Three die in clandestine English Channel crossing attempt
By Agence France-Presse
Three migrants died on Sunday in an attempt to cross the English Channel from France to Britain, a local mayor told journalists.
The deaths take this year’s casualty toll from failed clandestine crossings to a confirmed 76.
The boat that was to take the migrants on Sunday ran into trouble near Bleriot-Plage, a public beach in Sangatte close to the French Channel port of Calais, at around 6:00am, an emergency services source said.
Several people fell into the water trying to board the overcrowded vessel, French maritime services said.
Around 50 people were given emergency help on the beach by government services or NGOs, with many in a state of hypothermia.
Some were taken to Sangatte’s nautical base for treatment.
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By Agence France-Presse
Three migrants died on Sunday in an attempt to cross the English Channel from France to Britain, a local mayor told journalists.
The deaths take this year’s casualty toll from failed clandestine crossings to a confirmed 76.
The boat that was to take the migrants on Sunday ran into trouble near Bleriot-Plage, a public beach in Sangatte close to the French Channel port of Calais, at around 6:00am, an emergency services source said.
Several people fell into the water trying to board the overcrowded vessel, French maritime services said.
Around 50 people were given emergency help on the beach by government services or NGOs, with many in a state of hypothermia.
Some were taken to Sangatte’s nautical base for treatment.
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By Fran Lu
Six years after making a phenomenal debut on the girl group reality show Produce 101, pop idol Naomi Wang Ju is now widely recognised as a promising actress.
When Wang, 32, appeared on the 2018 show with another hundred slim and pale-skinned girls who conformed to the traditional idea of Chinese beauty, she faced mocking that she was “chunky” and “dark-skinned”.
But Wang impressed many by saying she loved her body and did not mind other people’s criticism.
Wang was born into an ordinary family in Shanghai. Her father was a salaryman and her mother was a teacher.
They supported Wang’s interest in dancing and signed her up for dancing classes, but they did not want her to pursue a career in show business as they did not have connections.Naomi Wang Ju worked in sales and education before making her TV breakthrough. Photo: Sina
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Search launched for woman who fell from slope on Hong Kong hiking trail
By Danny Mok
A search operation is under way for a Hong Kong hiker who fell from a steep slope and has been missing for hours in the eastern New Territories.
Authorities received a report at 1.20pm on Sunday that a woman had fallen while hiking on a challenging route in Ma On Shan Country Park.
Emergency personnel rushed to the country park to begin a search and rescue operation. The Government Flying Service also dispatched a helicopter to help in the search.
The woman was reportedly part of a group of more than 10 hikers traversing a difficult trail commonly known as Nei Tin Path, which connects Ma On Shan and Ngau Ngak Shan, when she fell.
Nei Tin Path is regarded as having a high degree of difficulty and is known for its rugged and challenging terrain, with continuous ascents and descents.
Numerous sections require hikers to use both hands and feet to climb.
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By Danny Mok
A search operation is under way for a Hong Kong hiker who fell from a steep slope and has been missing for hours in the eastern New Territories.
Authorities received a report at 1.20pm on Sunday that a woman had fallen while hiking on a challenging route in Ma On Shan Country Park.
Emergency personnel rushed to the country park to begin a search and rescue operation. The Government Flying Service also dispatched a helicopter to help in the search.
The woman was reportedly part of a group of more than 10 hikers traversing a difficult trail commonly known as Nei Tin Path, which connects Ma On Shan and Ngau Ngak Shan, when she fell.
Nei Tin Path is regarded as having a high degree of difficulty and is known for its rugged and challenging terrain, with continuous ascents and descents.
Numerous sections require hikers to use both hands and feet to climb.
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Air crash tests South Korea’s acting president two days into the job
By Reuters
When South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok arrived at the scene of the deadliest air disaster on the country’s soil on Sunday, he had been on the job for less than 48 hours.
Choi, the country’s finance minister, became acting leader on Friday night after the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been acting president since President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached and suspended from power on December 14, following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law.
The bewildering turnover at the top of Asia’s fourth-largest economy and one of its most vibrant democracies left the government scrambling when Jeju Air flight 7C2216 slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing most of the 181 people on board.
Choi visited the site a few hours after the crash and declared it a special disaster zone.
“The government would like to offer its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and will do its best to recover from this accident and prevent a recurrence,” he said.
