Britain's foreign ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador on Tuesday to state that espionage and cyber attacks were not acceptable on UK soil after three men were charged with spying for Hong Kong. David Cameron, Britain's foreign minister, instructed his officials to call Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang for a meeting to condemn what the Foreign, Commonwealth … Continue reading Britain summons Chinese ambassador over Hong Kong spying charges
Category: Focus
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said his impression of one of the trio arrested by UK police for spying for Hong Kong’s intelligence service is only limited to the graduation photo circulated online as he again urged the UK to handle the matter fairly and provide relevant case details. Lee’s confirmation came on Tuesday morning, … Continue reading John Lee says link to UK national security arrestee limited to graduation photo only
The Hong Kong government demanded the UK government to “fairly handle the matter” after three men appeared in a London court Monday on charges that they helped the Hong Kong intelligence service gather information in Britain. The government issued a statement late on Monday stating that it has asked the UK side “to provide full … Continue reading HK govt demands UK ‘fairly handle’ case of three charged with assisting intel service
Authorities in China were expected on Monday to release a citizen journalist jailed for four years after she documented the early phases of the coronavirus outbreak from the central city of Wuhan in 2020. Zhang Zhan, 40, had travelled to Wuhan in early 2020 from Shanghai where she was based, posting first-hand accounts from crowded … Continue reading Chinese COVID whistleblower due for release after 4 years in jail
China is targeting citizens studying abroad for their political activism, rights group Amnesty International said on Monday, with some students reporting harassment of family members back home. China does not tolerate political dissent and has used sophisticated tech tools and intimidation to crack down on domestic protesters and activists. And Beijing's curbs on political activism … Continue reading China accused of targeting overseas citizens for political activism
British police said on Monday three men had been charged with assisting the foreign intelligence service of Hong Kong after officers made a series of arrests across England. Peter Wai Chi-leung, 38, Matthew Trickett, 37, and Yuen Chung-biu, 63, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday. They spoke only to confirm their … Continue reading UK police charge three men with helping Hong Kong’s foreign intelligence service
A former U.S. Marine pilot fighting extradition from Australia on U.S. charges of training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers, unknowingly worked with a Chinese hacker, his lawyer said. Daniel Duggan, 55, a naturalised Australian citizen, feared requests by Western intelligence agencies for sensitive information were putting his family at risk, the lawyer … Continue reading US Marine pilot arrested in Australia worked with Chinese hacker, lawyer says
China is set to switch off a live feed of foreign flows for stocks as early as Monday, the latest policy move to shore up confidence by removing a potential source of negative data. The Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges plan to cease displaying real-time figures on purchases or sales of local stocks through trading links … Continue reading China to nurture stock rally by masking live foreign flows data
An escalating diplomatic row and recent maritime run-ins between China and the Philippines have made the highly strategic South China Sea a flashpoint. WHAT ARE THE FLASHPOINTS? Central to recent standoffs between the Philippines and China are two hotly contested features located inside Manila's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, but which Beijing claims as its … Continue reading South China Sea: Why are China and Philippines tensions heating up?
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to announce new China tariffs as soon as next week targeting strategic sectors including electric vehicles, according to two people familiar with the matter. The full announcement, which could take place as soon as Tuesday, is expected to largely maintain existing levies, according to one of the people. An … Continue reading Biden set to impose tariffs on China strategic sectors, source says
President Xi Jinping appeared to wrap his trip to Serbia without visiting the site of the former Chinese embassy bombed by NATO forces, as he balances his condemnation of the US-led group with managing fragile ties with Washington. Official readouts of his trip didn’t mention any visit to the site. This comes after Xi timed … Continue reading Xi Skips Visit to Bombed Embassy After Vowing to ‘Never Forget’
The UK expelled a top Russian envoy and imposed new restrictions on the country’s diplomats, in one of the most high-profile responses yet to what allied officials describe as a coordinated espionage campaign to weaken support for Ukraine. Home Secretary James Cleverly announced the actions in Parliament on Wednesday, saying the UK would deport Russia’s … Continue reading UK Expels Russian Envoy in Pushback Against Spying Surge
Cambodia's Defense Ministry insisted Wednesday that the months-long presence of two Chinese warships in a strategically important naval base that is being newly expanded with funding from Beijing does not constitute a permanent deployment of the Chinese military in the country. Questions had arisen after the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported last month … Continue reading Chinese warships have been docked in Cambodia for 5 months, but government says it’s not permanent
The Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the government's appeal over the ban of "Glory to Hong Kong," which emerged as a protest anthem during the 2019 demonstrations, on Wednesday and granted an interim injunction to stop a range of acts including broadcasting and performing the song "with criminal intent." Reversing a lower court's … Continue reading Court of Appeal rules in favor of government request to ban protest song
China may soon release audio of a purported phone call with a Philippine military official that Beijing claims is evidence of an agreement over disputed territory in the South China Sea, according to Chinese officials. In the alleged Jan. 3 phone call, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, head of the Philippine military’s Western Command, agrees to … Continue reading China Threatens to Release Audio of Secret Deal With Philippines
Chinese tourists hit the road in greater numbers during a recent five-day Labor Day holiday but kept a tight grip on their wallets, reflecting still-weak sentiment in the world’s second-largest economy. Travelers made 28.2% more trips but spending only rose 13.5% from the 2019 break, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said in a statement … Continue reading China’s Thrifty Travelers Show Consumer Confidence Is Weak
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday it was unacceptable for Australian defence personnel to be put at risk in international airspace by the Chinese military as they took part in an operation to enforce United Nations sanctions on North Korea. A Chinese fighter jet endangered an Australian military helicopter during an unsafe and … Continue reading Australian PM Albanese says China military air incident unacceptable
President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered new nuclear weapons drills in the face of Western "threats," as a Ukrainian drone attack killed six people and wounded over 30 in Russia's Belgorod border region. Russia's defence ministry said the exercises would be held in the "near future" and involve the air force, navy and troops stationed … Continue reading Putin orders nuclear drills with troops near Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron will seek to press China's Xi Jinping to use his influence to move Russia toward ending the war in Ukraine during a two-day state visit to France. Both leaders were also expected to discuss trade disputes over electric cars, cognac and cosmetics. Macron’s office said talks about diplomatic efforts to support … Continue reading Macron sets Ukraine as top priority as China’s Xi Jinping pays a state visit to France
Uyghurs in France on Friday said President Emmanuel Macron welcoming his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week was tantamount to "slapping" them. Xi is due to make a state visit to France on Monday and Tuesday. Dilnur Reyhan, the founder of the European Uyghur Institute and a French national, said she and others were "angry" … Continue reading France’s Uyghurs say Xi visit a ‘slap’ from Macron
Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warned of declining government support for press freedom as it unveiled its annual world rankings on Friday, highlighting Argentina among the countries where the situation has deteriorated. Norway retained its top position, while Eritrea came last, taking over from last year's lowest-ranked country, North Korea. Among the most significant … Continue reading States doing less to support press freedom: watchdog
The Wall Street Journal will shift its Asia headquarters from Hong Kong to Singapore, it said on Thursday in a letter sent to staff and seen by AFP. The US newspaper said its decision comes after other foreign firms have reconsidered their operations in Chinese financial hub Hong Kong. WSJ editor-in-chief Emma Tucker said in … Continue reading WSJ moves Asia HQ from Hong Kong to Singapore
From its earliest days, the Soviet Union's intelligence services — whether known as the Cheka or by the names of any of its successor agencies like the KGB — kept the government in power by pursuing its opponents no matter where they lived. Intelligence experts say that policy is still followed by Russian President Vladimir … Continue reading For decades, Moscow has sought to silence its critics abroad
Former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je has been listed as a suspect in alleged corruption cases involving Taipei's Core Pacific City mall redevelopment project and the Beitou Shilin Technology Park project, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office said on Thursday. According to prosecutors, investigations have begun into suspected violations of the Anti-Corruption … Continue reading Former Taipei Mayor Ko listed as suspect in alleged corruption case
A senior U.S. official on Thursday urged China and Russia to match declarations by the United States and others that only humans, and never artificial intelligence, would make decisions on deploying nuclear weapons. State Department arms control official Paul Dean told an online briefing that Washington had made a "clear and strong commitment" that humans … Continue reading US official urges China, Russia to declare only humans, not AI, control nuclear weapons
The first scientist to publish a sequence of the COVID-19 virus in China said he was allowed back into his lab after he spent days locked outside, sitting in protest. Zhang Yongzhen wrote in an online post on Wednesday, just past midnight, that the medical center that hosts his lab had “tentatively agreed” to allow … Continue reading Chinese scientist who published COVID-19 virus sequence allowed back in his lab after sit-in protest
The Chinese Communist Party's central committee will gather in July for a key meeting known as a plenum, the third since the body of elite decision makers was elected in 2022, focusing on reforms amid "challenges" at home and complexities broad. Plenums are important events on China's political calendar that require the attendance of all … Continue reading China to hold key party ‘plenum’ to further modernise country, amid challenges at home, abroad
China said Tuesday that rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah met in Beijing recently for "in-depth and candid talks on promoting intra-Palestinian reconciliation". "Representatives of the Palestine National Liberation Movement and the Islamic Resistance Movement recently came to Beijing," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, referring to the groups by their formal names. "The two … Continue reading China says Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah met for talks in Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping is heading to the European Union for the first time in five years with a clear message: Beijing offers much more of an economic opportunity for the bloc than the US wants to admit. The Chinese leader will begin his five-day trip to France, Serbia and Hungary on May 5, according … Continue reading Xi Is on a Mission to Drive a Wedge Between Europe and the US
Manasseh Sogavare, the Solomon Islands prime minister who drew his nation close to China, sharpening the United States' focus on the strategic importance of the Pacific Islands, has bowed out of the race for leader after an inconclusive election. Sogavare is known for his unpredictable diplomacy. He criticised neighbour Australia, snubbed a White House meeting … Continue reading Pro-China Sogavare out of the race as Solomon Islands votes for next leader
Ukraine's top commander said on Sunday Kyiv's outnumbered troops had fallen back to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front where Russia has concentrated significant forces in several locations. The statement by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi reflected Ukraine's deteriorating position in the east that Kyiv hopes it can stabilize once it takes … Continue reading Ukraine pulls back from three villages in east, Zelenskiy pleads for weapons
An appliance maker in southern China is finding it hard to ship its products to Russia, not because of any problems with the gadgets but because China's big banks are throttling payments for such transactions out of concern over U.S. sanctions. To settle payments for its electrical goods, the Guangdong-based company is considering using currency … Continue reading China firms go ‘underground’ on Russia payments as banks pull back
Three people, including a two-year old boy, died after a Huawei-backed Aito M7 SUV burst into flames following a crash with a truck on a highway in the Chinese city of Yuncheng in the northern province of Shanxi, state media said. Aito Automobile, a Huawei-backed new energy vehicle brand, is investigating the accident along with … Continue reading China crash involving Huawei-backed Aito electric vehicle kills three
US intelligence agencies have found that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn’t order opposition leader Alexey Navalny’s death at a prison camp in February, the Wall Street Journal reported. While the assessment didn’t dispute Putin’s culpability for the death, it found that the timing possibly wasn’t as intended by Putin, the report said, citing people … Continue reading US Agencies Say Putin Didn’t Order Navalny’s February Death: WSJ
The head of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach has backed the World Anti-Doping Agency in a row over its handling of positive drug tests by 23 Chinese swimmers. "We have full confidence in WADA and the regulations and that WADA have followed their regulations," Bach told AFP in an exclusive interview Friday at the … Continue reading Olympic chief Bach backs world doping body over positive Chinese tests
The retrial in New York of Harvey Weinstein — whose moviemaking prowess once wowed Hollywood — won’t be coming to a courtroom anytime soon, if ever, legal experts said on a day when one of two women considered crucial to the case said she wasn't sure she would testify again. A ruling Thursday by the … Continue reading Retrial of Harvey Weinstein unlikely to occur soon, if ever, experts say
A former researcher working in the U.K. Parliament and another man charged with spying for China were granted bail Friday after an initial court appearance in London. Christopher Cash, 29, and Christopher Berry, 32, were charged with violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be “useful to an enemy” — … Continue reading 2 men charged in the UK with spying for China are granted bailed after a court appearance in London
The content recommendation algorithm that powers the online short video platform TikTok has once again come under the spotlight after the U.S. ordered its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app's U.S. assets or face a nationwide ban. Here is how it works and why it has attracted more discussion than technology used by its … Continue reading What is so special about TikTok’s technology
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday it had asked an independent prosecutor to review its handling of the case where 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a prescription heart drug. The organization will also send a "compliance audit team" to China to "assess the current state of the country's anti-doping program" run by … Continue reading WADA asks ‘independent prosecutor’ to examine Chinese swimmers case
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on sex crime charges, a shock reversal in one of the defining cases of the #MeToo movement. In its 4-3 decision, the Court of Appeals found the trial judge erred in admitting the testimony of additional women who were allegedly abused … Continue reading New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
The Environment and Ecology Bureau clarified on Thursday that supermarkets can still place sushi in plastic boxes instead of cardboard ones under the city’s plastic ban. Yet such an interpretation was found contradictory to official documents provided to the retail sector. Through the Facebook page of the bureau’s mascot Big Waster, the bureau said yesterday … Continue reading Hong Kong govt self-contradictory in plastic ban interpretation
China is providing moorage for a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship implicated in North Korean arms transfers to Russia, according to satellite images obtained by Reuters, as U.S. concerns grow over Beijing's support for Moscow's war in Ukraine. Britain's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank said the Russian vessel Angara, which since August 2023 has … Continue reading China harbors ship tied to North Korea-Russia arms transfers, satellite images show
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called on China to provide a level playing field for American businesses as he began a visit aimed at resolving a raft of contentious issues that could jeopardise the newly repaired relationship. Blinken's trip is the latest high-level contact between the two nations that, along with working … Continue reading In China, Blinken urges fair treatment of American companies
France is asking the European Union to set up a new sanctions regime to target Russian disinformation and election interference operations worldwide. The proposal, which is backed by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Poland, would allow the EU to strengthen sanctions against individuals and entities involved in Russian-sponsored destabilizing activities globally. The draft paper … Continue reading France Proposes New EU Sanctions to Fight Russian Disinformation
Beijing warned on Wednesday that the European Union was causing "damage" to its image in response to the bloc launching an investigation into Chinese public procurement of medical devices. "The European Union has frequently made use of its trade toolkit and trade relief measures, but they only give off protectionist signals, target Chinese enterprises, and … Continue reading China says EU ‘damaging’ its image after medical device market probe opens
The European Commission launched an investigation on Wednesday into Chinese public procurement of medical devices to determine if European suppliers have been granted fair access, the EU's official journal said on Wednesday. The investigation is the first under the EU International Procurement Instrument, which aims to promote reciprocity in access to international public procurement markets. … Continue reading EU launches investigation into Chinese medical device market
The increase in China's defence spending is concerning given its economy is "failing", the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Admiral John Aquilino said China's economy had been battered by turmoil in its real estate sector and asserted that its official growth rates were "not real". He … Continue reading China’s military spending concerning given ‘failing economy’, US admiral says
The U.S. is drafting sanctions that threaten to cut some Chinese banks off from the global financial system, which officials hope will stop Beijing's commercial support of Russia's military production, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits China this week, the question … Continue reading US to take aim at Chinese banks aiding Russia war effort, WSJ reports
