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Energy efficiency varies for even best split-level ACs
2025-04-15 HKT 12:37
Consumers should read through seasonal performance factor indicators for split-level air conditioners and not just their energy-efficiency labels before making a purchase, the Consumer Council said on Tuesday.
The call came after the watchdog tested 12 two-horsepower models priced between HK$9,888 and HK$20,580, with seven of them being cooling-only models and the other five also having heating capabilities.
All models were rated Grade 1 under the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department’s (EMSD) energy-efficiency labeling scheme.
The council found that two of the cooling-only models and two of the cooling and heating models provided less capacity than claimed.
“Even after checking to make sure [the appliance] is of Grade 1, what you can do is to refer to the CSPF (cooling energy efficiency) and also the HSPF (heating energy efficiency) factors," said the council's chief executive Gilly Wong.
"From our findings this time, the maximum difference can be about 27 percent and 10 percent respectively, for cooling and also heating.
“By looking at these factors, you can identify a product that can offer you the best energy-efficiency performance,” she added.
Based on the current electricity cost of HK$1.70 per kWh, consumers can save around HK$400 a year by using cooling models that are more energy efficient if they are turned on for 12 hours daily for 180 days.
For heating functions, the savings only amount to only HK$17, but that's based on the assumption the machine is in use for 12 hours daily for just 25 days.
As such, the council suggested the EMSD upgrade its energy label grading standards to help consumers save on energy use and encourage suppliers to provide more energy-efficient products.
It also urged sellers to extend product coverage, after finding seven models only provided one-year full warranties and that one model offered no warranty renewal options.
The consumer watchdog said consumers are required to pay maintenance costs for the machines after the period, such as on-site inspections and scaffolding.
The call came after the watchdog tested 12 two-horsepower models priced between HK$9,888 and HK$20,580, with seven of them being cooling-only models and the other five also having heating capabilities.
All models were rated Grade 1 under the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department’s (EMSD) energy-efficiency labeling scheme.
The council found that two of the cooling-only models and two of the cooling and heating models provided less capacity than claimed.
“Even after checking to make sure [the appliance] is of Grade 1, what you can do is to refer to the CSPF (cooling energy efficiency) and also the HSPF (heating energy efficiency) factors," said the council's chief executive Gilly Wong.
"From our findings this time, the maximum difference can be about 27 percent and 10 percent respectively, for cooling and also heating.
“By looking at these factors, you can identify a product that can offer you the best energy-efficiency performance,” she added.
Based on the current electricity cost of HK$1.70 per kWh, consumers can save around HK$400 a year by using cooling models that are more energy efficient if they are turned on for 12 hours daily for 180 days.
For heating functions, the savings only amount to only HK$17, but that's based on the assumption the machine is in use for 12 hours daily for just 25 days.
As such, the council suggested the EMSD upgrade its energy label grading standards to help consumers save on energy use and encourage suppliers to provide more energy-efficient products.
It also urged sellers to extend product coverage, after finding seven models only provided one-year full warranties and that one model offered no warranty renewal options.
The consumer watchdog said consumers are required to pay maintenance costs for the machines after the period, such as on-site inspections and scaffolding.
2025-04-30 HKT 15:17
Lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan said she thinks the government should move forward the implementation date of some of its anti-smoking measures, the bill for which was tabled in the legislature for first reading on Wednesday.<br/><br/>The measures include banning the use and possession of electronic and heated cigarettes, as well as introducing a fine for smoking while queuing for public transport or to enter a number of premises.<br/><br/>If the bill is approved as expected, the dates of implementation for the measures vary from the start of the new year to around a year's time or two years from now. <br/><br/>Chan, formerly a politically-appointed health official, said she thinks the measures are all steps in the right direction in the important task of stopping young people from getting into smoking.<br/><br/>However, she said, certain proposed measures, such as banning people from offering a cigarette to those below 18, could be implemented immediately after the bill is passed by lawmakers. <br/><br/>"This measure should immediately become illegal," Chan told RTHK. <br/><br/>"In the past the ban might just involve the sale of cigarettes at shops. <br/><br/>"But while I support the idea in general, timing is important for this measure concerning offering cigarettes to those below 18 – it would only be effective on New Year's Day.<br/><br/>"I think once the law's passed, [the penalty] should be implemented at the quickest possible time."<br/><br/>Chan said she thinks officials can better explain and promote plans to penalise smokers under different scenarios, such as fining those who smoke when there are two or more people, including the smoker, in a queue as well as those who smoke at bus stops.<br/><br/>The councillor representing the Election Committee said doing so can help prevent quarrels from breaking out.<br/><br/>She added that besides anti-smoking measures, there should also be incentives to encourage smokers to quit the habit.
Some anti-smoking steps 'should take effect earlier'
2025-04-30 HKT 13:15
The Shenzhou-19 crew on Wednesday landed back on Earth, after a one-day delay.<br/><br/>The China Manned Space Agency said the Shenzhou-19 craft had separated from the Tiangong space station at 4am Hong Kong time to start its return to Earth. <br/><br/>The spacecraft ferried three astronauts – Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze – to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.<br/><br/>The astronauts touched down shortly after 1pm Hong Kong time.<br/><br/>Ahead of their landing, footage from broadcasters showed the moment when the capsule's red and white main parachute deployed against the clear blue sky.<br/><br/>The trio's return had been postponed on Tuesday due to unfavourable weather conditions at the landing site.<br/><br/>They had carried out experiments during their six-month stay on Tiangong and set a new record for the longest-ever spacewalk.<br/><br/>The crew of the Shenzhou-20 – Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie – are now stationed on Tiangong.
Shenzhou-19 crew makes safe return to Earth
2025-04-30 HKT 12:54
Health minister Lo Chung-mau on Wednesday stressed that officials have to introduce measures to clamp down on smoking in order to protect public health, as he introduced the anti-smoking bill at the Legislative Council for its first reading.<br/><br/>In the bill tabled to Legco, officials plan to ban the possession and use of alternative smoking products (ASPs), such as e-cigarettes, in public. <br/><br/>There would also be tougher penalties for bringing in illicit cigarettes, the expansion of some non-smoking areas, and the introduction of a fine for those who smoke while queuing for public transport and to enter certain premises. <br/><br/>Subject to Legco's passage of the bill, the measures will have different implementation dates. <br/><br/>The measure to double the fine to HK$3,000 for those who smoke in banned areas could come into effect as early as New Year's Day. Those who smoke while in a queue will be fined for the same amount.<br/><br/>The ban on e-cigarettes would take effect in about a year’s time, with offenders subject to a fine of HK$3,000, while the ban on the sale of flavoured tobacco products and a duty stamp system for cigarettes would come in the second quarter of 2027.<br/><br/>Lo pointed out there will not be an economic loss as a result of these tobacco control measures.<br/><br/>On ASPs, he told lawmakers he found it outrageous that even though their sale had been banned for three years, young people here still have access to these harmful devices.<br/><br/>"Unfortunately, despite the ban being implemented for three years, there are still young people who are exposed to these products or e-cigarettes," he said while introducing the bill.<br/><br/>"They sometimes use these products to take space oil drug. Who offers these products to our younger generation?"<br/><br/>Noting that the healthcare system already faces many challenges with an ageing population and higher medical costs, Lo pointed out that health problems related to smoking would only add burden to the system.<br/><br/>After the bill's first reading, it was passed on to the House Committee, which will decide whether or not to set up a bills committee for it.
Anti-smoking bill tabled to Legco for first reading
2025-04-30 HKT 12:01
Around 600 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia against Ukraine have been killed and thousands more wounded, a Seoul lawmaker said on Wednesday, after Pyongyang officially confirmed deploying troops to aid Moscow.<br/><br/>"So far, North Korean troop casualties are estimated at around 4,700, including approximately 600 deaths," Lee Seong-kweun, a member of parliament's intelligence committee, said after a briefing by the country's spy agency.<br/><br/>North Korea confirmed for the first time on Monday that it had deployed troops to Russia, with state news agency KCNA reporting Pyongyang's soldiers helped Moscow reclaim territory under Ukrainian control in the Russian border region of Kursk.<br/><br/>Moscow had separately confirmed the North's participation, after months of official silence from both countries, even as Seoul and Washington accused Pyongyang of sending ever more troops and weapons to help.<br/><br/>Some 2,000 soldiers have been taken back to nuclear-armed North Korea this year, Lee said, and were now reportedly being held in isolation in Pyongyang and at other locations across the country.<br/><br/>"It is understood that the bodies of fallen soldiers were cremated locally in Kursk before being transported" back to the North, he added.<br/><br/>North Korea "supported Russia's recapture of Kursk by deploying 18,000 troops in two phases," Lee said, adding that the number of clashes in the area had decreased since around March.<br/><br/>Since then, "there have been reports of misconduct within North Korean forces, including excessive drinking and theft," he said.<br/><br/>South Korea has repeatedly slammed the troop deployment, and criticised the North for sending container-loads of weapons, including missiles, to aid Russia's war against Ukraine.<br/><br/>The nuclear-armed North has received significant technical support from Russia in return, Seoul claimed.<br/><br/>In addition, after six months of fighting, Seoul's National Intelligence Service estimates that the North Korean forces' "combat capability has significantly improved," Lee said.<br/><br/>"Early inexperience has diminished and they have become more proficient in using new weapon systems, including drones," he said.<br/><br/>Lee said it was not possible to "entirely rule out" that the North could send more soldiers to Russia.<br/><br/>The troops sent to Russia, reportedly from North Korea's elite Storm Corps, have been ordered to kill themselves rather than be taken prisoner, Seoul has previously said. (AFP)
600 North Koreans killed, thousands injured in Ukraine
2025-04-30 HKT 11:20
The government said on Wednesday it hopes the construction of a 230-metre-tall iconic complex as part of its Hung Hom waterfront redevelopment project will offer tourists a new way to experience Victoria Harbour.<br/><br/>While the 50-storey landmark commercial and residential complex is mainly earmarked for residential purposes, there would be facilities such as a skywalk and zip lines on its uppermost floors.<br/><br/>Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Permanent Secretary for Development Doris Ho believes it would be attractive to tourists.<br/><br/>"We currently appreciate Victoria Harbour by taking the ferry or walking along the promenade," she said.<br/><br/>"But imagine seeing it from 230 metres, where there are also thrilling outdoor activities, like I just mentioned: a Skywalk, slides, zip lines. <br/><br/>"So in addition to new experiences, visitors would also have a new fun way of appreciating Victoria Harbour."<br/><br/>Given that 200 berths for yachts would be built in the area, along with retail and dining facilities, Ho hopes the attractions would bring in big spenders.<br/><br/>She said there are plans to set up berths in places such as Lamma, Aberdeen as well as near the airport.<br/><br/>Even though the SAR has nine yacht clubs, Ho noted that there is a need to step up supply as they provide only 2,000 berths for the more than 10,000 pleasure vessels in Hong Kong.