Behind the scenes, government offices were still figuring out the chain of command and how press statements would be released, a ministry spokesperson and four other officials said. All spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive planning.
“Today Choi went to Muan with land ministry officials, not finance ministry officials,” a spokesperson said. “A team of transportation ministry officials and safety ministry officials will report directly to Choi regarding the Muan plane crash for the next few weeks. As for how we will distribute press releases on all his schedules – still undecided.”
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By Reuters
When South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok arrived at the scene of the deadliest air disaster on the country’s soil on Sunday, he had been on the job for less than 48 hours.
Choi, the country’s finance minister, became acting leader on Friday night after the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been acting president since President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached and suspended from power on December 14, following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law.
The bewildering turnover at the top of Asia’s fourth-largest economy and one of its most vibrant democracies left the government scrambling when Jeju Air flight 7C2216 slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing most of the 181 people on board.
Choi visited the site a few hours after the crash and declared it a special disaster zone.
“The government would like to offer its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and will do its best to recover from this accident and prevent a recurrence,” he said.
Behind the scenes, government offices were still figuring out the chain of command and how press statements would be released, a ministry spokesperson and four other officials said. All spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive planning.
“Today Choi went to Muan with land ministry officials, not finance ministry officials,” a spokesperson said. “A team of transportation ministry officials and safety ministry officials will report directly to Choi regarding the Muan plane crash for the next few weeks. As for how we will distribute press releases on all his schedules – still undecided.”
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Hong Kong to grapple with turbulent market in 2025, finance chief says
By Emily Hung
Hong Kong is set to grapple with a turbulent market in 2025 amid uncertainties stemming from geopolitical tensions and high interest rates, the city’s finance chief has said, vowing to expand ties with other economies and promote the innovation and technology (I&T) sector.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said on Sunday that the city had made “steady progress” over the past year despite such uncertainties, pointing to an improving capital market sentiment and signs of growth in the stock and property markets.
Over the past year, the Hang Seng Index has returned to the 20,000 level with the stock market going up by 18 per cent. The average daily transaction volume surpassed HK$132 billion (US$17 billion), a 25 per cent uptick from last year.
The city also remained in 4th position globally this year in terms of IPO fundraising.
Chan also noted that the city’s economic growth forecast stood at 2.5 per cent and the unemployment rate was at a lower level of 3.1 per cent, while inflation remained mild and residents’ incomes had “recorded a real increase”.
But the minister said the retail and catering sectors still faced significant hurdles, even with more than 44 million visitor arrivals being recorded so far this year, a 30 per cent year-on-year increase, and the recent resumption of a visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
“Looking ahead to 2025, uncertainties arising from geopolitics and a prolonged period of high interest rates will contribute to a more turbulent market,” Chan wrote in his official blog.
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By Emily Hung
Hong Kong is set to grapple with a turbulent market in 2025 amid uncertainties stemming from geopolitical tensions and high interest rates, the city’s finance chief has said, vowing to expand ties with other economies and promote the innovation and technology (I&T) sector.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said on Sunday that the city had made “steady progress” over the past year despite such uncertainties, pointing to an improving capital market sentiment and signs of growth in the stock and property markets.
Over the past year, the Hang Seng Index has returned to the 20,000 level with the stock market going up by 18 per cent. The average daily transaction volume surpassed HK$132 billion (US$17 billion), a 25 per cent uptick from last year.
The city also remained in 4th position globally this year in terms of IPO fundraising.
Chan also noted that the city’s economic growth forecast stood at 2.5 per cent and the unemployment rate was at a lower level of 3.1 per cent, while inflation remained mild and residents’ incomes had “recorded a real increase”.
But the minister said the retail and catering sectors still faced significant hurdles, even with more than 44 million visitor arrivals being recorded so far this year, a 30 per cent year-on-year increase, and the recent resumption of a visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
“Looking ahead to 2025, uncertainties arising from geopolitics and a prolonged period of high interest rates will contribute to a more turbulent market,” Chan wrote in his official blog.
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Singapore’s new era in 2024: Taylor Swift, leadership transition and a high-profile trial
By Kimberly Lim
In 2024, Singapore’s typically stable landscape was punctuated by significant political upheavals and cultural milestones.
The city state grappled with a high-profile corruption scandal and leadership transition, all while hosting concerts by some of the world’s leading acts, cementing its position as an international entertainment hub.
