in an exclusive interview airing on Māori TV on Monday tonight; presenter Moana Maniapoto is hoping his message will ‘spark a discussion’. ⌘ Read more
Record number of Filipinos cast votes in Hong Kong for candidates running in Philippine presidential election
Philippine Consul General Raly Tejada predicts 60,000 Filipinos will cast votes in the city, shattering previous record of 52,000 set in 2016. ⌘ Read more
China’s LGFV bonds to top offshore dollar debt issuers in 2022 as market grows tired of defaults and delayed payments by developers
The debt sold by LGFVs have filled in the vacuum of high-yielding debt sold by developers, as a sluggish real estate market and a record bout of defaults and missed payments deterred many global investors. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong police arrest 6 members of ‘radical’ group suspected of calling for attacks against officers, anti-epidemic workers
Force says group’s messaging platform had over 2,000 messages, with many discussing the promotion of hatred and use of extreme violence. ⌘ Read more
Elizabeth Zhong murder: Victim’s daughter, lawyer describe threats from Fang Sun
She told her about threats she said she received from the defendant: ‘I could tell she was getting very desperate and upset at the time,’ her daughter said; Zhong was stabbed more than 20 times. ⌘ Read more
Shanghai coronavirus: 13-year-old Chinese boy survives home alone for 66 days with pets after parents trapped in lockdown
A young boy has surprised his parents — surviving on his own for more than two months with just a cat and a dog after his mother and father were caught in Shanghai’s coronavirus lockdown. ⌘ Read more
Singapore minister urges firms to hire locals as foreigner crunch persists
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said companies facing worker shortages should tap into local talent; following tightened rules on bringing in foreign workers, despite warnings the move could increase inflation. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: Russia’s Putin channels memory of Hitler’s defeat in ‘fight for Motherland’**
Vladimir Putin’s 11-minute speech on day 75 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was largely notable for what he did not say. ⌘ Read more
Seize the ‘Asian moment’, China tells Cambodia ahead of US-Asean summit
Asian countries should resist efforts to sow discord in the region, Chinese foreign minister says. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Hong Kong confirms 233 new infections, medical expert suggests residents provide negative rapid test results before entering venues
Infectious disease expert Joseph Tsang suggests requiring people to provide negative test results for entry into regulated premises to minimise risk of infection. ⌘ Read more
Climate change takes China sea levels to record high, study finds
Government report finds coastal waters swollen by rising water temperatures and melting glaciers and polar ice caps. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: Taiwan invited to Biden’s second Global Covid-19 Summit in move sure to anger Beijing
It is not known if Beijing is invited to the event the White House says will be a forum to discuss efforts to end the pandemic and prepare for future health threats. ⌘ Read more
Beijing parks closed in new curbs to control rising Covid-19 numbers
Chaoyang and Shunyi parklands off-limits until further notice as residents’ complaints mount in the Omicron-hit capital. ⌘ Read more
Elon Musk tweets Japan ‘will eventually cease to exist’, provoking anger – but not just at him
The comment set off a flood of sarcasm and anger on Monday, though much of it was aimed at a Japanese government many said did little to address the falling birth rate. ⌘ Read more
European Union has a duty to uphold and defend democracy worldwide
Born out of a need for peace and unity in Europe after World War II, the EU is committed to democracy, both at home and abroad. Amid new and unfamiliar threats to democratic progress worldwide, the EU has an obligation to show leadership and support populations whose freedoms are at risk. ⌘ Read more
Call Pence or Trump? It’s decision time for US Capitol riot panel
The House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection has interviewed nearly 1,000 people. But the nine-member panel has yet to talk to the two most prominent players in that day’s events. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong chief executive-elect John Lee and incumbent leader Carrie Lam set out goals for smooth transition of power, including government restructuring
Lee expresses gratitude to Lam for brief session a day after he clinched the top job, pointing out his team is working on a tight schedule to July 1. ⌘ Read more
Coronavirus: symptomatic cases in Shanghai climb 50 per cent as ‘static management’ curbs put in place to prevent resurgence
New symptomatic Covid-19 cases bounced back in Shanghai, prompting local authorities to double down on curbs to prevent a resurgence of the outbreak. ⌘ Read more
