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Two Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have broken the world record for the longest single spacewalk, set more than two decades ago by the US space programme.
President Xi Jinping has landed in Macau for a three-day visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the gaming hub’s return to Chinese administration and which will conclude with the inauguration of the city’s incoming leader.
China should focus on childbirth support and lower the cost of raising children as it grapples with demographic issues that have not been seen elsewhere in the world, a Communist Party newspaper urged on Tuesday.President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan have arrived in Macau. Photo: Eugene Lee
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Trump taunts Trudeau again, says Canada should be a US state
By Bloomberg
Donald Trump threw a fresh taunt at Canada as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tries to weather a crisis sparked by the sudden departure of a minister who was a bulwark against the US president-elect’s plan to start trade wars with his neighbours.
“No one can answer why we subsidise Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense!” Trump said in a post early Wednesday on Truth Social. “Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!”
Trump has been joking that Canada could always become the US’s 51st state – and Trudeau its governor – ever since the Canadian leader rushed out to see him at his Mar-a-Lago resort. But the lighthearted comments seemingly made in jest over a Thanksgiving dinner have taken a more sinister undertone with Trudeau now fighting for his political survival.
It is unclear why Trump cited the figure of US$100 million and he has used US$100 billion in the past.
The US goods trade deficit with Canada through October was US$50.5 billion and the gap for all of 2023 was US$64.3 billion, according to Census data. In a 2018 post on the social media platform known as Twitter at the time, he complained about how Canada makes “almost $100 Billion Dollars in Trade with US”.
In Ottawa on Tuesday, Trudeau tried to downplay the most serious challenge yet facing his leadership. “Like most families, sometimes we have fights around the holidays,” he told a gathering for his Liberal Party’s 153 lawmakers and their staffers.
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By Bloomberg
Donald Trump threw a fresh taunt at Canada as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tries to weather a crisis sparked by the sudden departure of a minister who was a bulwark against the US president-elect’s plan to start trade wars with his neighbours.
“No one can answer why we subsidise Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense!” Trump said in a post early Wednesday on Truth Social. “Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!”
Trump has been joking that Canada could always become the US’s 51st state – and Trudeau its governor – ever since the Canadian leader rushed out to see him at his Mar-a-Lago resort. But the lighthearted comments seemingly made in jest over a Thanksgiving dinner have taken a more sinister undertone with Trudeau now fighting for his political survival.
It is unclear why Trump cited the figure of US$100 million and he has used US$100 billion in the past.
The US goods trade deficit with Canada through October was US$50.5 billion and the gap for all of 2023 was US$64.3 billion, according to Census data. In a 2018 post on the social media platform known as Twitter at the time, he complained about how Canada makes “almost $100 Billion Dollars in Trade with US”.
In Ottawa on Tuesday, Trudeau tried to downplay the most serious challenge yet facing his leadership. “Like most families, sometimes we have fights around the holidays,” he told a gathering for his Liberal Party’s 153 lawmakers and their staffers.
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Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou visits Harbin aiming to ‘build bridge of peace’
By Lawrence Chung
Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou has begun a nine-day trip to mainland China – his third in two years – amid accusations from pro-independence voices that he is compromising the self-ruled island’s interests.
Ma’s delegation, which includes a group of Taiwanese university students, was greeted by municipal officials and well-wishers at the airport when they arrived in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province in the northeast, on Wednesday.
Ma was due to meet Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, in the evening – their first meeting since Ma visited the mainland in April, when he promoted cross-strait student exchanges.
The former Taiwanese leader will attend a cross-strait youth ice and snow festival while he is in Harbin, and will also travel to Sichuan province in the southwest before returning to Taiwan on December 26.
Ma told reporters at Taoyuan International Airport before he left the island that exchanges between young people from Taiwan and mainland China “are especially important now, with wars frequent across the globe and cross-strait relations more tense than during my presidency”.
Ties between Beijing and Taipei were relatively stable when Ma led Taiwan from 2008 to 2016.
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By Lawrence Chung
Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou has begun a nine-day trip to mainland China – his third in two years – amid accusations from pro-independence voices that he is compromising the self-ruled island’s interests.
Ma’s delegation, which includes a group of Taiwanese university students, was greeted by municipal officials and well-wishers at the airport when they arrived in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province in the northeast, on Wednesday.
Ma was due to meet Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, in the evening – their first meeting since Ma visited the mainland in April, when he promoted cross-strait student exchanges.