High hopes for Hung Hom waterfront redevelopment
2025-04-30 HKT 10:26
US President Donald Trump promised that he is just getting started as he marked the radical and vengeful beginning of a presidency that has shaken the world and destabilised the United States.<br/><br/>Basking in the adulation of cheering supporters in Michigan on Tuesday, the 78-year-old touted the "most successful first 100 days of any administration in the history of our country," even as polls show Americans becoming disenchanted with the economic and political tumult.<br/><br/>Trump said he missed the campaign trail, and launched with visible relish into a speech that often sounded more like that of a candidate than a head of state.<br/><br/>Joe Biden is "sleepy," the media is "fake," judges who oppose him are "communist," Democratic opponents are "radical left," and friendly countries have "abused us more so than foe on trade," Trump said, listing targets of his ire.<br/><br/>The president promised to conclude deals on trade but provided little in the way of details.<br/><br/>And – to chants of "USA! USA!" – he showed a video of migrants in handcuffs and shackles being taken from a plane, transported by bus and filmed on their knees as their heads were shaved, illustrating his controversial deportation policy.<br/><br/>Trump has shaken up the US like few presidents before him.<br/><br/>His billionaire backer Elon Musk has led dramatic cutbacks of the federal workforce, and the president himself has reshaped relations with the world by unveiling sweeping tariffs, berating allies and eliminating much foreign aid.<br/><br/>Polls show that the honeymoon period that Americans historically accord presidents at the start of their terms has evaporated for Trump, who has angrily dismissed the results, but has tacitly acknowledged that he must moderate some policies as stock market turmoil takes a toll.<br/><br/>He also recently backtracked on threats to fire Jerome Powell – who has warned that Trump's tariffs would likely reignite inflation – but still criticised the Federal Reserve chairman on Tuesday as "not really doing a good job."<br/><br/>He said he was on track to accomplish all of his second-term goals.<br/><br/>"I think either we've done everything, or it's in the process of being done," Trump said before heading to his rally.<br/><br/>Unlike most presidents, Trump has focused more on energising his base than broadening his appeal – and many supporters are still with him.<br/><br/>The rival Democratic Party has seized on economic anxieties although it has also struggled in polling.<br/><br/>"Trump is to blame for the fact that life is more expensive, it's harder to retire, and a 'Trump recession' is at our doorstep," the Democratic National Committee said, calling the 100 days a "colossal failure."<br/><br/>Even with Congress narrowly in Republican hands, Trump has tested the limits of presidential power by signing more than 140 executive orders, many of which have faced court scrutiny. (AFP)
Trump touts 'most successful 100 days' amid polls hit
2025-04-30 HKT 09:16
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has announced that the Shenzhou-19 crew is due to return to Earth on Wednesday, following a delay due to bad weather.<br/><br/>The CMSA said the Shenzhou-19 spaceship separated from the Tiangong space station at 4am and started its return to earth – carrying three astronauts aboard – Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze.<br/><br/>The spaceship is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.<br/><br/>The Shenzhou-19 crew have been working on the space station since October and were scheduled to descend to Earth on Tuesday afternoon.<br/><br/>The trio have carried out experiments during their six-month stay on Tiangong and set a new record for the longest-ever spacewalk.<br/><br/>Wang, 35, was China's only woman spaceflight engineer at the time of the launch, according to the CMS.<br/><br/>Commander Cai, a 48-year-old former air force pilot, previously served aboard Tiangong as part of the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022.<br/><br/>Song, who's 34, was an air force pilot.<br/><br/>China launched the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship on April 24, sending three astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie to the space station for another six-month mission. (Agencies)
Shenzhou-19 crew due to return to Earth
2025-04-29 HKT 18:13
The DAB urged the government on Tuesday to allocate more resources to schools to enable them to better support students struggling with stress and emotional issues.<br/><br/>In a roundtable discussion, Annis Fung, associate professor in the department of social and behavioural sciences at the City University of Hong Kong, proposed having at least one dedicated counsellor in every school on top of those existing social workers operating in them.<br/><br/>"Honestly, it's tough when social workers also have to provide counseling," she said. <br/><br/>"Counsellors or caseworkers are under immense pressure because they handle many long-term, high-risk cases. <br/><br/>"But for students, seeing a counsellor at least feels different – they don’t feel like they are being stigmatised as if they are seeing a psychiatrist.<br/><br/>"Many young people dread that stigma. <br/><br/>"After a psychiatric diagnosis, they might think, 'now I can't be a civil servant, a police officer, or even a lawyer – my future is ruined.’ <br/><br/>"Those fears don't come up with counselling. To them, it's just talking to a ‘big sister’ or a social worker, which feels much less onerous."<br/><br/>For his part, lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung stressed the importance of having such practitioners, suggesting that schools unable to hire dedicated counsellors should train at least two teachers in basic skills of the art.<br/><br/>"When they spot students struggling emotionally, they can counsel them and help transform their negative feelings," he said. <br/><br/>"These are skills that can be learned – there are proven methods and techniques.<br/><br/>"But the real issue is that in some schools today, there might not be a single person who even understands what proper counselling is."
'At least one counsellor per school to help students'
2025-04-29 HKT 17:42
The government said on Tuesday a project to redevelop the Hung Hom waterfront will be awarded through open tender and that it makes sense for the MTR Corporation to take part. <br/><br/>Officials have asked the subway operator to conduct a study of the decade-long development, which will involve around 24 hectares covering the area stretching from the Hung Hom MTR station to the waterfront. <br/><br/>They propose building yacht facilities and other waterfront attractions, as well as a 50-storey landmark commercial and residential complex.<br/><br/>On the building's top floor would be tourism facilities such as a skywalk, an observation deck and ziplines. <br/><br/>Permanent Secretary for Development Doris Ho told lawmakers that the site involves many railway facilities.<br/><br/>And so while no final decision has been made, officials plan to adopt a land disposal development approach and give the whole project to developers who might partner up with the MTRC.<br/><br/>"I think it's reasonable for the MTRC to implement the proposal," Ho told lawmakers in a development panel meeting.<br/><br/>"Even with the MTRC taking the lead, will there be open tender? <br/><br/>Well, this has been the approach for the MTRC as it developed residential projects.<br/><br/>"All along, it has been looking for partners through open tender." <br/><br/>Ho said officials will take into consideration lawmakers' views that the government should receive financial returns after awarding the project to the developing consortium.<br/><br/>While most lawmakers expressed support for the proposal, some of them aired reservations.<br/><br/>New People's Party chairwoman Regina Ip and the DAB's Chan Hok-fung were both of the view that the high-rise might not stand out given the number of tall buildings on both sides of the Victoria Harbour.<br/><br/>They said officials needed to provide more details as to how much profit the whole project could generate.<br/><br/>Ip noted that developers might not be interested, noting that so far there is not enough information regarding the project's financial arrangements.<br/><br/>In response, Ho said the government's initial study found the project to be financially viable and that officials will look further into its economic benefits going forward.<br/><br/>Ip added that there needs to be more supportive facilities – such as yacht maintenance and gadget shops – available to make the place truly attractive to owners.<br/><br/>Roundtable lawmaker Michael Tien was of the view that the plot could house some of the most expensive flats in Hong Kong, saying officials should forget about building office space and earmark more land for luxurious homes instead.<br/><br/>He said concept images of the marina provided by officials reminded him of "an oriental Monte Carlo".<br/><br/>The Business and Professionals Alliance's Benson Luk called on officials to cut red tape for yacht owners to make it more convenient for them to sail in the harbour.
Hung Hom waterfront project to go through open tender
2025-04-29 HKT 17:07
The DAB said on Tuesday the government should provide more support measures alongside the implementation of the Basic Housing Unit policy to cater to the needs of both owners and tenants. <br/><br/>From next year, subdivided unit owners are required to declare their properties as "basic housing unit". <br/><br/>A 36-month grace period will follow, allowing owners to complete certification and make the necessary improvements. <br/><br/>One measure the party suggests is to provide renovation samples and a price list for each work item for owners to take reference from. <br/><br/>"Some subdivided unit owners worry about the expenses of renovating the whole unit," said lawmaker Vincent Cheng. <br/><br/>"We hope the government can provide some examples of how much the cost for renovating the units are for [owners] and the public as well. <br/><br/>Meanwhile, to assist tenants that are affected by the renovation period, Cheng said reserving transitional housing for them is needed. <br/><br/>"We have around 30,000 transitional housing units, and tenants affected need a short-term living area," he said. <br/><br/>"The government can spare some transitional housing for such tenants to live in during the period of renovation, maybe for half a year or nine months." <br/><br/>The party also suggested the administration step up inspections of subdivided flats and set up a reporting mechanism to prevent substandard subdivided units from going underground.
Basic housing owners and tenants 'need more support'
2025-04-29 HKT 16:11
Police said on Tuesday 99 people have been arrested on suspicion of manufacturing, trafficking and possession of dangerous drugs in citywide operations over the past month. <br/><br/>Officers seized 220 kilogrammes of drugs worth over HK$110 million.<br/><br/>They included cocaine, cannabis buds, methamphetamine, ketamine and space oil. <br/><br/>Nineteen of the suspects were under 21, with the youngest being just 13 years old.<br/><br/>In one undercover operation, officers dismantled a drug syndicate operating on social media platforms that had storage facilities in Yau Tong and distribution points in Kai Tak.<br/><br/>Regarding the involvement of minors in drug trafficking, police said heavier penalties would be sought under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. <br/><br/>The force said it's working with schools and social workers to raise awareness about emerging drugs like space oil.<br/> <br/>"Police will continue taking a zero-tolerance approach in combating drug-trafficking activities, including those conducted through the internet and social media," said Ho Ho-ting, a senior inspector from the Narcotics Bureau.<br/><br/>"Drug dealers who try to hide behind computer screens while getting others – including teenagers – to sell drugs for them are fooling themselves if they think they won't get caught and face consequences."
