Rome’s Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds after 3-month clean-up
By Agence France-Presse
Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain reopened on Sunday following a three-month clean-up, but visitors will for now be limited to 400 to avoid the crowds of the past, said the city’s mayor.
Imposing the limit, which might later be modified, will “allow everyone to better enjoy the fountain, without crowds or confusion”, Roberto Gualtieri told journalists in front of Italy’s famous landmark.
Gualtieri also said the city authorities were considering charging a modest entry price to finance, among other things, the fountain’s upkeep.
The clean-up of the fountain and other major city sites is aimed at “returning most of the monuments to the city in time for the start of the jubilee” Claudio Parisi Presicce, Rome’s superintendent for cultural heritage sites, told AFP-TV.
The jubilee of the Catholic Church begins on December 24.
The Trevi fountain, a baroque masterpiece, is one of the most visited sites in Rome.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Agence France-Presse
Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain reopened on Sunday following a three-month clean-up, but visitors will for now be limited to 400 to avoid the crowds of the past, said the city’s mayor.
Imposing the limit, which might later be modified, will “allow everyone to better enjoy the fountain, without crowds or confusion”, Roberto Gualtieri told journalists in front of Italy’s famous landmark.
Gualtieri also said the city authorities were considering charging a modest entry price to finance, among other things, the fountain’s upkeep.
The clean-up of the fountain and other major city sites is aimed at “returning most of the monuments to the city in time for the start of the jubilee” Claudio Parisi Presicce, Rome’s superintendent for cultural heritage sites, told AFP-TV.
The jubilee of the Catholic Church begins on December 24.
The Trevi fountain, a baroque masterpiece, is one of the most visited sites in Rome.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Woman dies after being set on fire on New York subway train, man arrested
By Reuters
Police arrested a man they said set a woman on fire while she appeared to be asleep on a New York City subway train on Sunday morning, killing her.
The woman, who has not been identified, sat motionlessly aboard a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn at about 7:30am local time when an unknown man approached her and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire, the New York Police Department said. Police said there was no interaction before the attack and they did not believe the two people knew each other.
The man got off the subway car as police officers on patrol in the station rushed to the blaze.
“What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference.
The officers used fire extinguishers to put out the fire and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders, police said.
Police arrested a suspect, who has not been publicly identified, as he travelled on the subway later on Sunday.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Reuters
Police arrested a man they said set a woman on fire while she appeared to be asleep on a New York City subway train on Sunday morning, killing her.
The woman, who has not been identified, sat motionlessly aboard a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn at about 7:30am local time when an unknown man approached her and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire, the New York Police Department said. Police said there was no interaction before the attack and they did not believe the two people knew each other.
The man got off the subway car as police officers on patrol in the station rushed to the blaze.
“What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference.
The officers used fire extinguishers to put out the fire and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders, police said.
Police arrested a suspect, who has not been publicly identified, as he travelled on the subway later on Sunday.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
How Chinese science and technology has influenced the West … and vice versa
By Victoria Bela
Han Qi is a professor of Chinese history and culture at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has published a large body of work on East-West cultural exchanges in history – in particular the transmission of science between China and Europe. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here.
In what ways has Chinese scientific knowledge influenced Western scientists – especially in fields that are still salient today?
There are people who believe that China only has traditions in technology, but not in science. However, in fields like astronomy, China actually has a very long tradition of astronomical observation dating back more than 2,000 years. China has the longest and most complete records of astronomical observations, including solar and lunar eclipses, and records of stars, meteors and supernovas. Europeans do not have the same level of observational astronomy records, so Chinese records have actually had an influence on the West.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many people began to study the universe. For a long time both Western and Chinese astronomers were not sure about the changing rule of the values of the obliquity of the ecliptic. In 1722, a French Jesuit missionary named Antoine Gaubil arrived in Beijing and checked over numerous Chinese historical records. After compiling the records, he sent them to France. In the early 19th century, there was a famous French astronomer and mathematician named Pierre-Simon Laplace who read the compiled manuscript and performed some calculations and conducted research based on it. This was a way in which Chinese astronomical observations have had a very direct impact on science up until today.
In the 20th century, contemporary astronomers also searched for new evidence from China’s records. In the 1950s, a Russian astrophysicist met the then vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The astrophysicist said they were studying radio astronomy and wanted to know about Chinese records of supernovas. So researchers at the academy went and found the records, and later they ended up writing a paper that was originally published in Chinese and later translated into English. This became one of the most cited astrophysics papers, and was of great importance to the field.
