TikTok Shop is outperforming Shein and Sephora among US shoppers online
By Business Insider
TikTok Shop has surpassed retail giants Shein and Sephora in the online battle for US shoppers.
A 2025 consumer trends report by Coefficient Capital and The New Consumer’s Dan Frommer analysed how Americans’ spending habits could affect certain brands. The research included 11 surveys of over 3,000 US consumers. The company conducted its most recent survey this month.
TikTok Shop launched in September 2023, making it a relatively new online retailer compared to its peers. However, the consumer trends report said 80 per cent of surveyed Americans who use TikTok at least once a month are aware of TikTok Shop, signalling the retailer’s growing reach.
That reach has helped TikTok overtake retailers such as Sephora, Shein, and Qurate in US consumer spending for the third financial quarter, according to the trends report.
Sephora and Shein are two popular online retailers in the United States, especially with younger generations like Gen Alpha. Qurate Retail Group owns and operates six retail brands, including QVC. The company sells items online through its brands.
Sephora helped its parent company, LVMH, achieve record-breaking sales in 2023, reaching US$10 billion in revenue across North America.
Shein made US$2 billion in profits that year. Although Qurate’s third-quarter earnings report said revenue decreased by 5 per cent, it generated US$152 million in operating income.
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By Business Insider
TikTok Shop has surpassed retail giants Shein and Sephora in the online battle for US shoppers.
A 2025 consumer trends report by Coefficient Capital and The New Consumer’s Dan Frommer analysed how Americans’ spending habits could affect certain brands. The research included 11 surveys of over 3,000 US consumers. The company conducted its most recent survey this month.
TikTok Shop launched in September 2023, making it a relatively new online retailer compared to its peers. However, the consumer trends report said 80 per cent of surveyed Americans who use TikTok at least once a month are aware of TikTok Shop, signalling the retailer’s growing reach.
That reach has helped TikTok overtake retailers such as Sephora, Shein, and Qurate in US consumer spending for the third financial quarter, according to the trends report.
Sephora and Shein are two popular online retailers in the United States, especially with younger generations like Gen Alpha. Qurate Retail Group owns and operates six retail brands, including QVC. The company sells items online through its brands.
Sephora helped its parent company, LVMH, achieve record-breaking sales in 2023, reaching US$10 billion in revenue across North America.
Shein made US$2 billion in profits that year. Although Qurate’s third-quarter earnings report said revenue decreased by 5 per cent, it generated US$152 million in operating income.
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US should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Chuck Schumer says
By Associated Press
After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, US Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests.
The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office.
Schumer’s call comes amid growing public concern that the federal government has not offered clear explanations as to who is operating the drones, and has not stopped them. National security officials have said the drones do not appear to be a sign of foreign interference.
“There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” said Connecticut congressman Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday. “The answer ‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.”
US president-elect Donald Trump posted on social media last week: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.”
Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said, without saying exactly how.
The drones do not appear to be linked to foreign governments, Mayorkas said.
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By Associated Press
After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, US Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests.
The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office.
Schumer’s call comes amid growing public concern that the federal government has not offered clear explanations as to who is operating the drones, and has not stopped them. National security officials have said the drones do not appear to be a sign of foreign interference.
“There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” said Connecticut congressman Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday. “The answer ‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.”
US president-elect Donald Trump posted on social media last week: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.”
Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said, without saying exactly how.
The drones do not appear to be linked to foreign governments, Mayorkas said.
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US needs to do more to make cyber attackers pay, says Trump adviser Mike Waltz
By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump’s administration will examine ways to impose higher costs on private actors and US adversaries who wage cyberattacks on America, said congressman Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, on Sunday.
The comments come after US allegations of a sweeping Chinese cyber espionage campaign known as Salt Typhoon that targeted and recorded telephone calls of senior American political figures.
The White House has said at least eight telecommunications and infrastructure firms in the United States had been affected and a large number of Americans’ metadata was stolen in the sweeping cyber espionage campaign.
Waltz did not say what the Trump administration would do in response to Salt Typhoon but spoke more generally about the incoming administration’s approach. He said Washington for too long had focused mostly on bolstering its cyber defences.
“We need to start going on the offence and start imposing, I think, higher costs and consequences to private actors and nation-state actors that continue to steal our data, that continue to spy on us,” Waltz told CBS News’ Face the Nation.