Here are the most widely read Singapore stories This Week in Asia covered in 2024:
American pop star Taylor Swift’s six sold-out shows in March attracted more than just fans from across the region, it also drew some ire from neighbouring countries.
Singapore’s concert deal with Swift had caused an uproar over an exclusivity deal to make the city state the tour’s only stop in the region, with some politicians and fans reading the move as a snub.
Then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore was not “being unfriendly” in an attempt to smooth ruffled feathers, adding that the deal had turned out to be very successful.
Swift’s concerts, along with other top acts such as British rock band Coldplay, brought about a surge in tourism activity and gave the economy a boost in the first quarter of the year, the central bank said in April.
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By Kimberly Lim
In 2024, Singapore’s typically stable landscape was punctuated by significant political upheavals and cultural milestones.
The city state grappled with a high-profile corruption scandal and leadership transition, all while hosting concerts by some of the world’s leading acts, cementing its position as an international entertainment hub.
Here are the most widely read Singapore stories This Week in Asia covered in 2024:
American pop star Taylor Swift’s six sold-out shows in March attracted more than just fans from across the region, it also drew some ire from neighbouring countries.
Singapore’s concert deal with Swift had caused an uproar over an exclusivity deal to make the city state the tour’s only stop in the region, with some politicians and fans reading the move as a snub.
Then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore was not “being unfriendly” in an attempt to smooth ruffled feathers, adding that the deal had turned out to be very successful.
Swift’s concerts, along with other top acts such as British rock band Coldplay, brought about a surge in tourism activity and gave the economy a boost in the first quarter of the year, the central bank said in April.
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Hong Kong urban renewal body to test scheme in bid to boost tender process
By Vivian Au
Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority will launch a scheme next month that aims to improve transparency and communications in response to the lacklustre interest from developers in bidding for its projects amid an unclear market environment.
The “development facilitation service”, which aims to improve the success rate of authority tenders, will be tested on a project in Mong Kok.
The Shantung Street/Thistle Street redevelopment is a 14,940 square metre project that aims to enhance the liveability of the surroundings.
Wai Chi-sing, managing director of the cash-strapped authority, said on Sunday in his official blog that developers who accessed the service could use a dedicated platform to download project information, including planning parameters, land lease terms and design requirements.
The authority will also send out questionnaires on the platform to gather opinions from developers.
“The service aims to increase the transparency of project information before the tender process starts and to help developers prepare better,” he said.
The new initiative followed an announcement by the authority that it might undertake a major redevelopment project in Kowloon City on its own after a failed tender in September. The lone bid was from CK Asset Holdings.
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By Vivian Au
Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority will launch a scheme next month that aims to improve transparency and communications in response to the lacklustre interest from developers in bidding for its projects amid an unclear market environment.
The “development facilitation service”, which aims to improve the success rate of authority tenders, will be tested on a project in Mong Kok.
The Shantung Street/Thistle Street redevelopment is a 14,940 square metre project that aims to enhance the liveability of the surroundings.
Wai Chi-sing, managing director of the cash-strapped authority, said on Sunday in his official blog that developers who accessed the service could use a dedicated platform to download project information, including planning parameters, land lease terms and design requirements.
The authority will also send out questionnaires on the platform to gather opinions from developers.
“The service aims to increase the transparency of project information before the tender process starts and to help developers prepare better,” he said.
The new initiative followed an announcement by the authority that it might undertake a major redevelopment project in Kowloon City on its own after a failed tender in September. The lone bid was from CK Asset Holdings.
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Better after-death arrangements will spare our loved ones some grief
By Mike Rowse
Any discussion of death makes many people uncomfortable and is a social taboo in some communities. But death is inevitable, something to prepare ourselves for, and before then, to handle in respect of a loved one perhaps. So full marks should go to Hong Kong’s ombudsman, Jack Chan Jick-chi, for taking the initiative to examine the procedures around this awkward subject.
As is his remit, he focused on the role of government departments. In an executive summary of his investigation report, published earlier this month, Chan outlined some of the problems facing family members upon the death of a loved one, and put forward practical proposals to address them.
One main recommendation is that all the relevant departments should get together and examine the feasibility of developing a one-stop website for after-death arrangements. That would certainly be useful. In endorsing the idea, I would also urge any such interdepartmental effort to take an even wider, more holistic view.