99 busted as raids bring HK$110m haul of drugs
2025-04-29 HKT 12:00
Lights flickered back to life in Spain and Portugal on Tuesday after a massive blackout hit the Iberian peninsula stranding passengers in trains and hundreds of elevators while millions saw phone and internet coverage die.<br/><br/>Electricity had been restored to nearly 90 percent of mainland Spain early on Tuesday, the REE power operator said. Lights came on again in Madrid and in Portugal's capital.<br/><br/>Barely a corner of the peninsula, which has a joint population of almost 60 million people, escaped the blackout. But no firm cause for the shutdown has yet emerged, though wild rumours spread on messaging networks about cyber attacks.<br/><br/>Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the source of the outage was "probably in Spain". <br/><br/>Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said "all the potential causes" were being analysed and warned the public "not to speculate" because of the risk of "misinformation".<br/><br/>Sanchez said about 15 gigawatts of electricity, more than half of the power being consumed at the time, "suddenly disappeared" in about five seconds.<br/><br/>Sanchez was unable to say when power would be completely restored in Spain and warned that some workers would have to stay home on Tuesday. <br/><br/>Montenegro said Portugal's power would be back "within hours".<br/><br/>Power was restored overnight to around 6.2 million households in Portugal out of 6.5 million, according to the national electricity grid operator.<br/><br/>The outage rippled briefly into southwest France while Morocco saw disruption to some internet providers and airport check-in systems.<br/><br/>People were "stunned", according to Carlos Candori, a 19-year-old construction worker who had to exit the paralysed Madrid metro system. "This has never happened in Spain".<br/><br/>"There's no [phone] coverage, I can't call my family, my parents, nothing: I can't even go to work," he said.<br/><br/>In Madrid and cities across Spain and Portugal, panicked customers rushed to withdraw cash from banks, and streets filled with crowds floundering for a phone signal. Long lines formed for taxis and buses.<br/><br/>With stop lights knocked out, police struggled to keep densely congested traffic moving and authorities urged motorists to stay home.<br/><br/>In Madrid alone 286 rescue operations were carried out to free people trapped in lifts, regional authorities said.<br/><br/>Trains were halted across the country and late on Monday, the transport minister said there were still 11 trains with stranded passengers who needed help.<br/><br/>Railway stations in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville and four other major cities were to be kept open all night so that stranded passengers could sleep there.<br/><br/>Spain's nuclear power plants automatically went offline as a safety precaution, with diesel generators maintaining them in a "safe condition", the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council said.<br/><br/>Sanchez said the blackout, which hit just after midday, caused "serious disruption" for millions and "economic losses in businesses, in companies, in industries".<br/><br/>The European Commission said it was in contact with Spain and Portugal over the crisis. European Council President Antonio Costa said on X: "There are no indications of any cyberattack".<br/><br/>The huge power cut disrupted flights to and from Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon, European air traffic organisation Eurocontrol said.<br/><br/>Transport chaos also gripped Spain's second city, Barcelona, where locals and tourists alike flooded the streets in an attempt to find out what had happened. (AFP)
Blackout chaos ending for Spain and Portugal
2025-04-28 HKT 14:55
Ten suspects go on trial in Paris on Monday over the 2016 robbery of the US celebrity Kim Kardashian, which saw some US$10 million worth of jewellery stolen from the reality TV star and influencer.<br/><br/>Kardashian, now 44 – who left Paris traumatised hours after the robbery on the night of October 2-3, 2016 – is due to testify at the trial on May 13 in a court appearance that will be a major event in itself.<br/><br/>Those on trial are mainly men in their 60s and 70s with previous criminal records and underworld nicknames like "Old Omar" and "Blue Eyes" that recall the old-school French bandits of 1960s and 1970s film noirs.<br/><br/>Kardashian, then 35, was threatened with a gun to the head and tied up with her mouth taped up. The theft was the biggest against a private individual in France in the past 20 years.<br/><br/>The trial will also go into how the perpetrators received the information as to where Kardashian was staying during Paris Fashion Week, and picked the very moment when her bodyguard was absent, accompanying her sister Kourtney to a night club.<br/><br/>It is thought Kardashian's frequent posts about her wealth, personal life and whereabouts may have facilitated the perpetrators' actions. <br/><br/>The star was staying at an exclusive hotel in central Paris favoured by celebrities when two armed and masked men stormed into her room at around 3.00am after arriving at the establishment by bicycle.<br/><br/>They shouted that they wanted the diamond engagement ring from her now ex-husband, US rapper Kayne West.<br/><br/>Kardashian had been showing it off on her social media channels – it alone was valued at US$4 million.<br/><br/>They made off with the ring, among US$10 million worth of jewels.<br/><br/>The only item recovered was a diamond necklace dropped in the street while the thieves escaped.<br/><br/>The suspects were arrested three months after the robbery, through DNA evidence.<br/><br/>Twelve suspects were charged, with 10 going on trial from Monday. One died in March this year and another is to be tried separately for health reasons. The trial is due to last until May 23. (AFP)
Trial begins in Paris over 2016 Kardashian heist
2025-04-28 HKT 14:12
China on Monday said it is "fully confident" that the country will reach its 5 percent economic growth target this year despite the tariff war with the United States. <br/><br/>The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a press conference that Beijing will accelerate the implementation of measures to stabilise employment and the economy, and to boost domestic consumption.<br/><br/>Zhao Chenxin, deputy head of the NDRC, said China has ample policy reserves and the government will fully prepare contingency plans.<br/><br/>"We will intensify efforts to ensure the implementation of current policies, including the special campaign to boost consumption. We'll make good use of the 5 trillion yuan of investment funds at the national level this year, and speed up the establishment of the national venture capital guidance fund, among others," he told reporters.<br/><br/>"The majority of these policies will be implemented in the second quarter. No matter how the international situation evolves, we will stay focused on our development goals... and concentrate on managing our own affairs well. We are fully confident we'll achieve this year's economic and social development targets."<br/><br/>Zhao also said Beijing is "on the right side of history" in the trade war with Washington. <br/><br/>"We firmly believe that if you are against the world and the truth, you will only isolate yourselves," he said. "Only by travelling with the world and with morality can we win the future."<br/><br/>Yu Jiadong, vice minister of human resources and social security, spoke about the adverse effects from the US tariffs on businesses and jobs, especially export-oriented companies.<br/><br/>Yu said the central government will take steps to improve workers' skills while increasing funds and loans for enterprises affected by the tariffs.<br/><br/>"Recently, we have allocated 66.7 billion yuan of the central employment subsidy funds to provide guarantees for the implementation of the policies," he said.<br/><br/>"At the same time, we will speed up the introduction of incremental policies to increase support for enterprises to expand jobs, to increase employment subsidies for individuals and raise the proportion of the job-retention refunds from unemployment insurances for those firms significantly impacted by the tariffs."<br/><br/>Speaking at the same event, deputy central bank governor Zou Lan reiterated that mainland authorities would free up more cash for banks and cut interest rates at an appropriate time. <br/><br/>Zou also affirmed a moderately loose monetary policy and the need to maintain the yuan's stability.
China 'fully confident' to meet economic targets
2025-04-28 HKT 13:32
The government has not ruled out removing certain job types from a list that was introduced in 2018 to attract more non-Hong Kong professionals to work here, according to the labour chief. <br/><br/>The SAR recently expanded its talent list, making it easier for highly skilled employees of 60 job types to work in the city. Among the latest additions were financial professionals with Islamic market experience as well as accountants.<br/><br/>On Monday, labour and welfare secretary Chris Sun told a Legislative Council panel meeting that the city brought in some 1,700 professionals since the list was first introduced.<br/><br/>Around 1,400 of them came to the SAR since officials made changes to the list two years ago.<br/><br/>On whether the government would remove certain professions from the list if there are enough local workers, Sun said: "It is not necessarily the case that we only add more professions or occupations to the list. We also have to consider the market situation.<br/><br/>"If there is sufficient local talent in the future, we don't rule out deleting some of the professions or occupations here [on the list]."<br/><br/>Sun also said he doesn't think imported labour would drive down wages among local workers.<br/><br/>"We are not talking about a large number of talent in each profession... The salary is still determined by the market," he said.
Possible to remove job types from talent list: govt
2025-04-28 HKT 11:49
The deputy secretary for health on Monday said the government's latest tobacco-control measures would not discourage people from coming to Hong Kong.<br/><br/>Eddie Lee told an RTHK programme that the plan would have a very small impact on the economy.<br/><br/>"For business travellers, to be frank, they are looking for business opportunities and whether they can do business and make money. As for leisure travellers, they look at the overall experience in Hong Kong," he said.<br/><br/>"For example, recently we have had a well-known local singer holding concerts, and many visitors came for this. But they were only considering the overall experience, rather than whether they can smoke in Hong Kong or what the SAR's anti-smoking measures are."<br/><br/>Lee added that the government will meet with representatives from the tourism sector this week on the measures, assuring them visitors will not be affected.<br/><br/>Lawmaker Peter Shiu, from the wholesale and retail sector, said he supports the government's plan to better safeguard public health. <br/><br/>But Shiu said officials should also consider if visitors who smoke would be concerned about the measures.<br/><br/>Medical sector lawmaker David Lam, for his part, called on the government to prohibit the possession of vaping devices as soon as possible.<br/><br/>He also pointed out that vaping devices can be connected with an app on the mobile phone, which notifies people that the devices have not been used for some time and recommends new flavours, making it harder for them to quit smoking.