He also said the private US technology industry could also be helpful in making adversaries vulnerable as well as aiding in US defence.
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By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump’s administration will examine ways to impose higher costs on private actors and US adversaries who wage cyberattacks on America, said congressman Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, on Sunday.
The comments come after US allegations of a sweeping Chinese cyber espionage campaign known as Salt Typhoon that targeted and recorded telephone calls of senior American political figures.
The White House has said at least eight telecommunications and infrastructure firms in the United States had been affected and a large number of Americans’ metadata was stolen in the sweeping cyber espionage campaign.
Waltz did not say what the Trump administration would do in response to Salt Typhoon but spoke more generally about the incoming administration’s approach. He said Washington for too long had focused mostly on bolstering its cyber defences.
“We need to start going on the offence and start imposing, I think, higher costs and consequences to private actors and nation-state actors that continue to steal our data, that continue to spy on us,” Waltz told CBS News’ Face the Nation.
He also said the private US technology industry could also be helpful in making adversaries vulnerable as well as aiding in US defence.
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7 foreigners hospitalised after drinking cocktails at 5-star Fiji resort
By Agence France-Presse
Seven foreigners including four Australians and an American have been hospitalised after drinking cocktails at a five-star Fiji hotel resort, health officials said on Sunday.
The hotel guests were taken to hospital on Saturday night suffering “nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms”, Fiji’s health ministry said in a statement.
They fell ill after drinking a cocktail prepared at a bar in the luxury Warwick Fiji resort on the Coral Coast, about 60 km (40 miles) west of the capital Suva, it said.
A ministry spokesperson said the guests, aged from 18 to 56, included four Australians, one American and two foreigners who live in Fiji, whose nationalities were not given.
All seven were initially taken to the nearby Sigatoka hospital.
Because of the severity of their conditions, they were later transferred to the larger Lautoka Hospital on the island’s west coast, the ministry spokesperson said.
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By Agence France-Presse
Seven foreigners including four Australians and an American have been hospitalised after drinking cocktails at a five-star Fiji hotel resort, health officials said on Sunday.
The hotel guests were taken to hospital on Saturday night suffering “nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms”, Fiji’s health ministry said in a statement.
They fell ill after drinking a cocktail prepared at a bar in the luxury Warwick Fiji resort on the Coral Coast, about 60 km (40 miles) west of the capital Suva, it said.
A ministry spokesperson said the guests, aged from 18 to 56, included four Australians, one American and two foreigners who live in Fiji, whose nationalities were not given.
All seven were initially taken to the nearby Sigatoka hospital.
Because of the severity of their conditions, they were later transferred to the larger Lautoka Hospital on the island’s west coast, the ministry spokesperson said.
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Israel to close Ireland embassy over Gaza tensions as Palestinian death toll nears 45,000
By Associated Press
Israel said on Sunday it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorated over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials said new Israeli air strikes killed more than 30 people including several children.
The decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel’s foreign minister has described as Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies”. In May, Israel recalled its ambassador to Dublin after Ireland announced, along with Norway, Spain and Slovenia, it would recognise a Palestinian state.
The Irish cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel denies it.
“We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised,” Ireland’s deputy premier and foreign affairs minister, Micheal Martin, said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s statement on the embassy closure said “Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel”.
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By Associated Press
Israel said on Sunday it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorated over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials said new Israeli air strikes killed more than 30 people including several children.
The decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel’s foreign minister has described as Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies”. In May, Israel recalled its ambassador to Dublin after Ireland announced, along with Norway, Spain and Slovenia, it would recognise a Palestinian state.
The Irish cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel denies it.
“We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised,” Ireland’s deputy premier and foreign affairs minister, Micheal Martin, said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s statement on the embassy closure said “Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel”.
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Israel plans to double population on occupied Golan Heights, cites threats from Syria
By Reuters
Israel agreed on Sunday to double its population on the occupied Golan Heights while saying threats from Syria remained despite the moderate tone of rebel leaders who ousted President Bashar al-Assad a week ago.
“Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it, cause it to blossom, and settle in it,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Israel captured most of the strategic plateau from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, annexing it in 1981.
In 2019 then-President Donald Trump declared US support for Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, but the annexation has not been recognised by most countries. Syria demands Israel withdraw but Israel refuses, citing security concerns. Various peace efforts have failed.