Simmering tensions between Beijing and Washington remain the top worry for American companies operating in China, according to a report by the American Chamber of Commerce in China released Tuesday. The survey of U.S. companies said inconsistent and unclear policies and enforcement, rising labor costs and data security issues were other top concerns. It also … Continue reading Tensions between Beijing and Washington are the biggest worry for US companies in China, report says
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said Hong Kong won’t pass a fake news law so long as media outlets exercise self-discipline, indicating the government has paused plans floated three years ago. “If this problem can be addressed by enhancing professionalism, then that should be our first choice,” Lee said at his weekly press briefing Tuesday. … Continue reading Hong Kong will shelve fake news law if media stays ‘professional’, says John Lee
EU lawmakers will vote on Tuesday to ban products made using forced labour under a new law that has China in its sights, risking raising tensions with Beijing. The law does not directly mention China, but many lawmakers hope it will be used to block imports from China involving the region where the Uyghur Muslim … Continue reading Eyeing China, EU parliament to back ban on forced labour
Germany and Britain on Monday both swooped on suspected spies accused of passing on secret information to China, as concern deepens in the West over aggressive Chinese espionage. In Germany, investigators arrested three German nationals in the west of the country suspected of sharing information on maritime technology, prosecutors said in a statement. The trio, … Continue reading Germany and Britain move in on suspected Chinese spies
One of China’s top military leaders took a harsh line on regional territorial disputes, telling an international naval gathering in northeastern China on Monday that the country would strike back with force if its interests came under threat. The 19th biennial meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium opened in the port city of Qingdao, … Continue reading Chinese general takes harsh line on Taiwan and other disputes at international naval gathering
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered what amounts to the biggest reorganization of the nation’s military since 2015 in a move that affects the force in charge of capabilities including cyber warfare. China will terminate the Strategic Support Force, which was created more than eight years ago to enhance capabilities in space, cyber, political and … Continue reading Xi Orders China’s Biggest Military Reorganization Since 2015
Hong Kong's accounting regulator said it would start an investigation into PwC's role in auditing Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, citing the publication of a "whistle-blower report". Heavily indebted Evergrande has become a symbol of the years-long crisis in China's property market, and last month its onshore unit was accused of a $78 billion revenue … Continue reading Hong Kong regulator to investigate PwC auditing of Evergrande
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying had offered to sponsor £10,000 (~HK$97,516) and provide the necessary political network to nurture activist Finn Lau Cho-dik – better known as “brother laam chau” – into a political star, only for the latter to turn down the offer, the court heard on Friday. Today marked the 63rd day of the Jimmy … Continue reading Jimmy Lai offered to sponsor and nurture ‘brother laam chau’ into political star, court hears
Apple said on Friday it had removed Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China after being ordered to do so by the Chinese government, which cited national security concerns. Other Meta apps including Facebook, Instagram and Messenger remained available, according to Reuters checks on Friday morning. Many other popular apps developed … Continue reading Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads from China app store after Beijing order
Beijing's bid to build influence across the Solomon Islands hit a major snag Friday, with the pro-China premier of the Pacific nation's most populous province losing his seat in country-wide elections. Malaita premier Martin Fini -- who has overseen the swift expansion of Chinese interests in the province -- lost his re-election bid, according to … Continue reading Pro-China local leader ousted in Solomon Islands election
As G7 foreign ministers meet in Capri, the United States is hoping to persuade the Europeans to increase pressure on China, which Washington accuses of helping Russia's military expansion. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived on the Italian resort island on Wednesday, was to raise his concerns during a working session Thursday devoted … Continue reading At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
President Joe Biden called China “xenophobic” while highlighting the Asian nation’s economic woes, as he sought to make the case for US economic strength during a campaign stop in the swing state of Pennsylvania. “They’ve got a population that is more people in retirement than working. They’re not importing anything. They’re xenophobic — nobody else … Continue reading Biden Calls China ‘Xenophobic,’ Ramping Up 2024 Campaign Rhetoric
European Union leaders agreed Wednesday to impose new sanctions on Iran's drone and missile producers over Tehran's unprecedented weekend attack on Israel, EU chief Charles Michel said. "We have decided to put in place sanctions against Iran, it is a clear signal that we wanted to send," the European Council president said at an EU … Continue reading EU to impose new sanctions on Iran drone, missile producers
China is bolstering its space capabilities and is using its civilian program to mask its military objectives, the head of the US space agency NASA said Wednesday, warning that Washington must remain vigilant. "China has made extraordinary strides especially in the last 10 years, but they are very, very secretive," NASA administrator Bill Nelson told … Continue reading NASA chief warns of Chinese military presence in space
China's military said on Wednesday it sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a U.S. Navy patrol aircraft that flew over the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a mission that took place just hours after a call between the Chinese and U.S. defence chiefs. China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan, and says it has jurisdiction over … Continue reading China sends fighter jets to shadow US Navy plane over Taiwan Strait
A bipartisan US congressional committee accused Chinese authorities Tuesday of "directly" subsidizing the manufacture and export of ingredients used to make fentanyl, a synthetic painkiller behind a US overdose epidemic. In a report, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said such subsidies involving illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics take place … Continue reading US House committee says China subsidizes fentanyl chemical exports
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations urged Russia and China on Tuesday to reverse course, and stop rewarding North Korea's bad behaviour and shielding it from sanctions evading activities over its weapons programs. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the remarks during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone, a heavily fortified border between the two Koreas, … Continue reading US envoy to UN urges Russia, China not to ‘reward’ North Korea’s bad behaviour
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will relinquish his office on May 15 and hand the post to his deputy Lawrence Wong, his office said Monday. Lee, 72, will formally advise the city-state’s president to appoint Wong, who is currently deputy prime minister and finance minister, to succeed him, his office said in a brief … Continue reading Singapore prime minister says he will step down on May 15 and hand post to his deputy
Russian Copper Company (RCC) and Chinese firms have avoided taxes and skirted the impact of Western sanctions by trading in new copper wire rod disguised as scrap, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Copper wire rod was shredded in the remote Xinjiang Uyghur region by an intermediary to make it hard to distinguish … Continue reading Russia and China trade new copper disguised as scrap to skirt taxes, sanctions
Stephen Garrett, a 27-year-old graduate student, always thought he would study in China, but the country’s restrictive COVID-19 policies made it nearly impossible and now he sees interest among fellow scholars wane even after China reopened. Common concerns, he said, include restrictions on academic freedom and the risk of being stranded in China. These days, … Continue reading Far fewer young Americans now want to study in China. Both countries are trying to fix that
Booms and air raid sirens sounded across Israel early Sunday after Iran launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles in an unprecedented revenge mission that pushed the Middle East closer to a regionwide war. In Washington, President Joe Biden said U.S. forces helped Israel down “nearly all” the drones and missiles and pledged … Continue reading Booms and sirens in Israel after Iran launches over 200 missiles and drones in unprecedented attack
U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said he expected Iran to attack Israel "sooner, rather than later" and warned Tehran not to proceed. Asked by reporters about his message to Iran, Biden said simply, "Don't," and he underscored Washington's commitment to defend Israel. "We are devoted to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. … Continue reading Biden says he expects Iran to attack Israel soon, warns: ‘Don’t’
China is backing Russia's war effort in Ukraine by helping Moscow in its biggest military buildup since the Soviet era, providing drone and missile technology, satellite imagery and machine tools, senior U.S. officials said on Friday. However, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. said it has not provided weaponry to any party, adding that it … Continue reading US says China is boosting Russia’s war machine in Ukraine
Paralegal Chan Tsz-wah took the dock in Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s trial on Friday, telling the court that he met Lai through the Democratic Party’s founder Martin Lee Chu-ming and Lai was willing to sponsor about HK$5 million in the G20 newspaper advertising campaign. Today was the first day Chan – the fifth prosecution accomplice witness … Continue reading Paralegal tells court Jimmy Lai willing to sponsor HK$5m for global newspaper advertising campaign
A representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was detained and deported from Hong Kong, the press freedom advocacy group said on Wednesday. The staffer, Aleksandra Bielakowska, was detained and questioned for six hours upon arrival in Hong Kong, the group said in a statement. Bielakowska and her belongings were searched three times according to the … Continue reading HK detains and deports press freedom group staffer from city: RSF
China tried to meddle in the last two Canadian elections but the results were not impacted and it was "improbable" Beijing preferred any one party over another, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told an official probe on Wednesday. In sworn testimony before a commission conducting a public inquiry into alleged foreign interference in the 2019 and … Continue reading China tried to meddle but Canadians decided the last two elections, says PM Trudeau
The website of the private office of Sheikh Ali Al Maktoum, revealed to be once a popular singer under the name “Alira” with a fan base in the Philippines, has gone offline since Wednesday and cannot be reached. Apart from introducing the prince, who belongs to a "distant branch" of the ruling family of Dubai, … Continue reading Website of Dubai prince’s family office goes offline, HSUHK deletes references in press release
Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has penned a rare lengthy memo to employees that expresses support for the internet giant’s restructuring efforts, a sign that he may be willing to take a more active role after spending the last few years out of the spotlight. Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares surged 5 percent in morning trade after … Continue reading Alibaba founder Jack Ma steps out from shadows with long internal post
Ratings agency Fitch said Wednesday it had downgraded China's sovereign credit outlook to negative, citing increased risks to the country's public finances. The "outlook revision reflects increasing risks to China's public finance outlook as the country contends with more uncertain economic prospects", it said in a press statement. "Wide fiscal deficits and rising government debt … Continue reading Fitch downgrades China sovereign credit outlook to negative
Swedish authorities have ordered the expulsion of a Chinese journalist, saying she could pose a serious threat to national security, a lawyer representing the woman said on Monday. The 57-year-old Chinese woman has lived in the country for almost 20 years and denied all the accusations, lawyer Leutrim Kadriu told Reuters. Kadriu did not name … Continue reading Sweden expels Chinese journalist over national security fears
Taiwan's annual war games this year will practice "kill" zones at sea to break a blockade and simulate a scenario where China suddenly turns one of its regular drills around the island into an actual attack, the defence ministry said on Tuesday. China, which views Taiwan as its territory, has been staging regular exercises around … Continue reading Taiwan war games to simulate repelling a Chinese drill that turns into attack
Sweden has expelled a Chinese journalist, saying the reporter was a threat to national security, Swedish media reported on Monday. The journalist, an unnamed, 57-year-old woman, was arrested by the Swedish security service in October and expelled by the government in Stockholm last week, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported. She is banned from returning. The woman … Continue reading Sweden expels a Chinese journalist, calling her a threat to national security, report says
The U.S., Britain and Australia will announce talks on Monday about bringing new members into their AUKUS security pact as Washington pushes for Japan to be involved as a deterrent against China, the Financial Times reported. The announcement by the group's defence ministers will be related to "Pillar Two" of the pact, which commits the … Continue reading AUKUS weighs expanding security pact to deter China, FT says
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that China is too large to try to export its way to rapid growth and would benefit by reducing excess industrial capacity that is pressuring other economies. Yellen said in remarks to an American Chamber of Commerce during a visit to China that she understands that Beijing's … Continue reading Yellen says China is too big to export its way to rapid growth
Taiwan on Thursday condemned China as "shameless" after Beijing's deputy ambassador to the United Nations thanked the world for its concern about a strong earthquake on the island. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and also claims the right to speak for it on the international stage, to the fury of Taipei given … Continue reading Taiwan condemns ‘shameless’ China’s thanks for global sympathy on quake
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in China's Guangzhou on Thursday for meetings to press Beijing over fears the country's industrial subsidies for green energy, cars and batteries could flood global markets with cheap goods. Her second trip to China in less than a year follows a phone call this week between President Joe Biden … Continue reading Yellen in China to press officials on industrial subsidies
In a scathing indictment of Microsoft corporate security and transparency, a Biden administration-appointed review board issued a report Tuesday saying “a cascade of errors” by the tech giant let state-backed Chinese cyber operators break into email accounts of senior U.S. officials including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The Cyber Safety Review Board, created in 2021 by … Continue reading Scathing federal report rips Microsoft for shoddy security, insincerity in response to Chinese hack
Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping clashed in a telephone call Tuesday about US trade restrictions on technology and on Taiwan, but they looked to manage their tensions, with two top US officials heading shortly to Beijing. The nearly two-hour telephone conversation was the two leaders' first direct interaction since a summit in November in … Continue reading Biden, Xi clash but seek to manage tensions as US officials head to China
The bodies of eight Chinese migrants were found on a beach in southern Mexico after the boat they were traveling in capsized, officials said Saturday. The seven women and a man were aboard a boat operated by a Mexican that left Tapachula in Chiapas state, on the border with Guatemala, on Thursday, the prosecutor's office … Continue reading Bodies of eight Chinese migrants found on beach in Mexico
The US news outlet Radio Free Asia (RFA) said Friday it had closed its Hong Kong office over staff safety concerns after the city enacted a homegrown national security law last week. The law came into effect on March 23 after it was unanimously passed by the Legislative Council, updating a national security law imposed … Continue reading US-funded Radio Free Asia closes Hong Kong office citing security law fears
At 53, Guan Junling is too old to get hired at factories anymore. But for migrant workers like her, not working is not an option. For decades, they have come from farming villages to find work in the cities. Toiling in sweatshops and building apartment complexes they could never afford to live in, they played … Continue reading Migrant workers who helped build modern China have scant or no pensions, and can’t retire
U.S. intelligence officials in late February told senators working on a biotech security bill that Chinese pharmaceutical firm WuXi AppTec had transferred U.S. intellectual property to Beijing without consent, according to two sources. The U.S. government is concerned that certain Chinese biotech companies are contributing technology or research and development for use by China's military, … Continue reading China’s WuXi AppTec shared US client’s data with Beijing, US intelligence officials told senators
A surge in cheap exports from China in industries like electric vehicles could create an oversupply and hurt economies, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned in a speech on Wednesday. She plans to raise those risks during her next trip to China likely this year, and press Beijing to take "necessary steps to address this … Continue reading Yellen to warn China of industrial oversupply risks
The death toll from the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by Islamic extremists rose on Wednesday to 143, Russian authorities said. Authorities listed the names of the dead on the Russian ministry for civil defence and emergency situations five days after last Friday's attack, the deadliest claimed to date by Islamic State on … Continue reading Moscow attack death toll rises to 143: authorities
Hackers linked to the Chinese government launched a sweeping, state-backed operation that targeted U.S. officials, journalists, corporations, pro-democracy activists and the U.K.'s election watchdog, American and British authorities said Monday in announcing a set of criminal charges and sanctions. The intention of the campaign, which officials say began in 2010, was to harass critics of … Continue reading US and UK go after Chinese hackers accused of state-backed operation against politicians, dissidents
The New Zealand government said it had raised concerns on Tuesday with the Chinese government about its involvement in a state-sponsored cyber hack on New Zealand's parliament in 2021, which was uncovered by the country's intelligence services. The revelations that information was accessed through malicious cyber activity targeting New Zealand's parliamentarian entities comes as Britain … Continue reading New Zealand accuses China of hacking parliament, condemns activity
Britain will give details of the cyber security threat it says is posed by China on Monday, and may blame Beijing for a hack on its electoral watchdog, as worries about interference grow before an election expected later this year. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is due to make a statement on the issue to … Continue reading Britain due to set out Chinese cyber security threat