China trade: export growth slowed to lowest level in almost 2 years in April, imports flat
China’s exports grew by 3.9 per cent in April compared with a year earlier, down from 14.7 per cent growth in March, while imports remained flat, trade data released on Monday showed. ⌘ Read more
3 security guards shot dead at Philippine polling station, hours after grenade attack wounds 9
The deadly shooting happened shortly after voting got under way on Mindanao island. It came after five grenades exploded outside a polling station on the island late on Sunday. ⌘ Read more
Himself accused, Costa Rica’s new President Rodrigo Chaves vows to tackle sex harassment
Rodrigo Chaves, elected despite a cloud of sexual harassment allegations, took the oath of office with promises to revive the economy and end the abuse of women in his country. ⌘ Read more
South Korea seeks to slash dependence on China by reopening massive tungsten mine
South Korea is the world’s largest consumer of tungsten per capita and relies on China for 95 per cent of its imports. The metal is used in everything from phones and chips to electric vehicles and missiles. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong gets its new leader without a contest. Now John Lee must deliver and can he cross that chasm of ‘us versus them’?**
Lee is blessed by Beijing and endorsed by the Election Committee, but can he succeed in winning over Hongkongers? ⌘ Read more
Shenzhen factories keep running at full capacity despite Covid-19 disruptions in test of China’s zero-tolerance approach
Many factories in the southern tech hub have prepared to operate a ‘closed-loop’ system, illustrating how the Chinese government has kept up certain economic activity amid tight restrictions. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: civilian evacuees from Azovstal and Mariupol reach Zaporizhzhia
Evacuees, some with young children, left buses that had transported them to a shopping centre car park in Zaporizhzhia, a city in southern Ukraine. ⌘ Read more
‘Not the usual suspects’: Hong Kong Chief Executive-elect John Lee likely to look beyond familiar sources in choosing his ministers
Pro-Beijing parties offer names, some of Lee’s campaign team members tipped for cabinet posts. ⌘ Read more
South Korea has joined a Nato cyber defence centre. Should China be worried?**
Seoul hopes the centre can help it learn more about cyberattacks and ways to fend them off. ⌘ Read more
Use Hong Kong’s birth rate to measure ‘result-oriented’ John Lee’s success
The incoming chief executive has shown ambition in pledging to tackle Hong Kong’s lingering issues. His administration should also take a fresh look at the city’s birth rate as an indicator of social ills that need fixing. ⌘ Read more
As Philippines votes, could it be a ‘dead heat’ between Marcos and Robredo?**
Most surveys have indicated Bongbong Marcos will be the runaway winner, but two latest polls employing a different methodology say the presidential race is even. ⌘ Read more
Israel army shoots Palestinian while crossing from West Bank
Israeli military said that soldiers ‘spotted a suspect who attempted to illegally cross the security fence’ near the West Bank city of Tulkarem and fired at him. ⌘ Read more
China-Australia relations: threat of war, race-baiting feature in campaigning ahead of May 21 election
Long before campaigning began for May’s federal election, Canberra talked of national security threats from Beijing, like cyberattacks or even war; racism has also reared its head. ⌘ Read more
Putin was responsible for war crimes, says Canada’s Trudeau says during Ukraine visit
‘It is clear that Vladimir Putin is responsible for heinous war crimes,’ Trudeau said at a news conference with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. ⌘ Read more
Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa announced as first black actor to play Time Lord in Doctor Who
The 29-year-old Scot, who was born in Rwanda, said he had been keeping the news secret since he was cast in February. Gatwa will play the 14th incarnation of the Time Lord. ⌘ Read more
Ukraine war: US, G7 unveil new sanctions against Russia after talk with Volodymyr Zelensky
The fresh sanctions came as US President Joe Biden met virtually with G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the war. ⌘ Read more
Hong Kong Chief Executive-elect John Lee gets down to work right away, with a temporary office, staff
More than two dozen staff will support Lee as he starts selecting ministers, prepares policy plan ⌘ Read more
EU slams selection of John Lee as Hong Kong’s chief executive as a ‘violation of democratic principles’**
Statement from the EU said chief executive poll was ‘yet another step in the dismantling of the “one country, two systems” principle’. ⌘ Read more
Israel arrests two Palestinian axe murder suspects after two-day manhunt
The deadly attack in Elad, populated by mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews, was the sixth in which Israelis have been targeted since March 22. ⌘ Read more