The former Taiwanese leader will attend a cross-strait youth ice and snow festival while he is in Harbin, and will also travel to Sichuan province in the southwest before returning to Taiwan on December 26.
Ma told reporters at Taoyuan International Airport before he left the island that exchanges between young people from Taiwan and mainland China “are especially important now, with wars frequent across the globe and cross-strait relations more tense than during my presidency”.
Ties between Beijing and Taipei were relatively stable when Ma led Taiwan from 2008 to 2016.
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CEO sentiment in China sours amid slowdown risks, survey finds
By Kandy Wong
Confidence among China-based CEOs in the second half of this year deteriorated against the backdrop of “the top three major risks” – China’s economic slowdown, more intensive local competition and geopolitical tensions – a new survey has found.
The index of CEO confidence declined to 49 for the second half compared with 56 in the first half of this year, and this “was driven by growing concerns about current and near-term business conditions within the Chinese economy”, according to US non-profit think tank The Conference Board.
The confidence survey, conducted every six months, aims at tracking sentiments of China-based CEOs of mostly US and European multinational companies. A reading of less than 50 on a scale of 0-100 reflects more negative than positive responses.
“Conditions facing multinational businesses operating in China are currently extremely challenging, with 76 per cent of CEOs citing China’s economic slowdown as the biggest risk facing their business,” said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the think tank’s China Centre, adding that customers are “highly price-sensitive” and seek “steep discounts”.
Responding to the survey that was fielded between September 30 and October 28, 41 per cent of CEOs out of 34 participants said that current business conditions were worse than six months prior – a substantial increase from 23 per cent in the first half of the year.
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By Kandy Wong
Confidence among China-based CEOs in the second half of this year deteriorated against the backdrop of “the top three major risks” – China’s economic slowdown, more intensive local competition and geopolitical tensions – a new survey has found.
The index of CEO confidence declined to 49 for the second half compared with 56 in the first half of this year, and this “was driven by growing concerns about current and near-term business conditions within the Chinese economy”, according to US non-profit think tank The Conference Board.
The confidence survey, conducted every six months, aims at tracking sentiments of China-based CEOs of mostly US and European multinational companies. A reading of less than 50 on a scale of 0-100 reflects more negative than positive responses.
“Conditions facing multinational businesses operating in China are currently extremely challenging, with 76 per cent of CEOs citing China’s economic slowdown as the biggest risk facing their business,” said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the think tank’s China Centre, adding that customers are “highly price-sensitive” and seek “steep discounts”.
Responding to the survey that was fielded between September 30 and October 28, 41 per cent of CEOs out of 34 participants said that current business conditions were worse than six months prior – a substantial increase from 23 per cent in the first half of the year.
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Hong Kong licenses 4 more crypto exchanges amid bitcoin price surge
By Xinmei Shen
Hong Kong’s securities regulator has granted approval to four new cryptocurrency exchanges to operate in the city, giving the industry a boost amid a surge in the price of bitcoin this month.
Accumulus GBA Technology (Hong Kong), DFX Labs, Hong Kong Digital Asset EX, and Thousand Whales Technology (BVI) have obtained virtual asset trading platform licences as of Thursday, according to an updated list published by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
The approval comes as the city moves to strengthen the virtual asset regulatory regime it initiated two years ago, with the goal of reviving crypto business in the city while protecting retail investors. While mainland China has maintained a strict ban on commercial activity involving cryptoassets, Hong Kong has sought to become a hub for accessing digital assets such as bitcoin, the price of which has gained 60 per cent in the last six months and recently surpassed US$100,000 for the first time.
“We have been proactively engaging with VATPs’ senior management and ultimate controllers, which helps drive home our expected regulatory standards and expedite our licensing process for VATPs,” said Eric Yip, the SFC’s Executive Director of Intermediaries. “We aim to strike a balance between safeguarding the interests of investors and facilitating continuous development for the virtual asset ecosystem in Hong Kong.”
The newly licensed exchanges can “operate on a restricted scope of business” after they complete the required rectification actions, in addition to “a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test through an independent third party with satisfactory results”, the SFC said.
The regulator has previously licensed three local cryptocurrency platforms: OSL, HashKey and HKVAX. The four new licensees were among the nearly 30 companies pursuing the licence this year, but only about a dozen remain applicants after a number of large platforms, including OKX and HTX, withdrew their applications earlier this year under stringent regulatory requirements.