The Australian government updated its travel advisory for citizens traveling to Hong Kong on Friday, suggesting travelers exercise a high degree of caution in the city due to the enforcement of the new national security law set to come into effect on March 23. The advisory states that Hong Kong has strict laws on national … Continue reading Australia cautions citizens traveling to Hong Kong of new national security law
In the last recorded moments before the 13-year-old boy's death, surveillance cameras showed him sitting on a scooter, surrounded by three classmates. An hour later, his phone went dead, kicking off a frantic search by relatives. The following day, police in a village in central China made a sickening discovery: the boy's body, buried underneath … Continue reading Detention of 3 teens over gruesome killing of 13-year-old classmate sparks debate in China
Chinese police said on Saturday they had taken "criminal coercive measures" against company executives at Chinese wealth manager Zhongzhi Enterprise Group and related suspects, and that the recovery of "stolen goods" was underway. The Chaoyang Public Security Bureau announced the development in its probe on its WeChat account. It launched its investigation in November. Such … Continue reading Chinese police take ‘measures’ against staff at Zhongzhi
Twelve Hongkongers including actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu were jailed on Saturday for up to seven years over the storming of the Legislative Council in 2019 during the height of pro-democracy protests that challenged the Beijing-backed government. A total of 14 people were later charged with rioting and other offenses such as criminal damage and entering … Continue reading Actor Gregory Wong among 12 jailed over 2019 legislature storming
The US ambassador to China said Friday that Beijing's position on a potential TikTok ban in the United States was "supremely ironic" given the ruling Communist Party's censorship of online platforms within its borders. The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Wednesday that would force the wildly popular short-video app to break … Continue reading US ambassador says Beijing stance on TikTok ban ‘supremely ironic’
The oil tanker NS Century, which is under sanction by the United States, arrived at the Chinese port of Qingdao late on Thursday to discharge its cargo of Russian crude oil, LSEG shipping data showed. The Russian-flagged tanker, operated by Russian shipping group Sovcomflot's (SCF) Dubai-based subsidiary SCF MGMT, is carrying about 700,000 barrels of … Continue reading Sanctioned tanker NS Century reaches China port to discharge Russian oil
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung strongly condemned the "malicious" headline and the "misleading" article published by Ming Pao on Thursday concerning Article 23. His comments followed the completion of the scrutinization of the draft legislation by the bills committee on Wednesday. The concerned article, published on the A3 page of the paper, mentioned in … Continue reading Security chief condemns Ming Pao’s piece on Article 23 as malicious
Two companies owned by Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying helped activist Andy Li Yu-hin to make advanced payments of HK$1.56 million to the global advertisement campaign in June 2019 calling for international attention to Hong Kong’s anti-Extradition Law protest, the court heard on Wednesday. This came as Li, an activist among 12 Hong Kong … Continue reading Jimmy Lai funded global campaign that calls for foreign backing ahead of G20, court heard
Former Apple Daily editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee testified on Tuesday that he could have been fired by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying if he insisted on using articles that didn’t adhere to the newspaper’s political stance, which he described as a “birdcage democracy”. Today was the seventh and last day Yeung appeared at West Kowloon Court as … Continue reading Former editorial writer says he could get fired for not choosing articles matching with Apple Daily’s stance
Chinese Premier Li Qiang does not intend to hold a meeting with visiting foreign CEOs at the upcoming China Development Forum (CDF) in late March, three sources briefed on the matter said, raising concerns about Beijing's commitment to attract investment from abroad at a time of souring sentiment. Organised annually by Beijing since 2000 at … Continue reading Chinese Premier Li to skip meeting with global CEOs at key business summit
China has intensified efforts to block software that enables internet users to access banned websites during a top political meeting this week, a leading provider of firewall-leaping software told AFP. Beijing operates some of the world's most extensive censorship over the internet, with web users in mainland China unable to access everything from Google to … Continue reading China tightens grip over internet during key political meeting
Former Chairman for the Democratic Party Wu Chi-wai submitted manuscripts to Apple Daily, advocating the imposition of sanctions on the government officials of Hong Kong, former editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee told the court on the 41st day of Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying's national security trial. Yeung also said certain manuscripts submitted by contributors … Continue reading Ex-Democratic Party chair Wu Chi-wai advocates sanctions on HK on Apple Daily, court heard
China's hackers-for-hire take government officials out for lavish banquets, binge drinking and late-night karaoke with young women in a bid to win favor and business, as revealed in a highly unusual leak last month of internal documents from a private contractor linked to Chinese police. China’s hacking industry is vast in size and scope but … Continue reading Chinese hacking industry linked to the state through connections, alcohol, and sex, leak reveals
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying is a generous yet cruel boss, said its former editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee on the 40th day of Lai's national security trial. The former editorial writer also said articles published on Apple Daily’s forum section have been skirting the rules under the National Security Law to avoid breaking the … Continue reading Lai a generous but cruel boss, Apple Daily skirt rules under NSL, court heard
A former software engineer at Google has been charged with stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets from the company while secretly working with two companies based in China, the Justice Department said Wednesday. Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, was arrested in Newark, California, on four counts of federal trade secret theft, each punishable by up to … Continue reading Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI trade secrets while working with Chinese companies
A map in a Chinese history textbook belonging to a Form Two cross-border student was torn out by Mainland customs officers, who cited the map as violating Chinese law. A teacher revealed the incident via a social media page. The concerned textbook was published by the Modern Educational Research Society Limited, with the map referring … Continue reading Mainland Customs tears out map in Chinese History textbook of cross-border student, citing violation of law
A bill in the U.S. Senate that would restrict business with China's BGI, WuXi Apptec and other biotech companies on national security grounds faces its first big test in Congress on Wednesday. The draft legislation, which is designed to keep Americans' personal health and genetic information from foreign adversaries, will be discussed in a committee … Continue reading US Senate committee takes up bill targeting China’s BGI, WuXi Apptec
Former Hong Kong opposition lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who was charged with rioting at a railway station during the 2019 protests, told the District Court that he never thought the white-shirted gangsters would have dared assault passers-by inside the MTR station in broad daylight. Lam continued defending his charge on Wednesday for the second day, recounting … Continue reading Yuen Long MTR assault in broad daylight ‘unheard of in HK history’, says Lam Cheuk-ting
Former Apple Daily editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee said articles he received by Lai, including those from CCP critics, were most likely to be published in the newspaper’s forum section as they were handed over by his boss, Lai, the court heard on Wednesday. On the 39th day of Lai's national security trial, the 58-year-old Yeung … Continue reading Apple Daily ex-editorial writer says articles he received from Lai most likely to be published
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying never paid former Apple Daily editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee a monthly HK$10,000 remuneration as promised after he contributed articles for Lai’s Twitter account, the court heard on Tuesday. On the 38th day of Lai's national security trial, the 58-year-old Yeung appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court for a second … Continue reading Apple Daily ex-editorial writer says Lai never paid him a monthly HK$10,000 remuneration as promised
Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has instructed management to invite more writers from overseas to contribute articles for the tabloid after the implementation of the national security law, a former senior employee told Lai’s national security trial on Monday. The court heard Yeung Ching-Kei joined Apple Daily as a senior reporter in 1997, before … Continue reading Third accomplice witness, Yeung Ching-Kei, begins testifying in Lai trial
Zhang Xiaoming, who previously held key positions related to Hong Kong and Macau affairs, has been removed from his senior role within the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), CCTV reported. The decision was made during the CPPCC Standing Committee meeting in Beijing over the last two days, just before the beginning of the top … Continue reading Zhang Xiaoming removed from CPPCC position
Sweden's last war ended in 1814, and when the rifles and cannons it aimed at Norway fell silent, the once-warring power would not take up arms again. For the next two centuries, Sweden embraced a policy of neutrality, refusing to take sides in wars or join any military alliance. It was a stance that kept … Continue reading As Sweden joins NATO, it bids farewell to more than two centuries of neutrality
Hackers stole "sensitive information" including military and government documents from Taiwan's largest telecom company and sold it on the dark web, the island's ministry of national defence has said. The confirmation of the democratic island's latest major data leak followed a report by local news channel TVBS on the hack of telecom giant Chunghwa Telecom. … Continue reading Hackers stole ‘sensitive’ data from Taiwan telecom giant: ministry
The White House said on Thursday the United States is opening an investigation into whether Chinese vehicle imports pose national security risks and could impose restrictions due to concerns about "connected" car technology. The U.S. Commerce Department probe is because Chinese assembled smart vehicles could collect sensitive data about U.S. citizens and infrastructure and send … Continue reading US says to investigate national security data risks from Chinese vehicles
Australia's spy chief revealed details of a foreign intelligence service's efforts to target Australians for information in an annual speech on Wednesday and said his agency had confronted the spy masters to let them know they had been caught. Director-general of security for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Mike Burgess, said he had declassified details … Continue reading Australia intelligence chief reveals details of foreign spy operation
China's former foreign minister Qin Gang, who was abruptly removed from office last year and has not been seen in public since, has resigned as a lawmaker, according to state media. Qin's resignation as a representative for the port city of Tianjin to China's 14th National People's Congress was accepted on Tuesday, state news agency … Continue reading China’s ex-foreign minister Qin Gang resigns as lawmaker
China’s former foreign minister, Qin Gang, who has been missing from public view since last June, resigned his seat in the national legislature, state media reported Tuesday. Qin was dismissed from office in July, in one of China’s biggest political surprises in years. The 57-year-old served as foreign minister for only seven months before he … Continue reading China’s embattled former foreign minister steps down as member of the legislature
Ding Yumei, the ex-wife of detained Evergrande Group founder Hui Ka Yan, has filed a writ to the High Court to recover over HK$1 billion from the billionaire’s second son, Peter Xu Tenghe. According to the writ, Xu failed to repay Ding for two loans on time as stated in their loan agreement signed on … Continue reading Hui Ka Yan’s ex-wife files writ to HK court to recover over HK$1b from second son
Hong Kong activists on Tuesday staged a rare public protest against government plans for a new national security law, saying it lacked democratic oversight and human rights safeguards. Public demonstrations have all but vanished in the Chinese finance hub since Beijing quelled huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019 and imposed a sweeping national security … Continue reading Rare Hong Kong protest sounds alarm on new security law
Two prominent Chinese bloggers in exile said police were investigating their millions of followers on international social media platforms, in an escalation of Beijing’s attempts to clamp down on critical speech even outside of the country’s borders. Former state broadcaster CCTV journalist Wang Zhi’an and artist-turned-dissident Li Ying, both Chinese citizens known for posting uncensored … Continue reading Two Chinese bloggers in exile warn that police are interrogating their followers
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying instructed now-defunct Apple Daily to find pro-independence writers to write for the paper’s editorials despite being in custody, according to former associate publisher Chan Pui-man. Today (Tue) was the 12th day Chan testified at West Kowloon Court against her boss as the high-profile trial entered its 33rd day. The prosecution displayed WhatsApp … Continue reading Jimmy Lai instructed Apple Daily to find pro-independence writers while in custody, court hears
The U.S. Coast Guard and Kiribati police boarded two Chinese fishing boats during a patrol against illegal fishing in the Pacific Islands nation's vast exclusive economic zone this month but found no issues aboard, a coast guard official said. The United States is seeking a bigger role for its coast guard in helping remote Pacific … Continue reading US Coast Guard boards Chinese fishing boats near Kiribati, official says
Donald Trump cruised to a lightning victory Saturday in South Carolina's Republican primary, blitzing rival Nikki Haley in her home state and continuing his march to the nomination and a White House rematch with Joe Biden in November. Trump completed a sweep of the first four major nominating contests, converting a year of blockbuster polls … Continue reading Trump coasts to another victory in race for Republican nomination
A Chinese research ship arrived in the Maldives on Thursday, global ship-tracking data showed, just three months after a similar vessel visited the Indian Ocean and sparked New Delhi's security concerns. The visit follows January comments by a U.S. think tank that China's navy could "leverage the insights gained from these missions" for deployment of … Continue reading Maldives visit of Chinese survey ship could rouse Indian Ocean security concerns
As the annual meeting of China's parliament approaches next month, its leaders are facing the greatest pressure in almost a decade to take bold policy decisions that safeguard the economy's long-term growth potential. The start of the year saw Chinese stocks tumbling to five-year lows on growth concerns and deflation deepening to levels unseen since … Continue reading Pressure grows on China for big policy moves to fix economy
A Chinese tech security firm was able to breach foreign governments, infiltrate social media accounts and hack personal computers, a massive data leak analysed by experts this week revealed. The trove of documents from I-Soon, a private company that competed for Chinese government contracts, shows that its hackers compromised more than a dozen governments, according … Continue reading Massive leak shows Chinese firm hacked foreign govts, activists: analysts
U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher, who chairs the House of Representatives select committee on China, said in Taipei on Thursday that no matter who wins the coming U.S. elections support for Chinese-claimed Taiwan will remain. Gallagher, who arrived in Taiwan on Thursday with a delegation of four other lawmakers on a visit ending Saturday, has been … Continue reading US lawmaker in Taiwan visit reassures support regardless of U.S. election outcome
Apple Daily had described government officials, including former Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa and CY Leung, principle officials and Executive Council members, as traitors to Hong Kong for rooting for the Beijing-imposed National Security Law. This came as former associate publisher Chan Pui-man, the second prosecution accomplice witness for Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s national … Continue reading Apple Daily described govt officials rooting for NSL as traitors to Hong Kong, court heard
China is one of the world's most expensive places to raise a child, relative to its GDP per capita, a prominent Chinese think tank said on Wednesday as it detailed the time and opportunity costs for women who opt to have children in the country. The cost of raising a child until they are 18 … Continue reading China’s childcare costs among highest in world – think tank
As Tibetans prepare to mark 65 years since a failed uprising against Chinese rule and questions loom over the Dalai Lama's successor, the diaspora's elected leader said Beijing is crushing his people. Tibetans on March 10 will commemorate the 1959 uprising against Chinese forces that led the future Nobel laureate -- and thousands of his … Continue reading Beijing crushing Tibetans, exiled political leader says
The appeal against a 15-month jail term over calls to take part in a banned June 4 vigil by the organizer’s vice-chair Tonyee Chow Hang-tung was rejected by the High Court on Wednesday. The 39-year-old vice-chair of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was earlier convicted of illegally inciting … Continue reading Activist Tonyee Chow sees 15-month jail term over calls to banned vigil upheld
Centaline Property chairman Shih Wing-ching said the government should scrap all “spicy measures” on the property market instead of only axing some, adding that the current unhealthy situation not only affects the real estate sector but the whole of the city’s economy and livelihood. Speaking on a radio program on Wednesday, Shih noted that the … Continue reading Centaline Property boss warns of political consequences of not axing all property spicy measures
A Moscow court on Tuesday said jailed US journalist Evan Gershkovich would remain in pre-trial detention until at least March 30, ensuring he will spend at least a year behind bars, as Russia separately slapped a ban on a US-funded broadcaster. Russian prosecutors have charged Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich with espionage -- the first … Continue reading Moscow court upholds detention of US journalist, Russia bans broadcaster
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying had instructed reporters to provide more coverage on the global blame game over China’s Covid response, according to former associate publisher, Chan Pui-man. Testifying as a prosecution accomplice witness in Lai's national security trial, Chan acknowledged that Lai had sent a message to the WhatsApp group "English News" on … Continue reading Lai wants more coverage on the blame game over China’s Covid response, says Chan Pui-man
Republican former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are competing to be their party's presidential nominee for the 2024 general election, while President Joe Biden is effectively the Democratic Party's nominee. Several third-party hopefuls are also running. Here is a list of the candidates. DONALD TRUMP Trump has leveraged his civil cases … Continue reading Who are the candidates running in the 2024 US presidential election?
