16 h. ago Hong Kong’s mediation centre open to developed nations, Western countries

Western and developed countries are welcome to use services offered by Hong Kong’s newly established global mediation centre, a senior official has said, dismissing concerns over the institute’s founding members being primarily developing nations. Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan on Saturday also addressed the possible direct competition with other dispute resolution hubs, including Singapore, outlining Hong Kong’s distinct advantages such as its “one country, two systems”...

Politics

37 h. ago In Hong Kong and globally, AI is not a job and wage killer, PwC says

Jobs requiring artificial intelligence (AI) skills are on the rise in Hong Kong as more businesses find practical use for the technology, but rather than replacing human ingenuity, AI is being combined with it to deliver productivity gains, according to PwC. The proportion of job postings in Hong Kong seeking AI skills rose to 1.9 per cent in 2024 from 1.6 per cent in 2021, according to the consultancy’s “Global AI Jobs Barometer” report published on Friday. In the information and communications...

Events

57 h. ago WeChat Pay records fourfold rise in mainland tourist taxi payments in Hong Kong

WeChat Pay Hong Kong has recorded a fourfold increase in mainland Chinese tourist payments for taxi services in the city from last year and growing usage among locals and visitors alike, according to parent company Tencent. Vice-President of Tencent Financial Technology Daniel Hong Danyi said on Thursday that the number of transactions from mainland tourists paying for taxi fares through WeChat Pay had seen a fourfold increase year on year. “We saw that previously, many mainland tourists coming...

Economics

60 h. ago Japan ‘selfie grandma’, Kimiko Nishimoto, dies at 97, famous for quirky photos

A woman known as Japan’s selfie grandma who redefined ageing with her quirky self-portraits, has died, aged 97. Despite taking up photography late in life, nonagenarian Kimiko Nishimoto started learning the skill at the age of 72. She showed an uncanny ability to entertain and delight with her images. She held her first solo exhibition in 2011 and published her first book of photos in 2016. After joining social media in 2018, she quickly gained more than 400,000 followers. Nishimoto was born in...

Events

60 h. ago ‘Overflowing with faeces, urine’: 150 dead cats found in Japanese woman’s home

A volunteer at an animal welfare group in Japan has been arrested after about 150 dead cats were discovered at her home in Kumamoto city. Police and animal rescue volunteers found the bodies, some in an advanced stage of decomposition, on Tuesday after they entered the woman’s home to investigate a pet owner’s complaint to the animal welfare group on May 27. The complainant said she had handed over four of her late mother’s pet cats to the suspect, who had promised her regular updates and...

Events

61 h. ago Ant International and Ant Digital to seek stablecoin licences in Hong Kong

Singapore-based Ant International and the Hangzhou-based Ant Digital, two affiliates of Chinese tech giant Ant Group, have announced plans to apply for stablecoin issuer licences in Hong Kong once the new ordinance governing fiat-backed cryptocurrencies takes effect in August. “We welcome the passage of the Stablecoins Bill and hope to contribute more to the city’s vision as a global hub for next-gen finance,” Ant International, a spin-off of Ant’s global operations, said in a statement on...

Politics

68 h. ago The case of Hong Kong vs Singapore: unlimited potential for collaboration

From Hong Kong Disneyland and Universal Studios Singapore to Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, there is this never-ending comparison between Hong Kong and Singapore. Insofar as our legal systems and the legal markets are concerned, there are also interesting similarities and differences. Both Hong Kong and Singapore are common law jurisdictions with developed and efficient legal systems. We are both in strategic locations with world-class legal infrastructure and vibrant legal communities....

Politics

69 h. ago With early stablecoin law, Hong Kong looks to keep edge as finance hub

With the passage of one of the world’s most comprehensive stablecoin laws two weeks ago, Hong Kong is looking to stay at the forefront of global finance while addressing lessons from past industry setbacks, according to analysts. Being a “first mover” in stablecoin legislation “reflects the determination” of the city’s government to “unlock value that they see in this sector, given the number of hurdles from past incidents”, said Melvin Deng, CEO of digital asset trading firm QCP Capital. Hong...

