Hong Kong restaurants expect Christmas boom thanks to Shenzhen visa change
By Cannix YauOscar Liu
Hong Kong’s beleaguered catering industry may enjoy a bumper Christmas as many restaurants are fully booked and a 10 per cent year-on-year rise in business is expected over the holiday, thanks to a revived multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
Industry leaders said Hong Kong’s retail scene had been gaining momentum since the scheme, which allows Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of visits to the city within a year, resumed on December 1.
They added that the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, one of the city’s largest annual bazaars, had seen a 5 per cent increase in business last week due to the visa change. The fair in Victoria Park opened on December 14 and will run until January 6.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said outlets would enjoy a 10 per cent rise in business during the festive season compared with that of last year, owing to the visa scheme.
“The resumption of the scheme has recently triggered an uptick in the number of mainland tourists to Hong Kong, while the sentiment for local consumption is rising due to various discounts and promotions at eateries for the Christmas season,” he said.
“Many restaurants enjoy full bookings this Christmas, especially some famous outlets such as Michelin-star ones. A series of activities by the Tourism Board such as panda activities have boosted business. The vibes are really vibrant.”
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By Cannix YauOscar Liu
Hong Kong’s beleaguered catering industry may enjoy a bumper Christmas as many restaurants are fully booked and a 10 per cent year-on-year rise in business is expected over the holiday, thanks to a revived multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
Industry leaders said Hong Kong’s retail scene had been gaining momentum since the scheme, which allows Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of visits to the city within a year, resumed on December 1.
They added that the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, one of the city’s largest annual bazaars, had seen a 5 per cent increase in business last week due to the visa change. The fair in Victoria Park opened on December 14 and will run until January 6.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said outlets would enjoy a 10 per cent rise in business during the festive season compared with that of last year, owing to the visa scheme.
“The resumption of the scheme has recently triggered an uptick in the number of mainland tourists to Hong Kong, while the sentiment for local consumption is rising due to various discounts and promotions at eateries for the Christmas season,” he said.
“Many restaurants enjoy full bookings this Christmas, especially some famous outlets such as Michelin-star ones. A series of activities by the Tourism Board such as panda activities have boosted business. The vibes are really vibrant.”
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Did South Korea’s Yoon use fortune-telling to plan his failed martial law bid?
By Park Chan-kyong
A retired intelligence chief arrested in connection with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s failed martial law bid has come under the spotlight over allegations that he was also a fortune-teller who might have played a key role in the political fiasco.
Noh Sang-won, the former head of South Korea’s Army Intelligence Command, was taken into custody on charges of helping to orchestrate Yoon’s plan to declare martial law on December 3.
Noh was reportedly doubling as a fortune-teller while exploiting his extensive network in the military and government to meddle in military promotions and later intervened in the planning and imposition of the martial law decree.
Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, have long been dogged by allegations that they frequently consult fortune-tellers on key matters, ranging from relocating the presidential office and residence to selecting dates for official overseas trips.
This practice might have extended to the planning of the martial law decree, critics say.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that the date of the failed coup was chosen based on advice from fortune-tellers,” said Lee Jun-han, a political-science professor at Incheon National University.
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By Park Chan-kyong
A retired intelligence chief arrested in connection with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s failed martial law bid has come under the spotlight over allegations that he was also a fortune-teller who might have played a key role in the political fiasco.
Noh Sang-won, the former head of South Korea’s Army Intelligence Command, was taken into custody on charges of helping to orchestrate Yoon’s plan to declare martial law on December 3.
Noh was reportedly doubling as a fortune-teller while exploiting his extensive network in the military and government to meddle in military promotions and later intervened in the planning and imposition of the martial law decree.
Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, have long been dogged by allegations that they frequently consult fortune-tellers on key matters, ranging from relocating the presidential office and residence to selecting dates for official overseas trips.
This practice might have extended to the planning of the martial law decree, critics say.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that the date of the failed coup was chosen based on advice from fortune-tellers,” said Lee Jun-han, a political-science professor at Incheon National University.
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One of the world’s most active volcanoes – Hawaii’s Kilauea – is erupting again
By Associated Press
Lava began bubbling on Monday through the crust of one of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island.
The eruption was confined to the volcano’s summit caldera, in a remote, closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported.