'Anti-smoking measures will not affect tourists'
2025-04-28 HKT 08:41
Murder charges have been filed against a suspect in a car ramming attack that killed 11 people between the ages of 5 and 65 at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver.<br/><br/>The British Columbia Prosecution Service charged Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, with eight counts of second degree murder and said more charges were possible.<br/><br/>Police said the suspect has a history of mental health issues.<br/><br/>The man was arrested after a black Audi SUV entered the street just after 8 pm Saturday and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival.<br/><br/>Dozens of others were injured, some critically.<br/><br/>“It is the darkest day in Vancouver’s history,” Police Interim Chief Steve Rai told a news conference.<br/><br/>“The person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health," he said.<br/><br/>Video of the aftermath shows the dead and injured along a narrow street in South Vancouver lined by food trucks. The front of the driver's SUV is smashed in.<br/><br/>Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up clothing and lifestyle booth to the festival, saw the vehicle enter past the barricade slowly before the driver slammed on the gas in an area that was packed with people after a concert. <br/><br/>He said hearing the sounds of bodies hitting the vehicle will never leave his mind.<br/><br/>"He sideswiped someone on his right side and I was like, ‘Oh, yo yo.’ And then he slammed on the gas,” he said. “And the sound of the acceleration, it sounds like an F1 car about to start a race.<br/><br/>"He slammed on the gas, barreled through the crowd. And all I can remember is seeing bodies flying up in the air higher than the food trucks themselves and landing on the ground and people yelling and screaming. It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.”<br/><br/>Pangilinan said that it would be hard to believe “that someone has some malice against the Filipino people.”<br/><br/>Suspect was detained by bystanders before the police arrived<br/><br/>Video circulating on social media shows a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.<br/><br/>“I’m sorry,” the man says, holding his hand to his head.<br/><br/>Rai declined to comment on the video.<br/><br/>Prime Minister Mark Carney cancelled his first campaign event and two major rallies on the final day of the election campaign before Monday’s vote. (AP)
Murder charges filed over Vancouver attack
2025-04-27 HKT 18:12
Politicians and business leaders attended the vigil of tycoon Lee Shau-kee at the Hong Kong Funeral Home on Sunday. <br/><br/>The Henderson Land founder died at the age of 97 last month. <br/><br/>Family members including his two sons, Peter and Martin Lee, greeted guests who came to pay tribute, including Chief Executive John Lee and the director of the central government's liaison office Zheng Yanxiong.<br/><br/>Other SAR officials also attended the vigil, including Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak, and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang. <br/><br/>Former officials including former chief executive Donald Tsang, and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Standing Committee member Henry Tang, who served as Chief Secretary, were also seen at the vigil. <br/><br/>A number of business leaders also attended the event including Sun Hung Kai Properties chairman Raymond Kwok and its former chairman Thomas Kwok, PCCW chairman Richard Li, and Bank of East Asia executive chairman David Li.<br/><br/>The funeral home was filled with wreaths, while an altar was set up at the nearby Java Road Playground for members of the public to pay tribute to the tycoon. <br/><br/>A Buddhist funeral service will be held on Monday, and the late tycoon will be buried in his hometown of Daliang in Shunde district in Guangdong.<br/>_____________________________<br/><font style="font-size:90%" my="my"><i>Last updated: 2025-04-27 HKT 18:47</i></font>
Prominent figures bid farewell to Lee Shau-kee
2025-04-27 HKT 13:47
At least 11 people were killed and dozens injured when a man with a history of mental health issues rammed an SUV through a crowd at a Filipino community festival in the western Canadian city of Vancouver, police said on Sunday.<br/><br/>Police arrested a 30-year-old Vancouver man at the scene of the incident on Saturday evening, describing him as having had a "significant history" of interactions with authorities involving mental health. They said there was no evidence of terrorism.<br/><br/>"This is the darkest day in our city's history," Vancouver Interim Chief Constable Steve Rai told reporters at a Sunday press conference.<br/><br/>He said dozens of people were injured, some seriously, and warned that the death toll could rise in coming days and weeks.<br/><br/>More than 100 police officers joined the investigation, as local officials worked with provincial and federal authorities to provide support services. Messages of condolence and support came from across the globe.<br/><br/>"The community will feel this for a long time," RJ Aquino, chair of the community advocacy group Filipino BC, told reporters. "We want to tell everybody that we're grieving. We want to tell everybody that we see and hear the support from around the world at this point." The attack on Saturday evening took place two days before Canada's federal election on Monday. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's campaign movements were delayed on Sunday morning but he resumed campaigning after making a statement in which he expressed his condolences to the country's Filipino community.<br/><br/>"Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter. Those families are living every family's nightmare," he told reporters in Hamilton, Ontario.<br/><br/>"I join all Canadians in mourning with you. I know that Canadians are united with you," he said.<br/><br/>More than 12 hours after the incident, police still did not have a motive for the attack at the festival, which took place without a dedicated police presence or heavy vehicle barriers.<br/><br/>"There were no known threats to the event or to the Filipino community," Rai said.<br/><br/>The suspect was initially chased down and held by festival-goers until police arrived, witnesses said. The injured were taken to multiple hospitals, police said.<br/><br/>The incident happened shortly after 8 pm in Vancouver's Sunset neighbourhood, an area known for its large Asian population, where the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, celebrating a Philippine national hero, was taking place.<br/><br/>One witness told CTV News he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was struck. A photo of the aftermath posted online showed a dark Audi SUV with both front fenders crumpled and the hood pushed up toward the vehicle's windshield.<br/><br/>While mass casualty attacks are far less common in Canada than in the United States, such incidents have occurred with some regularity north of the border.<br/><br/>At least two of those attacks involved motor vehicles. In 2021, a man killed four members of a Muslim family by running them over with a pickup truck. In 2018, a man drove a rented van into a lunch-hour crowd in Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 15 along a sidewalk thronged with pedestrians.<br/><br/>Online images from the scene in Vancouver showed the bodies of victims on the pavement alongside a row of colourful food trucks as others attended to them on a roadway littered with debris including what appeared to be a motorized scooter.<br/><br/>A witness who did not wish to be identified said he had seen about 15 people lying on the ground after the SUV ploughed into the crowd. The witness said the driver tried to run but was chased down and held against a fence for about 10 minutes until police arrived.<br/><br/>"I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev," Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of food truck Bao Buns, said in an interview with Postmedia.<br/><br/>"I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere," said Vardeh, his voice breaking with emotion. "He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle."<br/><br/>The attack came at the end of the festival, following a concert headlined by Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, according to Mable Elmore, a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, who attended the event.<br/><br/>"Everybody was happy and getting ready to go. And that's when, that's when the incident happened," Elmore told reporters through tears.<br/><br/>"We are in incredible pain," she said. "We will come together out of this catastrophe through the support and the love from the broad community."<br/><br/>The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honors Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino chieftain who defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521.<br/><br/>The government of British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province.<br/><br/>The centerpiece of the festival is a multi-block street party featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays. <br/>_____________________________<br/><font style="font-size:90%" my="my"><i>Last updated: 2025-04-28 HKT 05:04</i></font>
At least 11 dead as man drives into crowd in Vancouver
2025-04-27 HKT 12:23
The MTR Corporation says services on the East Rail Line are gradually returning to normal on Sunday, after experiencing delays all morning. <br/><br/>The MTR corporation said a defective engineer’s train near Fo Tan Station had been moved away from the area. <br/><br/>After 8 o'clock on Sunday morning, the MTR had announced that the total journey time between Admiralty and Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau could be extended by up to 15 minutes, due to the technical fault on the engineer’s train.
East Rail train services gradually return to normal
2025-04-27 HKT 07:35
A huge blast probably caused by the explosion of chemical materials killed at least 14 people and injured more than 750 on Saturday at Iran's biggest port, Bandar Abbas, Iranian state media reported.<br/><br/>The explosion, which hit the Shahid Rajaee section of the port, occurred as Iran began a third round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, but there was no indication of a link between the two events.<br/><br/>Hossein Zafari, a spokesperson for Iran's crisis management organisation, appeared to blame the explosion on poor storage of chemicals in containers at Shahid Rajaee.<br/><br/>"The cause of the explosion was the chemicals inside the containers," he told Iran's ILNA news agency.<br/><br/>"Previously, the Director General of Crisis Management had given warnings to this port during their visits and had pointed out the possibility of danger," Zafari said.<br/><br/>However, an Iranian government spokesperson said that although chemicals had likely caused the blast, it was not yet possible to determine the exact reason.<br/><br/>Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an investigation of the incident and sent to the site his interior minister.<br/><br/>Iran's official news channels aired footage of a vast black and orange cloud of smoke billowing up above the port in the aftermath of the blast, and an office building with its doors blown off and papers and debris strewn around.<br/><br/>Located near the strategic Strait of Hormoz, Shahid Rajaee port is Iran’s biggest container hub, handling a majority of the country’s container goods, according to state media.<br/><br/>The blast shattered windows within a radius of several kilometres and was heard in Qeshm, an island 26 kilometres south of the port, Iranian media said. (Reuters)
Massive explosion at Iranian port kills dozens
2025-04-26 HKT 13:43
Environment affairs chief Tse Chin-wan says the second phase of the city’s single-use plastic ban will proceed only after effective alternatives to banned items have been secured.<br/><br/>Speaking on an RTHK programme on Saturday, Tse hailed the first year of the scheme as a success, with 80 to 90 percent of customers at chain restaurants now spurning single-use utensils when ordering takeouts – a shift conservatively estimated to curb annual utensil handouts by 60 million sets. <br/><br/>While the majority of businesses have adhered to regulations, however, the secretary for environment and ecology noted that 21 eateries faced fines upon inspections, with authorities pledging ongoing enforcement.<br/><br/>Regarding the next phase, which will extend the ban to plastic cups and food containers for takeouts, Tse said that alternatives to these disposable utensils are currently not ideal.<br/><br/>"Regarding issues with takeout food boxes, soup containers and plastic lids, we noticed that while these items generally function adequately for everyday use, problems arise with paper lids for soup containers," he said. <br/><br/>"They tend to detach easily, causing spills, while prolonged exposure to moisture weakens the material, making them pliable and prone to softening," he said.<br/><br/>Authorities, he added, plan to launch trials at major restaurant chains by the middle of this year to evaluate sustainable substitutes.<br/><br/>Tse also said the volume of waste generated in Hong Kong has decreased by 7.5 percent compared to 2021, nearing the goals of the waste charging scheme, the implementation of which was shelved in May. <br/><br/>He said that public awareness of, and participation in, waste reduction efforts have significantly increased over the past year, despite the government's pausing of the charging scheme.<br/><br/>When asked if there is still a need to implement the waste charging scheme, Tse said a review report would be submitted to the environmental affairs panel of the Legislative Council by mid-year and stressed that the government's desire to promote waste reduction and recycling have not diminished.
Wider plastics ban 'starts when good options at hand'
2025-04-26 HKT 13:03
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun stressed on Saturday that the government's priority is on ensuring local workers stay employed amid ongoing reviews of its various labour importation schemes.<br/><br/>“The Labour Department places great emphasis on local recruitment,” he said after attending a talent expo.<br/><br/>“For example, if local workers try to get a job through the Labour Department but ultimately do not take up the job offer, it will call to understand the reasons behind the refusal,” he said.<br/><br/>“This is a serious approach as the prerequisite of the importation schemes is to safeguard employment for local workers while supplementing the local labour force."<br/><br/>Sun added that around 10,000 visas under the Top Talent Pass Scheme would expire by the middle of the year. <br/><br/>He stressed that more time and data is needed to conclusively find out how many visa-renewal applications have been received for the scheme but said he believes the renewal situation is satisfactory.<br/><br/>Sun also said he trusts that the Social Workers Registration Board would handle each application and renewal fairly and in accordance with the law.<br/><br/>His remarks came as the board’s chairman, Herman Hui, said this week that it is leaning towards suspending social worker Jackie Chen’s registration for five years as part of its disciplinary process.<br/><br/>Chen has been sentenced to a prison term of three years and nine months recently after being convicted of rioting.
Sun reassures locals amid labour import reviews
2025-04-26 HKT 11:51
Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee stressed on Saturday that the latest anti-smoking measures proposed by the government would not end up hurting the economy. <br/> <br/>Lee was assuaging concerns a day after the administration came up with more legislative changes targeting smoking through the Tobacco Control Legislation Amendment Bill gazetted on Friday. <br/> <br/>Key measures include the expansion of no-smoking areas, as well as banning the possession of alternative smoking products in public spaces and the sale of flavoured tobacco products. <br/> <br/>Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Lee said he believes the proposed measures would not affect inbound passengers, especially tourists. <br/> <br/>"Take the ban on possession of alternative smoking products as an example," he said.<br/><br/>"Some people say such a ban might reduce travellers' desire to visit Hong Kong. <br/><br/>"But bear in mind that three years ago, Hong Kong society reached a consensus, and the Legislative Council passed a law enforcing the ban on the sale and import of alternative smoking products. <br/><br/>"So basically, inbound passengers have not been allowed to bring such products into Hong Kong since." <br/> <br/>Officials also proposed that smoking be banned at queues for public transport and at entrances to specified premises – hospitals, clinics, sports grounds and theme parks. <br/><br/>Lee said the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office would be the main enforcement body and is currently preparing for the measures' implementation phase. <br/> <br/>He stressed that the goal is never to antagonise the general public, saying officers will adopt a people-oriented approach when the law, if approved by lawmakers, first comes into effect at the beginning of next year. <br/> <br/>On the same programme, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise Wong Ho-yin dismissed claims that the stricter measures would lead to the trade in illicit cigarettes becoming more active.<br/> <br/>Wong noted that the number of illicit cigarettes seized by Customs officers actually fell when the duty on cigarettes was increased over the past two years. <br/> <br/>Specifically, seizures dropped from 730 million sticks in 2022 to 610 million sticks in 2024. <br/> <br/>“That is because our enforcement strategy of targeting at the source is effective," Wong said. <br/><br/>"We successfully intercepted some supply chains and prevented illicit cigarettes from entering Hong Kong. <br/><br/>"Our efforts focus on cracking down on street-level illicit cigarette trading, and enforcement has always been very strict.<br/> <br/>“Through strengthening public awareness and conveying anti-illicit cigarette messages to the public, the effectiveness has been very high, which has also caused illicit cigarette activities to gradually diminish. <br/><br/>"Therefore, I can say that Customs has not found any worsening in illicit cigarette activities.” <br/> <br/>The bill will be tabled in the Legislative Council for vetting next Wednesday.