Once an individual has died, there are a whole raft of decisions to be made and actions taken. Who is authorised to take them? The surviving spouse would seem an obvious option but that person might be overwrought with grief or otherwise incompetent. The burden would then fall to the children or other relatives, but they might not be able to agree among themselves.
One question that might arise is whether there is a religious angle, because different religions have different customs and requirements. Another is the possibility of a cross-border aspect, say, of someone who has died outside Hong Kong but wished to have their remains disposed of here, or someone dying here having wished to be buried or have their ashes scattered elsewhere, in their province or country of origin.
The deceased may have left instructions, for example, for their organs to be made available for transplant. We need to make sure such information is passed on automatically to the relatives, and similarly with burial or cremation wishes.
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By Mike Rowse
Any discussion of death makes many people uncomfortable and is a social taboo in some communities. But death is inevitable, something to prepare ourselves for, and before then, to handle in respect of a loved one perhaps. So full marks should go to Hong Kong’s ombudsman, Jack Chan Jick-chi, for taking the initiative to examine the procedures around this awkward subject.
As is his remit, he focused on the role of government departments. In an executive summary of his investigation report, published earlier this month, Chan outlined some of the problems facing family members upon the death of a loved one, and put forward practical proposals to address them.
One main recommendation is that all the relevant departments should get together and examine the feasibility of developing a one-stop website for after-death arrangements. That would certainly be useful. In endorsing the idea, I would also urge any such interdepartmental effort to take an even wider, more holistic view.
Once an individual has died, there are a whole raft of decisions to be made and actions taken. Who is authorised to take them? The surviving spouse would seem an obvious option but that person might be overwrought with grief or otherwise incompetent. The burden would then fall to the children or other relatives, but they might not be able to agree among themselves.
One question that might arise is whether there is a religious angle, because different religions have different customs and requirements. Another is the possibility of a cross-border aspect, say, of someone who has died outside Hong Kong but wished to have their remains disposed of here, or someone dying here having wished to be buried or have their ashes scattered elsewhere, in their province or country of origin.
The deceased may have left instructions, for example, for their organs to be made available for transplant. We need to make sure such information is passed on automatically to the relatives, and similarly with burial or cremation wishes.
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In Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, China is proving it is master of the sea
By Jevans Nyabiage
When Chinese destroyer Nanning, frigate Sanya and supply ship Weishanhu made a port call in Gabon in July last year, the Chinese navy was happy to help repair some equipment on the Gabonese frigate Mbini.
While they were there, the Chinese sailors also showed their counterparts how to use weapons and equipment, plus they carried out anti-terrorism, anti-piracy and rescue operations with them.
The Chinese naval stop in Gabon was just one of five visits to countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea on Africa’s Atlantic coastline during that trip to Africa. It is a gulf that stretches 5,700km (3,540 miles) from Senegal all the way down to Angola.
It is an important trade route and a region that is rich in oil – and it is a part of the world where China has been increasing its military engagement, paying port calls, holding joint drills, training and giving financial support to Gulf of Guinea countries.
China is emerging as an influential security player. It is growing its peacekeeping troop contributions, increasing the number of scholarships for study in Chinese military academies, and since 2017 joint naval exercises have become more frequent in West Africa.
According to experts, the increase in China’s military engagement with Gulf of Guinea countries is no coincidence. The Gulf of Guinea is a dangerous place, rife with pirate attacks and kidnappings, which gives Beijing the opportunity to both protect China’s African interests and citizens, and test the People’s Liberation Army’s abilities.
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By Jevans Nyabiage
When Chinese destroyer Nanning, frigate Sanya and supply ship Weishanhu made a port call in Gabon in July last year, the Chinese navy was happy to help repair some equipment on the Gabonese frigate Mbini.
While they were there, the Chinese sailors also showed their counterparts how to use weapons and equipment, plus they carried out anti-terrorism, anti-piracy and rescue operations with them.
The Chinese naval stop in Gabon was just one of five visits to countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea on Africa’s Atlantic coastline during that trip to Africa. It is a gulf that stretches 5,700km (3,540 miles) from Senegal all the way down to Angola.
It is an important trade route and a region that is rich in oil – and it is a part of the world where China has been increasing its military engagement, paying port calls, holding joint drills, training and giving financial support to Gulf of Guinea countries.