Australian writer Yang Hengjun will not appeal a suspended death sentence in China because the process would delay the possibility of supervised medical care, his family said in a statement. A pro-democracy blogger and spy novelist, Yang is an Australian citizen born in China who was working in New York before his arrest at Guangzhou … Continue reading Australian writer Yang Hengjun won’t appeal suspended death sentence in China – family
China's top financial watchdogs vowed to keep up a campaign to ensure that the sector adheres to Communist Party values and serves the economy while avoiding "excessive" and "reckless" risks, the party's official newspaper said on Tuesday. President Xi Jinping has shown dissatisfaction with the $63-trillion financial sector, taking steps in his third term to … Continue reading Top watchdogs tell China’s finance sector to follow Communist Party values
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying put forward the idea of setting up the English language edition of the now-closed Apple Daily tabloid during one of the "lunch box meetings," in a bid to garner international support for the newspaper, former associate publisher Chan Pui-man said Tuesday. Chan, the second prosecution accomplice witness for Lai's … Continue reading Lai wants English language Apple Daily to garner foreign support: Chan Pui-man
China offered to support long-time strategic partner Hungary on public security issues, going beyond trade and investment relations, during a rare meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, just as NATO struggles to expand its network in Europe. China hopes to deepen law enforcement and security ties with Hungary as the two mark their 75th year … Continue reading In unusual move, China offers to back Hungary in security matters
China's foreign ministry declined to comment on Saturday on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, describing it as "Russia's internal affair". "This is Russia's internal affair. I will not comment," the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson's Office said in response to a question from AFP. Navalny, the Kremlin's most prominent critic, died on Friday … Continue reading China declines comment on Navalny death, ‘Russia’s internal affair’
Following are reactions in Russia and abroad to the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, reported on Friday by prison authorities in the Yamalo-Nenets region where he had been serving his sentence. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been told about Navalny's death. The reaction of Western … Continue reading Reactions to the death of Russian opposition leader Navalny
The Kremlin's most prominent critic, Alexei Navalny, died on Friday in an Arctic prison, Russian officials said, a month before an election poised to extend President Vladimir Putin's hold on power. Navalny's death after three years in detention and a poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin deprives Russia's opposition of its figurehead at a … Continue reading Top Kremlin critic Navalny dies in prison
Elderly Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu was jailed for nine months on Friday over his plan to carry a coffin and burn joss paper money to protest the revamped district councils election last December, with the judge blasting his attempt to shame the government. Koo, 78, who suffers from terminal stage colorectal cancer, earlier pleaded … Continue reading Hong Kong veteran activist Koo Sze-yiu jailed nine months over planned coffin protest
The U.S. has gathered highly sensitive intelligence about Russian anti-satellite weapons that has been shared in recent weeks with the upper echelons of government, according to four people who have been briefed on the intelligence. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said the capability was not yet operational. The intelligence sparked an … Continue reading Russian efforts to create anti-satellite weapons are cause for US concern
Faced with diminishing job prospects as the economy slows, Chu Yi is choosing to "lie flat", a Chinese term used to describe people who work just enough to afford to spend their time on what they enjoy. The Shanghai-based 23-year-old used to work at a fashion company, but said she quit her job two years … Continue reading Some Chinese youth spurn corporate jobs for ‘me time’ as economy slows
North Korea’s destabilizing behavior should be a major concern for Beijing, a senior State Department official said Tuesday. China should be condemning North Korea’s “deepening cooperation” with Russia, including shipping ballistic missiles to President Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine, said Jung Pak, the US senior official for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as North … Continue reading North Korean Arms Trade Is China’s Problem Too, US Official Says
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has instructed Apple Daily management to publish news targeting the risks faced by businessmen working on the mainland regarding the Extradition Law Amendment Bill in 2019, former associate publisher Chan Pui-man said Monday. Chan, the second prosecution accomplice witness for Lai's trial, testified at West Kowloon Court as the … Continue reading Chan Pui-man says Jimmy Lai lays out editorial instructions for particular news
With western navies focused on trying to quell Houthi militants’ attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea, Somali pirates are quietly showing signs of making a comeback. In December, they hijacked their first ship in six years when the commodity carrier Ruen was boarded and taken to a port in the east African country, … Continue reading As Navies Focus on Red Sea Houthis, There Are Worrying Signs Somali Pirates Are Making a Comeback
For families across China preparing for Lunar New Year, the most important celebration in the calendar, pork is a must. An ingredient synonymous with prosperity and abundance, it’s used in countless dishes and cured for festive delicacies. But in Beijing’s Xinmin market, vendor Wu Aizhen is struggling. Though pork prices have fallen by about a … Continue reading China’s Lunar New Year Pork Gloom Exposes Deep Economic Trouble
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying continued to push for foreign sanctions only in a less explicit way even after the national security law was enacted, former Apple Daily publisher Cheung Kim-hung said on Friday. Today was the last day Cheung, 62, testified at West Kowloon Court as prosecution accomplice witness against his former boss … Continue reading Jimmy Lai pushed for foreign sanctions only in a less explicit approach after NSL implemented: Cheung Kim-hung
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying had said he would continue to put up resistance despite the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law, according to former Apple Daily publisher Cheung Kim-hung. Cheung, 62, continued to testify in the West Kowloon Court as a prosecution accomplice witness against Lai, 76, on Thursday as the … Continue reading Jimmy Lai not afraid of enactment of national security law and would continue to resist: Cheung Kim-hung
The United States on Wednesday added more than a dozen Chinese companies to a list created by the Defense Department to highlight firms it says are allegedly working with Beijing's military, as part of the broader effort to keep American technology from aiding China. New additions to the list, first reported by Reuters, were posted … Continue reading Pentagon calls out Chinese companies it says are helping Beijing’s military
Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States, FBI Director Chris Wray will tell House lawmakers on Wednesday in a fresh warning from Washington about Beijing's global ambitions. Wray will say that that there's been “far too little public focus” on … Continue reading Chinese hackers are determined to ‘wreak havoc’ on US critical infrastructure, FBI director warns
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying told Apple Daily’s editorial department to tread carefully after the implementation of the National Security Law, former publisher Cheung Kim-hung testified on the 20th day of Lai's trial. Continuing the cross-examination of Cheung on Wednesday, senior counsel Robert Pang Yiu-hung, for Lai, showed the court WhatsApp chat records between … Continue reading Apple Daily management told to pay extra caution since introduction of the NSL, says Cheung Kim-hung
As the U.S. presidential campaign moves closer to a Donald Trump-Joe Biden rematch, China is watching uneasily. First, there are concerns about the campaign itself, where candidates are likely to talk tough on China. That could threaten the fragile improvements in U.S.-China relations seen in recent months. Then there’s the outcome of the November vote. … Continue reading China sees two ‘bowls of poison’ in Biden and Trump and ponders who is the lesser of two evils
An advertising scheme aiming to support “small shops” by now-defunct Apple Daily was actually targeting “yellow shops”, according to former publisher Cheung Kim-chung as he continued to testify against his former boss and Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on Tuesday. It marked the ninth day Cheung appeared in the West Kowloon Court as a … Continue reading Apple Daily’s advertising scheme was to support ‘yellow shops’, says Cheung Kim-hung
China's Supreme Court and Hong Kong's Department of Justice said on Monday that they signed an arrangement on the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial cases effective immediately in both places. The arrangement reduces the need for parties to re-litigate the same dispute in the mainland and Hong Kong courts, reducing … Continue reading China, HK sign arrangement on reciprocal recognition of civil, commercial cases
A Hong Kong court delivered a stunning ruling on Monday morning, ordering the liquidation of China Evergrande Group, once the country's top property developer. The decision marks a new phase in Evergrande's long-running debt crisis and could send fresh shockwaves through China's struggling real estate sector and financial markets. Evergrande has been embroiled in crisis … Continue reading Breaking: China real estate giant Evergrande ordered into liquidation
Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying reportedly gave explicit instruction to drum up the anti-extradition movement, also ordering subordinates to “exaggerate” certain news to encourage people to take to the street, former publisher Cheung Kim-hung said on Monday. This came as Lai’s defense lawyer, Robert Pang Yiu-hung, started his cross-examination of Cheung. Today was the … Continue reading Cheung Kim-hung says Jimmy Lai instructed Apple Daily to drum up protests
China Evergrande Group will once again try to fend off liquidation at court hearings in Hong Kong on Monday. Eight weeks after the debt-laden property developer won a surprise reprieve in the long-running lawsuit, Evergrande has made little progress toward clinching a restructuring agreement with creditors. Any order to wind up Evergrande, which has about … Continue reading Evergrande faces renewed liquidation risk in wind-up hearing
A new television series starring Nicole Kidman and featuring scenes of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests debuted on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, but could not be accessed in the Chinese city where it was partly filmed. “Expats” revolves around the lives of three American women – including a protagonist played by Kidman, who is also … Continue reading Amazon show with Hong Kong protest scenes not shown in city
China Evergrande Group, the defaulted developer that’s a symbol of the nation’s broader property crisis, faces hearings Monday in Hong Kong including a rare ‘regulating order’ session that could result in the court appointing a liquidator. Judge Linda Chan Ching-fan, who has presided over a string of developer hearings and ordered the liquidation of one … Continue reading Evergrande faces rare hearing in Hong Kong, may lead to liquidator selection
China said Friday it had sentenced a British national in 2022 to five years in jail for spying, in its official confirmation of a case that had gone unreported until this week. The Wall Street Journal first broke news of the case of UK businessman Ian Stones on Thursday, reporting, citing his family and other … Continue reading China says jailed British national in 2022 for spying
Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying rooted for the reelection of then-US President Donald Trump and instructed staff not to target him the way US media did, said former publisher Cheung Kim-hung on Friday. Today was the seventh day Cheung, a prosecution accomplice witness, testified against Lai, 76, at the West Kowloon Court as the … Continue reading Jimmy Lai rooted for Trump’s reelection and ordered staff not to target him: Cheung Kim-hung
A resolution presented to the Republican National Committee on Thursday to declare Donald Trump the party's presumptive presidential nominee was abruptly withdrawn hours later after objections from Trump. The RNC, which oversees Republican elections, had been set to consider the proposal next week to declare former President Trump the party's presumptive White House nominee as … Continue reading Trump ally drops plan to declare him presumptive presidential nominee
A bishop appointed by Pope Francis was installed in a diocese in China on Thursday, the Vatican said, in an apparent thaw in relations following friction when government-backed bishops were named without papal permission. The Vatican said Rev. Taddeo Wang Yuessheng, 58, was ordained as bishop for the diocese of Zhengzhou, in the central province … Continue reading Bishop approved by pope ordained in China in apparent thaw in relations
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai had refused the suggestion of adding soft articles themed culture, food, and traveling into the English edition of Apple Daily, saying the move would dilute the impact of raising foreign concerns and discussions, former publisher Cheung Kim-hung said on Thursday. Today marked the sixth day of Cheung's testimony as a … Continue reading Jimmy Lai worried soft content would dilute the impact of English Apple Daily: Cheung Kim-hung
Hong Kong's top court has on Thursday overturned activist Tonyee Chow Hang-tung’s acquittal over inciting others to join an unauthorized June 4 vigil in 2021. The High Court cleared Chow in December 2022 after she was convicted for her role in the 2021 vigil, quashing her 15-month jail term. The Department of Justice in June … Continue reading Hong Kong’s top court overturns Tonyee Chow acquittal
One of Beijing’s most senior diplomats dismissed concern over the ouster of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in rare public comments from a Chinese official about the mysterious episode. “Personnel change is not uncommon when you see some European politicians are also sacked from their positions,” Fu Cong, ambassador to the European Union, said in … Continue reading Senior China Envoy Dismisses Qin Gang Removal as ‘Not Uncommon’
The European Commission will set out plans on Wednesday to bolster the European Union's economic security through closer scrutiny of foreign investment and tighter controls on exports and outflows of technologies to rivals such as China. The EU executive will present a broad document for debate along with a proposed new law that will require … Continue reading EU draws up economic security plans, with mind on China