Economic impact fears eased over anti-smoking measures
2025-04-26 HKT 11:10
Secretary for Education Christine Choi said Hong Kong must continue to consolidate its academic strengths and step up global promotional efforts after six of the city’s universities were ranked in the top 50 of the latest Asian tertiary institution rankings – a testament to the high quality of higher education in the SAR.<br/><br/>Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme on Saturday, Choi said Hong Kong universities have seen a significant surge in student intakes of non-locals following the government’s decision to double their enrollment ceiling to 40 percent, reflecting strong demand for studying in the city. <br/><br/>"We are committed to actively promoting Hong Kong’s achievements on the global stage, which includes bringing our universities to joint overseas recruitment drives and participating in international higher education conferences and exhibitions to elevate the 'Study in Hong Kong' brand," she said. <br/><br/>"Regarding resources, the University Grants Committee has allocated over HK$20 million to a dedicated promotion task force under the city’s eight UGC-funded universities, empowering them to strengthen Hong Kong’s global presence in higher education."<br/><br/>But she urged institutions to adopt a gradual approach to expanding enrollment, warning that rapid increases could strain campus infrastructure and undermine the quality of student experiences. <br/><br/>Choi also added that authorities plan to boost student accommodation availability over the coming years, ensuring resources keep pace with the growing influx of non-local students.<br/><br/>The education chief also noted that recent US visa restrictions on international students have created instability, prompting parents to explore alternative options for their children's education in other locations.<br/><br/>"Hong Kong holds strong appeal for overseas non-local students thanks to a combination of factors," Choi said. <br/><br/>"Our universities offer numerous high-quality programs, including several that are ranked within the global top 10, which significantly attract students to choose the SAR," she said.<br/><br/>"Additionally, recent US restrictions on student visas have introduced uncertainties for those planning to study abroad. <br/><br/>"Parents and students are understandably cautious, as sudden visa denials can disrupt years of academic planning. This has led many to explore alternative destinations."
No let-up in 'study in HK' push as enrolments soar
2025-04-26 HKT 09:17
US President Donald Trump has arrived in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, where he will brush shoulders with an array of world leaders on the unexpected first foreign trip of his second term.<br/><br/>Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, had a distant relationship with the late pontiff who criticized him sharply on his signature policy of mass deportations of migrants.<br/><br/>But Trump will be centre-stage for a major diplomatic gathering on Saturday with some 50 heads of state, including 10 reigning monarchs, at the Vatican.<br/><br/>Trump said it was possible he could meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in what would be the two leaders' first time together since a disastrous White House meeting on February 28.<br/><br/>Trump and Vice President JD Vance in that meeting berated Zelensky, calling him ungrateful for the billions of dollars of US military assistance given since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.<br/><br/>Trump, while calling on Russia to stop its aerial attacks on Ukraine, has recently blamed Zelensky for the war and the continuing bloodshed.<br/><br/>Zelensky said he may miss the funeral however due to military meetings after a deadly Russian strike on Kyiv.<br/><br/>No meetings have been announced in Rome for Trump, who is due to stay only half a day.<br/><br/>Trump said on Air Force One he would meet "some people" including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whom he hosted this month to discuss tariffs.<br/><br/>But he said any meetings would be quick and added: "Frankly it's a little disrespectful to have meetings when you're at the funeral of the pope."<br/><br/>Trump may also find discomfort around some of the other mourners – chief among them his predecessor, Joe Biden.<br/><br/>Biden is a devout Catholic and was close with Francis. He will travel independently to Rome, his office said, even though former presidents generally travel on Air Force One for funerals.<br/><br/>Trump's trip to Italy comes after he rattled European allies by imposing sweeping tariffs, although he at least temporarily has backed down from the most severe measures.<br/><br/>French President Emmanuel Macron, one leader who has managed to forge a bond with Trump, and outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be at the funeral, as will top EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa.<br/><br/>Trump will however be keeping one important appointment: with First Lady Melania Trump for her 55th birthday, which also falls on Saturday.<br/><br/>He said he hadn't had time to buy any presents but added that "I'm taking her for dinner on Air Force One." (AFP)
All eyes on Trump as he arrives for pope's funeral
2025-04-25 HKT 15:41
The government on Friday said it plans to outlaw the possession and use of alternative smoking products in public in a year's time, with a view of extending the ban to other premises going forward.<br/><br/>The items in question include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.<br/><br/>Officials also want to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products like cigars and shisha, or smoking through water pipes.<br/><br/>The proposed ban on alternative smoking products such as e-cigarettes, heat sticks and herbal cigarettes in public will come at the end of April next year, after the import and sale of such products were prohibited in Hong Kong in 2022.<br/><br/>Anyone found carrying up to five units of capsules for e-cigarettes, 100 heat sticks and 100 herbal cigarettes would be subject to a fixed penalty fine of HK$3,000.<br/><br/>Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee said the next phase is to extend the ban to the possession of smoking devices. But he told reporters that this wasn't a priority, as public opinion suggests these devices do hold collection value.<br/><br/>The government also proposed that anyone providing alternative smoking products to those under 18 would face a HK$50,000 fine and six months in jail.<br/><br/>Officials said it's worrying that the underaged have access to these products, despite their import and sale bans.<br/><br/>If endorsed, the new penalty would be effective on January 1.<br/><br/>As for the ban on the sale of flavoured tobacco products, officials hope to implement that in the second quarter of 2027.<br/><br/>The government noted that the majority of smokers in their 20s now smoke flavoured cigarettes, and most of them said they consumed those products when they first began smoking.<br/><br/>"To counteract tobacco companies’ promotional tactics of using flavoured conventional smoking products, the government proposes to prohibit the sale, offering for sale, and possession for the purpose of sale of conventional smoking products with [flavourings]," the Health Bureau said in documents submitted to the legislature.<br/><br/>But the government said the proposals won't affect inbound passengers carrying flavoured smoking products, saying there are no plans to ban the possession of a small quantity of such products for personal use.
Govt proposes ban on e-cigarettes, flavoured tobacco
2025-04-25 HKT 14:58
The Hospital Authority (HA) on Friday said it will proactively invite external experts to analyse the reasons behind medical incidents at public hospitals.<br/><br/>A review committee released a report last year on the management of the public hospital system, putting forward 31 improvement recommendations for the HA.<br/><br/>Its chief executive Tony Ko said the authority will finish all follow-up work by the end of June, which includes strengthening its incident response team and inviting external experts to join its root cause analysis panel.<br/><br/>“We hope that in future we are more proactive to get relevant experts, if necessary, from the outside, in addition to having experts internally to look into different aspects,” he said.<br/><br/>“Because now, the medical care is very complicated. They can be from different aspects… It’s so diversified that the expertise is not necessary within the Hospital Authority.”<br/><br/>Ko added that the HA is gradually adopting more measures to minimise risks and prevent incidents, such as introducing warming devices to ensure patients undergoing surgery will not get hypothermia.<br/><br/>“We are actively looking into new technologies that can help us to further improve, not only reduce the risk, but also improve the quality of care,” he said.<br/><br/>“That’s also the reason why we, when appropriate, want to invite external experts. Because sometimes external experts are more up-to-date and know more about what is happening around, what kind of products or what kind of technologies are available.”
HA to seek external experts to analyse incidents
2025-04-25 HKT 11:32
India and Pakistan exchanged an escalating series of tit-for-tat diplomatic measures after New Delhi blamed its regional rival for backing a deadly shooting attack in contested Kashmir.<br/><br/>Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to hunt down the gunmen responsible for killing 26 civilians in the tourist spot of Pahalgam on Tuesday, accusing Pakistan of supporting "cross-border terrorism."<br/><br/>"I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer," Modi said on Thursday in his first speech since the attack in the Himalayan region. "We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth."<br/><br/>Indian police have identified two of the three fugitive gunmen as Pakistani.<br/><br/>The attack at Pahalgam is the deadliest attack on civilians in contested Muslim-majority Kashmir in a quarter of a century.<br/><br/>New Delhi suspended a water-sharing treaty, announced the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic ties and withdrew visas for Pakistanis on Wednesday night.<br/><br/>On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a rare meeting of the National Security Committee with top military officials, including powerful army chief Asim Munir.<br/><br/>"Any threat to Pakistan's sovereignty and to the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains," a Pakistani statement said.<br/><br/>"In the absence of any credible investigation and verifiable evidence, attempts to link the Pahalgam attack with Pakistan are frivolous, devoid of rationality and defeat logic," it said.<br/><br/>In response to India's accusations and measures, Islamabad is expelling Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling visas for Indian nationals – with the exception of Sikh pilgrims – and closing the main border crossing from its side.<br/><br/>Pakistan also warned any attempt by India to stop the supply of water from the Indus River would be an "act of war."<br/><br/>Some fear New Delhi's diplomatic moves may just be an opening salvo – with the potential risk of military action between the nuclear-armed neighbors.<br/><br/>India's air force and navy both carried out military exercises on Thursday, according to an official statement and the PTI news agency.<br/><br/>A soldier was killed Thursday in clashes with gunmen at Basantgarh in Kashmir, the Indian army said.<br/><br/>Pahalgam marks a dramatic shift in recent Kashmiri rebel attacks, which typically target Indian security forces. In 2019, a suicide attack killed 41 Indian troops in Kashmir and triggered Indian air strikes inside Pakistan, bringing the countries to the brink of all-out war.<br/><br/>Indian police say the three gunmen are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a United Nations-designated terrorist organization, and offered a two-million-rupee bounty for information leading to each man's arrest.<br/><br/>Modi led two minutes of silence in memory of those killed, all but one of whom was Indian.<br/><br/>"Whatever little land these terrorists have, it's time to reduce it to dust," he said.<br/><br/>Indian security forces have detained many in their vast manhunt for the attackers. (AFP)
Tensions escalate over Kashmir killings
2025-04-25 HKT 09:30
CLP Power said on Friday it is handing out retail and catering coupons as part of its latest effort to stimulate local consumption and boost the economy.<br/><br/>The power giant will distribute coupons worth HK$100 to 580,000 households with low levels of electricity consumption and elderly who qualify for concessionary tariffs. <br/><br/>The coupons can be used before the end of October at more than 3,800 retail and catering outlets, including about 60 social enterprises.<br/><br/>Director of customer success and sales Anthony Lo said this latest round of coupon handouts marks the fourth year that CLP has been engaging in the practice.<br/><br/>"We saw the response was very good [in past years]," he said.<br/><br/>"The participating merchants were quite enthusiastic, so we hope to continue to hand out vouchers.<br/><br/>"We hope this can help the retail and catering sector, stimulate local consumption and boost the economy with a multiplier effect."<br/><br/>A social enterprise, The Edible Projects, said more customers had visited its restaurant in Sham Shui Po as a result of the scheme.<br/><br/>Its founder, Kitty Poon, said the restaurant hires young people with autistic spectrum disorders.<br/><br/>"Our young people have more chances to serve customers," she said. <br/><br/>"They are very happy with there being more customers, giving them a sense of accomplishment."<br/><br/>A family-run traditional bakery in Sham Shui Po, Kwan Hong Bakery, is another participating outlet.<br/><br/>Its operator, Charles Ng, said that, based on his past experience, the coupons can help boost business by 10 percent.<br/><br/>"The market is quite sluggish," he said. <br/><br/>"People tend to consume outside of Hong Kong. <br/><br/>"If they use a HK$50 coupon, they may spend another HK$50 on their own.<br/><br/>"This definitely helps and can get people to stay and consume in Hong Kong."<br/><br/>CLP said it is handing out the vouchers from this month and that all eligible households are expected to receive them by the end of May.
