15 h. ago Hong Kong’s religious communities unite in prayer to mourn Tai Po fire victims

About 4,000 Muslims from Hong Kong gathered on Friday to pray for and offer condolences to the victims of the Tai Po fire, while other religious groups held prayer meetings to show spiritual support. The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong held a special prayer session at 1.30pm at Kowloon Mosque in Tsim Sha Tsui to pay respect to the victims. The blaze at Wang Fuk Court killed at least 159 people. Among them were nine Indonesian domestic helpers and one Filipino...

Events

5 d. ago Hong Kong fire relief fund reaches HK$1.2b on huge outpouring from public

Hong Kong’s deadly fire in Tai Po has prompted an outpouring of generosity from the public, with donations already surpassing the total raised in the initial aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. By noon on Sunday, four days after the fire began, the government’s support fund had grown to HK$1.2 billion (US$153 million), with HK$900 million in public donations and HK$300 million in government grants. The total does not include donations to non-governmental organisations such as the Hong Kong...

Events

5 d. ago Hong Kong fire relief fund reaches HK$1.2 billion on huge outpouring from public

Hong Kong’s deadly fire in Tai Po has prompted an outpouring of generosity from the public, with donations already surpassing the total raised in the initial aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. By noon on Sunday, four days after the fire began, the government’s support fund had grown to HK$1.2 billion (US$153 million), with HK$900 million in public donations and HK$300 million in government grants. The total does not include donations to non-governmental organisations such as the Hong Kong...

Economics

8 d. ago Want to donate in cash or kind? How to help Hong Kong’s embattled fire victims

In the wake of the fire at Wang Fuk Court that devastated seven blocks of the estate in Tai Po on Wednesday, the Hong Kong community has swiftly rallied to support displaced families, with organisations establishing collection points for essential supplies. Here’s where you can offer your donations – in cash or kind – to aid the relief effort. 1. Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday announced a HK$300 million support fund to aid the affected...

Events

9 d. ago Hong Kong fancy dress squash event serves up HK$390,000 for Operation Santa Claus

Squash players in comical outfits swung their rackets nonstop with enthusiasm at an annual fundraising tournament last week to support vulnerable communities in Hong Kong. Held at the Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) squash centre, the 27th Wing Ding Squash Charity Tournament has raised HK$390,000 so far, with a goal of reaching HK$500,000 for Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual citywide fundraising initiative run by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK since 1988. Stephen...

Culture

1 week ago US senator demands answers to Trump’s TikTok divestiture plan

A Democratic senator on Monday asked US President Donald Trump to answer key details about a plan by TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell a majority stake in the short video app’s US assets. Trump signed an executive order on September 25 declaring that a plan to sell TikTok’s US operations to a consortium of US and global investors meets the national security requirements set out in a 2024 law and gave them 120 days to complete the transaction. In doing so, he delayed enforcement of the law banning...

Politics

3 w. ago US Supreme Court lets Trump continue food aid cuts, even as shutdown nears end

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday extended an order blocking full Snap payments, amid signals that the government shutdown could soon end and food aid payments resume. The order keeps in place at least for a few more days a chaotic situation. People who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme to feed their families in some states have received their full monthly allocations, while others have received nothing. The order will expire just before midnight on Thursday. The Senate has...

Events

3 w. ago Stocks rise as US shutdown nears end; niggles over tech persist

Stocks rise as US shutdown nears end; niggles over tech persist  Reuters

Events

3 w. ago Stocks Edge Up as Shutdown Nears End, China Lags: Markets Wrap

Stocks Edge Up as Shutdown Nears End, China Lags: Markets Wrap  Bloomberg.com

Events

3 w. ago End to US government shutdown in sight as Senate passes funding bill

The longest-ever US government shutdown moved forward on Monday toward an eventual resolution, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote passing a compromise deal - sparking intraparty backlash. Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits and services have been increasingly disrupted. Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with more than 1,000...

Politics

3 w. ago End to US shutdown in sight as Senate passes deal, sending it to House

The longest-ever US government shutdown moved toward an eventual resolution on Monday, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote passing a compromise deal - sparking intraparty backlash. Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits and services have been increasingly disrupted. Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with more than 1,000 flights...

Events

3 w. ago US shutdown may be nearing end as Senate Democrats support funding deal

The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the next year, people familiar with the talks said. Under the agreement, Congress would pass full-year funding for the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Congress itself, while funding other agencies through January 30. The bill would provide pay for furloughed government workers, resume...

Politics

3 w. ago US shutdown may be near end as some Senate Democrats support funding deal

The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the next year, people familiar with the talks said. Under the agreement, Congress would pass full-year funding for the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Congress itself, while funding other agencies through January 30. The bill would provide pay for furloughed government workers, resume...

Politics

3 w. ago US Senate clears first hurdle to end longest government shutdown

The US Senate on Sunday moved forward on a measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending a now 40-day shutdown that has sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid and snarled air travel. In a procedural vote, senators advanced a House-passed bill that will be amended to fund the government until January 30 and include a package of three full-year appropriations bills. If the Senate eventually passes the amended measure, it still must be approved by the House of Representatives...

Politics

4 w. ago Senate Democrats question Treasury’s Bessent on implementation of restricting investments in China

Senate Democrats question Treasury’s Bessent on implementation of restricting investments in China  Pensions & Investments

Politics

4 w. ago Exclusive: China pushes equity fund launches to support stock market

Exclusive: China pushes equity fund launches to support stock market -sources  Reuters

Politics