1 week ago Hong Kong transport chief calls for urgent fix to driving licence application queues

Hong Kong’s transport minister has directed her team to urgently address prolonged queues and potential abuses of the application system for test-free driving licences, as long lines formed overnight outside a government office to secure the daily quota of same-day application tickets. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Wednesday publicly urged the Transport Department to find prompt solutions, including ensuring that an enhanced online booking system was available before...

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1 week ago Hong Kong moves ticketing for driving licence applications online to beat touts

Hong Kong transport authorities will fully move ticketing for test-free driving licence applications online from Monday, after the highly sought-after service attracted long queues and scalpers. The Transport Department said on Wednesday that the policy change, resulting in walk-in applications being cancelled, aimed to distribute tickets in a fair and orderly manner. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan had told the department on Tuesday to find prompt solutions. Hong Kong currently...

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1 week ago China’s ideology chief calls on propaganda officials to focus on the economy

China’s ideology chief has again called on propaganda officials to focus on the economy, as the country grapples with a slowdown, high unemployment and weak consumer demand. Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, told a national meeting of publicity department heads in Beijing on Monday that “a good start should be set” for the next five-year plan, state news agency Xinhua reported. The country’s new blueprint for social and economic development has officially begun and runs until...

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2 w. ago Lee's state visit to China to focus on economy, culture and peace on the Korean Peninsula

Lee's state visit to China to focus on economy, culture and peace on the Korean Peninsula  Korea JoongAng Daily

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2 w. ago UN chief Antonio Guterres calls on world leaders to ‘get serious’ in grim New Year message

The United Nations urged global leaders on Monday to focus on people and the planet in a New Year’s message depicting the world in chaos. “As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a video message. In 2026, as war rages in Ukraine and elsewhere, world leaders must work to ease human suffering and fight climate...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘World stands at a crossroads’: UN chief Guterres issues grim New Year message

The United Nations urged global leaders on Monday to focus on people and the planet in a New Year’s message depicting the world in chaos. “As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a video message. In 2026, as war rages in Ukraine and elsewhere, world leaders must work to ease human suffering and fight climate...

Politics