CLP brings buzz with new round of consumption coupons
2025-04-25 HKT 04:22
A student killed a girl and wounded three other pupils in a stabbing spree on Thursday at a private high school in France, prompting the prime minister to urge better security in and around schools to combat "endemic youth violence".<br/><br/>The pupil – whose name and age were not specified but whose classmates said had written a manifesto against "globalised ecocide" – was arrested after finally being overpowered by school staff.<br/><br/>France has in recent years been shaken by a series of school incidents involving attacks on teachers as well as schoolchildren by their peers.<br/><br/>In the latest case of teenage violence, the assailant attacked fellow students with a knife at the Notre-Dame de Toutes-Aides secondary school in the western city of Nantes at around 12:30 pm (1030 GMT), a police source said.<br/><br/>President Emmanuel Macron, writing on X, saluted the bravery of the teachers who intervened, saying they prevented an even higher toll.<br/><br/>"Through their intervention, teachers likely prevented other tragedies. Their courage demands respect," he said.<br/><br/>Prime Minister Francois Bayrou urged "an intensification of controls in and around schools" following the attack.<br/><br/>He called for a "collective awakening" in the face of "endemic violence" among "a segment of our youth", and demanded proposals within four weeks to prevent further "violence committed by minors" with knives.<br/><br/>One student gave an account of what happened.<br/><br/>"I was in the cafeteria with my friends and we were told that a high school pupil had stabbed students in several classrooms," she said, without giving her name.<br/><br/>"We were told not to leave the cafeteria for about 20 minutes, and then we were confined to a gym."<br/><br/>She added that the assailant "was known to be depressed, he said he loved Hitler."<br/><br/>Another school pupil told reporters the suspected attacker's manifesto said "globalisation has transformed our system into a machine to decompose humanity," advocating for a "biological revolt" to facilitate a return to "the natural order of things, even if cruel" instead of "globalised ecocide."<br/><br/>The school administration sent a message to the families of the some 2,000 students who attend the school, informing them of the incident.<br/><br/>Students had been immediately confined inside the school, the statement added.<br/><br/>"In coordination with the authorities present, we are organising the gradual release of students from 3:30 pm onwards in accordance with a strict protocol," the message said.<br/><br/>Concerned parents gathered outside the school, which had already been cordoned off by police who, with French soldiers, were guarding the site.<br/><br/>French Education Minister Elisabeth Borne and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau arrived on site in the afternoon.<br/><br/>Borne in February said police would start random searches for knives and other weapons concealed in bags at and around schools, in a bid to deal with an increase in violent attacks. (AFP)
Pupil kills fellow student in France school stabbing
2025-04-24 HKT 19:36
The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft – atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket – blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Thursday, sending astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie to space.<br/><br/>Xinhua news agency, citing an official, reported that the launch was a complete success.<br/><br/>The trio of astronauts will work on the Tiangong space station for six months and conduct physics and life sciences experiments, as well as install protective equipment against space debris.<br/><br/>They are also, for the first time, bringing planarians, which are aquatic flatworms known for their unparalleled regenerative abilities.<br/><br/>Earlier, hundreds of people holding bouquets and flags held a send-off ceremony for the trio before they were transported to the launch site.<br/><br/>The mission commander is Chen Dong, who has had two previous spaceflights under his belt. <br/><br/>At the pre-launch press conference on Wednesday, the 46-year-old former air force pilot said his excitement this time around remains just as strong as his first two trips to space.<br/><br/>Chen and his crew will carry out the in-orbit rotation with the trio of astronauts currently stationed on Tiangong.<br/><br/>The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 mission are scheduled to return to Earth on April the 29th.<br/><br/>China has sought to bring other countries into its space programme, and in February signed a deal with Pakistan to bring the first foreign astronaut aboard Tiangong. (Agencies)
Shenzhou-20 blasts off for Tiangong space station
2025-04-24 HKT 18:19
Acting Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said on Thursday the government is looking at ways to improve a labour importation scheme. <br/><br/>The Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, introduced about one and a half years ago, allows foreign workers to be brought in under 26 low-skilled job categories. <br/><br/>The scheme is set to expire in September.<br/><br/>“The scheme has brought its desired effect into play,” Cheuk said at a government Labour Day reception. <br/><br/>"Those brought in have effectively supplemented the labour force, improved services and fostered business development. <br/><br/>“We are reviewing and enhancing the scheme. <br/><br/>"We will consider the opinions by employer and labour groups in order to decide the future direction of the scheme." <br/><br/>Cheuk also expressed gratitude to all workers in the city, saying their hard work contributed to the prosperity and progress of Hong Kong. <br/><br/>Lawmakers, representatives from the business and labour sectors, as well as officials such as Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun and Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Alice Lau also attended the event.
Govt working to improve labour import scheme
2025-04-24 HKT 17:23
The government said on Thursday it will listen to public views over its plans to ban the use of konjac in mini-cup jellies before ironing out details on the legal changes. <br/><br/>This came after some lawmakers questioned why officials only want to outlaw sales of cups smaller than 4.5 centimetres in length or width that contain konjac but not other bigger products or foodstuffs that pose similar choking risks. <br/><br/>A coroner recommended more regulations following the death of a pupil late last year, who choked to death while eating the product at school.<br/><br/>Undersecretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong said that while officials don't have fatality figures for Hong Kong, they made the proposal with reference to some data from Japan.<br/><br/>"There are choking cases from time to time from around the world," she told lawmakers in a food safety panel meeting. <br/><br/>"In Japan, from 1995 until 2008, there were 54 confirmed choking cases involving cups of konjac jellies. <br/><br/>"In 22 of the cases, people died. <br/><br/>"So we looked at the local and global situations and made our proposal based on the local risk assessment."<br/><br/>Officials said they came up with the 4.5cm designation because that's the cut-off in Australia and Malaysia, while noting that the European Union bans all konjac products outright.<br/><br/>The Centre for Food Safety said officials are looking at konjac because it's harder to chew when compared with regular jelly.<br/><br/>If the legal changes are passed, the mini-cup ban would come six months afterwards, while food distributors would have to put on warning labels for other konjac products in a year's time.<br/><br/>The centre said if the product is sold as a multiple-cup pack, there would need to be a warning label on it as a whole and not on every individual cup.<br/><br/>If the product is sold as small packs, however, the centre said then the labels need to be on every single pack.<br/><br/>Officials noted that the legal changes would pose just a small effect on the trade.<br/><br/>That's because just nine of 112 konjac jelly samples officials checked in the past year were sold in mini-cups, and more than half of the products already contain warning labels.<br/><br/>Lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan, who's a former political assistant to the Secretary for Food and Health, said officials shouldn't just be thinking about bans.<br/><br/>She said there should be more public education about what to do when people choke, such as making first aid courses specifically on choking a mandatory part of the school curriculum.
Food for thought as konjac jelly ban move hardens
2025-04-24 HKT 17:13
More than 200,000 people are expected to head to the pictures in Hong Kong on May 10, as Cinema Day returns for the third straight year.<br/><br/>Movie tickets will be priced at HK$30 – like the last two Cinema Days – at all 53 theatres in the SAR.<br/><br/>More than 70 films are expected to be featured, including The Last Dance, a critically acclaimed film about the funeral planning business, and kung fu spectacle Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. <br/><br/>Both movies have been nominated for the best film gong at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards.<br/><br/>Tickets will go up for sale at noon three days ahead of the event.<br/><br/>Timothy Yuen, executive committee chairman of the Hong Kong Theatres Association believes the number of moviegoers that day will be similar to previous years.<br/><br/>"To the success of the first and second Cinema Day, we are confident that this year we can achieve the same number, or even more than the last two years," he said.<br/><br/>Yuen encouraged members of the public to enjoy the event with their families to celebrate Mother's Day, which follows Cinema Day. <br/><br/>He added that the government, which is subsidising the event, is expected to shoulder up to HK$10 million for the event, depending on the turnout.<br/><br/>Each person can buy a maximum of four tickets in-person at each time, while online purchases are subject to the restrictions of individual cinema chains.<br/><br/>The event attracted about 203,860 moviegoers last year, a drop of eight percent compared to the inaugural Cinema Day.
HK$30 movie tickets for Cinema Day on May 10
2025-04-24 HKT 16:21
Chief Executive John Lee attended the Hong Kong-Zhejiang Cooperation Conference on Thursday, marking the establishment of a new cooperation mechanism between the two places.<br/><br/>During the plenary session, both governments established 13 key areas of cooperation with 51 projects, including finance, aviation, and the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative.<br/><br/>Four cooperation agreements were signed, covering technological innovation, housing development, economic and trade cooperation, and youth development. <br/><br/>In his speech, Lee said the new mechanism has brought cooperation between the SAR and Zhejiang province to new heights.<br/><br/>"We will work together to promote high-quality trade development, utilising Hong Kong's advantages as an international trade centre and multinational supply chain hub, along with Zhejiang's strengths in digital economy," he said. <br/><br/>The SAR is also nurturing emerging industries, such as life and health technology, AI and robotics, all of which Lee pointed out can be developed in synergy with Zhejiang. <br/><br/>In a Facebook post, Lee noted the SAR is Zhejiang’s largest source of investment and an important platform for the province's enterprises to go global. <br/><br/>The CE added that he believes the exchanges between the two places will greatly benefit the nation's reform, opening up and rejuvenation.<br/><br/>Zhejiang province party secretary Wang Hao, and executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Zhou Ji, also attended the meeting in Hangzhou.