The co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus on Wednesday opened the first trip by U.S. lawmakers to the island where the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party won a third straight term in presidential elections this month. U.S. Reps. Ami Bera, a Democrat from California, and Florida Republican Mario Diaz-Balart plan to “engage with senior officials … Continue reading US congressional delegation makes first trip to Taiwan after island’s presidential election
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying believed the English edition of Apple Daily could financially benefit the tabloid while getting the US to protect it, Apple Daily’s former publisher Cheung Kim-hung said on Wednesday. Today was the fifth day Cheung, now a prosecution witness, testified against Lai, 76, as the trial entered its 15th day. … Continue reading English Apple Daily to bring funds and protection from the US, Cheung Kim-hung says
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying believed it was not a big deal that protesters wreaked havoc in shops, and he would think youngsters were courageous and committed to the social movement in 2019, Apple Daily’s former publisher Cheung Kim-hung said. Today was the fourth day Cheung, now a prosecution witness, testified against Lai, 76, … Continue reading Jimmy Lai didn’t see havoc caused by protesters an issue, says Cheung Kim-hung
The Department of Justice (DoJ) made it clear on Tuesday that the mainland judgments will not automatically take effect in Hong Kong and investors' assets in the city will not be confiscated by the mainland directly, as the arrangement on reciprocal recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial rulings by the courts between HKSAR and … Continue reading DoJ clarifies the ‘fallacy’ that mainland can confiscate HK assets once reciprocal enforcement regime commences
China faces international scrutiny Tuesday over domestic polices in places like Hong Kong, Tibet and the western Xinjiang region as the global power receives its latest U.N.-backed review of its human rights record. An extraordinarily high number of more than 160 countries — some critics of Beijing, some allies — have registered to take part … Continue reading China’s critics and allies have 45 seconds each to speak in latest U.N. review of its human rights
China's top court has pledged to "deepen judicial disclosure" after its plan to curtail access to court decisions faced unusual public criticism from lawyers and legal experts. The Supreme People’s Court (SPC) announced in December it would create a new database of over 2,000 cases accessible to scholars, lawyers and experts. Academics believe the new … Continue reading China vows judicial disclosure after outcry over plan to curb access to rulings
Chinese stocks in Hong Kong slumped further Monday toward their lowest level in almost two decades, as an absence of fresh economic stimulus and market support measures deepened investor pessimism. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell as much as 2.6 percent, edging closer to a level unseen since 2005 and making it one of … Continue reading Chinese stocks plunge as investors seek brighter horizons elsewhere
At the end of a kilometer-long, booby-trapped tunnel in the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers discovered cramped cells where the military said Hamas kept about 20 hostages. They found a holding area, five narrow rooms behind metal bars, toilets, mattresses, and even drawings by a child hostage who was freed during a November truce, military spokesperson … Continue reading Israeli soldiers uncover Gaza tunnel that once held hostages, army says
Russia leapfrogged Saudi Arabia to become China's top crude oil supplier in 2023, data showed on Saturday, as the world's biggest crude importer defied Western sanctions to purchase vast quantities of discounted oil for its processing plants. Russia shipped a record 107.02 million metric tons of crude oil to China last year, equivalent to 2.14 … Continue reading China defies sanctions to make Russia its biggest oil supplier in 2023
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying instructed both Hong Kong and Taiwan editions of Apple Daily to produce a significant number of interviews with protesters and opposition leaders to incite the already heated social atmosphere, former publisher Cheung Kin-hung testified on the 13th day of the trial. Cheung, also the former CEO of Next Digital founded by Lai, … Continue reading Jimmy Lai instructed Hong Kong and Taiwan editions of Apple Daily to incite social atmosphere, former publisher says
Swiss engineering group ABB's operations in China are being scrutinised by two U.S. Congress committees dedicated to investigating security threats and risks posed by Beijing, documents showed on Friday. The committees from the House of Representatives sent a letter this week to ABB inviting executives to public hearings to clarify the company's relationship with a … Continue reading ABB’s China operations under investigation by U.S. Congress
China has instructed heavily indebted local governments to delay or halt some state- unded infrastructure projects, three people with knowledge of the situation said, as Beijing struggles to contain debt risks even as it tries to stimulate the economy. Increasing its efforts to manage $13 trillion in municipal debt, the State Council in recent weeks … Continue reading China orders indebted local governments to halt some infrastructure projects-sources
The United States and Japan are looking to make a deal for Japanese shipyards to regularly overhaul and maintain U.S. Navy warships so they can stay in Asian waters ready for any potential conflict, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said on Friday. "China watches what ships are coming in and out. It is not … Continue reading U.S. wants Japanese shipyards to help keep warships ready to fight in Asia
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared the South his country's "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement. But is the fiery rhetoric a sign of a real shift? AFP takes a look at what we know: What's happened? After years of … Continue reading Is North Korea’s Kim preparing for war?
Singapore's Transport Minister S. Iswaran was charged with 27 offences in a graft investigation, the anti-corruption agency said on Thursday, in one of the highest- rofile cases involving a minister in the Asian financial hub in decades. In a resignation letter dated Tuesday but published by the prime minister's office on Thursday, Iswaran said he … Continue reading Singapore minister charged with corruption, resigns, in rare case
Apple Daily's former publisher testified on Thursday that Next Media founder Jimmy Lai Chee-Ying has been actively planning the launch of the English page of the newspaper to attract readers in the United States and get a "political lever" to reach the US. Cheung Kim-hung continued to testify as the prosecution's first accomplice witness on … Continue reading Jimmy Lai urges launch of English Apple Daily to reach US readers, says ex-publisher
A nickel processing hub in eastern Indonesia backed by Chinese companies is stoking deforestation and harming the rights of locals, an NGO has found, as Beijing bets big on the metal used in electric vehicle batteries. With EVs surging in popularity, there has been a huge rush to world-leading nickel producer Indonesia in recent years … Continue reading China-funded nickel hub stoking deforestation on Indonesia island: report
The Philippines' defense secretary on Wednesday accused a Chinese foreign ministry official of insulting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a news briefing, stooping to what he called "low and gutter-level talk." Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in a statement also accused spokesperson Mao Ning of "spouting state-sanctioned propaganda and disinformation". Teodoro was reacting to Mao's remarks … Continue reading Philippines defence minister calls out China official for “gutter-level talk”
Stocks fell across the board in China and Hong Kong on Wednesday, with China's blue-chip index closing at near five-year lows as weak growth and property data deepened worries around the world's second-largest economy. Risk appetite was also curbed by president Xi Jinping's vow to create a financial system that "inherently differs" from the Western … Continue reading China, Hong Kong stocks tumble on weak property data, policy concerns
Taiwan changed the way it reports Chinese military activities around the island days after it elected a US-friendly president that Beijing has branded an “instigator of war.” Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, which releases daily data on Beijing’s incursions in the water and air around the island, will no longer publish the types of Chinese … Continue reading Taiwan Abruptly Changes How It Reports China Military Activities
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was the supreme leader and final decision maker of Next Digital and had instructed employees to call on Hongkongers to take to the streets via Apple Daily because he believed the city’s democracy and freedoms were suppressed, the newspaper’s former publisher Cheung Kim-hung testified on the 11th day of the trial. Sixty-two-year-old … Continue reading Jimmy Lai called on Hongkongers to protest and drew global attention via Apple Daily, former publisher testifies
ChatGPT maker OpenAI has said it will introduce tools to combat disinformation ahead of the dozens of elections this year in countries that are home to half the world's population. The explosive success of text generator ChatGPT spurred a global artificial intelligence revolution but also triggered warnings that such tools could flood the internet with … Continue reading OpenAI to launch anti-disinformation tools for 2024 elections
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would no longer pursue reconciliation with South Korea and called for rewriting the North’s constitution to eliminate the idea of shared statehood between the war-divided countries, state media said Tuesday. The historic step to discard a decades-long pursuit of unification, which was based on a sense … Continue reading North Korea will no longer pursue reconciliation with South because of hostility, Kim Jong Un says
A scholar report on the legal impact brought by foreign sanctions was correlated to the collusion charges faced by Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and could be admitted by the court, a panel of three national security judges ruled on the tenth day of the trial. This came after the defense argued that the … Continue reading Court rules scholar report on sanctions could be admitted in Jimmy Lai trial
Chinese military bodies, state-run artificial intelligence research institutes and universities have over the past year purchased small batches of Nvidia (NVDA.O) semiconductors banned by the U.S. from export to China, a Reuters review of tender documents show. The sales by largely unknown Chinese suppliers highlight the difficulties Washington faces, despite its bans, in completely cutting … Continue reading China’s military and government acquire Nvidia chips despite U.S. ban
Former U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg will arrive in Taipei on Sunday for post-election meetings with Taiwanese politicians, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei said. Taiwan's Lai Ching-te, from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won Saturday's presidential poll by a comfortable margin, … Continue reading Former US officials to arrive in Taiwan on Sunday for post-election talks
Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te vowed Saturday to defend the self-ruled island from "intimidation" by China, after voters defied warnings from Beijing and swept him to election victory. Lai -- branded by Beijing as a threat to peace in the flashpoint region -- secured an unprecedented third consecutive term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in … Continue reading Taiwan’s president-elect vows to defend island from China threats
Ruling-party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday and his opponents conceded, a result that will chart the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy’s relations with China over the next four years. At stake is the peace and stability of the island, 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of China, that … Continue reading Ruling-party candidate emerges victorious in Taiwan’s presidential election
Taiwan's election on Saturday may be exercising minds in communist-ruled China, but for the voters streaming into kindergartens, temples and libraries across the island Beijing's threats to their democracy are just part of everyday life. "It's a bit too far away from us," said Joyce, a voter in her 20s who arrived at an elementary … Continue reading Taiwanese brush off China threats with ‘freely expressed’ votes
China's Weibo social media platform blocked a hashtag on Taiwan's election Saturday after it became one of the site's top-trending topics following polls opening on the self-ruled island. "In accordance with relevant laws, regulations and policies, the content of this topic is not displayed," a notice on the website showed when the hashtag "Taiwan election" … Continue reading China’s Weibo blocks trending Taiwan election hashtag
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait during a meeting with a senior Chinese diplomat on Friday, as the Biden administration seeks to mitigate tensions over Taiwan while the island holds its presidential election. Blinken sat down with Liu Jianchao, the Chinese Communist Party's international minister. … Continue reading Blinken meets Chinese and Japanese diplomats, seeks stability as Taiwan voters head to the polls
Washington announced new sanctions Friday on two companies in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, moving to crack down on the financial network funding Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen. The move comes hours after US and UK forces launched strikes against the Huthi rebels, seeking to halt their repeated attacks on shipping in the … Continue reading US sanctions Hong Kong, UAE firms over Huthi support
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet a senior Chinese official in Washington on Friday on the eve of Taiwan's elections, as the United States seeks to discourage Beijing from taking action against Taipei. Blinken, briefly back in Washington in between his latest Middle East crisis tour and a trip to the World Economic … Continue reading Blinken to meet senior Chinese official on eve of Taiwan vote
The United States, in a clear signal to China, opposes any outside interference or influence in Taiwan's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, a senior Biden administration official said on Wednesday. The Jan. 13 Taiwan elections come at a delicate time in U.S.-Chinese relations with President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping having just re-established … Continue reading US urges China to not interfere in Taiwan elections
Chinese state-backed experts have found a way to identify people who use Apple's encrypted AirDrop messaging service, according to the Beijing municipal government. AirDrop allows users to send content to Apple devices in close proximity without an internet connection, encoded so they cannot be viewed by other people. The service was widely used by participants … Continue reading China says state-backed experts crack Apple’s AirDrop
China's central bank faces a major hurdle in quelling the threat of deflation: more credit is flowing to productive forces than into consumption, exposing structural flaws in the economy and reducing the effectiveness of its monetary policy tools. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) is under pressure to cut interest rates as falling prices raise … Continue reading China’s policy dilemma: is boosting credit deflationary?