Politics

3 d. ago Stocks rise as inflation stays cool, Trump offers China trade 'framework'

Stocks rise as inflation stays cool, Trump offers China trade 'framework'  USA Today

Politics

3 d. ago Stocks little changed Wednesday as inflation stays cool, rate

Stocks little changed Wednesday as inflation stays cool, rate-cut bets rise  USA Today

Politics

3 d. ago Why US defence chief’s attack on China won’t find favour in Southeast Asia

After listening to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s all-out attack on “communist China” at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, some might have wondered what the Chinese people would make of it. But as a Chinese delegate listening to him live, I was wondering what Hegseth’s boss, US President Donald Trump, would think. In February, Trump called US Vice-President J.D. Vance’s speech in Munich bashing European allies “brilliant”. This time, we haven’t had his thoughts. I wondered, not only...

Events

3 d. ago Hong Kong court jails couple for life over abuse, murder of newborn son

A couple has been jailed for life in Hong Kong over what a judge called the “completely disgraceful” abuse and murder of their newborn son six years ago. The High Court on Wednesday sentenced Hong Kong residents Imran Hossain, 32, and Farzana Akter, 29, over the father and mother’s mistreatment and killing of their seven-week-old baby, Iyman Hossain, in 2019. A day earlier, a seven-member jury returned a unanimous verdict to convict the pair of murder and child cruelty in a case that hinged on...

Events

3 d. ago Hong Kong court jails couple for life for murdering, abusing newborn son

A couple has been jailed for life in Hong Kong over what a judge called the “completely disgraceful” abuse and murder of their newborn son six years ago. The High Court on Wednesday sentenced Hong Kong residents Imran Hossain, 32, and Farzana Akter, 29, for mistreating and killing their seven-week-old baby, Iyman Hossain, in 2019. A day earlier, a seven-member jury returned a unanimous verdict to convict the pair of murder and child cruelty in a case that hinged on circumstantial evidence due to...

Events

3 d. ago English lessons in Hong Kong primary schools to cover national security

Hong Kong primary schools will need to strengthen patriotic and national security education under a revised curriculum guide for the English-language subject. The previous edition of the guide suggested English teachers let pupils explore value-laden matters including human rights and equal opportunities but they have been replaced by issues such as respect for others, animal rights and environmental protection. The Education Bureau on Tuesday released the “English Language Education Key...

Events

4 d. ago Stocks Rise Amid Trade Talks Before Treasury Sale: Markets Wrap

Stocks Rise Amid Trade Talks Before Treasury Sale: Markets Wrap  Bloomberg

Economics

4 d. ago Hong Kong court convicts couple of child cruelty, murdering newborn son

A Hong Kong court has convicted a couple for murdering their newborn son after rejecting their assertions that the infant’s head trauma and rib fractures could have been inflicted by his brother out of jealousy. A High Court jury comprising three men and four women returned a unanimous verdict on Tuesday to convict Imran Hossain, 32, and his wife Farzana Akter, 29, for murdering their seven-week-old baby, Iyman Hossain, in 2019. The unemployed couple were also found guilty of child cruelty for...

Events

4 d. ago Jumbo ventures beyond chilli crab to bring famous Siji Minfu Peking duck chain to Singapore

Jumbo ventures beyond chilli crab to bring famous Siji Minfu Peking duck chain to Singapore  The Business Times

Politics

4 d. ago Nara’s famed deer could face food crisis in winter as acorn trees cut down

A move to cut down acorn-bearing trees in Japan’s Nara Park has sparked concern among researchers about the survival of the attraction’s free-roaming deer during the harsh winter. Acorns serve as a vital food source for deer, while the trees also provide critical shelter, with the animals often gathering beneath dense canopies for warmth and protection in the colder months. “The base of these trees becomes a critical place that determines whether the deer can survive winter,” said Shiro...

Events

5 d. ago US stocks rise on hopes of trade progress with China. Inflation data ahead.

US stocks rise on hopes of trade progress with China. Inflation data ahead.  USA Today

Politics

5 d. ago Nvidia, AMD, Other Chip Stocks Rise on Hopes China Export Restrictions Could Ease

Nvidia, AMD, Other Chip Stocks Rise on Hopes China Export Restrictions Could Ease  Investopedia

Politics