So these ancient Chinese scientific observations have influenced both European and American astronomers. Even now, some people are still using these records to find the earliest star explosions using large telescopes. This is the influence of Chinese astronomical records on both current and past astronomy.
Have Chinese historical records also enabled the development of climate modelling and the study of climate change?
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Victoria Bela
Han Qi is a professor of Chinese history and culture at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has published a large body of work on East-West cultural exchanges in history – in particular the transmission of science between China and Europe. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here.
In what ways has Chinese scientific knowledge influenced Western scientists – especially in fields that are still salient today?
There are people who believe that China only has traditions in technology, but not in science. However, in fields like astronomy, China actually has a very long tradition of astronomical observation dating back more than 2,000 years. China has the longest and most complete records of astronomical observations, including solar and lunar eclipses, and records of stars, meteors and supernovas. Europeans do not have the same level of observational astronomy records, so Chinese records have actually had an influence on the West.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many people began to study the universe. For a long time both Western and Chinese astronomers were not sure about the changing rule of the values of the obliquity of the ecliptic. In 1722, a French Jesuit missionary named Antoine Gaubil arrived in Beijing and checked over numerous Chinese historical records. After compiling the records, he sent them to France. In the early 19th century, there was a famous French astronomer and mathematician named Pierre-Simon Laplace who read the compiled manuscript and performed some calculations and conducted research based on it. This was a way in which Chinese astronomical observations have had a very direct impact on science up until today.
In the 20th century, contemporary astronomers also searched for new evidence from China’s records. In the 1950s, a Russian astrophysicist met the then vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The astrophysicist said they were studying radio astronomy and wanted to know about Chinese records of supernovas. So researchers at the academy went and found the records, and later they ended up writing a paper that was originally published in Chinese and later translated into English. This became one of the most cited astrophysics papers, and was of great importance to the field.
So these ancient Chinese scientific observations have influenced both European and American astronomers. Even now, some people are still using these records to find the earliest star explosions using large telescopes. This is the influence of Chinese astronomical records on both current and past astronomy.
Have Chinese historical records also enabled the development of climate modelling and the study of climate change?
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China’s ties with Global South show a different world order is possible
By Wang Huiyao
The Global South’s quest for a more equitable world order gained fresh momentum at the 22nd Doha Forum in early December. During the two-day event, world leaders gathered to discuss China’s evolving role in international development. The high-level dialogue came at a critical time when the global trade landscape faces new uncertainties.
As major economies like the United States and European Union signal a return to protectionist policies – with tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar panels and semiconductors and carbon border adjustment mechanisms – China’s recent announcement that it would cut tariffs for more than 40 least-developed countries has drawn significant attention.
This strategic approach was evident at the sub-forum session “China’s Role in the Rising Global South: Redefining the Future World Order” where leaders from around the world shared perspectives on development partnerships, highlighting a stark contrast to the bleak future of international economic engagement.
China’s expanding engagement with the Global South represents more than just trade statistics; it represents an alternative model of international cooperation. While serving as the primary trading partner for at least 120 countries, China has moved beyond mere commercial relationships to establish comprehensive development partnerships.
The Belt and Road Initiative, now encompassing 150 nations, has become a platform for sustainable development beyond simply building infrastructure. Bolstered by institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, China’s approach is reshaping how developing nations think about economic partnerships.
The impact of this cooperation model is already evident. Rwandan President Paul Kagame revealed that his country’s trade with China surged from US$30 million to over US$150 million after recent tariff reductions, with a remarkable 274 per cent growth since 2018.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Wang Huiyao
The Global South’s quest for a more equitable world order gained fresh momentum at the 22nd Doha Forum in early December. During the two-day event, world leaders gathered to discuss China’s evolving role in international development. The high-level dialogue came at a critical time when the global trade landscape faces new uncertainties.
As major economies like the United States and European Union signal a return to protectionist policies – with tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar panels and semiconductors and carbon border adjustment mechanisms – China’s recent announcement that it would cut tariffs for more than 40 least-developed countries has drawn significant attention.
This strategic approach was evident at the sub-forum session “China’s Role in the Rising Global South: Redefining the Future World Order” where leaders from around the world shared perspectives on development partnerships, highlighting a stark contrast to the bleak future of international economic engagement.