Increased earthquake activity began at about 2am local time and within about half an hour webcam images began to show lava emerging through fissures in the caldera or spurting in fountains.
The most immediate threat was from volcanic smog that could reach homes downwind, the observatory said. Such “vog” contains sulphur dioxide and can worsen symptoms for people who have conditions like asthma, other respiratory issues or cardiovascular disease.
The area where the eruption is taking place has been closed to the public since 2007 because of hazards that include crater wall instability, ground cracking and rockfalls.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea also erupted in June and September.
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By Associated Press
Lava began bubbling on Monday through the crust of one of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island.
The eruption was confined to the volcano’s summit caldera, in a remote, closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported.
Increased earthquake activity began at about 2am local time and within about half an hour webcam images began to show lava emerging through fissures in the caldera or spurting in fountains.
The most immediate threat was from volcanic smog that could reach homes downwind, the observatory said. Such “vog” contains sulphur dioxide and can worsen symptoms for people who have conditions like asthma, other respiratory issues or cardiovascular disease.
The area where the eruption is taking place has been closed to the public since 2007 because of hazards that include crater wall instability, ground cracking and rockfalls.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea also erupted in June and September.
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Saturday Night Live takes on New Jersey’s ‘mystery drones’ in skit starring Bowen Yang
By Tribune News Service
Bowen Yang has entered the ring for “mystery drone” commentary.
Over the weekend Yang, Saturday Night Live’s first Chinese-American comedian, appeared on the show’s “Weekend Update” segment dressed as one of the drones seen flying over New Jersey over the last month.
“What are you?” anchor Michael Che asked Yang, whose arms and shoulder blades were made to look like propellers. “No, see, we’re not going to do that,” Yang responded. “I know what I am – and I don’t have to explain myself to anyone at any time for any reason.”
The skit was part of SNL’s final episode of 2024. It was a nod to the series of drone sightings across the Northeast, and the FAA’s recent enactment of temporary flight restrictions over the state for the rest of the year.
“Who’s controlling you,” Che asked Yang’s drone character. “Who’s controlling you, Michael?” Yang responded. “People are like: ‘Is it a UFO? Is it a drone? Is it a promo for SNL 50?’ Meanwhile, I’m just minding my own business, hovering over people’s homes, maybe filming them.”
During the skit, Yang showed love for New Jersey – a rarity on the show that for years has made the Garden State the butt of its jokes, with past jabs at the state’s smell, residents’ appearances and past governors.
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By Tribune News Service
Bowen Yang has entered the ring for “mystery drone” commentary.
Over the weekend Yang, Saturday Night Live’s first Chinese-American comedian, appeared on the show’s “Weekend Update” segment dressed as one of the drones seen flying over New Jersey over the last month.
“What are you?” anchor Michael Che asked Yang, whose arms and shoulder blades were made to look like propellers. “No, see, we’re not going to do that,” Yang responded. “I know what I am – and I don’t have to explain myself to anyone at any time for any reason.”
The skit was part of SNL’s final episode of 2024. It was a nod to the series of drone sightings across the Northeast, and the FAA’s recent enactment of temporary flight restrictions over the state for the rest of the year.
“Who’s controlling you,” Che asked Yang’s drone character. “Who’s controlling you, Michael?” Yang responded. “People are like: ‘Is it a UFO? Is it a drone? Is it a promo for SNL 50?’ Meanwhile, I’m just minding my own business, hovering over people’s homes, maybe filming them.”
During the skit, Yang showed love for New Jersey – a rarity on the show that for years has made the Garden State the butt of its jokes, with past jabs at the state’s smell, residents’ appearances and past governors.
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Trump’s TikTok love raises stakes in battle over app’s fate
By Agence France-Presse
US president-elect Donald Trump’s repeated support for TikTok has sparked speculation about potential solutions to prevent the app’s impending ban in the United States, though the path forward remains unclear.
“We got to keep this sucker around for a little while,” Trump told supporters on Sunday, just days after meeting TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi in Florida.
Trump, who credits the wildly popular platform with delivering him a large young user base, opposes banning TikTok partly because he believes it would primarily benefit Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company behind Instagram and Facebook.
The situation is complex, according to University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias, given the various potential solutions and Trump’s unpredictable nature.
Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation, signed by US President Joe Biden in April, that would block TikTok from US app stores and web hosting services unless Beijing-based ByteDance sells its stake by January 19.
US officials and lawmakers grew wary of the potential for the Chinese government to influence ByteDance or access the data of TikTok’s American users.
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By Agence France-Presse
US president-elect Donald Trump’s repeated support for TikTok has sparked speculation about potential solutions to prevent the app’s impending ban in the United States, though the path forward remains unclear.
“We got to keep this sucker around for a little while,” Trump told supporters on Sunday, just days after meeting TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi in Florida.
Trump, who credits the wildly popular platform with delivering him a large young user base, opposes banning TikTok partly because he believes it would primarily benefit Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company behind Instagram and Facebook.
The situation is complex, according to University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias, given the various potential solutions and Trump’s unpredictable nature.
Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation, signed by US President Joe Biden in April, that would block TikTok from US app stores and web hosting services unless Beijing-based ByteDance sells its stake by January 19.
US officials and lawmakers grew wary of the potential for the Chinese government to influence ByteDance or access the data of TikTok’s American users.
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China’s massive solar rooftop roll-out gains traction, but grid struggles to keep pace
By Alice Li
Former construction contractor Gao Shouguang switched careers last year, abandoning the troubled property sector to become a solar panel distributor – and another example of China’s economic transition – in the southwestern Chinese megacity of Chongqing.
Gao and his team are busy every day, shuttling around the county where they are based to install rooftop solar panels on houses.
Mounted on steel frames, the gleaming striped panels absorb sunlight and generate electricity that can be sold to grid companies, while also shielding the house from rain and heat.
“Solar panels offer waterproofing and can help households earn additional income,” Gao said. “They’re becoming increasingly well-received by farmers.”
Installing solar panels on a typical 100 square metre (1,076 sq ft) rooftop costs more than 100,000 yuan (US$13,700), and that sees most residents opt to rent their rooftop space to solar panel distributors like Gao.
He offers them 25-year contracts that pay 15 yuan per panel a year, plus a first-year incentive payment of 50 yuan a panel. With each solar panel covering about three square metres, the owner of a 100 square metre rooftop can earn around 450 yuan a year.
Solar panel companies can earn an average of about 780 yuan a month by selling the electricity generated by those panels to grid companies, a technician at a power supply station in one Chongqing county said, adding that they purchase the electricity at about 0.39 yuan per kilowatt-hour and distribute it for local use.
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By Alice Li
Former construction contractor Gao Shouguang switched careers last year, abandoning the troubled property sector to become a solar panel distributor – and another example of China’s economic transition – in the southwestern Chinese megacity of Chongqing.
Gao and his team are busy every day, shuttling around the county where they are based to install rooftop solar panels on houses.
Mounted on steel frames, the gleaming striped panels absorb sunlight and generate electricity that can be sold to grid companies, while also shielding the house from rain and heat.
“Solar panels offer waterproofing and can help households earn additional income,” Gao said. “They’re becoming increasingly well-received by farmers.”
Installing solar panels on a typical 100 square metre (1,076 sq ft) rooftop costs more than 100,000 yuan (US$13,700), and that sees most residents opt to rent their rooftop space to solar panel distributors like Gao.
He offers them 25-year contracts that pay 15 yuan per panel a year, plus a first-year incentive payment of 50 yuan a panel. With each solar panel covering about three square metres, the owner of a 100 square metre rooftop can earn around 450 yuan a year.
Solar panel companies can earn an average of about 780 yuan a month by selling the electricity generated by those panels to grid companies, a technician at a power supply station in one Chongqing county said, adding that they purchase the electricity at about 0.39 yuan per kilowatt-hour and distribute it for local use.
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Chinese workers found in ‘slavery-like conditions’ at BYD construction site in Brazil
By Reuters
Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like conditions” at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil’s Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor’s office said during a news conference on Monday.
According to the authorities, the workers were hired in China by another firm and brought to Brazil irregularly. They were labouring for long hours, in excess of what is permitted by Brazilian law, sometimes for seven days a week straight, while being kept in what authorities described as degrading conditions in their accommodation, among other labour violations.
BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers.