China is emerging as an influential security player. It is growing its peacekeeping troop contributions, increasing the number of scholarships for study in Chinese military academies, and since 2017 joint naval exercises have become more frequent in West Africa.
According to experts, the increase in China’s military engagement with Gulf of Guinea countries is no coincidence. The Gulf of Guinea is a dangerous place, rife with pirate attacks and kidnappings, which gives Beijing the opportunity to both protect China’s African interests and citizens, and test the People’s Liberation Army’s abilities.
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Hong Kong man arrested after 31 motorbikes damaged in suspected arson case
By Emily Hung
Hong Kong police have arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of arson after more than 30 motorcycles were damaged in a blaze in Kwun Tong district.
The motorbikes were parked outside Yung Fung Shee Memorial Centre on Cha Kwo Ling Road, with the fire on Sunday morning also blackening one of the public clinic’s exterior walls and burning the rear section of an electric vehicle at the scene.
Police were notified of the incident at around 5am, with firefighters rushing to the scene and putting out the blaze. No injuries have been reported in connection with the case.
The force said its preliminary investigation suggested 12 of the motorcycles were set on fire, with the flames spreading to another 19 bikes and the electric vehicle.
Police arrested the man in the same district after deeming the cause of the fire to be suspicious.
The suspect is currently being held in police custody.
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By Emily Hung
Hong Kong police have arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of arson after more than 30 motorcycles were damaged in a blaze in Kwun Tong district.
The motorbikes were parked outside Yung Fung Shee Memorial Centre on Cha Kwo Ling Road, with the fire on Sunday morning also blackening one of the public clinic’s exterior walls and burning the rear section of an electric vehicle at the scene.
Police were notified of the incident at around 5am, with firefighters rushing to the scene and putting out the blaze. No injuries have been reported in connection with the case.
The force said its preliminary investigation suggested 12 of the motorcycles were set on fire, with the flames spreading to another 19 bikes and the electric vehicle.
Police arrested the man in the same district after deeming the cause of the fire to be suspicious.
The suspect is currently being held in police custody.
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Crime in Hong Kong: Post looks back on 2024’s biggest arrests, scams and heists
By Jess Ma
While Hong Kong only saw a slight rise in crime by 4.8 per cent in the first three quarters of this year, a number of incidents have made the headlines, ranging from the emergence of a new narcotic to a HK$200 million (US$25.7 million) deepfake scam.
The Post rounds up 10 cases that shocked the city in 2024.
Merchant Jamie Tzewee Chapman, 34, was charged with murdering Indonesian Novitasari Mevi in October at Waterfall Bay Park in Pok Fu Lam.
Mevi’s body was found at the bottom of the waterfall in the park at 7am on October 28, with Chapman and his wife arrested when they returned to the city at 5pm that day.
After a court appearance on November 1, Chapman was remanded in custody.
The defendant is set to appear in court again on January 24, 2025.
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By Jess Ma
While Hong Kong only saw a slight rise in crime by 4.8 per cent in the first three quarters of this year, a number of incidents have made the headlines, ranging from the emergence of a new narcotic to a HK$200 million (US$25.7 million) deepfake scam.
The Post rounds up 10 cases that shocked the city in 2024.
Merchant Jamie Tzewee Chapman, 34, was charged with murdering Indonesian Novitasari Mevi in October at Waterfall Bay Park in Pok Fu Lam.
Mevi’s body was found at the bottom of the waterfall in the park at 7am on October 28, with Chapman and his wife arrested when they returned to the city at 5pm that day.
After a court appearance on November 1, Chapman was remanded in custody.
The defendant is set to appear in court again on January 24, 2025.
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China’s health bonds with strategic African partner Djibouti grow closer over TCM
By Enoch Wong
Beijing has stepped up public health assistance to its strategic African partner Djibouti – home to China’s only overseas military base – with a new focus on dengue fever and plans for the country’s first traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) centre.
Djiboutian Health Minister Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, a medical doctor and also a TCM advocate, has pledged to “serve as an ambassador for promoting the culture of Chinese traditional medicine”.
Abdilleh made the pledge during a meeting with the director of China’s National Health Commission in Beijing in early December, on the sidelines of an international conference on TCM sponsored by the World Health Organization.
China aims to train 1,300 overseas health workers in TCM over the next three years and has been encouraging more use of its therapies, which include acupuncture, massage and cupping, especially among its Belt and Road Initiative partners.