China’s expanding engagement with the Global South represents more than just trade statistics; it represents an alternative model of international cooperation. While serving as the primary trading partner for at least 120 countries, China has moved beyond mere commercial relationships to establish comprehensive development partnerships.
The Belt and Road Initiative, now encompassing 150 nations, has become a platform for sustainable development beyond simply building infrastructure. Bolstered by institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, China’s approach is reshaping how developing nations think about economic partnerships.
The impact of this cooperation model is already evident. Rwandan President Paul Kagame revealed that his country’s trade with China surged from US$30 million to over US$150 million after recent tariff reductions, with a remarkable 274 per cent growth since 2018.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Trump says talk that he has ceded presidency to Elon Musk is a ‘hoax’
By Bloomberg
Donald Trump said on Sunday that he will be president of the United States - not Elon Musk.
“No, he’s not taking the presidency,” Trump told a conservative audience in Phoenix, Arizona, addressing growing complaints about the outsized role the Tesla boss has already had in his incoming administration.
“You know, they’re on a new kick,” he said. “All the different hoaxes. The new one is that President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk. No, no, that’s not happening.”
That Trump would be compelled to address Musk’s power is testimony to the unusual influence that the world’s richest man has displayed in a second Trump presidency that will not begin for another month.
Trump has tapped Musk to head a cost-cutting and deregulation effort he calls the Department of Government Efficiency. It is not an official department, but rather a small group of people working from the Washington offices of Musk’s SpaceX and organised around an account on Musk’s social media platform, X.
The appointment has already brought complaints of conflicts of interest, as Musk’s many businesses - including car-maker Tesla, tunnel-drilling Boring Co, rocket-launcher SpaceX and its sister satellite company Starlink - are regulated by the federal government and receive federal contracts.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Bloomberg
Donald Trump said on Sunday that he will be president of the United States - not Elon Musk.
“No, he’s not taking the presidency,” Trump told a conservative audience in Phoenix, Arizona, addressing growing complaints about the outsized role the Tesla boss has already had in his incoming administration.
“You know, they’re on a new kick,” he said. “All the different hoaxes. The new one is that President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk. No, no, that’s not happening.”
That Trump would be compelled to address Musk’s power is testimony to the unusual influence that the world’s richest man has displayed in a second Trump presidency that will not begin for another month.
Trump has tapped Musk to head a cost-cutting and deregulation effort he calls the Department of Government Efficiency. It is not an official department, but rather a small group of people working from the Washington offices of Musk’s SpaceX and organised around an account on Musk’s social media platform, X.
The appointment has already brought complaints of conflicts of interest, as Musk’s many businesses - including car-maker Tesla, tunnel-drilling Boring Co, rocket-launcher SpaceX and its sister satellite company Starlink - are regulated by the federal government and receive federal contracts.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Trump favours keeping TikTok in US after ‘billions of views’ during election campaign
By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he favoured allowing TikTok to keep operating in the United States for at least a little while, saying he had received billions of views on the social media platform during his presidential campaign.
Trump’s comments before a crowd of conservative supporters in Phoenix, Arizona, were one of the strongest signals yet that he opposes a potential exit of TikTok from the US market.
The US Senate passed a law in April requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app, citing national security concerns.
TikTok’s owners have sought to have the law struck down, and the US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. But if the court does not rule in ByteDance’s favour and no divestment happens, the app could be effectively banned in the United States on January 19, one day before Trump takes office.
It is unclear how Trump would go about undoing the TikTok divestiture order, which passed overwhelmingly in the Senate.
“I think we’re going to have to start thinking because, you know, we did go on TikTok, and we had a great response with billions of views, billions and billions of views,” Trump told the crowd at AmericaFest, an annual gathering organised by conservative group Turning Point.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he favoured allowing TikTok to keep operating in the United States for at least a little while, saying he had received billions of views on the social media platform during his presidential campaign.
Trump’s comments before a crowd of conservative supporters in Phoenix, Arizona, were one of the strongest signals yet that he opposes a potential exit of TikTok from the US market.
The US Senate passed a law in April requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app, citing national security concerns.
TikTok’s owners have sought to have the law struck down, and the US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. But if the court does not rule in ByteDance’s favour and no divestment happens, the app could be effectively banned in the United States on January 19, one day before Trump takes office.