“The immediate risks to the country have not disappeared and the latest developments in Syria increase the strength of the threat – despite the moderate image that the rebel leaders claim to present,” Defence Minister Israel Katz told officials examining Israel’s defence budget, according to a statement.
Netanyahu’s office said the government unanimously approved a more than 40-million-shekel (US$11 million) plan to encourage demographic growth in the Golan.
It said Netanyahu submitted the plan to the government “in light of the war and the new front facing Syria, and out of a desire to double the population of the Golan”.
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By Reuters
Israel agreed on Sunday to double its population on the occupied Golan Heights while saying threats from Syria remained despite the moderate tone of rebel leaders who ousted President Bashar al-Assad a week ago.
“Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it, cause it to blossom, and settle in it,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Israel captured most of the strategic plateau from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, annexing it in 1981.
In 2019 then-President Donald Trump declared US support for Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, but the annexation has not been recognised by most countries. Syria demands Israel withdraw but Israel refuses, citing security concerns. Various peace efforts have failed.
“The immediate risks to the country have not disappeared and the latest developments in Syria increase the strength of the threat – despite the moderate image that the rebel leaders claim to present,” Defence Minister Israel Katz told officials examining Israel’s defence budget, according to a statement.
Netanyahu’s office said the government unanimously approved a more than 40-million-shekel (US$11 million) plan to encourage demographic growth in the Golan.
It said Netanyahu submitted the plan to the government “in light of the war and the new front facing Syria, and out of a desire to double the population of the Golan”.
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Hong Kong man, 69, dies during hike along popular Sai Kung beach
By Danny Mok
An elderly Hong Kong man collapsed and died during a hike in Sai Kung on Sunday.
Authorities received a report at 4.30pm that the man, 69, had collapsed and was unconscious near Tung Wan at the scenic Tai Long Wan beach.
A Government Flying Service helicopter was dispatched to the scene to provide assistance.
The hiker was airlifted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
A police source said no injuries were apparent on the body.
The man was part of a group of nine people hiking in the Sharp Peak area.
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By Danny Mok
An elderly Hong Kong man collapsed and died during a hike in Sai Kung on Sunday.
Authorities received a report at 4.30pm that the man, 69, had collapsed and was unconscious near Tung Wan at the scenic Tai Long Wan beach.
A Government Flying Service helicopter was dispatched to the scene to provide assistance.
The hiker was airlifted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
A police source said no injuries were apparent on the body.
The man was part of a group of nine people hiking in the Sharp Peak area.
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China-EU trade war a ‘lose-lose’ situation, top diplomat Wang Yi warns
By Phoebe Zhang
China’s top diplomat has warned that a trade war between China and the European Union would result in a “lose-lose” situation and urged Beijing and Brussels to continue talks and strengthen their cooperation.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the comments on Saturday while meeting Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, at the 26th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Beijing, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
“A trade war will only lead to a ‘lose-lose’ situation,” Wang said. “China is the staunchest defender of the free trade system and opposes the politicisation of economic and trade issues.”
China and the EU remain locked in a feud over trade. Earlier this year, the 27-member bloc slapped tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which Brussels says have unfairly benefited from state subsidies. In return, Beijing has launched investigations into European pork and dairy imports.
Wang urged Brussels to adopt a constructive attitude and find mutually acceptable solutions through dialogues.
He said exchanges between the people of France and China had grown closer and the two countries had voiced their opinions on global challenges, including artificial intelligence, ocean governance and the Middle East.
Wang said he hoped China and France could pursue a positive agenda next year, promote cooperation and explore opportunities in fields such as nuclear energy and aerospace, artificial intelligence, new materials, high-end equipment, environmental protection and healthcare technology.
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By Phoebe Zhang
China’s top diplomat has warned that a trade war between China and the European Union would result in a “lose-lose” situation and urged Beijing and Brussels to continue talks and strengthen their cooperation.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the comments on Saturday while meeting Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, at the 26th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Beijing, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
“A trade war will only lead to a ‘lose-lose’ situation,” Wang said. “China is the staunchest defender of the free trade system and opposes the politicisation of economic and trade issues.”