Hong Kong, Zhejiang strengthen cooperation
2025-04-24 HKT 14:13
China and Kenya said on Thursday they oppose "new hegemonic tactics" such as illegal unilateral sanctions, tariff barriers and technological blockades.<br/><br/>The declaration came in a joint statement issued during Kenyan President William Ruto's current visit to China.<br/><br/>Ruto pledged to build closer ties with China after saying on Wednesday that a global trade war triggered by Washington could deal a “death blow” to the current world order.<br/><br/>Ruto is on a five-day visit to China, his third trip to Beijing since taking office in 2022. The visit comes at a time when both Kenya and China are seeking to expand ties amid a tariff fight between Washington and Beijing.<br/><br/>Kenya wants to learn from “China’s remarkable journey of transformation in governance, economic development and global leadership,” he said. <br/><br/>He thanked President Xi Jinping for tens of millions of dollars in support for health, education and disaster relief, as well as for the planned construction of a new complex for Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<br/><br/>Xi told Ruto that “China attaches great importance to China-Kenya relations” and that Beijing would work with Kenya to develop the “unity and cooperation of the global South.” Xi is looking to shore up partnerships and find solutions for the high trade barrier that the United States has imposed on Chinese exports.<br/><br/>Kenya is a key participant in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the ambitious plan that aims to connect Africa, Asia and Europe through massive infrastructure and energy projects. China has funded billions of dollars’ worth of Kenyan roads, ports and a railway that runs from the coastal city of Mombasa through the capital, Nairobi.<br/><br/>Ruto's "death blow" comment came in a keynote speech at Peking University in which he criticized the UN Security Council and the current world order, calling it “broken, dysfunctional and no longer fit for purpose” and saying the tariffs imposed by Trump “may be its final death blow”.<br/><br/>Many African nations face uncertainty over the tariffs, which threaten key industries that export to the United States. <br/><br/>The United States is one of Kenya’s largest export destinations, while China is Kenya’s top supplier.<br/><br/>After the meeting, the two countries signed security, technology, and economic agreements, as well as agreements on railways and the establishment of a new Kenyan consulate in Guangzhou. (Reuters/AP)
China and Kenya slam 'new hegemonic tactics'
2025-04-24 HKT 12:06
Six Hong Kong universities have made it into the top 50 in the latest rankings of Asian tertiary institutions by Britain's Times Higher Education magazine for the first time since 2017.<br/><br/>The city's two oldest universities were both in the top 10, with the University of Hong Kong maintaining its sixth place and the Chinese University moving up to ninth. <br/><br/>According to the magazine's Asia University Rankings 2025 published on Thursday, the latest Hong Kong entrant is Baptist University, which jumped from 63rd to 50th place. <br/><br/>The University of Science and Technology kept its 12th placing while Polytechnic University rose to 18th.<br/><br/>City University, which saw its ranking drop slightly to 16th, said in a statement that it "continues to excel in various evaluation indicators". <br/><br/>Beijing's Tsinghua University continues to top the rankings for the seventh consecutive year while Peking University retained its second place.<br/><br/>Two Singapore universities followed closely behind, while the University of Tokyo held steady at fifth.<br/><br/>The magazine ranked the universities based on their research, teaching, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
Six HK universities make list of Asia's top 50
2025-04-24 HKT 11:15
Boeing's Chinese customers are refusing delivery of new planes built for them due to tariffs, the planemaker has confirmed, as a third Boeing jet started returning to the United States on Thursday.<br/><br/>"Due to the tariffs, many of our customers in China have indicated that they will not take delivery," CEO Kelly Ortberg said during a first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday.<br/><br/>Ortberg said China was the only country where Boeing was facing this issue and the planemaker would redirect new jet supply to other customers eager for earlier deliveries due to a global shortage of new commercial planes.<br/><br/>Before US President Donald Trump's global trade offensive, commercial jets were traded duty-free worldwide under a 1979 civil aviation agreement.<br/><br/>A Chinese airline taking delivery of a Boeing jet could now be hit hard by the retaliatory tariffs imposed by Beijing on the import of US goods. A new 737 MAX has a market value of around US$55 million, according to IBA, an aviation consultancy.<br/><br/>Two 737 MAX 8s, which had been ferried to China in March for delivery to Xiamen Airlines, returned to Boeing's production hub in Seattle in the past week.<br/><br/>A third 737 MAX 8 left Boeing's Zhoushan completion centre near Shanghai for the US territory of Guam on Thursday, data from flight trackers AirNav Radar and Flightradar24 showed.<br/><br/>The plane was initially built for national carrier Air China, according to the Aviation Flights Group tracking database. <br/><br/>It had been ferried from Seattle on April 5, in the period between Trump first announcing tariffs on China and Beijing starting to enforce its own ramped up tariffs on US goods.<br/><br/>Guam is one of the stops such flights make on the 8,000-kilometre journey across the Pacific between Seattle and Zhoushan, where planes are ferried by Boeing for final work and delivery to a Chinese carrier.<br/><br/>Chief financial officer Brian West said China represents around 10 percent of Boeing's backlog of commercial planes.<br/><br/>Boeing had planned to deliver around 50 new planes to China during the rest of the year, West said, and was assessing options for re-marketing the 41 already built or in-process airplanes.<br/><br/>"For the nine airplanes not yet in the production system, we're engaged with our customers to understand their intentions for taking delivery and if necessary, we have the ability to assign those positions to other customers," Ortberg said.<br/><br/>"We're not going to continue to build aircraft for customers who will not take them," Ortberg said.<br/><br/>Tracking data from Aviation Flights Group shows 36 built aircraft for Chinese customers at various stages of production and testing are now in the United States, including the three returned planes.<br/><br/>Boeing data shows 130 unfilled orders for China-based airlines and lessors, including 96 of its best-selling 737 MAX model. Industry sources say a significant portion of the more than 760 unfilled orders for which Boeing has yet to name a buyer are for China.<br/><br/>The tariff war comes as Boeing has been recovering from an almost five-year import freeze on 737 MAX jets into China and a previous round of trade tensions.<br/><br/>West said the issue is a short-term challenge, and that either China starts taking planes again, or Boeing prepares the jets for re-marketing. (Reuters)
Boeing admits Chinese airlines rejecting deliveries
2025-04-24 HKT 10:49
US President Donald Trump played up prospects of a "fair deal" on trade with China overnight but his top officials offered few details of how Washington might de-escalate its damaging tariff war with Beijing.<br/><br/>Trump said his country would have a "fair deal with China," adding that "everything's active" when asked if Washington was talking to Beijing.<br/><br/>But how soon the tariffs can be lowered "depends on them," he said, referring to Beijing, even as he maintained that he gets along "very well" with President Xi Jinping and hopes they can reach an agreement.<br/><br/>Despite signals that Washington is looking towards a fair agreement, the state of discussions remains murky over the 145 percent tariffs Trump has imposed on China and the 125 percent levies that Beijing has hit back with.<br/><br/>Asked if there is direct US contact with China on trade, Trump said: "Every day."<br/><br/>But earlier in the day, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two sides are "not yet" talking when it comes to lowering tariffs.<br/><br/>"I think both sides are waiting to speak to the other," he said at an event on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's spring meetings in Washington.<br/><br/>He added that there is no unilateral offer from Trump to slash duties on Chinese goods.<br/><br/>Bessent said the staggeringly high tariffs both countries have imposed on each other's goods have to come down before negotiations can occur.<br/><br/>"I don't think either side believes that the current tariff levels are sustainable, so I would not be surprised if they went down in a mutual way," he added on the sidelines of an Institute of International Finance forum.<br/><br/>"This is the equivalent of an embargo, and a break between the two countries in trade does not suit anyone's interest," Bessent said, stressing that "de-escalation by both sides is possible."<br/><br/>But he had no timeframe on how soon bilateral talks could take place.<br/><br/>"It's both a blessing and a curse that the strongest relationship is at the very top," Bessent said, referring to Trump's ties with Xi. But with "any de-escalation, the talks would not begin at the very top."<br/><br/>Joseph Grieco, professor of political science at Duke University, said Trump may continue to chase China for a deal "to keep the financial markets off his back."<br/><br/>While Trump has swiftly rolled out sharp tariffs on different countries and sectors, he has also been quick to introduce certain exemptions – most recently some temporary reprieve for tech products like smartphones and chipmaking tools.<br/><br/>And he could widen the carveouts, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, saying Trump could exempt car parts from some tariffs on Chinese imports – alongside those on steel and aluminium. (AFP)
Trump keeps talking up hopes of 'fair deal' with China
2025-04-24 HKT 09:47
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Canada would “cease to exist” if it weren’t for the United States - comments that came just days before Canadians are set to vote in an election dominated by Trump’s remarks on the country’s economy and sovereignty.<br/><br/>Trump re-inserted himself into Canada’s election during a signing ceremony inside the Oval Office, saying Canada “would cease to exist as a country” if the US stopped buying its goods.<br/><br/>“I have to be honest, as a state, it works great,” said Trump, who previously threatened to make the country the 51st state through economic coercion.<br/><br/>Trump reiterated his claim that the US doesn’t need anything from Canada - including autos and oil.<br/><br/>“We don’t really want Canada to make cars for us, to put it bluntly. We want to make our own cars,” Trump said.<br/><br/>In recent weeks, Trump has dialed back his talk of Canada becoming the 51st state. He stopped saying it after a call with new Prime Minister Mark Carney last month.<br/><br/>Trump also suggested on Wednesday that he might increase import taxes on cars from Canada. Trump has a 25 percent tariff on autos, although there are some exemptions related to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade, and automakers are seeking other policy changes to minimize the tariff burden. <br/><br/>Trump has separate 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods - ostensibly to address drug smuggling into the US.<br/><br/>“I really don’t want cars from Canada,” Trump said. “So when I put tariffs on Canada, they’re paying 25 percent, but that could go up in terms of cars. When we put tariffs on, all we’re doing is we’re saying, ‘We don’t want your cars, in all due respect.’”<br/><br/>Trump cautioned that he’s not currently considering additional auto tariffs, but he said there could be an increase.<br/><br/>Carney said last week that eliminating trade barriers within Canada would benefit Canadians as he made his case to retain power ahead of an April 28 vote. Carney has set a goal of free trade within the country’s 10 provinces and three territories by July 1. Canada has long had interprovincial trade barriers.<br/><br/>“We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can ever take away,” Carney said. “We can have one economy. This is within our grasp.”<br/><br/>Carney said the relationship Canada has had with the United States for the past 40 years has fundamentally changed because of Trump’s tariffs. <br/><br/>Trump’s trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in Canadian nationalism that has bolstered Liberal Party poll numbers. (AP)
Trump insists Canada would 'cease to exist' without US
2025-04-23 HKT 23:54
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas urged the militant group Hamas on Wednesday to release the hostages still being held in Gaza, calling it the main factor fuelling Israeli attacks on the territory.<br/><br/>"Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages," Abbas said at a meeting in Ramallah.<br/><br/>"I'm the one paying the price, our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over."<br/><br/>"Every day there are deaths. Why? Because they (Hamas) refuse to hand over the American hostage," said the Palestinian leader, referring to Edan Alexander, who was reportedly on a list of hostages Israel had asked to be freed in a proposal that was recently rejected by Hamas.<br/><br/>"You sons of dogs, hand over what you have and get us out of this" ordeal, he added, levelling a harsh Arabic epithet at Hamas.<br/><br/>Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, condemned Abbas's remarks, calling them "insulting."<br/><br/>"Abbas continues to describe a significant and integral part of his own people using derogatory language," Naim said.<br/><br/>"Abbas repeatedly and suspiciously lays the blame for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our people."<br/><br/>Ties between Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas have been marked by deep political and ideological divisions for nearly two decades.<br/><br/>Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have often accused Hamas of undermining Palestinian unity, while Hamas has criticised the president for collaborating with Israel and cracking down on dissent in the West Bank. (AFP)
Palestinian president Abbas urges release of hostages
2025-04-23 HKT 18:02
Chief Executive John Lee said on Wednesday he had exchanges with six Hangzhou start-ups and welcomed them to expand in Hong Kong.<br/><br/>On the second day of his visit to Zhejiang province, Lee went to the Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City Urban Exhibition Hall in the morning.<br/><br/>In a social media post, the chief executive said the exhibition hall showcased the achievements of six Hangzhou start-ups, nicknamed the Six Little Dragons.<br/><br/>Lee said he had exchanges with representatives of the six start-ups, including discussions over their future collaboration with Hong Kong.<br/><br/>He thanked the companies for supporting the SAR's innovation and technology development and welcomed them to set up or expand in the city and cooperate with Hong Kong enterprises and organisations.<br/><br/>The chief executive visited one of the Six Little Dragons, BrainCo, on Wednesday morning to learn about high-tech products such as smart bionic arms and legs.<br/><br/>In the afternoon, he visited another leading start-up, Unitree Robotics, during which its CEO, Wang Xingxing, said there will be more cooperation opportunities with Hong Kong in the future.<br/><br/>"[Lee] had a look at many of our products, including some which have not been launched yet," Wang said. <br/><br/>"He looked at our robot dogs, humanoid robots and boxing robots."<br/><br/>Lee also wrote that he visited the First Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine to learn about the operation of a smart hospital and the use of artificial intelligence for clinical diagnoses.