It is unclear how Trump would go about undoing the TikTok divestiture order, which passed overwhelmingly in the Senate.
“I think we’re going to have to start thinking because, you know, we did go on TikTok, and we had a great response with billions of views, billions and billions of views,” Trump told the crowd at AmericaFest, an annual gathering organised by conservative group Turning Point.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Albanian PM defends TikTok ban, says was not a ‘rushed reaction to a single incident’
By Associated Press
Albania’s prime minister said on Sunday the ban on TikTok his government announced a day earlier was “not a rushed reaction to a single incident”.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Saturday the government will shut down TikTok for one year, accusing the popular video service of inciting violence and bullying, especially among children.
Authorities have held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents since the November stabbing death of a teenager by another teenager after a quarrel that started on social media apps. Ninety per cent of them approve of the ban on TikTok.
“The ban on TikTok for one year in Albania is not a rushed reaction to a single incident, but a carefully considered decision made in consultation with parent communities in schools across the country,” said Rama.
Following Tirana’s decision TikTok, whose parent company Bytedance is based in China, asked for “urgent clarity from the Albanian government” in the case of the stabbed teenager.
The company said it had “found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok”.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Associated Press
Albania’s prime minister said on Sunday the ban on TikTok his government announced a day earlier was “not a rushed reaction to a single incident”.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Saturday the government will shut down TikTok for one year, accusing the popular video service of inciting violence and bullying, especially among children.
Authorities have held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents since the November stabbing death of a teenager by another teenager after a quarrel that started on social media apps. Ninety per cent of them approve of the ban on TikTok.
“The ban on TikTok for one year in Albania is not a rushed reaction to a single incident, but a carefully considered decision made in consultation with parent communities in schools across the country,” said Rama.
Following Tirana’s decision TikTok, whose parent company Bytedance is based in China, asked for “urgent clarity from the Albanian government” in the case of the stabbed teenager.
The company said it had “found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok”.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Russia’s Putin holds talks with Slovakian PM Fico, in rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader
By Associated Press
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin on Sunday with Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, in a rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader since Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Fico arrived in Russia on a “working visit” and met Putin one-on-one on Sunday evening, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s RIA agency. According to Peskov, the talks would focus on “the international situation” and Russian natural gas deliveries.
Visits and phone calls from European leaders to Putin have been rare since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, although Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban visited Russia in July. Orban’s visit drew condemnation from Kyiv and European leaders.
Fico’s views on Russia’s war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. The Slovakian PM returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended his country’s military aid for Ukraine, hit out at European Union sanctions on Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine from joining Nato.
Fico has also been a rare senior EU politician to appear on Russian state television following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with the Rossiya-1 channel in October, he vowed to attend a military parade in Moscow next May that will mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.
The Kremlin has used the annual “Victory Day” celebrations to tout its battlefield prowess, and Putin hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine as “heroes” at this year’s event.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Associated Press
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin on Sunday with Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, in a rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader since Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Fico arrived in Russia on a “working visit” and met Putin one-on-one on Sunday evening, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s RIA agency. According to Peskov, the talks would focus on “the international situation” and Russian natural gas deliveries.
Visits and phone calls from European leaders to Putin have been rare since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, although Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban visited Russia in July. Orban’s visit drew condemnation from Kyiv and European leaders.
Fico’s views on Russia’s war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. The Slovakian PM returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended his country’s military aid for Ukraine, hit out at European Union sanctions on Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine from joining Nato.
Fico has also been a rare senior EU politician to appear on Russian state television following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with the Rossiya-1 channel in October, he vowed to attend a military parade in Moscow next May that will mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.
The Kremlin has used the annual “Victory Day” celebrations to tout its battlefield prowess, and Putin hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine as “heroes” at this year’s event.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Small plane crashes in Brazil tourist city, killing at least 9
By Agence France-Presse
At least nine people died on Sunday when a small plane crashed in the tourist city of Gramado, in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, authorities said.
“There are nine deaths confirmed by the civil defence, and there are no survivors of the plane,” Cleber dos Santos Lima, director of the Interior Police Department of the state civil police, told Agence France-Presse.
“Unfortunately, initial reports indicate that the aircraft’s occupants did not survive,” Governor Eduardo Leite said in a post on social media.
According to the public security office of Rio Grande do Sul state, at least 15 people were taken to the city’s hospital, most of them suffering from smoke inhalation caused by the fire triggered by the crash.