China and the EU remain locked in a feud over trade. Earlier this year, the 27-member bloc slapped tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which Brussels says have unfairly benefited from state subsidies. In return, Beijing has launched investigations into European pork and dairy imports.
Wang urged Brussels to adopt a constructive attitude and find mutually acceptable solutions through dialogues.
He said exchanges between the people of France and China had grown closer and the two countries had voiced their opinions on global challenges, including artificial intelligence, ocean governance and the Middle East.
Wang said he hoped China and France could pursue a positive agenda next year, promote cooperation and explore opportunities in fields such as nuclear energy and aerospace, artificial intelligence, new materials, high-end equipment, environmental protection and healthcare technology.
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Gunmen clash in Libya as fires erupt at a nearby oil refinery, officials say
By Associated Press
Clashes broke out Sunday between armed groups in a western Libyan city, trapping residents in their homes and causing fires in the country’s second largest oil refinery, officials said.
The fighting in the coastal city of Zawiya, about 47 kilometres (about 30 miles) west of capital Tripoli, pitted gunmen loyal to the Shurafaa tribe against warlord Mohamed Kushalf, according to local media. Kushalf was sanctioned by the UN Security Council in 2018 for his alleged involvement in human trafficking.
It wasn’t immediately clear what triggered the clashes but they are not uncommon in western Libya, which is controlled by an array of lawless militias and armed groups allied with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s government.
Oil-rich Libya has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west. It plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising-turned-civil war, which toppled and later killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Amid the chaos, militias grew in wealth and power, particularly in Tripoli and the western part of the country.
The fighting on Sunday closed a major coastal road linking Zawiya to other cities in western Libya, and classes were suspended.
“Many families are trapped in their homes. Bullets are being fired indiscriminately, hitting houses and buildings,” resident Ahmed Abu Hussein said by phone. He said the fighting occurred in multiple areas across the city, including densely populated quarters, causing panic and terror among civilians.
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By Associated Press
Clashes broke out Sunday between armed groups in a western Libyan city, trapping residents in their homes and causing fires in the country’s second largest oil refinery, officials said.
The fighting in the coastal city of Zawiya, about 47 kilometres (about 30 miles) west of capital Tripoli, pitted gunmen loyal to the Shurafaa tribe against warlord Mohamed Kushalf, according to local media. Kushalf was sanctioned by the UN Security Council in 2018 for his alleged involvement in human trafficking.
It wasn’t immediately clear what triggered the clashes but they are not uncommon in western Libya, which is controlled by an array of lawless militias and armed groups allied with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s government.
Oil-rich Libya has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west. It plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising-turned-civil war, which toppled and later killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Amid the chaos, militias grew in wealth and power, particularly in Tripoli and the western part of the country.
The fighting on Sunday closed a major coastal road linking Zawiya to other cities in western Libya, and classes were suspended.
“Many families are trapped in their homes. Bullets are being fired indiscriminately, hitting houses and buildings,” resident Ahmed Abu Hussein said by phone. He said the fighting occurred in multiple areas across the city, including densely populated quarters, causing panic and terror among civilians.
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Girl, 11, rushed to hospital in Hong Kong after falling from third-storey flat
By Emily Hung
An 11-year-old girl was sent to hospital after falling from the third storey of a residential building in Sandy Bay in southern Hong Kong on Sunday evening.
Police received a report at around 5.50pm and rushed to the Regent Palisades on Bisney Road. The girl was conscious when taken to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam.
According to the force, the girl fell out of a window while playing in a flat on a lower floor.
A source said the flat was located on the third floor.
In Hong Kong, anyone convicted of ill-treatment or neglect of a child can be jailed for up to 10 years.
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By Emily Hung
An 11-year-old girl was sent to hospital after falling from the third storey of a residential building in Sandy Bay in southern Hong Kong on Sunday evening.
Police received a report at around 5.50pm and rushed to the Regent Palisades on Bisney Road. The girl was conscious when taken to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam.
According to the force, the girl fell out of a window while playing in a flat on a lower floor.
A source said the flat was located on the third floor.
In Hong Kong, anyone convicted of ill-treatment or neglect of a child can be jailed for up to 10 years.
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14 killed in France’s Mayotte devastated by Cyclone Chido
By Agence France-Presse
At least 14 people were killed in Mayotte when a fierce cyclone battered the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said on Sunday, with officials warning it will take days to know the full toll.
