39 m. ago Encourage employees to vote in Hong Kong’s coming Legco election: John Lee

Hong Kong’s leader has called on the public and private sectors to encourage employees to vote in the coming Legislative Council election, describing it as their social responsibility. At the ceremony to launch the election on Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu urged both public institutions and businesses to encourage employees to take part in the poll, emphasising that voting was both a right and a civic duty. “I strongly urge all sectors of society, including various institutions,...

Politics

85 m. ago Hong Kong Ocean Park ‘not ruling out’ Water World closure to cut losses

Hong Kong Ocean Park does not rule out shutting down its Water World facility to prevent further deficit and will “actively consider” if the government is willing to take over operating rights, its chairman has revealed. Paulo Pong Kin-yee admitted on Thursday that the theme park’s HK$274.7 million (US$31.8 million) deficit over the past year was primarily driven by its water attraction. When asked whether the park would close the facility to balance the books, Pong said the option was not off...

Politics

2 h. ago As China’s fourth plenum wraps, editorial hails system as anchor of stability

As China prepares to unveil its next five-year plan on Thursday, the mouthpiece of the country’s ruling Communist Party has styled the nation’s socialist system as a source of strength that powers the development of the vast Chinese economy and provides stability to the global economy. In an editorial published on Thursday morning, People’s Daily said that China’s five-year plans provided clear direction and predictability amid global uncertainty, with the country estimated to have contributed...

Politics

3 h. ago Trump’s New Tariffs on China: How the Trade War’s Next Chapter Could Reshape the Global Economy

Trump’s New Tariffs on China: How the Trade War’s Next Chapter Could Reshape the Global Economy  vocal.media

Politics

5 h. ago Hilton to launch new brands in China as it seeks to expand presence to more than 300 cities

Global hotel chain operator Hilton plans to introduce new brands to mainland China, aiming to meet evolving lifestyle demands amid its rapid expansion in the world’s second-largest economy. Qian Jin, president of Hilton Greater China and Mongolia, said in an interview this week that the US hospitality group remained bullish on the mainland’s market, where Gen Z consumers and millennials’ pursuit of cultural and personal enrichment created a new growth engine for international hotel brands. “From...

Politics

5 h. ago Hilton to launch new brands in China, eyes presence in 320 cities

Global hotel chain operator Hilton plans to introduce new brands to mainland China, aiming to meet evolving lifestyle demands amid its rapid expansion in the world’s second-largest economy. Qian Jin, president of Hilton Greater China and Mongolia, said in an interview this week that the US hospitality group remained bullish on the mainland’s market, where Gen Z consumers and millennials’ pursuit of cultural and personal enrichment created a new growth engine for international hotel brands. “From...

Politics

5 h. ago Hilton to prioritise luxury in China, eyes presence in 320 destinations

Global hotel chain operator Hilton plans to double down on brands that can meet evolving lifestyle demands and offer luxury experiences in mainland China, reinforcing its rapid expansion in the world’s second-largest economy. Qian Jin, president of Hilton Greater China and Mongolia, said in an interview this week that the US hospitality group remained bullish on the mainland’s market, where Gen Z consumers and millennials’ pursuit of cultural and personal enrichment created a new growth engine...

Politics

7 h. ago Japan’s new PM talks up ties with South Korea but her past casts a long shadow

As Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office, she wasted no time extending an olive branch to South Korea, calling it an “important neighbour” and praising its culture. But how long will the goodwill last? Concerns linger in South Korea that Takaichi, known for her nationalist leanings, may eventually adopt a more hawkish stance, risking again straining ties over long-standing issues such as Japan’s wartime history and territorial disputes. “I would say there is optimism about the...

Politics

7 h. ago New Phnom Penh airport opens with fanfare as Cambodia touts regional, China ties

With an eye to transforming Cambodia into a Southeast Asian travel and cargo hub, a new US$2.3 billion airport – developed by a venture affiliated with one of the country’s wealthiest men – was opened at a grand ceremony near Phnom Penh, where officials and business leaders praised the project for enhancing regional connectivity and deepening links with Hong Kong and mainland China. Techo International Airport (TIA), which has replaced the Cambodian capital’s previous facility, has been forecast...

Politics

17 h. ago China’s SOEs breathe life into Xi Jinping’s ‘city of the future’ Xiongan

Xiongan, China’s “city of the future” – a project years in the making, championed by President Xi Jinping – is slowly coming to life, as major state-owned enterprises (SOEs) begin relocating to the new metropolis in Hebei province. Sinochem Holdings and China Huaneng Group are among the latest to officially relocate their headquarters to Xiongan this month, each bringing about 1,000 employees, according to local authorities. They join other SOEs like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Railway Company, which...