In Brazil, “slavery-like conditions” include forced labour, but also covers debt bondage, degrading work conditions, long hours that pose a risk to workers’ health and any work that violates human dignity.
The workers had to request permission to leave their lodgings, and at least 107 also had their passports withheld by their employer, said labour inspector Liane Durao, adding that conditions at the work site were dangerous.
“We found that the work of … these 163 workers, was carried out in slavery-like conditions,” she said.
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By Reuters
Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like conditions” at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil’s Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor’s office said during a news conference on Monday.
According to the authorities, the workers were hired in China by another firm and brought to Brazil irregularly. They were labouring for long hours, in excess of what is permitted by Brazilian law, sometimes for seven days a week straight, while being kept in what authorities described as degrading conditions in their accommodation, among other labour violations.
BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers.
In Brazil, “slavery-like conditions” include forced labour, but also covers debt bondage, degrading work conditions, long hours that pose a risk to workers’ health and any work that violates human dignity.
The workers had to request permission to leave their lodgings, and at least 107 also had their passports withheld by their employer, said labour inspector Liane Durao, adding that conditions at the work site were dangerous.
“We found that the work of … these 163 workers, was carried out in slavery-like conditions,” she said.
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Besides the border, 4 issues obstruct warmer China-India ties
By Liu Zongyi
India and China took another step towards healthy and stable relations last week as India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held border talks in Beijing. It was the 23rd meeting between the countries’ special representatives under the established mechanism for border discussions – and the first to be held in five years.
Relations cooled after the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar frequently critical of border affairs. The Wang-Doval meeting returns discussions over long-standing border issues back to the normal track.
Described as substantive and constructive, the meeting reflected a warming of Sino-India relations. Trust will need to be re-established and that will take time. Beyond border and bilateral relations, China and India can also improve mutual understanding and build trust by clarifying issues regarding the international order – on which they share similarities but also sharp differences.
First, the international order is undergoing a transformation. The driving forces are seen variously as the rise of the East and the decline of the West, or the rise of the South and the decline of the North. China has repeatedly referred to changes “not seen in a century”. Both China and India are part of this transformation.
Both see as unfair the international order led by the United States and western Europe. Like China, India is part of the Brics bloc (whose name comes from initial members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), which seeks to reshape global governance. India is also pushing for more equitable representation through reforms to the UN Security Council, including a seat for India – which permanent member China has publicly opposed.
In a September talk in New York, Jaishankar spoke of the “parallel rises of India and China”, which “present a very, very unique problem”. China, undeniably the biggest driving force behind the changing international order, hopes for a smooth transition. It stands as a major force in maintaining peace and stability, especially in the Asia-Pacific.
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By Liu Zongyi
India and China took another step towards healthy and stable relations last week as India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held border talks in Beijing. It was the 23rd meeting between the countries’ special representatives under the established mechanism for border discussions – and the first to be held in five years.
Relations cooled after the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar frequently critical of border affairs. The Wang-Doval meeting returns discussions over long-standing border issues back to the normal track.
Described as substantive and constructive, the meeting reflected a warming of Sino-India relations. Trust will need to be re-established and that will take time. Beyond border and bilateral relations, China and India can also improve mutual understanding and build trust by clarifying issues regarding the international order – on which they share similarities but also sharp differences.
First, the international order is undergoing a transformation. The driving forces are seen variously as the rise of the East and the decline of the West, or the rise of the South and the decline of the North. China has repeatedly referred to changes “not seen in a century”. Both China and India are part of this transformation.
Both see as unfair the international order led by the United States and western Europe. Like China, India is part of the Brics bloc (whose name comes from initial members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), which seeks to reshape global governance. India is also pushing for more equitable representation through reforms to the UN Security Council, including a seat for India – which permanent member China has publicly opposed.
In a September talk in New York, Jaishankar spoke of the “parallel rises of India and China”, which “present a very, very unique problem”. China, undeniably the biggest driving force behind the changing international order, hopes for a smooth transition. It stands as a major force in maintaining peace and stability, especially in the Asia-Pacific.
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Israel for first time claims responsibility for Hamas leader’s assassination
By Reuters
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz admitted for the first time publicly to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July.