Rescuers and supplies are being rushed in by air and sea, but their efforts are likely to be hindered by damage to airports and electricity distribution in a territory where even clean drinking water was already subject to chronic shortages.
The toll of 14 was counted in a provisional list compiled by authorities, a security source told journalists.
Nine people were gravely wounded and fighting for their lives in hospital, said Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, mayor of Mayotte’s capital Mamoudzou, while 246 more were seriously injured.
“The hospital is hit, the schools are hit. Houses are totally devastated,” he said, adding that the hurricane “spared nothing”.
Mayotte’s 320,000 residents were ordered into lockdown as cyclone Chido bore down on the islands around 500 kilometres east of Mozambique.
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By Agence France-Presse
At least 14 people were killed in Mayotte when a fierce cyclone battered the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said on Sunday, with officials warning it will take days to know the full toll.
Rescuers and supplies are being rushed in by air and sea, but their efforts are likely to be hindered by damage to airports and electricity distribution in a territory where even clean drinking water was already subject to chronic shortages.
The toll of 14 was counted in a provisional list compiled by authorities, a security source told journalists.
Nine people were gravely wounded and fighting for their lives in hospital, said Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, mayor of Mayotte’s capital Mamoudzou, while 246 more were seriously injured.
“The hospital is hit, the schools are hit. Houses are totally devastated,” he said, adding that the hurricane “spared nothing”.
Mayotte’s 320,000 residents were ordered into lockdown as cyclone Chido bore down on the islands around 500 kilometres east of Mozambique.
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Panda poachers? Hong Kong police arrest visitor over theft of bear installation
By Danny Mok
Hong Kong police have arrested a visitor for allegedly stealing a model panda from an installation in Kwun Tong, while officers are still hunting for another suspect who snatched a second bear from the site.
The models were among 80 items, ranging from half a metre to three metres (1.6 feet to 9.8 feet) in height, on display at the Urban Renewal Authority’s “Free Space” in Kwun Tong as part of Christmas celebrations.
The authority’s managing director, Wai Chi-sing, said on his blog on Sunday that two of the model pandas had recently gone missing.
The authority contacted police after reviewing security camera footage that showed thieves had taken the pair. Wai did not elaborate on the details of the missing items.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the public to cherish the exhibits and installations set up by the Urban Renewal Authority to enhance the district’s character and vibrancy,” he said.
“Please do not damage or take these items for personal use, so that more people can enjoy the festive joy.”
Police received a report from a security guard on December 9 who said part of the panda installation had gone missing at the space.
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By Danny Mok
Hong Kong police have arrested a visitor for allegedly stealing a model panda from an installation in Kwun Tong, while officers are still hunting for another suspect who snatched a second bear from the site.
The models were among 80 items, ranging from half a metre to three metres (1.6 feet to 9.8 feet) in height, on display at the Urban Renewal Authority’s “Free Space” in Kwun Tong as part of Christmas celebrations.
The authority’s managing director, Wai Chi-sing, said on his blog on Sunday that two of the model pandas had recently gone missing.
The authority contacted police after reviewing security camera footage that showed thieves had taken the pair. Wai did not elaborate on the details of the missing items.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the public to cherish the exhibits and installations set up by the Urban Renewal Authority to enhance the district’s character and vibrancy,” he said.
“Please do not damage or take these items for personal use, so that more people can enjoy the festive joy.”
Police received a report from a security guard on December 9 who said part of the panda installation had gone missing at the space.
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Bangladesh inquiry recommends feared police unit disbanded
By Agence France-Presse
A Bangladesh commission probing abuses during the rule of toppled leader Sheikh Hasina has recommended a much-feared armed police unit be disbanded, a senior inquiry member said Sunday.
Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India on August 5 as a student-led uprising stormed the prime minister’s palace in Dhaka.
Her government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of hundreds of political opponents and the unlawful abduction and disappearance of hundreds more.
The Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances, set up by the caretaker government, said it found initial evidence that Hasina and other ex-senior officials were involved in the enforced disappearances alleged to have been carried out by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
The RAB paramilitary police force was sanctioned by the United States in 2021, alongside seven of its senior officers, in response to reports of its culpability in some of the worst rights abuses committed during Hasina’s 15-year-long rule.