CE eyes collaboration with Hangzhou's 'Little Dragons'
2025-04-23 HKT 16:26
President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday tariffs hurt the multilateral trading system as he hosted his Azerbaijani counterpart for talks in Beijing.<br/><br/>Xi told Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that trade wars "undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, hurt the multilateral trading system, and impact the world economic order".<br/><br/>The president added that China is willing to work with Azerbaijan to safeguard the international system and carry out in depth law enforcement and security cooperation with Baku.<br/><br/>"China is ready to work with the Azerbaijan side to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core... and safeguard international fairness and justice," Xinhua said.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry said it was willing to engage in trade talks with Washington, a day after US President Donald Trump signalled that hefty tariffs he imposed on the country would come down after the sides reach a deal.<br/><br/>"China pointed early on that there are no winners in tariff wars and trade wars," ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a daily press conference in Beijing, adding: "The door for talks is wide open."<br/><br/>But, Guo warned, "saying on the one hand that they want to reach an agreement with China, while on the other hand continuing to exert extreme pressure is not the correct way to have dealings with China".<br/><br/>Beijing and Washington have been embroiled in a blistering trade war since Trump this month slapped a 145 percent blanket tax on Chinese imports.<br/><br/>China responded with a 125 percent duty on goods from the US.<br/><br/>The Commerce Ministry this week warned other nations to be wary in seeking a deal with Washington.<br/><br/>"China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China's interests," it said on Monday.<br/><br/>"Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not be respected."<br/><br/>On Tuesday, in phone calls with his British and Austrian counterparts, Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Britain and the European Union to help in defending multilateral trade. (Agencies)
Xi slams tariffs as Beijing says it's open for talks
2025-04-23 HKT 16:14
The body of Pope Francis, laid out in an open coffin, was carried in a solemn procession on Wednesday from his residence within the walls of the Vatican City to St. Peter's Basilica.<br/><br/>Red-hatted cardinals, priests, candle-carrying friars and helmeted Swiss Guards walked slowly into the vast, sunlit esplanade as a male choir chanted psalms and prayers in Latin while the great bells of the basilica tolled.<br/><br/>The body of the 88-year-old pope, who died two days ago in his rooms at the Santa Marta guesthouse after suffering a stroke, was held aloft on a wooden platform by 14 white-gloved, black-suited pallbearers.<br/><br/>"Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow we now accompany the mortal remains of our Pope Francis to the Vatican Basilica," said the Irish-American cardinal Kevin Farrell at the start of the ceremony.<br/><br/>As the coffin crossed St. Peter's Square, a crowd of several thousand broke into repeated applause – a traditional Italian sign of respect at such events.<br/><br/>Pope Francis, who spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year being treated for double pneumonia, last appeared in public on Sunday, when he surprised pilgrims by being driven around the packed square in his white, open-topped popemobile.<br/><br/>His body will lie in state in St. Peter's Basilica until Friday evening, allowing faithful to pay their respects.<br/><br/>"He's like a member of the family. Somebody very close to our hearts, somebody who made the church very accessible to everybody and inclusive to everybody," said Rachel Mckay, a pilgrim from Britain who was in the square.<br/><br/>His funeral is set for Saturday and will draw heads of state and government from around the world, including US President Donald Trump, who clashed repeatedly with the pope on social issues.<br/><br/>Leaders from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, EU institutions and Francis' home nation of Argentina have also confirmed their presence.<br/><br/>At least 200,000 people are expected to attend the outdoor service, the head of Italy's civil protection agency, Fabio Ciciliano, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.<br/><br/>A conclave to choose the new pope is not expected to start before May 6, with cardinals now flocking to Rome only due to decide the date following what are often prolonged discussions.<br/><br/>There is no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis, although British bookmakers have singled out Luis Antonio Tagle, a reformer from the Philippines, and Pietro Parolin, from Italy, as early favourites.<br/><br/>In the meantime, in the period known as the "sede vacante" (vacant seat) for the global Catholic Church, cardinal Farrell is in charge of day-to-day affairs. (Reuters)
Pope's body lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica
2025-04-23 HKT 13:54
China announced on Wednesday that a veteran astronaut will lead two crew members on their first flight to the Tiangong space station, the latest milestone in the country's race to send a manned mission to the moon by 2030.<br/><br/>The Shenzhou-20 mission is scheduled to blast off at 5.17pm on Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency.<br/><br/>At the helm will be Chen Dong, a 46-year-old former fighter pilot and experienced space explorer who in 2022 became the first Chinese astronaut to spend more than 200 cumulative days in orbit.<br/><br/>On his latest Shenzhou mission, his third, Chen said he was "still very excited".<br/><br/>Said the mission commander: "Every space journey is very unique, so I look forward to bringing in more experience and breakthroughs in the flight."<br/><br/>Joining Chen will be two other male astronauts, Chen Zhongrui, a 40-year-old former air force pilot, and Wang Jie, a 35-year-old former space technology engineer.<br/><br/>"Today, I am on the point of realising my dream of flying in space," said Chen Zhongrui.<br/><br/>"To be honest, when we first started training together, we were still a little nervous," he said of himself and Wang.<br/><br/>"Now [the three crew members] are integrated like they are a single person," he added.<br/><br/>The astronauts currently aboard the Tiangong space station are scheduled to return to Earth on April 29 after completing handover procedures with the incoming crew, Lin added.<br/><br/>China's space programme, the third to put humans in orbit, has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon.<br/><br/>The Tiangong space station – crewed by teams of three astronauts that are exchanged every six months – is the crown jewel of the country's space project.<br/><br/>Like previous missions, the Shenzhou-20 crew will continue to conduct experiments in physics and life sciences and will install protective equipment against space debris.<br/><br/>For the first time, they will also bring planarians aboard – aquatic flatworms known for their regenerative abilities.<br/><br/>"The results could help address problems related to injuries sustained in space environments," said Lin on Wednesday. (AFP)
Veteran to lead Thursday's Shenzhou-20 mission
2025-04-23 HKT 12:35
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said he thinks people in business are smart over where opportunities lie and Hong Kong's being a tariff-free economy makes it operationally convenient for them.<br/><br/>Speaking on RTHK's Overview Policy programme on Wednesday, he said the government will step up promotion as Hong Kong seeks to enter into more free-trade agreements with other economies.<br/><br/>Small and medium enterprises, Yau added, need to adjust their operational strategies according to the global situation, and the key to helping them lies in extending Hong Kong's business network.<br/><br/>"The business sector is very smart," he said. <br/><br/>"People in business are surely aware of where the opportunities are.<br/><br/>"Hong Kong is tariff-free. But many economies, many countries, are not."<br/><br/>Yau noted that e-commerce firms have been a major source of inspiration for the retail sector.<br/><br/>He said smaller local companies can look for opportunities in Belt and Road countries, especially those in the Middle East and Asean.<br/><br/>The commerce chief stressed that InvestHK has done very well last year in bringing in nearly 10,000 new firms from the mainland and overseas, up around 10 percent from 2023.<br/><br/>He said this was a testament to the commerce sector expressing confidence in Hong Kong's business environment.
Businesses 'are getting smart over duty-free HK'
2025-04-23 HKT 12:34
The national space agency said on Wednesday astronauts from Hong Kong and Macau are on track to make their inaugural space flight as early as next year in a first for the two special administrative regions.<br/><br/>The update came close to a year after the China Manned Space Agency selected two payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macau to join its fourth batch of preparatory astronauts.<br/><br/>News of their eligibility came as the agency announced the crew for Thursday's Shenzhou-20 launch.<br/><br/>Speaking at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northeastern Gobi Desert, agency spokesman Lin Xiqiang said the SAR astronauts had carried out a number of studies and physical and psychological training according to plans.<br/><br/>"Since joining the batch, the astronauts from Hong Kong and Macau quickly adapted to the working and living environment, rapidly integrated into the team of astronauts, trained very hard, and all their work progress has been smooth," he said. <br/><br/>"Currently, they are conducting studies and training in professional aerospace technology. <br/><br/>"As payload specialists, astronauts from Hong Kong and Macau are expected to carry out their first flight mission in 2026 at the earliest," he said.<br/><br/>Lin also noted that the fourth batch of 10 preparatory astronauts would continue to carry out more training based on established plans and be included as candidates to join flight crews once they qualify.<br/><br/>Payload specialists are professional scientific researchers who are mainly responsible for conducting experiments or research. They are also responsible for overseeing daily operations in space stations with other astronauts.<br/><br/>The Hong Kong payload specialist was selected from 80 hopefuls after the national agency announced for the first time in 2022 that it will recruit for such positions from regions such as Hong Kong and Macau.
City's first astronaut may be set for launch next year