The admission further risks tensions between Tehran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel’s war in Gaza and the conflict in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it killed a high-ranking member of Hamas on Saturday. Tharewat al-Beik was the head of Hamas’ internal security department, which was also responsible for protecting the Hamas leadership.
According to local sources, however, al-Beik was the chairman of the government committee for the Legislative Council.
He was killed along with another important Hamas member when a rocket hit his car in Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Hamas has not confirmed the deaths.
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By Reuters
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz admitted for the first time publicly to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July.
The admission further risks tensions between Tehran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel’s war in Gaza and the conflict in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it killed a high-ranking member of Hamas on Saturday. Tharewat al-Beik was the head of Hamas’ internal security department, which was also responsible for protecting the Hamas leadership.
According to local sources, however, al-Beik was the chairman of the government committee for the Legislative Council.
He was killed along with another important Hamas member when a rocket hit his car in Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Hamas has not confirmed the deaths.
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Former Greek royal family expresses ‘deep emotion’ after regaining citizenship
By Associated Press
Members of Greece’s former royal family expressed “deep emotion” Monday at a decision to reinstate their Greek citizenship, ending a decades-old dispute with the country’s government.
Greece abolished the monarchy in a 1974 referendum and the former royal family was stripped of its citizenship two decades later during a dispute over the former royal estate that passed to state control.
In a decision published in the government gazette, dated Friday, citizenship was granted to 10 members of the former royal family. They include the five children of the late King Constantine II and former Queen Anne-Marie as well as to five of their grandchildren.
“It is with deep emotion that, after 30 years, we hold the Greek citizenship again. The law of 1994 deprived us of our citizenship, rendering us stateless with all that this entails in terms of individual rights and great emotional distress,” the former royal family said in a statement in Greek and English.
“Our father and our family fully respected the result of the 1974 referendum,” the statement said. “However, the provision of the 1994 law on citizenship, a result of the political status at the time, was not befitting of a former head of the Greek state and an institution that served the country faithfully. The passing of our father marked the end of an era.”
Constantine died last year at 82 having only returned to Greece in his 70s. He remained a controversial figure over claims that he failed to distance himself from heated political rivalries while he reigned as king between 1964 and 1973. He was ousted during a military dictatorship that collapsed the following year.
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By Associated Press
Members of Greece’s former royal family expressed “deep emotion” Monday at a decision to reinstate their Greek citizenship, ending a decades-old dispute with the country’s government.
Greece abolished the monarchy in a 1974 referendum and the former royal family was stripped of its citizenship two decades later during a dispute over the former royal estate that passed to state control.
In a decision published in the government gazette, dated Friday, citizenship was granted to 10 members of the former royal family. They include the five children of the late King Constantine II and former Queen Anne-Marie as well as to five of their grandchildren.
“It is with deep emotion that, after 30 years, we hold the Greek citizenship again. The law of 1994 deprived us of our citizenship, rendering us stateless with all that this entails in terms of individual rights and great emotional distress,” the former royal family said in a statement in Greek and English.
“Our father and our family fully respected the result of the 1974 referendum,” the statement said. “However, the provision of the 1994 law on citizenship, a result of the political status at the time, was not befitting of a former head of the Greek state and an institution that served the country faithfully. The passing of our father marked the end of an era.”
Constantine died last year at 82 having only returned to Greece in his 70s. He remained a controversial figure over claims that he failed to distance himself from heated political rivalries while he reigned as king between 1964 and 1973. He was ousted during a military dictatorship that collapsed the following year.
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Russia’s overheated economy is squeezing one of Moscow’s key trading channels with China
By Business Insider
One of Russia’s key trading channels with China is facing serious snags. That is a result of burdens stemming from Russia’s war-driven economy, which have fuelled a big slowdown in the nation’s rail industry – a vital means of trade between Moscow and Beijing.
Russia’s rail industry is in its worst slowdown since the Great Financial Crisis, with the downtrend “still going strong”, according to an analysis from the Russian research firm MMI Research.
Freight volume transported by Russian Railways, Russia’s state-owned rail system, slumped 5 per cent in the first 11 months of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to MMI data cited by Bloomberg.
The slowdown is driven in part by Russia’s need to ship war-related materials, which have worsened supply bottlenecks and slowed the trade of key commodities, such as coal and aluminium, the outlet reported.