“RAB has never abided by the law and was seldom held accountable for its atrocities, which include enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and abductions,” Nur Khan Liton, a member of the commission, told journalists.
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By Agence France-Presse
A Bangladesh commission probing abuses during the rule of toppled leader Sheikh Hasina has recommended a much-feared armed police unit be disbanded, a senior inquiry member said Sunday.
Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India on August 5 as a student-led uprising stormed the prime minister’s palace in Dhaka.
Her government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of hundreds of political opponents and the unlawful abduction and disappearance of hundreds more.
The Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances, set up by the caretaker government, said it found initial evidence that Hasina and other ex-senior officials were involved in the enforced disappearances alleged to have been carried out by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
The RAB paramilitary police force was sanctioned by the United States in 2021, alongside seven of its senior officers, in response to reports of its culpability in some of the worst rights abuses committed during Hasina’s 15-year-long rule.
“RAB has never abided by the law and was seldom held accountable for its atrocities, which include enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and abductions,” Nur Khan Liton, a member of the commission, told journalists.
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Hong Kong and Xinjiang could be the core of Kazakhstan’s China strategy
By Nikola Mikovic
Building strong ties with China has traditionally been one of Kazakhstan’s key foreign policy priorities. Astana now aims to strengthen relations not only with the country’s central leadership in Beijing but also with Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s strategic location, open economy, tradition of free trade, ease of starting a business and numerous tax benefits make it attractive to companies worldwide, including those from Kazakhstan. In 2016, Hong Kong’s then-financial secretary John Tsang Chun-wah encouraged the largest Central Asian nation to expand economic ties with the financial hub.
“Hong Kong is one of the best places in the world to do business. We are a global city and we fly the flag of free trade,” he stressed, adding, “We have the experience, the expertise and the connections to serve as the fundraising and financial management hub for the Belt and Road economies.”
Indeed, experience is precisely what Kazakhstan seeks to gain from Hong Kong. Earlier this month, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin met Hong Kong commerce and economic development secretary Algernon Yau Ying-wah in Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Zhumangarin reportedly invited representatives of the Hong Kong stock exchange to Kazakhstan to share their experience.
It is no secret that Kazakhstan seeks to build stronger ties between the Astana International Financial Centre and the Hong Kong stock exchange.
In an interview with the Post on October 6, Almas Seitakynov, Kazakhstan’s top envoy in Hong Kong, said that his country would like to boost trade ties with the city and connect Kazakhstan’s financial centre in Astana with the Hong Kong’s stock exchange while pushing to bolster cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
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By Nikola Mikovic
Building strong ties with China has traditionally been one of Kazakhstan’s key foreign policy priorities. Astana now aims to strengthen relations not only with the country’s central leadership in Beijing but also with Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s strategic location, open economy, tradition of free trade, ease of starting a business and numerous tax benefits make it attractive to companies worldwide, including those from Kazakhstan. In 2016, Hong Kong’s then-financial secretary John Tsang Chun-wah encouraged the largest Central Asian nation to expand economic ties with the financial hub.
“Hong Kong is one of the best places in the world to do business. We are a global city and we fly the flag of free trade,” he stressed, adding, “We have the experience, the expertise and the connections to serve as the fundraising and financial management hub for the Belt and Road economies.”
Indeed, experience is precisely what Kazakhstan seeks to gain from Hong Kong. Earlier this month, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin met Hong Kong commerce and economic development secretary Algernon Yau Ying-wah in Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Zhumangarin reportedly invited representatives of the Hong Kong stock exchange to Kazakhstan to share their experience.
It is no secret that Kazakhstan seeks to build stronger ties between the Astana International Financial Centre and the Hong Kong stock exchange.
In an interview with the Post on October 6, Almas Seitakynov, Kazakhstan’s top envoy in Hong Kong, said that his country would like to boost trade ties with the city and connect Kazakhstan’s financial centre in Astana with the Hong Kong’s stock exchange while pushing to bolster cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
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Hong Kong welcomes 13% more mainland tourists after Shenzhen visa change
By Oscar Liu
The number of mainland Chinese tourists heading to Hong Kong for weekend trips has jumped by 13 per cent since the resumption of a multi-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents, but an industry leader has warned that a greater diversity of attractions is needed to keep the momentum going.