From deepfakes to breathless TikTok videos, a wave of disinformation has hit Taiwan's voters ahead of Saturday's presidential election, aimed overwhelmingly at candidates China opposes. Experts and Taiwanese officials say this campaign is linked to Beijing, which has made no secret of its disapproval of frontrunner Lai Ching-te, whose Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rejects the … Continue reading Taiwan voters face flood of pro-China disinformation
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s case will remain a priority for the UK government, with the government not hesitating to defend the values he stands for, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote in a letter addressing to Hong Kong's last governor Chris Patten. The letter dated January 3, came after Patten, along with several members of the … Continue reading Jimmy Lai ‘a champion of free speech’, with his case priority for the UK govt, says Rushi Sunak
The prosecution read out the written testimony of an IT expert at West Kowloon Court on Tuesday as the national security trial for Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying entered its eighth day. The prosecution would have originally summoned Next’s former CEO Cheung Kim-hung to testify in court today, but defense counsel Robert Pang Yiu-hung … Continue reading Prosecution reads testimony of IT expert as Jimmy Lai trial enters eighth day
The trial of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who is accused of conspiring to commit foreign collusion and publish seditious material, enters its seventh day on Monday, with the prosecution reading out the admitted facts at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court. The admitted facts included background information on the three companies under Apple Daily's parent company Next … Continue reading Court hears admitted facts as Jimmy Lai trial enters seventh day
More than 130 additional court files were unsealed Friday in a lawsuit involving Jeffrey Epstein, providing yet more detail about the late millionaire financier's sexual abuse of underage girls and interactions with celebrities. The latest round of documents included excerpts of testimony from people who worked for Epstein, copies of phone messages he received — … Continue reading New round of Epstein documents offer another look into his cesspool of sexual abuse
Islamic State, the Sunni Muslim militant group which claimed responsibility for two deadly blasts in predominantly Shi'ite Iran this week, has been operating in the shadows since it was largely crushed by a U.S.-led coalition. Here are some facts about the movement which experts say is weakened but not eliminated. HISTORY At the height of … Continue reading With explosions in Iran, Islamic State attempts a comeback
There won’t be a jury trial as the subversion case for leaders and the alliance organizing the June 4 candlelight vigil is set to begin in mid-February. This marks the fourth case under the national security law tried by the city’s High Court, following the cases of Tong Ying-kit, pro-democracy camp’s primary election, and the … Continue reading No-jury trial set to begin mid-February for candlelight vigil organizers
A new batch of unsealed documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse of teenage girls was released Thursday, adding several hundred pages to a trove of information detailing how the financier leveraged connections to the rich, powerful and famous to recruit his victims and cover up his crimes. The 19 documents, or about 300 pages, … Continue reading With more records, world sees how Jeffrey Epstein leveraged powerful to abuse vulnerable girls
Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected three more Chinese balloons flying across the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, and one of those flew over the island, the second day in a row it has reported such activity. The potential for China to use balloons for spying became a global issue in February 2023 when the … Continue reading Taiwan spots more Chinese balloons, says one flew over island
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying continuously called on other countries to sanction China in seditious articles published by Apple Daily and said that world peace would not be achieved if China became too strong and unstoppable, the prosecution said as the trial entered the sixth day. At the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday, … Continue reading Prosecution say Jimmy Lai called for foreign sanctions to prevent China becoming ‘unstoppable’
Taiwan is documenting its experiences with China's alleged attempts to interfere in elections next week and will publish its analysis soon after the vote. Taiwan's government has pointed to military and economic pressure as well as Chinese-subsidised trips to China for local Taiwanese officials, as evidence of Beijing's alleged interference ahead of the Jan. 13 … Continue reading Taiwan will publish analysis of China’s alleged election interference post vote
The trial of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who is accused of conspiring to commit foreign collusion and publish seditious material, enters its fifth day on Wednesday, with the prosecution presenting multiple Apple Daily articles or media contents in court as it continues to deliver its opening statement. Deputy director of public prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang continued … Continue reading Jimmy Lai launches English news channel to push for sanctions on China and HK: prosecution
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s national security trial on Tuesday resumed after an afternoon break, with prosecutors laid out details of what they described as Lai colluding with foreign forces, also playing several video clips of Lai calling for sanctions against China and the SAR in different interviews and podcasts. Various clips of interviews that Lai had … Continue reading Prosecution said Jimmy Lai featured in foreign interviews calling for sanctions against China
Cutting-edge chip manufacturing machines from Dutch semiconductor giant ASML have been blocked from export to China, according to the firm, amid a report of US pressure in the strategic sector. ASML said in a statement late Monday the Dutch government had recently revoked a licence for shipping an unspecified number of machines "impacting a small … Continue reading ASML chip machines blocked from export to China
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has formally pleaded not guilty to three national security charges on Tuesday morning. West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts began hearing the prosecution’s opening statement around noon, after rejecting the latest bid by Lai’s legal team to fight court jurisdiction over a sedition charge laid on Lai. The judges reiterated that the court's previous … Continue reading Jimmy Lai plead not guilty to three national security charges
A Hong Kong court was told that the court only has the jurisdiction to deal with the alleged conspiracy crime against Jimmy Lai Chee-ying between June 14, 2021 and June 24, 2021 – the publishment date of the last piece of the alleged conspiracy article, as the national security trial of Lai continues for a … Continue reading Jimmy Lai renews jurisdiction fight over sedition charge
China has expelled nine military officials from its parliament, including four generals of the army's strategic missile unit, in a sweeping reshuffle following the appointment of a new defence minister. The decision, announced late on Friday by the state news agency Xinhua came after a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party. … Continue reading China expels nine army officials from parliament: media
In the middle of the Pacific ocean, an abandoned US airfield once key to dropping the nuclear bomb on Japan -- and nearly lost to history amid encroaching forest -- is being revived. But as the Americans hack away at the jungle overgrowth at Tinian island airfield and other old, World War II-era bases across … Continue reading China tensions rising, US revives WWII-era Pacific airfield
The parents of activist Agnes Chow Ting who had fled to Canada were invited to Tai Po Police Station to aid in the investigation on Friday, sources said, after Chow failed to report to police by yesterday’s deadline. It is understood that Chow’s mother was the guarantor when applying to release her daughter on bail. … Continue reading Parents of Agnes Chow invited to aid police investigation: sources
The former leader of a Hong Kong pro-independence group, who was sentenced in 2021 to prison under a national security law imposed by China, said on Thursday he had fled to Britain and formally applied for political asylum. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT In November 2021, Tony Chung Hon-lam, who was then 20, was sentenced to 43 … Continue reading Former Hong Kong independence group leader seeks asylum in Britain
Maine on Thursday disqualified Donald Trump from the state ballot in next year's U.S. presidential primary election, becoming the second state to bar the former president for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, concluded that Trump, the front-runner for the Republican … Continue reading Maine elections official disqualifies Trump from presidential primary ballot
China’s top political advisory body removed three senior leaders at missile-making firms from its national committee, the latest sign of turmoil within the upper echelons of the nation’s military. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference revoked the membership of the executives during a Wednesday meeting, state broadcaster China Central Television reported. The body didn’t specify … Continue reading Top China Political Advisory Exiles Three Aerospace Executives
China has pressured an influential Taiwanese rock band called Mayday to make pro-China comments ahead of Taiwan's key elections next month, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation and a Taiwan security note reviewed by Reuters. China's National Radio and Television Administration had asked Mayday to publicly voice support for Beijing's claims that … Continue reading China pressures influential Taiwanese band ahead of elections
Six lapel pins bearing the Civic Party's founding date are all Hong Kong veteran politician Alan Leong kept when the once-prominent opposition group cleared its headquarters and shuttered its doors days before the new year. Founded in 2006, the Civic Party -- nicknamed "the barristers' party" -- was made up of attorneys, academics and other … Continue reading Jailed, unseated, exiled: Hong Kong opposition party shuts its doors
The Chinese government on Wednesday threatened to place further trade sanctions on Taiwan if the ruling party "stubbornly" adheres to supporting independence, in a further escalation of the war of words as Taiwanese elections approach next month. Taiwan's Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections are taking place as China, which views the island as its … Continue reading China threatens more trade sanctions on Taiwan as election nears
Colorado authorities are investigating possible threats against state Supreme Court justices, Denver police said on Tuesday, one week after the court barred former President Donald Trump from the state's presidential primary ballot. The FBI said it was assisting local law enforcement in the investigation. The Denver Police Department also said it was providing "extra patrols" … Continue reading Police, FBI probe threats to Colorado judges in Trump ballot case
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Tuesday said he was "fine" after a "pretty exhausting" 20-day transfer to a penal colony beyond the Arctic Circle. Navalny's supporters said on Monday that the Kremlin critic, whose whereabouts had been unknown for more than two weeks, was now in the penal colony in Russia's far north and … Continue reading Navalny says he’s ‘fine’ after transfer to Arctic penal colony
The frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president accused the main opposition party on Tuesday of betraying the anti-communist ideals of its forefathers and being overtly pro-China, in a stinging attack ahead of next month's election. Vice President Lai Ching-te, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, said in a second live televised pre-election policy … Continue reading Taiwan presidential frontrunner accuses opposition party of being ‘pro-communist’
Health authorities in the southern Chinese coastal city of Xiamen plan to probe an assisted reproduction clinic after local media exposed a secretive surrogacy service that’s reportedly helping deliver more than 300 babies a year. Undercover reporters at Shanghai-based The Paper visited clinics in Hangzhou and Xiamen controlled by Longduhua Medical Group (Hong Kong) Ltd., … Continue reading Chinese Media Expose Prompts Probe Into Illegal Baby Surrogacies
The world of Chinese chess is in uproar over rumours of cheating and a bad behaviour scandal that saw the national champion stripped of his title Monday after a victory celebration ended with him defecating in a hotel bathtub. Xiangqi, or Chinese chess, has been hugely popular for hundreds of years across Asia -- and … Continue reading Chinese chess rocked by cheating rumours, bad behaviour scandal
Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been tracked down to a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle, his spokeswoman said on Monday, after supporters lost touch with him for more than two weeks. Navalny, 47, was tracked down to the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets region, about 1,900 km (1200 … Continue reading Russia’s Navalny tracked down to ‘Polar Wolf’ prison in the Arctic
Giant Christmas trees adorned with lights, tinsel and gift boxes greet shoppers at glittering malls in big Chinese cities like Shanghai and Chongqing, but in many parts of China, extending season's greetings is out of the question. In southwest Yunnan province, a property management company issued a notice to shopping mall tenants urging them not … Continue reading Christmas in China brings glittering decor and foreign influence concerns
Former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova has been barred from running against President Vladimir Putin in an election next march because of "mistakes" in her application to register as a candidate, her campaign channel said on Telegram. The move came only three days after Duntsova, 40, had applied to the electoral commission to be registered as … Continue reading Would-be Putin challenger Duntsova barred from running in election – campaign team
The seventeen–year-old Civic Party will officially disband next March, former chairman Alan Leong Kar-kit announced on Saturday. Leong said in a Facebook post this afternoon that the liquidation process of the party has reached the final stage, as a final meeting was called today for members to receive the liquidation report. The liquidator has also … Continue reading Civic Party to officially disband in March 2024
The latest UNESCO conservation award won by the Fanling Golf Course belongs to every Hongkonger, said Hong Kong Golf Club captain Andy Kwok Wing-leung. His remark came on Friday, a day after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced that the Fanling course and two other projects in Yangzhou and Kerala, India, … Continue reading Latest award won by Fanling Golf Course belongs to Hongkongers: golf club captain
A Chinese company began logging in Vanuatu during recent political turmoil, residents said, raising concern over the environment and workers in military uniforms in a Pacific Island nation where Beijing and Washington vie for influence. Vanuatu forest authorities last week banned Vanuatu Forest Industry Ltd (VFIL) from exporting logs while they investigate landowners' complaints that … Continue reading Chinese firm barred from Vanuatu log exports after landowner complaints
The six-month prosecution time limit for the charge of conspiracy to print seditious publications against media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying had not expired, a panel of three national security judges ruled on Friday. The 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily, and his three companies, Apple Daily, Apple Daily Printing and AD Internet, faced … Continue reading Conspiracy charge against media mogul Jimmy Lai presses ahead
The bail application for June 4 candlelight vigil leader Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, who has been remanded in custody for over two years, was rejected by the High Court on Thursday. Chow, as well as jailed democrats Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho Chun-yan – the former chair and vice-chair of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in … Continue reading Activist Tonyee Chow remains in custody after bail application rejected
Ding Zhongfu was awakened by loud pounding on his door. Five policemen greeted Ding, an elder in a Chinese church. The officers pinned him to the wall that Thursday morning in November and interrogated him while searching the apartment he shared with his wife, Ge Yunxia, and their 6-year old daughter. Ding's family now pleads … Continue reading Christian group and family raise outcry over detention of another ‘house church’ elder in China
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is ramping up exchanges with folk religious groups in rural Taiwan in an attempt to manipulate political opinion in Beijing's favour ahead of elections next month, according to Taiwan government documents and security officials. Religious trips across the Taiwan Strait increased this year after the end of China's years-long zero … Continue reading China wields ‘peace goddess’ religion as weapon in Taiwan election
The Philippine defense minister rebuked China on Wednesday for accusing his country of provoking tension and stirring trouble in the South China Sea, saying only Beijing believed what it was saying. "Truth and in fact, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of South China Sea," Defense Secretary Gilberto … Continue reading Philippines rebukes China over South China Sea claims
The United States has added 13 companies in China to a list of entities receiving U.S. exports that officials have been unable to inspect, according to a government notice posted on Tuesday. Companies are placed on the "Unverified List" when U.S. export control officers cannot complete on-site visits to determine whether they can be trusted … Continue reading US adds 13 companies in China to Unverified List
Former President Donald Trump cannot appear on the ballot in Colorado in next year's presidential election because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, the state's top court ruled Tuesday in a historic judgment that will likely be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court. The … Continue reading Trump barred from Colorado ballot for role in attack on US Capitol
Prosecutors and defense counsels continued their argument on whether the prosecution time limit for the conspiracy charge against media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying had expired or not as the landmark national security trial entered its second day on Tuesday. A prison van carrying the 76-year-old founder of now-defunct Apple Daily arrived at West Kowloon Magistrates’ … Continue reading Debate on prosecution time limit continues as Jimmy Lai’s trial enters second day
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said a "paradigm shift" was needed in how his country approaches the South China Sea issue, as diplomatic efforts with Beijing were headed "in a poor direction". Marcos, in an interview with Japanese media on Dec. 16, parts of which were shared with Philippine media on Monday, said traditional diplomatic … Continue reading Philippines president says diplomatic efforts with China heading “in poor direction”