Investment in Russia’s railways is also being slashed, partly due to high interest rates in the nation, according to a report from the state-owned Tass news agency. Russian Railways said it would earmark just 890 billion roubles, or US$8.5 billion, for its investment programme next year, a 30 per cent cut from investment in 2024, Tass reported.
The firm is considering whether it should cut investment by another third until the end of the decade, the Russian news outlet Kommersant reported. Russian Railways did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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By Business Insider
One of Russia’s key trading channels with China is facing serious snags. That is a result of burdens stemming from Russia’s war-driven economy, which have fuelled a big slowdown in the nation’s rail industry – a vital means of trade between Moscow and Beijing.
Russia’s rail industry is in its worst slowdown since the Great Financial Crisis, with the downtrend “still going strong”, according to an analysis from the Russian research firm MMI Research.
Freight volume transported by Russian Railways, Russia’s state-owned rail system, slumped 5 per cent in the first 11 months of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to MMI data cited by Bloomberg.
The slowdown is driven in part by Russia’s need to ship war-related materials, which have worsened supply bottlenecks and slowed the trade of key commodities, such as coal and aluminium, the outlet reported.
Investment in Russia’s railways is also being slashed, partly due to high interest rates in the nation, according to a report from the state-owned Tass news agency. Russian Railways said it would earmark just 890 billion roubles, or US$8.5 billion, for its investment programme next year, a 30 per cent cut from investment in 2024, Tass reported.
The firm is considering whether it should cut investment by another third until the end of the decade, the Russian news outlet Kommersant reported. Russian Railways did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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Chocolate maker Cadbury ‘disappointed’ at losing royal warrant under King Charles
By Agence France-Presse
Chocolate firm Cadbury said on Monday it was “disappointed” after losing its royal warrant for the first time in 170 years following King Charles’ first review of the coveted list since becoming monarch.
Campaign group B4Ukraine earlier this year urged the king to remove companies “still operating in Russia” following its invasion of Ukraine.
It singled out Mondelez International which owns Cadbury as well as Bacardi, Nestle and Unilever, the maker of the UK’s love-it-or-hate-it breakfast spread, Marmite.
Cadbury was among 100 firms including Unilever missing from a new list of 386 royal warrant holders, although Bacardi and Nestle retained their warrants.
Not all those absent from the latest list, published by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, were necessarily actively removed, and instead may have ceased trading or not applied.
The review of royal warrants follows Charles’ accession to the throne in September 2022 on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth.
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By Agence France-Presse
Chocolate firm Cadbury said on Monday it was “disappointed” after losing its royal warrant for the first time in 170 years following King Charles’ first review of the coveted list since becoming monarch.
Campaign group B4Ukraine earlier this year urged the king to remove companies “still operating in Russia” following its invasion of Ukraine.
It singled out Mondelez International which owns Cadbury as well as Bacardi, Nestle and Unilever, the maker of the UK’s love-it-or-hate-it breakfast spread, Marmite.
Cadbury was among 100 firms including Unilever missing from a new list of 386 royal warrant holders, although Bacardi and Nestle retained their warrants.
Not all those absent from the latest list, published by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, were necessarily actively removed, and instead may have ceased trading or not applied.
The review of royal warrants follows Charles’ accession to the throne in September 2022 on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth.
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This cute California squirrel hides a secret: It’s a vicious predator
By dpa
The California ground squirrel seems innocent. A familiar sight to hikers, the plump rodent can often be seen contentedly chewing on grass, seeds and berries.
But according to recently published research, wildlife biologists have documented a fierce feature of the creature: It is a committed carnivore, hunting and feasting on unlucky little voles.
Like a rodent version of the notoriously violent 1969 film The Wild Bunch, extensive video footage recorded at the Briones Regional Park in the San Francisco Bay Area offers repeated evidence of the squirrels’ savagery.
Squirrels chase voles – small rodents that are relatives of lemmings and hamsters – then catch and pummel them until they’re a bloody pulp.
Like cats, the squirrels sometimes let the mortally wounded creature limp off. Then they pounce again. Even as the vole squirms, clinging to life, they take a bite.
It’s been known that California ground squirrels won’t pass up an easy meal of meat. Prior research found clues of ingested voles, as well as quail eggs, insects and shellfish.