Politics

17 h. ago Singapore cyber summit stresses need for unified front amid rising threats

Experts and officials at a major cybersecurity summit in Singapore have called for deeper collaboration between governments and tech giants, warning that fragmented efforts are no match for increasingly sophisticated digital threats. Speaking at the Singapore International Cyber Week, policymakers and industry leaders said closer partnerships were essential to sharing threat intelligence, innovating jointly and mounting coordinated responses to cyberattacks. These partnerships were crucial as...

Politics

18 h. ago Beijing will invite Taiwan guests to mark 80 years since Japan’s surrender of island

Beijing is inviting guests from Taiwan to a key commemoration of Japan’s surrender of sovereignty over the island 80 years ago, despite warnings from Taipei against attendance. The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) in Beijing announced on Wednesday that guests from the island would be invited to attend the “Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Restoration of Taiwan”, which falls on Saturday. But the actual commemoration may not take place on that exact date, according to past practice. Visits...

Politics

18 h. ago Political Advisor and Commentator CJ Pearson explains the trade war between China and the United States.

Political Advisor and Commentator CJ Pearson explains the trade war between China and the United States.  facebook.com

Politics

18 h. ago Von der Leyen warns Europe must defend green tech against China

Von der Leyen warns Europe must defend green tech against China  politico.eu

Events

19 h. ago Prince Harry, Meghan join calls to halt AI surpassing human intelligence

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have joined prominent computer scientists, economists, artists, evangelical Christian leaders and American conservative commentators Steve Bannon and Glenn Beck to call for a ban on AI “superintelligence” that threatens humanity. The letter, released on Wednesday by a politically and geographically diverse group of public figures, is squarely aimed at tech giants like Google, OpenAI and Meta Platforms that are racing each other to build a form of artificial...

Politics

19 h. ago Belarusian model reportedly killed in Myanmar went there on her own: Thai police

Thai immigration officials have denied claims that a Belarusian model was abducted while in Bangkok and forcibly taken to Myanmar, where tabloids claim she was reportedly killed by a criminal gang. The unconfirmed death of 26-year-old Vera Kravtsova has gained international attention in recent days after Russian and British tabloids reported that, following her arrival in Thailand, she was kidnapped and brought to northern Myanmar, where she was tortured and had her organs harvested while being...

Events

21 h. ago 37,000 workers imported into Hong Kong since start of labour scheme in 2023

Hong Kong has imported more than 37,000 workers since the government’s introduction of a labour scheme two years ago, while a construction union has announced a wage freeze for most of the major trades in the industry. The Labour and Welfare Bureau on Wednesday revealed that it had received applications to import more than 62,000 workers in the catering and hospitality industries since the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme was launched in 2023. Between September 4, 2023, and September 30 this...

Politics

25 h. ago Outspoken Hong Kong lawmaker Doreen Kong, 55, will not seek second term in Legco

Hong Kong lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, known for her outspoken views, has announced that she will not seek a second term in the coming Legislative Council election, saying she wants to shift her focus back to her legal practice. Her decision, revealed on Wednesday, brings the number of incumbent legislators who are stepping down to 22 – nearly a quarter of the current 89 members. Kong, 55, also said she was preparing an online platform which would allow her to analyse public affairs and...

Politics

25 h. ago Outspoken Hong Kong lawmaker Doreen Kong, 55, will not seek second Legco term

Hong Kong lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, known for her outspoken views, has announced that she will not seek a second term in the coming Legislative Council election, saying she wants to shift her focus back to her legal practice. Her decision, revealed on Wednesday, brings the number of incumbent legislators who are opting not to run to 22 – nearly a quarter of the current 89 members. Kong, 55, also said she was preparing an online platform which would allow her to analyse public affairs and...

Politics

26 h. ago China’s youth jobless rate falls but remains high after record graduation season

China’s urban youth unemployment rate edged lower last month but remained at a concerning level amid ongoing struggles for many young people to find work in a challenging and crowded job market. The jobless rate for the 16 to 24 age group, excluding students, dipped to 17.7 per cent in September from 18.9 per cent in August. Financial news outlet Cailian reported the figure on Wednesday, citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The August figure had hit the highest level since the...

Politics