The focus was on imprisoned media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying as his trial began yesterday at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, which was surrounded by more than 100 uniformed and plainclothes police officers. Lai’s trial is expected to last 80 days. Dozens of people queued outside the court to get in, with some waiting overnight. The … Continue reading All eyes on Lai
Media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s defense counsel argued in a Hong Kong court on Monday that a conspiracy charge laid on his client had exceeded the prosecution time limit, with the court having no jurisdiction over the case. Lai, wearing a light grey suit jacket, was escorted into the courtroom this morning; seeming relaxed, he … Continue reading Defense says Jimmy Lai’s conspiracy charge exceeds prosecution time limit
Two suspected Chinese weather balloons flew across the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Sunday but stayed well to the north of Taiwan, the island's defence ministry said on Monday, the second time this month Taipei has reported them nearby. The potential for China to use balloons for spying became a global issue in February when the … Continue reading Taiwan reports more suspected Chinese weather balloons crossing Taiwan Strait
The US and British governments called for the release of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is standing trial Monday in Hong Kong for national security charges that could send him to jail for life. Lai, 76, stands accused of "collusion" with foreign forces under a sweeping national security law that Beijing imposed on the … Continue reading US, Britain call for release of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai as trial starts
The police force has stepped up security outisde the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court building ahead the national security trial for jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. It is understood that over 1,000 police officers will be deployed at the court. Over 100 uniformed and plain-clothes officers patrolled in groups of four to fix around the … Continue reading Security tight ahead of Jimmy Lai trial
Veteran democrat Yeung Sum, former chairman of the Democratic Party, said on Sunday that the political party will remain operational to voice the concerns of the public and that it will not give up on participating in the upcoming elections under the city’s revamped electoral system. His comments came as the Democratic Party held its … Continue reading Democrat Yeung Sum says Democratic Party will remain operational
Britain's National Grid has started removing components supplied by a unit of China-backed Nari Technology's from the electricity transmission network over cyber security fears, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The decision came in April after the utility sought advice from the National Cyber Security Centre, a branch of the nation's signals intelligence agency GCHQ, … Continue reading Britain’s National Grid drops China-based supplier over cyber security fears – FT
Leaders from Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, marking their 50th anniversary of friendship, were meeting at a special summit on Sunday and expected to adopt a joint vision that emphasizes security cooperation amid growing tensions with China in regional seas. Ties between Japan and ASEAN used to be largely based on Japanese … Continue reading Japan and ASEAN bolster ties at summit focused on security amid China tensions
One month from now, the Midwestern state of Iowa kicks off the US 2024 primary season, and Donald Trump will discover whether he has an insurmountable lead for the Republican presidential nomination, or opponents can spring a surprise. Four criminal indictments are pending against Trump, putting the former president at risk of imprisonment. Still, he … Continue reading In a month, Trump faces first election contest since leaving office
The founder of leading Chinese AI firm SenseTime and an influential computer scientist has suddenly passed away, the company said in a statement Saturday. "It is with an extremely heavy heart that we announce to everyone the sorrowful news: Our beloved founder… Tang Xiao'ou, due to illness that could not be treated, left us forever … Continue reading AI scientist, founder of China’s SenseTime suddenly dies
Jimmy Lai, a jailed media tycoon and prominent critic of the Chinese Communist Party, will stand trial on Monday on internationally condemned national security charges. The 76-year-old has been in prison for three years and faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life there. He is the first person to contest a "foreign … Continue reading ‘Born rebel’: Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai
The son of leading China critic and Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said on Friday he thought the outcome of his father's trial next week had already been decided but he was proud of him for standing up for his beliefs. Lai's long-awaited trial under national security legislation imposed by China in 2020 opens … Continue reading Leading Hong Kong democrat’s son says trial outcome pre-determined
Chinese corn breeders are preparing for the planting of more than double the amount of genetically modified corn next year than in 2023, three industry sources said, with Beijing expected to tightly control for a second year the rollout of GMOs. GMO corn will be allowed on around 10 million mu, or about 670,000 hectares … Continue reading China corn breeders ready for doubling of GMO planting in 2024
A landmark Hong Kong national security trial against the now-defunct pro- emocracy newspaper Apple Daily and its founder, Jimmy Lai, begins this month. If convicted, Lai, 76, faces possible life imprisonment on charges he colluded with foreign forces, including the United States. Following is a timeline of Lai's legal battles. June 20, 1995 - Lai … Continue reading TIMELINE-Hong Kong’s legal clampdown on China critic Jimmy Lai
China on Friday pressured Taiwan with a trade barrier probe and warplanes in the Taiwan Strait a month before the island holds key elections, as Taipei called on Beijing to stop its "political operations". The Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections are taking place as China, which views the island as its own territory, has … Continue reading China pressures Taiwan with trade accusations and warplanes month before election
When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ignited into war, back in Moscow, a young Russian who now goes by the name of Karabas was plunged into despair. Shocked by images of what was happening to Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas, he decided to act — against Russia, his home and country. Karabas said he knew that what … Continue reading Dismayed by Moscow’s war, Russian volunteers are joining Ukrainian ranks to fight Putin’s troops
President Xi Jinping publicly skipped half of a key annual economic meeting for the first time, as the Chinese leader continues to break Communist Party norms in his precedent-defying third term. Xi traveled to Vietnam on Tuesday for a two-day state visit that overlapped with the final leg of a meeting to set growth goals … Continue reading China’s Xi Publicly Skips Day 2 of Economic Event For First Time
Eric Ng Shu-pui, vice-president and secretary of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, was sacked with immediate effect on Wednesday, with the council saying they do not trust Ng anymore in supporting their work. Council chairman John Chai Yat-chiu said the council had convened its first-ever meeting this morning since the latest revamp and discussed … Continue reading CUHK council fires vice-president Eric Ng with immediate effect
China said it found foreign geographic information software could be compromising confidential and sensitive data in key sectors including its military, and warned security departments to conduct in-depth checks to stem any further breaches. The Ministry of State Security said an extensive investigation found overseas geographic information system software was being used to collect data … Continue reading China warns of geographic info data breaches, affecting transport, military
Hong Kong activist Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, who is behind bars for supporting the city’s pro-democracy movement, has won a European human rights award for her contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights. Chow, also a barrister, has been jailed after being convicted of inciting and taking part in arranging an unlawful assembly ? … Continue reading Jailed activist Tonyee Chow awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights
Taiwan's military drove away four attempts by Chinese forces to approach the island's sensitive contiguous zone last month, Taiwan security officials said, in what they see as a ramped-up Chinese campaign to "intimidate" voters before key elections. Taiwan officials have repeatedly warned that China is trying to sway voters toward candidates seeking closer ties with … Continue reading Chinese forces approached close to Taiwan coast to ‘intimidate’ voters before key elections
The son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai Chee-ying met with Britain’s foreign secretary on Tuesday to lobby for the U.K.’s help in securing his release from prison. Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, an outspoken pro-democracy newspaper, faces a long-delayed trial next week over charges he violated … Continue reading Son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai lobbies UK foreign secretary for his release
The name list of the 179 government-appointed district councilors was announced on Tuesday - with a number of incumbent and ex-councilors selected - to join the 264 newly elected members in the 4-year-term District Council starting from January next year. The appointed councilors included Shum Ho-kit and Jeremy Young Chit-on, the current Yuen Long and … Continue reading 179 government-appointed district councilors announced, with over 40 being the losers in last election
Britain on Monday condemned what it called "unsafe and escalatory tactics deployed by Chinese vessels" against the Philippines over the weekend in the South China Sea. "The UK opposes any action which raises tensions, including harassment, unsafe conduct and intimidation tactics which increase the risk of miscalculation and threaten regional peace and stability," the foreign … Continue reading UK condemns China over incidents in the South China Sea against Philippines
A land-based cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen has struck a commercial tanker vessel, causing a fire and damage but no casualties, two U.S. defence officials told Reuters on Monday. The attack on the tanker STRINDA took place about 60 nautical miles (111km) north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait about 2100 GMT, one of the … Continue reading Cruise missile from Yemen strikes tanker ship
The Philippines on Monday called the actions of Chinese vessels against its boats carrying out South China Sea resupply missions over the weekend - including one with a senior Philippine military official aboard - a "serious escalation". Manila accused the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia of repeatedly firing water cannons at its resupply boats, … Continue reading Philippines says military chief was aboard ship Chinese vessels rammed
Renowned Chinese doctor and activist Gao Yaojie who exposed the AIDS virus epidemic in rural China in the 1990s died Sunday at the age of 95 at her home in the United States. Gao’s outspokenness about the virus outbreak — which some gauged to have infected tens of thousands — embarrassed the Chinese government and … Continue reading Doctor and self-exiled activist Gao Yaojie who exposed the AIDS epidemic in rural China dies at 95
A political scholar stated that the new district election arrangements favor larger political parties, making it more challenging for independent candidates and smaller parties to campaign for votes. The comments came as the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) dominated the election on Sunday, winning 109, or over 40 percent, … Continue reading New election arrangements make it harder for smaller parties to earn votes, says scholar
The Philippine military chief said Monday he was with Filipino forces aboard a supply boat when it was blasted with a water cannon and surrounded and bumped by Chinese coast guard ships over the weekend in the disputed South China Sea. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that China … Continue reading Philippines military chief voices anger after latest Chinese coast guard incident in South China Sea
Hong Kong saw its lowest-ever turnout for the district council elections on Sunday, despite relentless efforts by the SAR government to encourage Hongkongers to cast their vote. With the voting hours extended for 1.5 hours until midnight due to last-minute technical glitches, turnout ended up at 27.54 percent, with 1,193,193 out of 4.3 million eligible … Continue reading Hong Kong sees record-low turnout for District Council polls
The United States has called out China for interfering in the Philippines' maritime operations and undermining regional stability, urging Beijing to stop "its dangerous and destabilizing conduct" in the South China Sea. The Philippines and China have traded accusations over a ramming incident at the weekend involving their vessels while Manila's vessels were on a … Continue reading China’s actions in S. China Sea undermine regional stability: US State Dept
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday voiced Israel's "dissatisfaction" to President Vladimir Putin over Russia's vote in favour of a UN Security Council resolution calling for a Gaza ceasefire. "The prime minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the positions expressed against Israel by Russian representatives at the UN and in other forums" when he spoke with … Continue reading Netanyahu voices ‘dissatisfaction’ to Putin over UN vote
China and Japan accused each other of maritime incursions after a confrontation between their coast guards in waters around disputed islands in the East China Sea. China's coast guard said on Sunday that a Japanese fishing boat and several patrol vessels intruded the previous day into waters around the tiny islands, called Diaoyu in China … Continue reading China, Japan trade blame over confrontation near disputed islands
The Chinese coast guard assaulted three Philippine vessels with water cannon blasts Sunday and rammed one of them, causing serious engine damage off a disputed shoal in the South China Sea just a day after similar hostilities at another shoal, the Philippine coast guard said. The latest confrontation happened near Second Thomas Shoal as two … Continue reading Philippines says Chinese coast guard assaulted its vessels with water cannons for a second day
A historic slump in Hong Kong’s US$4.6 trillion stock market is rippling through the city’s financial industry. Thirty local brokerages have closed down this year, after a record 49 shut up shop in 2022, according to Hong Kong stock exchange data. That comes as Wall Street banks lay off dealmakers due to a plunge in … Continue reading Hong Kong’s stock slump triggers wave of brokerage closures
China will spur domestic demand and consolidate and enhance the economic recovery in 2014, the Politburo, a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party, was quoted by state media as saying on Friday. China will continue to implement a prudent monetary policy and proactive fiscal policy in 2024, state media reported the Politburo as … Continue reading China to spur domestic demand, economic recovery in 2024
Senior Chinese leaders held a meeting in early December to "coordinate" government efforts to sway upcoming elections in Taiwan, according to intelligence gathered on the island, part of a campaign Taiwan officials see as voting interference. Taiwan officials have warned that Beijing is trying to nudge voters toward candidates who seek closer China ties in … Continue reading Taiwan intelligence says China leadership meet on election interference
Pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, who left Hong Kong for Canada and doesn’t plan to return to fulfill her bail conditions, said Thursday she still feels under the watch of the Chinese territory’s police after moving to Toronto. Chow is one of Hong Kong’s most prominent young activists and was arrested in 2020 under a Beijing-imposed … Continue reading Democracy activist Agnes Chow says she still feels under the watch of Hong Kong police in Canada
Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday that a Chinese weather balloon had crossed the Taiwan Strait median line on Thursday, about a month before Taiwan's presidential election. "Our initial understanding is that it was a sounding balloon," Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters at parliament. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, frequently … Continue reading Taiwan spots Chinese weather balloon in strait month before election
Up to 600 North Koreans have "vanished" after being forcibly deported by China in October, a Seoul-based human rights group said on Thursday, warning they may face imprisonment, torture, sexual violence and execution in the isolated state. The report by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) came about two months after South Korea lodged a … Continue reading Up to 600 North Korean defectors deported by China ‘vanish’ – rights group
Unidentified governments are surveilling smartphone users via their apps' push notifications, a U.S. senator warned on Wednesday. In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from Alphabet's Google and Apple. Although details were sparse, the letter lays out yet another path by which governments can … Continue reading Governments spying on Apple, Google users through push notifications
Hong Kong’s economy will likely grow more slowly than previously expected both this year and next as challenges from China’s slowdown and the impact from elevated interest rates weigh on the financial hub. Economists slashed their expectations for gross domestic product growth in 2023 to 3.3% from an earlier forecast of 4%, according to the … Continue reading Economists see Hong Kong’s growth outlook worsening through 2024
Ratings agency Moody's downgraded the outlook on Hong Kong's credit rating to negative from stable on Wednesday, following a similar change for China the day before. The city's economy was buoyed by China's post-pandemic reopening but recovery has slowed in the latter half of the year, with the government last month revising full-year growth estimates … Continue reading Moody’s downgrades Hong Kong rating outlook to negative
The EU should join forces with African countries to reform the World Trade Organization's (WTO) subsidy rules as a way to counter Chinese market distortions and diplomatic influence, the German Economic Institute (IW) argued in a paper on Wednesday. The IW, which is financed by prominent German business associations and carries weight among Berlin policymakers, … Continue reading EU should join Africa on WTO reform to counter China -IW study
Ratings agency Moody's on Tuesday cut its outlook on China's government credit ratings to negative from stable, citing lower medium-term economic growth and risks from a major correction in the country's vast property sector. The downgrade reflects growing evidence that authorities will have to provide financial support for debt-laden local governments and state firms, posing … Continue reading Moody’s cuts China credit outlook to negative, cites lower growth, property risks
One of the most prominent pro-democracy activists, who moved to Canada to pursue further studies, said she would not return to the city to meet her bail conditions, becoming the latest politician to flee Hong Kong under Beijing's crackdown on dissidents. Agnes Chow Ting, 27 - a core member of a now-disbanded group of younger … Continue reading Agnes Chow jumps bail and seek asylum in Canada in self-imposed exile