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By dpa
The California ground squirrel seems innocent. A familiar sight to hikers, the plump rodent can often be seen contentedly chewing on grass, seeds and berries.
But according to recently published research, wildlife biologists have documented a fierce feature of the creature: It is a committed carnivore, hunting and feasting on unlucky little voles.
Like a rodent version of the notoriously violent 1969 film The Wild Bunch, extensive video footage recorded at the Briones Regional Park in the San Francisco Bay Area offers repeated evidence of the squirrels’ savagery.
Squirrels chase voles – small rodents that are relatives of lemmings and hamsters – then catch and pummel them until they’re a bloody pulp.
Like cats, the squirrels sometimes let the mortally wounded creature limp off. Then they pounce again. Even as the vole squirms, clinging to life, they take a bite.
It’s been known that California ground squirrels won’t pass up an easy meal of meat. Prior research found clues of ingested voles, as well as quail eggs, insects and shellfish.
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US launches trade investigation into China’s ‘legacy’ semiconductor chips
By Mark Magnier
The White House on Monday announced a trade investigation into “legacy” semiconductors made by China, less than a month before the new administration of president-elect Donald Trump takes power, that could impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made every day US consumer goods from cars to coffee makers.
The probe falls under Section 301, a tool named after a part of the US Trade Act of 1974 that allows Washington to challenge imports on national security grounds. Given the last-minute timing, it will be up to the Trump administration whether to pursue the probe after taking over on January 20.
The investigation by the US Trade Representative could give Trump a launch pad to further his threat to impose up to 60 per cent tariffs on all Chinese imported goods that he outlined during his election campaign.
“This investigation underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to standing up for American workers and businesses, increasing the resilience of critical supply chains, and supporting the unparalleled investment being made in this industry,” said US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a statement.
The trade agency added that “evidence indicates” that China seeks to dominate domestic and global chip markets through extensive anticompetitive and non-market means. These include setting and pursuing market share targets, it added.
China’s acts, policies, and practices threaten to hurt the US and allied economies and undercut US economic security, it added.
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By Mark Magnier
The White House on Monday announced a trade investigation into “legacy” semiconductors made by China, less than a month before the new administration of president-elect Donald Trump takes power, that could impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made every day US consumer goods from cars to coffee makers.
The probe falls under Section 301, a tool named after a part of the US Trade Act of 1974 that allows Washington to challenge imports on national security grounds. Given the last-minute timing, it will be up to the Trump administration whether to pursue the probe after taking over on January 20.
The investigation by the US Trade Representative could give Trump a launch pad to further his threat to impose up to 60 per cent tariffs on all Chinese imported goods that he outlined during his election campaign.
“This investigation underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to standing up for American workers and businesses, increasing the resilience of critical supply chains, and supporting the unparalleled investment being made in this industry,” said US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a statement.
The trade agency added that “evidence indicates” that China seeks to dominate domestic and global chip markets through extensive anticompetitive and non-market means. These include setting and pursuing market share targets, it added.
China’s acts, policies, and practices threaten to hurt the US and allied economies and undercut US economic security, it added.
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Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder in killing of United Healthcare’s Brian Thompson
By Associated PressReuters
The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea.
The 11-count indictment includes three murder charges, including murder as an act of terrorism.
His initial appearance in New York’s state’s trial court was pre-empted by federal prosecutors bringing their own charges over the shooting. The federal charges could carry the possibility of the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks, with the state charges expected to go to trial first.
Authorities say Mangione gunned down Brian Thompson as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan on the morning of December 4.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Associated PressReuters
The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea.
The 11-count indictment includes three murder charges, including murder as an act of terrorism.
His initial appearance in New York’s state’s trial court was pre-empted by federal prosecutors bringing their own charges over the shooting. The federal charges could carry the possibility of the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks, with the state charges expected to go to trial first.
Authorities say Mangione gunned down Brian Thompson as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan on the morning of December 4.
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Hong Kong airport told to step up train safety after girl’s platform gap fall
By Ng Kang-chung
Authorities have ordered the operator of Hong Kong airport to step up safety measures for its driverless trains after a child stepped into the gap between the platform and a carriage last year but was quickly pulled out by other passengers.
