11 h. ago Australia posts US$659,000 reward for gunman’s arrest over police killings

Australia posted a US$659,000 reward on Saturday for the arrest of a gunman on the run for a 12th day after allegedly killing two police officers. Police in the eastern state of Victoria said they were offering the “life-changing” amount in their hunt for the 56-year-old fugitive, Desmond Freeman. Freeman is accused of opening fire when police arrived at his home in Victoria with a search warrant. The shooting killed 59-year-old detective Neal Thompson and 35-year-old senior constable Vadim de...

Events

4 d. ago Trump to award Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom

US President Donald Trump said Monday he will award former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour, two days after his long-time political ally was seriously injured in a car crash. The decision places the award on a man once lauded for leading New York after the September 11, 2001, attacks and later sanctioned by courts and disbarred for amplifying false claims about the 2020 election. Giuliani was also criminally charged in two...

Politics

5 d. ago Man arrested in Australia after crashing car into Russian consulate in Sydney

A man was arrested on Monday after a car crashed into the Russian consulate in Sydney, Australian police said. New South Wales police said in a statement that officers responded shortly after 8am to reports of an unauthorised vehicle parked in the driveway of an address on Fullerton Street that corresponded with the location of the Russian consulate. Officers attempted to speak to the driver before he “drove his vehicle into the gates of the property”, police said. A 39-year-old man was arrested...

Events

5 d. ago Man charged in Australia after crashing car into Russian consulate in Sydney

Australian police charged a man on Monday after a car was driven into the gates of the Russian consulate in Sydney. New South Wales police said in a statement that officers responded shortly after 8am to reports of an unauthorised vehicle parked in the driveway of an address on Fullerton Street that corresponded with the location of the Russian consulate. Officers attempted to speak to the driver before he “drove his vehicle into the gates of the property”, police said. A 39-year-old man was...

Events

5 d. ago Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani hospitalised after car crash

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was hospitalised late on Saturday evening after a car crash near Manchester, New Hampshire, a spokesman said. Giuliani, 81, suffered a fractured vertebra and multiple lacerations and contusions, as well as injuries to his left arm and lower leg, the spokesman, Michael Ragusa, said in a post on social media. He said Giuliani’s rental car was hit from behind at high speed. Before the accident, Giuliani had been “flagged down by a woman who was the victim of...

Events

1 week ago China driver crashes on day of purchase, faces hefty bill; insurer refuses payout

A man in eastern China who crashed into a luxury car on the day he bought his own second-hand vehicle is facing a repair bill of more than 100,000 yuan (US$14,000) for both cars. However, his insurer refused to cover the damage, saying the policy was still seven minutes from taking effect. According to Zhejiang Television, a man surnamed Ma from Taizhou in Zhejiang province took out a loan of 115,000 yuan (US$16,000) to buy a second-hand car. On August 4, Ma picked up his car from a showroom and...

Events

1 week ago Fire engine topples after crashing into car in Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun, 7 injured

A fire engine has toppled onto its side after a crash with a private car in Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun district, injuring seven people including five firefighters. The incident occurred at around 3.35pm on Sunday near the Shek Pai Light Rail stop, when the private car travelling along Ming Kum Road toward Leung King Estate collided with the emergency vehicle, causing it to topple onto its side. Bystanders were seen climbing onto the overturned fire engine to help trapped firefighters exit the...

Events

3 w. ago Chinese couple escapes serious car crash, marries immediately

A Chinese couple narrowly escaped a serious car crash with only minor injuries and chose to get married shortly after, receiving heartfelt congratulations from across social media. The 31-year-old man, surnamed Ma, had just returned from a self-driving trip with his girlfriend, travelling from their hometown in central China’s Shanxi province to Shandong province in the east. On July 26, while driving on a two-lane highway in Shandong, Ma attempted to overtake a truck. Just as he manoeuvred past...

Events

3 w. ago Harmful substances found in 13 out of 28 school shoe models sold in Hong Kong

Nearly half of 28 models of primary school shoes sold in Hong Kong contain harmful substances, with carcinogens exceeding international safety limits found in four, tests by the consumer watchdog have revealed. The Consumer Council on Thursday also published international test results showing that three out of 22 child car seats models sold locally had “weaker crash protection”, and trace amounts of harmful substances were found in eight. For the shoe results, published ahead of the start of the...

Culture

3 w. ago Stricter health checks for Hong Kong taxi drivers should just be a start

A proposal in Hong Kong to require commercial vehicle drivers aged 65 and above to pass a fitness test before their driving licences can be renewed was first raised in the Legislative Council back in May 2023. Little was heard about it since – until now. After last week’s horrific car crash involving an octogenarian taxi driver, the transport secretary finally announced a follow-up: the proposal would be introduced in Legco by the first quarter of next year. Why did it take a high-profile...

Politics

4 w. ago Hong Kong construction leader given community service for drink driving

A Hong Kong construction industry leader has been sentenced to 240 hours of community service and fined HK$1,500 (US$192) for crashing his car into a traffic sign while driving under the influence of alcohol earlier this year. Eastern Court on Friday also disqualified Colman Wong Chiu-ching from driving for two years after he pleaded guilty to two charges arising from a traffic accident on southern Hong Kong Island. Wong is the general manager at the Hong Kong office of Leighton Contractors...

Politics