Thousands of mainland tourists packed Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday morning, posing for pictures and taking boat tours along Victoria Harbour, as local businesses tried to keep up with the demand.
Wong Mei-tung, who offers boat tours, said she barely had a break the day before due to the intense demand for a 40-minute trip, priced at HK$150 (US$19.3).
“I noticed a significant number of Shenzhen tourists boarding. I find it strange because it was quite uncommon for them to take a sightseeing boat as many of them had visited and seen Victoria Harbour before,” the 53-year-old said.
According to the Immigration Department, the city welcomed 230,994 mainland visitors on the weekend of December 7 and 8, marking a 13 per cent increase compared with the weekend of November 23 and 24.
The visa scheme, which allows Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of visits within a year instead of the previous one-trip-per-week arrangement, was adopted on December 1, one of several measures taken by the central government recently to help boost Hong Kong’s economy.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Oscar Liu
The number of mainland Chinese tourists heading to Hong Kong for weekend trips has jumped by 13 per cent since the resumption of a multi-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents, but an industry leader has warned that a greater diversity of attractions is needed to keep the momentum going.
Thousands of mainland tourists packed Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday morning, posing for pictures and taking boat tours along Victoria Harbour, as local businesses tried to keep up with the demand.
Wong Mei-tung, who offers boat tours, said she barely had a break the day before due to the intense demand for a 40-minute trip, priced at HK$150 (US$19.3).
“I noticed a significant number of Shenzhen tourists boarding. I find it strange because it was quite uncommon for them to take a sightseeing boat as many of them had visited and seen Victoria Harbour before,” the 53-year-old said.
According to the Immigration Department, the city welcomed 230,994 mainland visitors on the weekend of December 7 and 8, marking a 13 per cent increase compared with the weekend of November 23 and 24.
The visa scheme, which allows Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of visits within a year instead of the previous one-trip-per-week arrangement, was adopted on December 1, one of several measures taken by the central government recently to help boost Hong Kong’s economy.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Palestinian rescuers see China’s Blue Sky amid the bomb blasts of Israel-Gaza war
By Cyril Ip
In the eastern city of Changshu, six Palestinians have spent two weeks being trained by a team from China’s Blue Sky Rescue in urban search and rescue operations.
They were taught how to shore up collapsed buildings, cut through walls, search for victims and safely evacuate survivors.
It is now just over a year since the Israel-Gaza war began, and in that time more than 44,000 Palestinians – including at least 88 of the search and rescue team’s colleagues – have been killed. So when they were invited to send a delegation for training in China, they jumped at the chance to help save more lives.
The search and rescue team of Palestine’s Civil Defence first met China’s Blue Sky rescuers back in February 2023, amid the rubble of Malatya, Turkey, as they worked side by side to find survivors after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey and Syria. China sent more than 200 members of its grass-roots rescue organisation to assist in the wake of the disaster.
That shared experience has led to a growing relationship between the two teams.
“China has the kindest and most hospitable people,” said Raed Qazmouz, director of central operations in the Palestinian Civil Defence, from his headquarters in Ramallah. “I had known they were a polite and respectful people, but not to this extent.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Cyril Ip
In the eastern city of Changshu, six Palestinians have spent two weeks being trained by a team from China’s Blue Sky Rescue in urban search and rescue operations.
They were taught how to shore up collapsed buildings, cut through walls, search for victims and safely evacuate survivors.
It is now just over a year since the Israel-Gaza war began, and in that time more than 44,000 Palestinians – including at least 88 of the search and rescue team’s colleagues – have been killed. So when they were invited to send a delegation for training in China, they jumped at the chance to help save more lives.
The search and rescue team of Palestine’s Civil Defence first met China’s Blue Sky rescuers back in February 2023, amid the rubble of Malatya, Turkey, as they worked side by side to find survivors after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey and Syria. China sent more than 200 members of its grass-roots rescue organisation to assist in the wake of the disaster.
That shared experience has led to a growing relationship between the two teams.
“China has the kindest and most hospitable people,” said Raed Qazmouz, director of central operations in the Palestinian Civil Defence, from his headquarters in Ramallah. “I had known they were a polite and respectful people, but not to this extent.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
‘Feel the impact’: Hong Kong police show off pistol practice to lure recruits
By Jess Ma
Hong Kong police have held an inaugural firing range show at their large-scale recruitment event in a bid to attract more applicants and let them “feel the impact” of service weapons, as the force ramps up efforts to fill thousands of vacancies.