Mainland Chinese medical teams stationed in Djibouti have been helping the country with health issues for a number of years, in partnership with GX Foundation, a Hong Kong-based NGO.
The NGO’s founder, Leung Chun-ying – a former chief executive of Hong Kong – and members of the mainland Chinese medical teams discussed the benefits of TCM at a reception last month with Abdilleh in Djibouti.
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By Enoch Wong
Beijing has stepped up public health assistance to its strategic African partner Djibouti – home to China’s only overseas military base – with a new focus on dengue fever and plans for the country’s first traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) centre.
Djiboutian Health Minister Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, a medical doctor and also a TCM advocate, has pledged to “serve as an ambassador for promoting the culture of Chinese traditional medicine”.
Abdilleh made the pledge during a meeting with the director of China’s National Health Commission in Beijing in early December, on the sidelines of an international conference on TCM sponsored by the World Health Organization.
China aims to train 1,300 overseas health workers in TCM over the next three years and has been encouraging more use of its therapies, which include acupuncture, massage and cupping, especially among its Belt and Road Initiative partners.
Mainland Chinese medical teams stationed in Djibouti have been helping the country with health issues for a number of years, in partnership with GX Foundation, a Hong Kong-based NGO.
The NGO’s founder, Leung Chun-ying – a former chief executive of Hong Kong – and members of the mainland Chinese medical teams discussed the benefits of TCM at a reception last month with Abdilleh in Djibouti.
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‘I just want a child’: brain-damaged Chinese woman defends her desire to become mum
By Zoey Zhang
A woman in China with cerebral palsy has defended her desire to become a mother against online criticism accusing her of being “irresponsible”.
Li Man, 24, comes from a rural family in Anhui province in eastern China.
She developed cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation at birth. While her intellect is normal, she suffers from a severe physical condition which limits her mobility.
Li was raised by her grandparents while her parents worked away.
As a result of her condition many schools initially refused to admit Li, but her grandmother’s persistent pleas eventually secured her a spot at a primary school.
However, she endured discrimination and ridicule from classmates.
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By Zoey Zhang
A woman in China with cerebral palsy has defended her desire to become a mother against online criticism accusing her of being “irresponsible”.
Li Man, 24, comes from a rural family in Anhui province in eastern China.
She developed cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation at birth. While her intellect is normal, she suffers from a severe physical condition which limits her mobility.
Li was raised by her grandparents while her parents worked away.
As a result of her condition many schools initially refused to admit Li, but her grandmother’s persistent pleas eventually secured her a spot at a primary school.
However, she endured discrimination and ridicule from classmates.
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Meituan to end late delivery penalty amid regulatory crackdown on algorithm misuse
By Ben Jiang
Chinese food delivery giant Meituan will phase out a late delivery penalty in 2025 amid a crack down by regulators on internet platforms’ misuse of algorithms.
The Beijing-based company said it would continuously optimise its management practice and explore fairer and more human-centric incentive mechanisms after it abolishes the fine, according to a notice published on its website on Friday.
The move aims to incentivise food delivery riders for on-time deliveries instead of penalising them, the statement added.
The policy shift was announced as part of a raft of changes to the company’s overarching algorithms that determine a series of operational procedures for its army of couriers, from the sequence of picking up orders to the routes they take, to ensure speedy delivery.
Although the algorithms and the late delivery penalty policy have effectively helped the company stay ahead of competitors like Alibaba Group Holding’s Ele.me, they have also sparked controversy. The strict delivery deadlines have previously prompted couriers to violate traffic rules, leading to accidents. Alibaba owns the Post.
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By Ben Jiang
Chinese food delivery giant Meituan will phase out a late delivery penalty in 2025 amid a crack down by regulators on internet platforms’ misuse of algorithms.
The Beijing-based company said it would continuously optimise its management practice and explore fairer and more human-centric incentive mechanisms after it abolishes the fine, according to a notice published on its website on Friday.
The move aims to incentivise food delivery riders for on-time deliveries instead of penalising them, the statement added.
The policy shift was announced as part of a raft of changes to the company’s overarching algorithms that determine a series of operational procedures for its army of couriers, from the sequence of picking up orders to the routes they take, to ensure speedy delivery.