The Airport Authority said that while it had found no evidence of a cover-up of the accident by staff, it had taken disciplinary action against the relevant staff for not being alert enough to report the incident in time and document it properly.
The government, which said it was highly concerned about the accident, announced on Monday that it had finished a review of an investigation report and related supplementary information submitted by the authority.
The incident took place in November last year when a girl, said to be about five or six years old, reportedly stepped into the gap at a platform while boarding a train of the airport’s automated people mover (APM).
An authority investigation found that the girl was immediately pulled out of the gap by other passengers. The train’s operation was not interrupted and carriage doors closed as scheduled. The safety mechanism was not triggered.
The authority did not receive a complaint or injury report filed by the girl’s family.
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By Ng Kang-chung
Authorities have ordered the operator of Hong Kong airport to step up safety measures for its driverless trains after a child stepped into the gap between the platform and a carriage last year but was quickly pulled out by other passengers.
The Airport Authority said that while it had found no evidence of a cover-up of the accident by staff, it had taken disciplinary action against the relevant staff for not being alert enough to report the incident in time and document it properly.
The government, which said it was highly concerned about the accident, announced on Monday that it had finished a review of an investigation report and related supplementary information submitted by the authority.
The incident took place in November last year when a girl, said to be about five or six years old, reportedly stepped into the gap at a platform while boarding a train of the airport’s automated people mover (APM).
An authority investigation found that the girl was immediately pulled out of the gap by other passengers. The train’s operation was not interrupted and carriage doors closed as scheduled. The safety mechanism was not triggered.
The authority did not receive a complaint or injury report filed by the girl’s family.
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China-born biologist Wang Cunyu returns from decades in US to head advanced institute
By Dannie Peng
Distinguished biologist Wang Cunyu has left the University of California, Los Angeles and joined Peking University to head its Institute of Advanced Clinical Medicine (IACM).
Wang – who left China in 1990 and has been in the United States for more than three decades – delivered a speech as the institute’s newly appointed head at a conference last week to mark the body’s anniversary on December 18, the Peking University Health Science Centre said on Friday.
Wang was quoted as saying that it was his great honour and responsibility to return to his alma mater and develop the institute.
He said he would lead the team to “take root in clinical needs, make full use of the unique advantages of cross-disciplines and bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application”, and would devote himself to building the institute into a major force in global medical innovation.
Previously, Wang was a professor and associate dean for graduate studies at the UCLA school of dentistry, and the first person to hold the school’s Dr No-Hee Park Endowed Chair in Dentistry. He is also a professor in the department of bioengineering and a member of the university’s cancer centre.
According to the UCLA’s website, his research focuses on three areas related to human health and medicine. These include molecular signalling, epigenetics – the study of how behaviour and environment can affect gene activity – and therapeutics of oral, head and neck cancer.
Wang was born in 1963 in Xinghua in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. He studied at Nanjing Medical University and Peking University’s school of dentistry, where he obtained his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in 1985 and 1989 respectively.
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By Dannie Peng
Distinguished biologist Wang Cunyu has left the University of California, Los Angeles and joined Peking University to head its Institute of Advanced Clinical Medicine (IACM).
Wang – who left China in 1990 and has been in the United States for more than three decades – delivered a speech as the institute’s newly appointed head at a conference last week to mark the body’s anniversary on December 18, the Peking University Health Science Centre said on Friday.
Wang was quoted as saying that it was his great honour and responsibility to return to his alma mater and develop the institute.
He said he would lead the team to “take root in clinical needs, make full use of the unique advantages of cross-disciplines and bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application”, and would devote himself to building the institute into a major force in global medical innovation.
Previously, Wang was a professor and associate dean for graduate studies at the UCLA school of dentistry, and the first person to hold the school’s Dr No-Hee Park Endowed Chair in Dentistry. He is also a professor in the department of bioengineering and a member of the university’s cancer centre.
According to the UCLA’s website, his research focuses on three areas related to human health and medicine. These include molecular signalling, epigenetics – the study of how behaviour and environment can affect gene activity – and therapeutics of oral, head and neck cancer.
Wang was born in 1963 in Xinghua in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. He studied at Nanjing Medical University and Peking University’s school of dentistry, where he obtained his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in 1985 and 1989 respectively.
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