62 h. ago Hong Kong insurers identify 8,700 policies owned by Tai Po fire victims

About 30 Hong Kong-based insurance companies, including AIA and Manulife, have issued 7,600 life insurance and 1,100 property policies to policyholders listed as residing at Wang Fuk Court, according to the Insurance Authority. Insurance Authority CEO Clement Cheung Wan-ching said the authority had set up a special task force, led by senior executives, to urge all insurers to identify policyholders affected by the blaze at Wang Fuk Court last week that killed 159 people, injured 79 and left an...

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66 h. ago Hong Kong’s tragedy in Tai Po: searching the ashes for answers

One week after its worst fire in decades, Hong Kong is searching for answers to the inferno that ripped through seven towers at Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, killing at least 156 people, injuring dozens and leaving around 30 unaccounted for. Click here for a larger version of the infographic or read on for more details. I can’t describe the feeling There are so many [photos] of children A woman surnamed Cheung, who searched for her sister and brother-in-law from Wang Cheong...

Politics

3 d. ago National Guard shooting suspect pleads not guilty to murder from hospital bed

The suspect accused of shooting two National Guard members in an ambush in downtown Washington last week was charged on Tuesday with murder and other offences as he made his first court appearance, appearing remotely from a hospital bed. A judge ordered Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, held in custody without bond, citing the “sheer terror” of the shooting blocks from the White House that killed one member of the National Guard and critically injured a second. Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to all...

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3 d. ago Chinese national who smuggled pathogens into Michigan has been deported, FBI says

Chinese national who smuggled pathogens into Michigan has been deported, FBI says  CBS News

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3 d. ago Chinese involvement stalls Manila Bay bridge project due to security fears

The Philippines deferred the awarding of a project that is part of a plan to build one of the world’s longest marine bridges after local opposition over the potential involvement of a Chinese company due to national security fears. The proposals were “undergoing thorough review” by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which acts as a lender and an overseer of the project to ensure it meets international environmental and governance standards, Manila’s public works department said in a statement on...

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4 d. ago Chinese national jailed in Singapore for attempted rape of ex

A PhD student who attempted to rape his former housemate after his repeated advances were rejected was sentenced to jail and caning in Singapore on Monday. Gao Xiong, a 31-year-old Chinese national, will be imprisoned for six years, six months and six weeks, and receive three strokes of the cane. He pleaded guilty to four charges which include attempted rape and criminal trespass, with another three charges taken into consideration. The court heard that Gao was completing his PhD studies in...

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5 d. ago Inequality with Chinese Characteristics: How to Atomize a Nation Without Firing a Shot

Inequality with Chinese Characteristics: How to Atomize a Nation Without Firing a Shot  Bitter Winter

Politics

6 d. ago Russian strikes kill 2 in Kyiv, injure 29, as efforts to end war continue

Russian drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, killed at least two people in the early hours of Saturday, local officials said. The attacks came just before a second round of peace negotiations was set to begin, as a renewed US-led push to end the war gathers steam this week. Writing on its official Telegram channel, the Kyiv City Military Administration said two people were killed in the strikes. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 29 people were wounded, noting that falling debris...

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6 d. ago Russian strikes kill 3 in Kyiv, injure 29, as efforts to end war continue

Russian drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and the surrounding area killed at least three people in the early hours of Saturday, local officials said. The attacks came just before a second round of peace negotiations was set to begin, as a renewed US-led push to end the war gathers steam this week. Writing on its official Telegram channel, the Kyiv City Military Administration said two people were killed in the strikes on the capital, and a woman died in a combined missile...

Events

7 d. ago Beijing sounds alarm as three Chinese nationals killed near Afghan border

Beijing sounds alarm as three Chinese nationals killed near Afghan border  Geo News

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7 d. ago Hongkongers snap up fire safety equipment as Tai Po blaze death toll climbs

Hong Kong residents and businesses are rushing to snap up safety equipment following the city’s worst fire in decades, which killed 128 and injured 79. The fire broke out on Wednesday in seven of eight residential buildings of Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district, with the blaze largely put out on Friday. The fire spread rapidly across the buildings, which were covered with scaffolding mesh and windows covered with polystyrene foam boards. Vendors of fire equipment said...

Events

8 d. ago US is biggest recipient of Chinese loans as Beijing shifts focus to rich nations, new study reveals

US is biggest recipient of Chinese loans as Beijing shifts focus to rich nations, new study reveals  CNA

Politics

8 d. ago 11 killed, 2 hurt after test train crashes into workers in southwestern China

A test train crashed into railway workers in China’s southwestern Yunnan province early on Thursday morning, killing 11 people and injuring two, state media said. The test train No 55537, which was used to test seismic equipment, collided with construction workers entering the railway line on a curve at Luoyangzhen Station in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Railway and local government authorities immediately activated their emergency response to manage...

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9 d. ago At least 13 dead as huge fire rips through Hong Kong housing estate

At least 13 people including a firefighter were killed and 33 others injured in a fiery blaze that ravaged a housing estate in Hong Kong’s northeastern district of Tai Po on Wednesday, as scorching flames engulfed bamboo scaffolding across seven residential blocks. An unknown number of residents of the Wang Fuk Court estate were still believed to be trapped inside as of early Thursday morning with the whereabouts of at least 70 reportedly unclear, while distraught families, fearing the worst,...

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9 d. ago Firefighter and 3 others dead, people trapped as blaze engulfs Hong Kong blocks

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Four people including a firefighter were killed and at least three others injured in a major fire that broke out in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, with fierce flames spreading across bamboo scaffolding at a housing estate, which has also trapped multiple residents. Huge plumes of dark smoke billowed high into the sky at the scene at Wang Fuk Court on...

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9 d. ago Hong Kong’s Tai Po blaze raised to maximum threat level as 4 dead, 13 trapped

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Four people including a firefighter were killed and at least five others critically injured in a major fire that broke out in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, with fierce flames spreading across bamboo scaffolding at a housing estate, which has also trapped multiple residents. Huge plumes of dark smoke billowed high into the sky at the scene at Wang Fuk...

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9 d. ago 12 dead as Hong Kong’s Tai Po blaze raised to maximum threat level

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Twelve people including a firefighter have been killed and at least 16 others are critically injured in a fiery blaze ravaging Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, as flames lash over bamboo scaffolding across all eight blocks of a housing estate with multiple other residents trapped inside. The other 11 who were killed were eight women and three men, according...

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9 d. ago 13 dead as searing heat hampers Hong Kong Tai Po blaze rescue efforts

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Thirteen people including a firefighter have been killed and at least 15 others are critically injured in an inferno ravaging a housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, as flames lash over bamboo scaffolding across seven blocks with multiple residents trapped inside. Huge plumes of dark smoke billowed high into the sky at the scene at Wang Fuk...

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9 d. ago Xi Jinping sends condolences as at least 13 die in massive Hong Kong blaze

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to the victims of a raging fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood in a late evening statement, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Thirteen people including a firefighter were killed and at least 15 others critically injured in an inferno ravaging a housing estate in Tai Po, as flames lashed over bamboo...

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9 d. ago Xi sends condolences as baby, elderly woman rescued in deadly Hong Kong blaze

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to the victims of a raging fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood in a late evening statement, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Thirteen people including a firefighter were killed and at least 15 others critically injured in an inferno ravaging a housing estate in Tai Po, as flames lashed over bamboo...

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