Although the algorithms and the late delivery penalty policy have effectively helped the company stay ahead of competitors like Alibaba Group Holding’s Ele.me, they have also sparked controversy. The strict delivery deadlines have previously prompted couriers to violate traffic rules, leading to accidents. Alibaba owns the Post.
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Chinese Salt Typhoon cyberespionage targets AT&T, but networks secure, carrier says
By Reuters
The Chinese-linked Salt Typhoon cyberespionage operation targeted AT&T’s systems, but the wireless carrier’s US networks are now secure as it works with law enforcement and government officials, the company said on Saturday in its first acknowledgement of the attacks.
“We detect no activity by nation-state actors in our networks at this time. Based on our current investigation of this attack, the People’s Republic of China targeted a small number of individuals of foreign intelligence interest,” an AT&T spokesperson said.
While only a few cases of compromised information were identified, AT&T was monitoring and remediating its networks to protect customers’ data, and continued to work with authorities to assess and mitigate the threat, the spokesperson said.
On Friday, US officials added a ninth unnamed telecoms company to the list of entities compromised by the Salt Typhoon hackers and said the Chinese involved gained access to networks and essentially had broad and full access, giving them the capability to “geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will.”
The US Department of Defence and the Federal Communications Commission did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment outside regular hours. China’s foreign ministry could not immediately be contacted for comment.
Officials previously alleged hackers targeted Verizon, AT&T, Lumen, and other telecoms companies, and stole telephone audio intercepts along with a large swathe of call record data.
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By Reuters
The Chinese-linked Salt Typhoon cyberespionage operation targeted AT&T’s systems, but the wireless carrier’s US networks are now secure as it works with law enforcement and government officials, the company said on Saturday in its first acknowledgement of the attacks.
“We detect no activity by nation-state actors in our networks at this time. Based on our current investigation of this attack, the People’s Republic of China targeted a small number of individuals of foreign intelligence interest,” an AT&T spokesperson said.
While only a few cases of compromised information were identified, AT&T was monitoring and remediating its networks to protect customers’ data, and continued to work with authorities to assess and mitigate the threat, the spokesperson said.
On Friday, US officials added a ninth unnamed telecoms company to the list of entities compromised by the Salt Typhoon hackers and said the Chinese involved gained access to networks and essentially had broad and full access, giving them the capability to “geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will.”
The US Department of Defence and the Federal Communications Commission did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment outside regular hours. China’s foreign ministry could not immediately be contacted for comment.
Officials previously alleged hackers targeted Verizon, AT&T, Lumen, and other telecoms companies, and stole telephone audio intercepts along with a large swathe of call record data.
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Hong Kong worker killed by falling curtain glass wall at Kowloon West site
By Oscar Liu
A Hong Kong worker was killed when a 1.2-tonne curtain glass wall struck him after it fell at a construction site atop the West Kowloon high-speed rail station.
Police said on Sunday that the incident, which took place a day earlier, had been classified as an industrial accident, adding the force would follow up with the Labour Department.
An employee at the Sun Hung Kai Properties-developed site had filed the police report, saying the victim was a 53-year-old man surnamed Leung and had been installing a glass curtain wall at a commercial building unit, the force added.
The 2.5-by-2-metre glass wall fell and struck Leung when a lifting strap broke. He immediately lost consciousness.
Paramedics took Leung to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His cause of death is pending confirmation after a postmortem examination.
The construction site, located at the intersection of Jordan Road and Lin Cheung Road atop the West Kowloon Terminus, is part of a commercial project that Sun Hung Kai Properties has been developing since it won the tender in 2019.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Oscar Liu
A Hong Kong worker was killed when a 1.2-tonne curtain glass wall struck him after it fell at a construction site atop the West Kowloon high-speed rail station.
Police said on Sunday that the incident, which took place a day earlier, had been classified as an industrial accident, adding the force would follow up with the Labour Department.
An employee at the Sun Hung Kai Properties-developed site had filed the police report, saying the victim was a 53-year-old man surnamed Leung and had been installing a glass curtain wall at a commercial building unit, the force added.
The 2.5-by-2-metre glass wall fell and struck Leung when a lifting strap broke. He immediately lost consciousness.
Paramedics took Leung to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His cause of death is pending confirmation after a postmortem examination.
The construction site, located at the intersection of Jordan Road and Lin Cheung Road atop the West Kowloon Terminus, is part of a commercial project that Sun Hung Kai Properties has been developing since it won the tender in 2019.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
