6 d. ago Defects, lax oversight may have led to Hong Kong prefab flat woes: experts

Material defects and poor installation supervision may have contributed to the improper assembly of prefabricated flats at three light public housing projects in Hong Kong, experts have suggested amid a controversy over the new construction method. Their analysis came after a series of incidents involving Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) flats across various public housing projects sparked concerns over the dependability of the new building technique that has been heavily promoted by the...

Politics

2 w. ago Mooncake sales on the wane as China’s consumers cut back on non

Early sales of mooncakes – a food traditionally distributed among families, workplaces and other social groups to celebrate China’s Mid-Autumn Festival – have softened compared to previous years, another sign the country’s domestic demand has yet to fully reenergise. Packages of mooncakes, typically round baked goods with a variety of dense fillings, are popular gifts during the holiday season, with luxury variants stuffed with premium ingredients like black truffle or Spanish ham serving as...

Politics

2 w. ago Dried cricket mooncake filling sparks concerns in China about possible roach option

As this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, a type of novel mooncake has been launched that has attracted public attention in China because its filling is made from crickets. After such cricket mooncakes went viral on social media, internet users in southern China’s Guangdong province, where cockroaches are rampant due to the warm climate, made playful comments that cockroach mooncakes might not be far away. The cricket mooncake is produced by a farming centre in Linyi, Shandong province, in...

Politics

2 w. ago One account, many concerns: Indonesia’s social media plan sparks alarm

A proposal to restrict Indonesians to just one account per social media platform has drawn strong criticism from digital rights advocates, who warn the move could stifle dissent, endanger privacy and undermine civil liberties in the world’s third-largest democracy. Analysts say the plan reflects a growing appetite within Indonesia’s political elite for greater control over the digital sphere, especially ahead of a changing political guard and rising online activism among youth. The idea first...

Events

2 w. ago 1 account, many concerns: Indonesia’s social media plan sparks alarm

A proposal to restrict Indonesians to just one account per social media platform has drawn strong criticism from digital rights advocates, who warn the move could stifle dissent, endanger privacy and undermine civil liberties in the world’s third-largest democracy. Analysts say the plan reflects a growing appetite within Indonesia’s political elite for greater control over the digital sphere, especially ahead of a changing political guard and rising online activism among youth. The idea first...

Events

2 w. ago Afghanistan’s internet blackout sparks concern, Taliban denial

The Taliban government on Wednesday rejected reports of a nationwide internet ban in Afghanistan, saying old fibre optic cables are worn out and are being replaced. The announcement was the Taliban’s first public statement on a communications blackout that has disrupted banking, commerce and aviation. Several provinces last month confirmed an internet shutdown because of a decree from the Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to combat immorality. “There is nothing like the rumours being spread...

Politics

3 w. ago Indonesia restores CNN reporter’s access, revoked after free meal question

The office of Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Monday restored access for a CNN Indonesia journalist, Diana Valencia. It had earlier revoked Valencia’s pass after she had asked the leader about a troubled free meal programme, sparking concerns about press freedom. CNN Indonesia editor-in-chief Titin Rosmasari met the Indonesian palace and confirmed Valencia’s access had been restored, CNN Indonesia reported. The palace had apologised for the revocation and said it would not be repeated,...

Politics

4 w. ago Hong Kong could incur millions in building repairs from typhoon damage: experts

Hong Kong building owners could incur millions of dollars in costs and require a year to repair glass curtain walls damaged by storms, experts have said, as Super Typhoon Ragasa sparks safety concerns with its potential record wind speeds. The Observatory warned on Monday that Ragasa could pose a “considerably larger” threat than Super Typhoon Mangkhut, which resulted in at least 500 cases of smashed windows or glass curtain walls in 2018. Building experts said on Monday that owners and property...

Events

4 w. ago Hong Kong could incur millions in building repairs from Ragasa damage: experts

Hong Kong building owners could incur millions of dollars in costs and require a year to repair glass curtain walls damaged by storms, experts have said, as Super Typhoon Ragasa sparks safety concerns with its potential record wind speeds. The Observatory warned on Monday that Ragasa could pose a “considerably larger” threat than Super Typhoon Mangkhut, which resulted in at least 500 cases of smashed windows or glass curtain walls in 2018. Building experts said on Monday that owners and property...

Society