The plane reportedly first struck the chimney of a building, then the second floor of a house, before crashing into a furniture shop, authorities said. Debris also reached a nearby inn.
Nestled in a mountainous region, Gramado is the most popular tourist destination in Rio Grande do Sul, which was severely affected earlier this year by unprecedented floods that claimed dozens of lives, destroyed infrastructure and significantly disrupted the state’s economy.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Agence France-Presse
At least nine people died on Sunday when a small plane crashed in the tourist city of Gramado, in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, authorities said.
“There are nine deaths confirmed by the civil defence, and there are no survivors of the plane,” Cleber dos Santos Lima, director of the Interior Police Department of the state civil police, told Agence France-Presse.
“Unfortunately, initial reports indicate that the aircraft’s occupants did not survive,” Governor Eduardo Leite said in a post on social media.
According to the public security office of Rio Grande do Sul state, at least 15 people were taken to the city’s hospital, most of them suffering from smoke inhalation caused by the fire triggered by the crash.
The plane reportedly first struck the chimney of a building, then the second floor of a house, before crashing into a furniture shop, authorities said. Debris also reached a nearby inn.
Nestled in a mountainous region, Gramado is the most popular tourist destination in Rio Grande do Sul, which was severely affected earlier this year by unprecedented floods that claimed dozens of lives, destroyed infrastructure and significantly disrupted the state’s economy.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Trump taps ex-Treasury official Stephen Miran to head Council of Economic Advisers
By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Stephen Miran, a Treasury Department adviser in his first administration, would be the chairman of his Council of Economic Advisers.
The council advises the president on economic policy and is composed of three members, including the chair. The council helps in the preparation of an annual report that gives an overview of the country’s economy, reviews federal policies and programmes and makes economic policy recommendations.
Earlier this year, Miran and economist Nouriel Roubini wrote a hedge fund study that said the US Treasury last year effectively provided economic stimulus by moderating long-dated bond sales.
The study echoed suggestions by Republican lawmakers that the Treasury deliberately increased issuance of short-term Treasury bills to give the economy a “sugar high” ahead of the November elections. The Treasury denied any such strategy.
Miran, a senior strategist at Hudson Bay Capital, has also argued that fears over trade tariffs that Trump has threatened to impose after he takes office next month are overblown.
Trade and economic experts have said such duties would raise prices and would effectively be a new tax on consumers.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Stephen Miran, a Treasury Department adviser in his first administration, would be the chairman of his Council of Economic Advisers.
The council advises the president on economic policy and is composed of three members, including the chair. The council helps in the preparation of an annual report that gives an overview of the country’s economy, reviews federal policies and programmes and makes economic policy recommendations.
Earlier this year, Miran and economist Nouriel Roubini wrote a hedge fund study that said the US Treasury last year effectively provided economic stimulus by moderating long-dated bond sales.
The study echoed suggestions by Republican lawmakers that the Treasury deliberately increased issuance of short-term Treasury bills to give the economy a “sugar high” ahead of the November elections. The Treasury denied any such strategy.
Miran, a senior strategist at Hudson Bay Capital, has also argued that fears over trade tariffs that Trump has threatened to impose after he takes office next month are overblown.
Trade and economic experts have said such duties would raise prices and would effectively be a new tax on consumers.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Netanyahu says Israel will continue to act against Iran’s Houthi rebels
By Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israel would continue acting against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, whom he accused of threatening world shipping and the international order, and called on Israelis to be steadfast.
“Just as we acted forcefully against the terrorist arms of Iran’s axis of evil, so we will act against the Houthis,” he said in a video statement a day after a missile fired from Yemen fell in the Tel Aviv area, causing a number of mild injuries.
On Thursday, Israeli jets launched a series of strikes against energy and port infrastructure in Yemen in a move officials said was a response to hundreds of missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis since the start of the Gaza war 14 months ago.
On Saturday, the US military said it conducted precision air strikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility operated by Houthis in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
Netanyahu, strengthened at home by the Israeli military’s campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon and by its destruction of most of the Syrian army’s strategic weapons, said Israel would act with the United States.
“Therefore, we will act with strength, determination and sophistication. I tell you that even if it takes time, the result will be the same,” he said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israel would continue acting against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, whom he accused of threatening world shipping and the international order, and called on Israelis to be steadfast.