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appealed to voters on Sunday to think of what had happened to Chinese-controlled Hong Kong when they cast their ballots next month, saying peace must be backed up with a commitment to boost defences. Taiwan prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 13 as China, which claims the democratically governed … Continue reading Think of what happened to Hong Kong when you vote, Taiwan president says
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Saturday urged lawmakers, Silicon Valley and US allies to stop China from getting semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies key to national security. Speaking at an annual national defense forum in Simi Valley, California, Raimondo called Beijing "the biggest threat we've ever had" and stressed "China is not our friend." The … Continue reading US Commerce chief warns against China ‘threat’
From underwater drones to electronic warfare, the U.S. is expanding its high-tech military cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom as part of a broader effort to counter China’s rapidly growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with defense chiefs from Australia and the United Kingdom at the U.S. military’s defense technology … Continue reading Pentagon forges new high-tech agreement with Australia, United Kingdom, aimed at countering China
Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. "We should immediately restrict travel between the United States and (China) until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness," said … Continue reading Five senators ask Biden to impose China travel ban after respiratory illness cases
A Hong Kong journalist group said Friday it was “very concerned” about the safety of an award-winning defense reporter who was reportedly missing after attending a security forum in Beijing. Minnie Chan, a reporter with Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) specializing in defense and diplomacy issues in China, “became unreachable” after visiting Beijing … Continue reading Hong Kong journalist group ‘concerned’ about reporter’s safety
President Xi Jinping appears set to postpone a party meeting held every five years to chart his nation’s long-term economic reform agenda, the latest example of the Chinese leader disregarding decades-old norms. The ruling Communist Party’s Politburo skipped setting a date for the Third Plenum at its meeting this week, according to the official read … Continue reading China’s Xi Seen Delaying Key Economic Meeting, Defying Norms
Beijing has sponsored cut-price trips to China for hundreds of Taiwanese politicians ahead of key elections on the island, according to Taiwan sources and documents, unnerving officials with a broad campaign that one called "election interference". President Tsai Ing-wen and other Taiwan officials have warned that China might try to sway voters toward candidates seeking … Continue reading China lures hundreds of Taiwan politicians with cheap trips before election – sources
Heavy fighting was reported in Gaza on Friday as Israel's military resumed combat operations against Hamas after accusing the Palestinian militant group of violating a temporary truce by firing towards Israeli territory. The seven-day pause, which began on Nov. 24 and was extended twice, had allowed for the exchange of dozens of hostages held in … Continue reading Israel resumes Gaza assault after rockets fired, heavy fighting reported
China International Capital Corp (CICC), the country's third-largest investment bank by market value, has told analysts not to publish bearish views on China's economy or its financial markets, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The memo, which was sent to the bank's research department, also told them to refrain from commenting on issues … Continue reading Analysts at China’s CICC told not to publish bearish views, wear luxury items
Taiwan again reported Chinese warplanes and warships around the island on Thursday, including aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing keeps up its military activities ahead of Taiwan's January election. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past four years of regular Chinese … Continue reading Taiwan reports more Chinese military activity as election nears
Here are reactions to the death of Henry Kissinger, a controversial Nobel Peace Prize winner who left an indelible mark on U.S. foreign policy: WINSTON LORD, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA AND KISSINGER'S FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: "The world has lost a tireless advocate for peace. America has lost a towering … Continue reading Reaction to the death of US diplomat Henry Kissinger
China's leadership is too "overwhelmed" with its internal problems to consider an invasion of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said in an interview with the New York Times. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military pressure against the island over the past four years, leading to concerns of a … Continue reading Taiwan president: China too ‘overwhelmed’ to consider invasion
China's manufacturing activity contracted for a second straight month in November and at a quicker pace, suggesting more stimulus will be needed to shore up economic growth and restore confidence that the authorities can ably support industry. Better-than-expected data for the third quarter led many banks to upgrade their growth forecasts for the world's second-largest … Continue reading Chinese factories slip deeper into contraction, more policy support likely
Hong Kong issued a statement on Thursday to condemn the US House Foreign Affairs Committee for passing the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act which the SAR government said is “factually wrong”. “It aims to achieve political objectives by smearing and attacking the work of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in … Continue reading Govt hits back at US for passing act targeting the HK Economic and Trade Offices
Hong Kong's largest trial under Beijing's sweeping national security law alleges that 47 defendants conspired to subvert state power by organising an unofficial primary election in July 2020. The defendants include dozens of politicians and activists -- and even an ordinary voter. Here is a brief look at some of them: The scholar Legal scholar … Continue reading Who’s who in Hong Kong’s national security trial
Hong Kong's largest-ever national security trial begins final arguments Wednesday, more than 1,000 days after the case against 47 democracy activists under the Beijing-imposed law began. The defendants represent a cross-section of Hong Kong's opposition -- including activists Joshua Wong and Lester Shum, professor Benny Tai and former lawmakers Claudia Mo and Au Nok-hin. They … Continue reading Final debates begin in Hong Kong’s largest security trial
North Korea on Tuesday made a rare mention of dissenting votes in recent elections, although analysts dismissed it as an attempt to portray an image of a normal society rather than signalling any meaningful increase of rights in the authoritarian state. The reclusive North has one of the most highly controlled societies in the world, … Continue reading North Korea cites rare dissent in elections even as 99% back candidates
Taiwan indicted 10 people including active-duty and retired military personnel on suspicion of spying for China, the latest case showing Beijing’s alleged efforts to infiltrate the island’s military. Three of those indicted were said to have built a spy ring for China that recruited military personnel to collect state secrets, according to a statement from … Continue reading Taiwan Indicted Military Personnel Suspected of Spying for China
A year ago, Li Houchen was on the streets of Shanghai, hollering “Freedom!” to protest China’s harsh “zero COVID” policy and growing authoritarianism. He was one of thousands of people demonstrating across China in what came to be called the White Paper movement, after the blank sheets of paper protesters used to represent the country’s … Continue reading One year after protests shook China, participants ponder the meaning of the brief flare of defiance
Relatives of dozens of Chinese passengers who died when a Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared almost 10 years ago called Monday for a new investigation, as a Beijing court began hearing their fresh appeal for compensation. The MH370 jet vanished on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people -- mostly from China -- en route from Kuala … Continue reading Families of Malaysia Airlines plane crash victims call for new search
More than three million people took China's annual civil service exam on the weekend, state media reported on Monday, a record number that underscores young people's concerns about getting a secure job in a rocky economy. With stubbornly high youth employment in the world's second-largest economy, the prospect of a less glamorous career in the … Continue reading Record numbers sit for China civil service exam, hoping for job security
A surge in respiratory illnesses across China that has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, the country’s health ministry said Sunday. Recent clusters of respiratory infections are caused by an overlap of common viruses such as the influenza … Continue reading China says surge in respiratory illnesses caused by flu and other known pathogens
Hamas freed 10 Thai nationals Friday alongside Israeli hostages who were part of the first swap under a new cease-fire deal — including four Thais who had not been officially listed as abducted, Thailand's Foreign Ministry announced Saturday morning. Thais were the single biggest group of foreigners taken hostage when Hamas took some 240 people … Continue reading 4 of the 10 Thai hostages released by Hamas had not been listed as abducted
Israel has received a list of hostages to be freed from Gaza on Saturday by Palestinian militant group Hamas, officials said, following the release of 24 hostages the previous day, the first of a planned four-day truce. Israeli security officials were reviewing the list, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, … Continue reading Israel reviews list of hostages set to be freed by Hamas on Saturday
A four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war took effect early Friday, setting the stage for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza in return for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The halt in fighting promised some relief for Gaza's 2.3 million people, who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as … Continue reading 4-day truce begins in Israel-Hamas war, sets stage for release of dozens of Gaza-held hostages
Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of major Apple supplier Foxconn, on Friday withdrew from the race to be Taiwan's next president after the breakdown of opposition talks to mount a joint ticket against the ruling party. Gou announced his bid in August, saying he wanted to unite the opposition and ensure the island did not … Continue reading Foxconn founder Terry Gou withdraws from race to be Taiwan president
War raged on in Gaza on Thursday, as a proposed truce and release of hostages was delayed for at least another day. More than a day after plans were unveiled for the conflict's first ceasefire, the anticipated announcement of the official start time had yet to materialise. Israel said it would not begin at least … Continue reading War rages on in Gaza as truce delayed until at least Friday
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday officially requested that China provide detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission held a press conference on Nov. 13 to report an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in the country, the WHO … Continue reading WHO asks China for details on respiratory illness outbreaks
Around half of Hong Kong people who immigrated to the United Kingdom were unable to get a job, though almost all have no intention of returning to the city, according to a survey conducted by a charity organization in the UK that supports Hongkongers to settle. The result came after the "Welcoming Committee for Hong … Continue reading Half of immigrated Hongkongers unemployed but 99pc determined to stay: UK survey
Electronics worth a year-high $74 million, such as solar panels and microchips mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam, were denied entry in the United States in September or were checked for components from forced labour in China, official data show. Since their introduction in June 2022, tighter U.S. rules on tackling human rights violations in China's … Continue reading Malaysia, Vietnam electronics face closer US scrutiny over China forced labour
A creditor has seized a pair of luxury houses on Hong Kong’s Peak connected to China Evergrande Group’s Chairman Hui Ka Yan, the latest setback to the fallen property tycoon. The creditor, Orix Asia Capital Ltd., appointed receivers for the adjacent homes, according to documents lodged with the Land Ministry. The properties, 10C and 10E … Continue reading Mansions tied to Evergrande chairman Hui are seized by creditor
Qatar has confirmed an agreement for a cease-fire and swap between Israel and Hamas, saying the start time will be announced in the next 24 hours and that it will last for four days. The statement early Wednesday morning from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry described the talks that produced the agreement as a mediation by Egypt, … Continue reading Qatar confirms Israel-Hamas truce for hostages deal, Palestinian prisoners also to be freed
The Chinese government has expanded its campaign of closing mosques to regions other than Xinjiang, where for years it has been blamed for persecuting Muslim minorities, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday. Authorities have closed mosques in the northern Ningxia region as well as Gansu province, which are home to large populations … Continue reading China is expanding its crackdown on mosques to regions outside Xinjiang, Human Rights Watch says
Funds raised from initial public offerings in Hong Kong plunged by nearly 60 percent to a 20 year low, sending the financial hub into sixth place on listing venues globally and even below India. The news came as the city's bourse relaxed measures for existing major investors of a company to subscribe new shares during … Continue reading IPO activities dive 60pc to 20-year low
Using fake names, sham LinkedIn profiles, counterfeit work papers and mock interview scripts, North Korean IT workers seeking employment in Western tech companies are deploying sophisticated subterfuge to get hired. Landing a job outside North Korea to secretly earn hard currency for the isolated country demands highly-developed strategies to convince Western hiring managers, according to … Continue reading North Koreans use fake names, scripts to land remote IT work for cash
The Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it would be a "serious mistake" in Argentina's diplomacy if the South American nation were to cut ties with major countries like China or Brazil. China is an important trading partner for Argentina, and its elected government attaches great importance to relations with China, Chinese foreign ministry … Continue reading China says would be ‘serious mistake’ if Argentina cuts ties
China is on track to meet a goal to bring its climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions to a peak before 2030, according to a poll of 89 experts from industry and academia published on Tuesday, though questions remain over how high the top will be. More than 70% of respondents said China, the world's biggest carbon … Continue reading China’s carbon emissions set to peak before 2030 – expert poll
Taiwan's people have to make a choice at next year's election about whether the island keeps moving forward on the road to democracy or "walks into the embrace of China", the frontrunner to be the next president said on Tuesday. The issue of China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, looms large ahead of … Continue reading Taiwan election about choosing whether to embrace China, frontrunner says
Lai Ching-te, the frontrunner for Taiwan's presidency, named on Monday Taipei's former envoy to the United States as his running mate in January's election, a high-profile diplomat well known in Washington but who Beijing denounces as a separatist. Lai, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion … Continue reading Taiwan’s former US envoy, well-known in U.S., vilified by China, named VP candidate
Israel stepped up accusations of Hamas abuses at the Gaza Strip's biggest hospital on Sunday, saying a captive soldier had been executed and two foreign hostages held at a site that has been a focus of its devastating six-week-old offensive. At one point a shelter for tens of thousands of Palestinian war refugees, Al Shifa … Continue reading Israel says soldier executed, foreign hostages held at Gaza’s Shifa hospital
Taiwan reported renewed Chinese military activity around the island on Sunday, with nine aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait and warships carrying out "combat readiness patrols". Democratically-governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past four years of regular Chinese military patrols and drills near the … Continue reading APEC over, Taiwan reports renewed Chinese military activity
The Myanmar ringleader of a gang engaged in telecom fraud killed himself while on the run from authorities in the southeast Asian nation, Chinese police said, as they intensify a crackdown on scams targeting their citizens. Ming Xuechang, 69, committed suicide on Wednesday night "for fear of punishment" while being pursued by authorities in Myanmar, … Continue reading China says ringleader in Myanmar telecom fraud committed suicide
Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain have teamed up to join the genocide case over Myanmar's treatment of the Muslim Rohingya minority before the United Nation's top court in The Hague, the court said on Thursday evening. The countries filed a joint declaration of intervention with the court, formally known as the International … Continue reading Canada, Britain and main EU countries join Myanmar genocide case
The United States on Thursday removed a Chinese research institute from its sanctions list, following a deal between the two countries to crack down on fentanyl trafficking. "The continued listing of the (Institute of Forensic Science) on the list was a barrier to achieving cooperation on stopping the trafficking of precursor chemicals" used to make … Continue reading US removes Chinese lab from sanctions in fentanyl crackdown deal
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 2.9 percent in August-October, according to the data announced by the Census and Statistics Department on Thursday. The unemployment rate in different industries varied compared to the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector, import and export trade sectors showing comparatively notable increases. Underemployment rates varied between industries, … Continue reading Jobless rate rises to 2.9pc
Groups of Tibet activists and pro-China supporters staged opposing demonstrations in San Francisco on Wednesday as Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the city for an APEC summit. A protest organized by the city's Tibetan diaspora was held outside the hotel where US business leaders attended a dinner with Xi, whom they accuse of human rights … Continue reading Tibet activists and pro-China supporters demonstrate at APEC summit
Non-governmental organization Against Child Abuse has received a total of 1,232 reports and inquiries from their hotline this year - an 8.5 percent increase from last year. Some 15 percent, or 187 of them, were suspected child abuse cases. Of the 1,232 cases, over 900 of them, or about 75 percent, were reported by family … Continue reading Increase in child abuse cases raises alarm
Hong Kong United Times丨香港聯合時報丨HKUT 