3 h. ago Can the Philippines regain its tourism edge with revival of China e

The Philippines will revive its electronic visa programme for Chinese tourists next month, nearly two years after its abrupt suspension, as part of a broader push to boost lagging visitor arrivals and regain lost ground in the regional tourism race. The Philippine embassy in Beijing confirmed in a statement issued on October 15 that Chinese citizens – including those from Hong Kong and Macau – would again be able to apply for short-stay e-visas online for up to 14 days of travel for tourism or...

Politics

7 h. ago Hong Kong police hunt for girl, 17, who allegedly threw knives at ex

Hong Kong police are searching for a 17-year-old girl who allegedly threw knives at her 18-year-old ex-girlfriend during a fight, injuring her head, neck, waist and legs. A source said on Wednesday that the dispute stemmed from relationship issues between the victim and the suspect, who fled the scene. “The victim and suspect were ex-girlfriends and the dispute arose from relationship issues,” the insider said. Police received a report shortly after 10pm on Tuesday from a neighbour at 10...

Events

11 h. ago Watch Trump's Rare Earths Deal With Australia to Fight China

Watch Trump's Rare Earths Deal With Australia to Fight China  Bloomberg

Politics

17 h. ago China Eyes Russian Planes To Fuel Air Force Fighter Jets: Reports

China Eyes Russian Planes To Fuel Air Force Fighter Jets: Reports  Newsweek

Politics

24 h. ago Can J.D. Vance’s visit to Israel cement Gaza’s fragile ceasefire?

US Vice-President J.D. Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday to shore up the fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza that has teetered over the past few days following a burst of deadly violence and questions over how to move forward with the plan for cementing a long-term peace. Also on Tuesday, Israel said it has identified the body of a hostage that was released by Palestinian militants overnight, while the chief Hamas negotiator said the group remains determined to implement the ceasefire...

Politics

25 h. ago Hong Kong eye specialists warn of risks of wearing unregulated contact lenses

Ophthalmology professionals in Hong Kong have cautioned residents about the risks of wearing cosmetic contact lenses sourced from unregulated channels – especially during Halloween – warning of potential visual impairment caused by improper use. The Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists on Tuesday also urged authorities to introduce a mandatory registration system to regulate the import, distribution and sale of medical devices, including contact lenses, and reduce the risks...

Events

30 h. ago Air strikes and insults: Trump’s feud with Colombia threatens key alliance

For decades, Colombia and the United States have been devoted allies, sharing military intelligence, a robust trade relationship and a multibillion-dollar fight against drug trafficking. Now that is all at risk as the US ramps up deadly air strikes off Colombia’s coast and the leaders of both nations trade scathing verbal attacks. US President Donald Trump called Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter and Colombia’s first leftist president, an “illegal drug dealer”. Petro called Trump “rude”...

Events

45 h. ago Soy long, America: China buys zero US beans for first time in 7 years; trade war intensifies

Soy long, America: China buys zero US beans for first time in 7 years; trade war intensifies  Times of India

Events

46 h. ago Hong Kong woman, 81, loses HK$5 million to romance scammer posing as PLA officer

An 81-year-old woman in Hong Kong has lost more than HK$5 million after falling victim to an elaborate online romance scam involving a fraudster who posed as a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer from mainland China. In a post on its CyberDefender social media page on Monday, police said the woman received a WhatsApp message from a man who claimed to be a PLA officer and invited her to visit a military camp. They quickly built an online romantic relationship through frequent affectionate...

Economics

47 h. ago ‘Stolen too soon’: Nepal mourns hero hostage returned from Gaza after ceasefire

Nepal’s interim prime minister on Monday draped a national flag over the coffin of returned Gaza hostage Bipin Joshi, released under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. “Bipin is a son of all Nepali mothers,” Sushila Karki said at a ceremony held at the airport in Kathmandu, after his body was flown back to the capital from Tel Aviv. “The name Bipin will be immortal, no one can forget him for his bravery and the hardships he had to face.” Joshi, an agriculture student who was 22 when...

Events

49 h. ago Trump’s envoys arrive in Israel as Gaza ceasefire teeters after deadly strikes

The top US envoys to the Middle East conflict arrived in Israel on Monday to inspect progress on the Gaza plan after weekend violence threatened to wreck the hard-won ceasefire. Israel reopened the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza for aid shipments, a security official and a humanitarian source said, after it was closed briefly on Sunday following the killing of two Israeli soldiers. In response, Israel carried out dozens of strikes targeting Hamas across Gaza, accusing the militant group...

Events

49 h. ago Australia Says Chinese Fighter Jet Released Flares Near Its Military Plane

Australia Says Chinese Fighter Jet Released Flares Near Its Military Plane  The New York Times

Events

53 h. ago Hong Kong education authorities demand probe into teacher misconduct allegation

Hong Kong’s education authorities have asked a girls’ secondary school to thoroughly investigate a case in which a graduate accused a male teacher of asking her to have sex in a hotel last year. St Paul’s School (Lam Tin) said on Monday that it would “definitely” follow up on the matter, as it awaited direct contact from the individual involved. The school pledged to provide support and help to safeguard her legitimate rights. “We take this matter very seriously and have immediately activated...

Politics

53 h. ago Australia accuses Chinese fighter jet of releasing flares near RAAF aircraft in ‘dangerous’ incident

Australia accuses Chinese fighter jet of releasing flares near RAAF aircraft in ‘dangerous’ incident  The Guardian

Politics

53 h. ago Australia says Chinese fighter jet released flares near RAAF aircraft in ‘dangerous’ incident

Australia says Chinese fighter jet released flares near RAAF aircraft in ‘dangerous’ incident  The Guardian

Politics

54 h. ago Marles takes action after ‘unsafe’ interaction with Chinese fighter jet

Marles takes action after ‘unsafe’ interaction with Chinese fighter jet  Sky News Australia

Politics

54 h. ago 'Unprofessional' Chinese fighter jet incident raised with Beijing: Marles

'Unprofessional' Chinese fighter jet incident raised with Beijing: Marles  Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Politics

60 h. ago Israel says ceasefire and aid to resume after wave of strikes kill 26 in Gaza

The Israeli military said on Sunday a ceasefire in Gaza had resumed after an attack killed two of its soldiers and prompted a wave of air strikes that Palestinians said killed 26 people, in the most serious test yet of this month’s US-brokered truce. Aid into the enclave was set to resume on Monday following US pressure, an Israeli security source said, shortly after Israel announced a halt in supplies in response to what it said was a “blatant” violation by Hamas of the truce. The Israeli...

Events

3 d. ago Chinese minister calls out US ‘protectionism’ in shipping industry

China’s Minister of Transport Liu Wei has called on shipping companies and port operators worldwide to promote free trade in a “concerted effort” to combat “protectionism” after the US administration slapped port fees on Chinese vessels. “All the companies dealing with shipping businesses should work together to promote a fair, just and open environment and safeguard the common interests of global economic and trade development,” he said at the North Bund Summit, a shipping industry ­conference,...

Politics

3 d. ago China, India and Brazil set to steer global climate change agenda at Cop30

As the West falters in its commitment to fighting climate change, analysts expect emerging economies led by China, India and Brazil to seize the initiative at next month’s UN climate summit. The Cop30 conference, from November 10 to 21 in the Brazilian city of Belem, comes as the United States under Donald Trump remains largely disengaged from climate challenges following his successive orders to withdraw the world’s largest economy from the 2015 Paris Agreement, while Europe’s attention appears...

Politics