“Just as we acted forcefully against the terrorist arms of Iran’s axis of evil, so we will act against the Houthis,” he said in a video statement a day after a missile fired from Yemen fell in the Tel Aviv area, causing a number of mild injuries.
On Thursday, Israeli jets launched a series of strikes against energy and port infrastructure in Yemen in a move officials said was a response to hundreds of missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis since the start of the Gaza war 14 months ago.
On Saturday, the US military said it conducted precision air strikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility operated by Houthis in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
Netanyahu, strengthened at home by the Israeli military’s campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon and by its destruction of most of the Syrian army’s strategic weapons, said Israel would act with the United States.
“Therefore, we will act with strength, determination and sophistication. I tell you that even if it takes time, the result will be the same,” he said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong travellers brace for possible disruptions as strong winds hit UK
By Oscar LiuFan Chen
Hong Kong travellers heading to and from Britain are bracing for potential disruptions because of bad weather in parts of the country, with scores of flights cancelled at London’s Heathrow airport.
Heathrow said that about 100 flights had been axed on Sunday, 80 of which were operated by British Airways, because of persistently strong winds.
The adverse weather has led to disruptions across the United Kingdom as millions of people travel ahead of Christmas.
Hongkonger Libby Ngai, 26, said she planned to arrive at Heathrow three hours early on Monday for her indirect China Eastern Airlines flight back home.
“It’s quite windy, but public transport, including buses and trains, continues to operate without disruption,” she said.
“But after learning about the flight cancellations at Heathrow, I have decided to head to the airport three hours ahead of schedule.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Oscar LiuFan Chen
Hong Kong travellers heading to and from Britain are bracing for potential disruptions because of bad weather in parts of the country, with scores of flights cancelled at London’s Heathrow airport.
Heathrow said that about 100 flights had been axed on Sunday, 80 of which were operated by British Airways, because of persistently strong winds.
The adverse weather has led to disruptions across the United Kingdom as millions of people travel ahead of Christmas.
Hongkonger Libby Ngai, 26, said she planned to arrive at Heathrow three hours early on Monday for her indirect China Eastern Airlines flight back home.
“It’s quite windy, but public transport, including buses and trains, continues to operate without disruption,” she said.
“But after learning about the flight cancellations at Heathrow, I have decided to head to the airport three hours ahead of schedule.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Singapore Post fires CEO, executives after whistleblowing report
By Bloomberg
Singapore Post fired its chief executive officer and several other senior leaders following allegations related to its international e-commerce logistics parcels business.
The Temasek Holdings-backed firm said on Sunday it began investigations after receiving a whistleblowing report alleging several employees manually submitted information with the intent of avoiding contracted penalties with one of Singapore Post’s largest customers. The whistleblowing report was also sent to the government regulator, according to a company statement.
Three managers were dismissed for the violations, and a police report was filed against them. CEO Vincent Phang, Chief financial officer Vincent Yik and Li Yu, CEO of its international business unit, were also terminated after the company found they were “grossly negligent” in handling the matter and made “serious misrepresentations” to the audit committee over the allegations.
The company plans on announcing a new CEO in due course and will appoint Isaac Mah, currently CFO of its Australian business, to replace Yik. Chairman Simon Israel will oversee the senior management of the company in the interim.
Singapore Post said it will pay a settlement to the unidentified customer. The settlement won’t have a material impact on the company’s net tangible assets for earnings per share or the current financial year.
Phang and Yik have indicated they will contest their terminations, Singapore Post said in its statement.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Bloomberg
Singapore Post fired its chief executive officer and several other senior leaders following allegations related to its international e-commerce logistics parcels business.
The Temasek Holdings-backed firm said on Sunday it began investigations after receiving a whistleblowing report alleging several employees manually submitted information with the intent of avoiding contracted penalties with one of Singapore Post’s largest customers. The whistleblowing report was also sent to the government regulator, according to a company statement.
Three managers were dismissed for the violations, and a police report was filed against them. CEO Vincent Phang, Chief financial officer Vincent Yik and Li Yu, CEO of its international business unit, were also terminated after the company found they were “grossly negligent” in handling the matter and made “serious misrepresentations” to the audit committee over the allegations.
The company plans on announcing a new CEO in due course and will appoint Isaac Mah, currently CFO of its Australian business, to replace Yik. Chairman Simon Israel will oversee the senior management of the company in the interim.