Attendees at the event in Wong Chuk Hang on Sunday were able to see an officer conduct live-round target practice using the force’s mainland Chinese-made pistols. But visitors did not get the chance to use the 9mm CF98-A pistols at the Police College’s indoor range.
Senior Superintendent Mike Kwok Ka-chun of police’s human resources branch said he hoped candidates would be inspired to sign up.
“[We hope to] let potential applicants hear the sound of a real gun at the indoor range where recruits practise to feel the impact, and let them understand how recruits receive firearms training,” he said.
The full-day exhibition and workshop event welcomed 1,281 attendees and garnered more than 400 job applications in the morning. It is the ninth to be held by police since May 2021 as part of efforts to boost application numbers.
Police have been grappling with a personnel shortage in recent years amid a hiring slump in a declining young working population and the aftermath of the 2019 anti-government protests. The force has also failed to reach hiring targets in recent years.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Jess Ma
Hong Kong police have held an inaugural firing range show at their large-scale recruitment event in a bid to attract more applicants and let them “feel the impact” of service weapons, as the force ramps up efforts to fill thousands of vacancies.
Attendees at the event in Wong Chuk Hang on Sunday were able to see an officer conduct live-round target practice using the force’s mainland Chinese-made pistols. But visitors did not get the chance to use the 9mm CF98-A pistols at the Police College’s indoor range.
Senior Superintendent Mike Kwok Ka-chun of police’s human resources branch said he hoped candidates would be inspired to sign up.
“[We hope to] let potential applicants hear the sound of a real gun at the indoor range where recruits practise to feel the impact, and let them understand how recruits receive firearms training,” he said.
The full-day exhibition and workshop event welcomed 1,281 attendees and garnered more than 400 job applications in the morning. It is the ninth to be held by police since May 2021 as part of efforts to boost application numbers.
Police have been grappling with a personnel shortage in recent years amid a hiring slump in a declining young working population and the aftermath of the 2019 anti-government protests. The force has also failed to reach hiring targets in recent years.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Chinese entrepreneurs, wary of tariffs, tag along with investments in US visa bids
By He Huifeng
Until this year, working – much less living – in the United States had never crossed Daniel Mai’s mind.
The idea only took hold after he had set up production lines for apparel in California and a cross-border e-commerce company to service them, establishing a foothold in the American market in preparation for the tariffs on Chinese goods he saw as inevitable.
Mai, a seasoned businessman previously based in Guangdong province, runs his US operations on an L-1A visa. The temporary status is granted when a US employer wishes to transfer employees of its foreign offices stateside, or a foreign company meeting certain conditions sends a manager to establish a satellite firm.
After his positive experiences in the US – the rate of profit, he said, is higher than several emerging markets – Mai decided to begin the application process for an EB-1C visa. The permanent worker status, reserved for managers and executives, would be a next step to obtaining a green card and gradually relocating his two children.
“Many people opposed my decision to build plants in the US, including my family,” Mai said. “But it turned out to be the right choice,” he added, particularly as Donald Trump’s second term as president approaches.
“I had never come to the US before this year, nor had I considered immigration. But now, it is on the agenda.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By He Huifeng
Until this year, working – much less living – in the United States had never crossed Daniel Mai’s mind.
The idea only took hold after he had set up production lines for apparel in California and a cross-border e-commerce company to service them, establishing a foothold in the American market in preparation for the tariffs on Chinese goods he saw as inevitable.
Mai, a seasoned businessman previously based in Guangdong province, runs his US operations on an L-1A visa. The temporary status is granted when a US employer wishes to transfer employees of its foreign offices stateside, or a foreign company meeting certain conditions sends a manager to establish a satellite firm.
After his positive experiences in the US – the rate of profit, he said, is higher than several emerging markets – Mai decided to begin the application process for an EB-1C visa. The permanent worker status, reserved for managers and executives, would be a next step to obtaining a green card and gradually relocating his two children.
“Many people opposed my decision to build plants in the US, including my family,” Mai said. “But it turned out to be the right choice,” he added, particularly as Donald Trump’s second term as president approaches.
“I had never come to the US before this year, nor had I considered immigration. But now, it is on the agenda.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