Singapore Post said it will pay a settlement to the unidentified customer. The settlement won’t have a material impact on the company’s net tangible assets for earnings per share or the current financial year.
Phang and Yik have indicated they will contest their terminations, Singapore Post said in its statement.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong police arrest man in connection with 6 burglaries in Sha Tin
By Emily Hung
Hong Kong police arrested a 22-year-old man on Sunday in connection with six burglaries in which HK$25,000 (US$3,210) worth of goods were stolen.
Officers received reports last week from staff of two schools in Sha Tin, which were believed to have been broken into in the early hours of December 15.
The schools reported losing three electronic tablets and some food.
Police arrested a man surnamed Lau on Sunday morning on suspicion of burglary, seizing tools he allegedly used in the crimes.
The suspect was also found to be connected to four other burglaries targeting a fast food kiosk of a sports ground, its staff lounge and restaurants nearby on Sunday morning.
He is being detained for investigation.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Emily Hung
Hong Kong police arrested a 22-year-old man on Sunday in connection with six burglaries in which HK$25,000 (US$3,210) worth of goods were stolen.
Officers received reports last week from staff of two schools in Sha Tin, which were believed to have been broken into in the early hours of December 15.
The schools reported losing three electronic tablets and some food.
Police arrested a man surnamed Lau on Sunday morning on suspicion of burglary, seizing tools he allegedly used in the crimes.
The suspect was also found to be connected to four other burglaries targeting a fast food kiosk of a sports ground, its staff lounge and restaurants nearby on Sunday morning.
He is being detained for investigation.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China’s C919 jet faces crunch test as its network rapidly expands
By Frank Chen
China’s first home-grown passenger jet, the C919, is now serving 10 major cities across the country as domestic airlines move swiftly to deploy the new aircraft.
The aircraft, seen as a symbol of China’s achievements in tech and advanced manufacturing, also hit a new milestone on Thursday, carrying a total of 1 million passengers since its maiden commercial flight in May 2023.
The rapid roll-out will be a key test for the C919 as it strives to prove itself a reliable alternative to Boeing and Airbus’ single-aisle models, with more frequent flights posing challenges from deployment to maintenance.
“More flights between more cities mean real tests for the jet, but it can also raise its profile,” said Li Hanming, an aviation consultant.
China Eastern Airlines was the first carrier to put the new aircraft into service.
Since then, the jet has rapidly spread its wings to destinations across China as its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), has moved to ramp up production.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Frank Chen
China’s first home-grown passenger jet, the C919, is now serving 10 major cities across the country as domestic airlines move swiftly to deploy the new aircraft.
The aircraft, seen as a symbol of China’s achievements in tech and advanced manufacturing, also hit a new milestone on Thursday, carrying a total of 1 million passengers since its maiden commercial flight in May 2023.
The rapid roll-out will be a key test for the C919 as it strives to prove itself a reliable alternative to Boeing and Airbus’ single-aisle models, with more frequent flights posing challenges from deployment to maintenance.
“More flights between more cities mean real tests for the jet, but it can also raise its profile,” said Li Hanming, an aviation consultant.
China Eastern Airlines was the first carrier to put the new aircraft into service.
Since then, the jet has rapidly spread its wings to destinations across China as its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), has moved to ramp up production.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Man, 70, drowns while swimming at Hong Kong’s Butterfly Beach
By Emily Hung
An elderly man drowned at a beach in Hong Kong’s New Territories on Sunday.
The 70-year-old, surnamed Lok, had been swimming at Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun.
A lifeguard filed a police report at around 2.15pm after the man was pulled from the sea. He was rushed to Tuen Mun Hospital but was certified dead at around 3pm.
A postmortem examination would be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.
A number of drownings have been reported in recent months.
In early August, a 42-year-old man drowned at Ung Kong Wan on Bluff Island. He was on a boat trip and went swimming with two friends.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Emily Hung
An elderly man drowned at a beach in Hong Kong’s New Territories on Sunday.
The 70-year-old, surnamed Lok, had been swimming at Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun.
A lifeguard filed a police report at around 2.15pm after the man was pulled from the sea. He was rushed to Tuen Mun Hospital but was certified dead at around 3pm.
A postmortem examination would be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.
A number of drownings have been reported in recent months.
In early August, a 42-year-old man drowned at Ung Kong Wan on Bluff Island. He was on a boat trip and went swimming with two friends.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