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By Xinmei Shen
Hong Kong’s securities regulator has granted approval to four new cryptocurrency exchanges to operate in the city, giving the industry a boost amid a surge in the price of bitcoin this month.
Accumulus GBA Technology (Hong Kong), DFX Labs, Hong Kong Digital Asset EX, and Thousand Whales Technology (BVI) have obtained virtual asset trading platform licences as of Thursday, according to an updated list published by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
The approval comes as the city moves to strengthen the virtual asset regulatory regime it initiated two years ago, with the goal of reviving crypto business in the city while protecting retail investors. While mainland China has maintained a strict ban on commercial activity involving cryptoassets, Hong Kong has sought to become a hub for accessing digital assets such as bitcoin, the price of which has gained 60 per cent in the last six months and recently surpassed US$100,000 for the first time.
“We have been proactively engaging with VATPs’ senior management and ultimate controllers, which helps drive home our expected regulatory standards and expedite our licensing process for VATPs,” said Eric Yip, the SFC’s Executive Director of Intermediaries. “We aim to strike a balance between safeguarding the interests of investors and facilitating continuous development for the virtual asset ecosystem in Hong Kong.”
The newly licensed exchanges can “operate on a restricted scope of business” after they complete the required rectification actions, in addition to “a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test through an independent third party with satisfactory results”, the SFC said.
The regulator has previously licensed three local cryptocurrency platforms: OSL, HashKey and HKVAX. The four new licensees were among the nearly 30 companies pursuing the licence this year, but only about a dozen remain applicants after a number of large platforms, including OKX and HTX, withdrew their applications earlier this year under stringent regulatory requirements.
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China must harness cutting-edge AI to transform its finance sector: former PBOC official
By Sylvia Ma
A former deputy governor of China’s central bank has called on the country’s finance sector to embrace the game-changing potential of emerging artificial intelligence technology, as Beijing seeks to cultivate “new quality productive forces” to revitalise the economy.
“AI technology has played a positive role in transforming traditional financial services such as customer support, investment and risk management,” Li Dongrong, former deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, said at an industry summit in Shenzhen on Sunday, according to a social media post by the event’s host.
“Now, the emergence of next-generation large language models has also become a key enabler for the transformation of the banking sector.”
China has created a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for AI since the government issued a blueprint for the industry’s development in 2017, Li said, adding that the core industry is now worth nearly 600 billion yuan (US$82 billion).
Major Chinese financial institutions including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and China Construction Bank are reportedly exploring ways to enhance their operations using large language models and other AI technology.
Fintech giant Ant Group last year introduced an AI assistant tool named Zhixiaozhu that can help financial practitioners in areas including investment research, insurance and marketing. Ant is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post.
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By Sylvia Ma
A former deputy governor of China’s central bank has called on the country’s finance sector to embrace the game-changing potential of emerging artificial intelligence technology, as Beijing seeks to cultivate “new quality productive forces” to revitalise the economy.
“AI technology has played a positive role in transforming traditional financial services such as customer support, investment and risk management,” Li Dongrong, former deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, said at an industry summit in Shenzhen on Sunday, according to a social media post by the event’s host.
“Now, the emergence of next-generation large language models has also become a key enabler for the transformation of the banking sector.”
China has created a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for AI since the government issued a blueprint for the industry’s development in 2017, Li said, adding that the core industry is now worth nearly 600 billion yuan (US$82 billion).
Major Chinese financial institutions including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and China Construction Bank are reportedly exploring ways to enhance their operations using large language models and other AI technology.
Fintech giant Ant Group last year introduced an AI assistant tool named Zhixiaozhu that can help financial practitioners in areas including investment research, insurance and marketing. Ant is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post.
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How bureaucracy is sabotaging UK’s efforts to aid Ukraine
By Nicolas Groffman
The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the European Union recently stressed the importance of “rapid and collective implementation” of the Group of Seven’s US$50 billion loan to Ukraine and said they supported Kyiv on its “irreversible path” to Nato membership.
Without aid from countries in the transatlantic security alliance, Ukraine might have already been defeated. However, countries could be doing better – not in terms of the amounts they pledge, which are generous, but in the speed of disbursement. Ukrainians are paying not in cash but in blood. If weapons do not arrive in time, people die.
Bureaucracy is an unnecessary barrier to the Nato war effort. Take the UK as an example.
Russia’s invasion in February 2022 prompted an immediate and forceful response from the UK. In 2022, then British prime minister Boris Johnson was one of the first Western leaders to visit Ukraine.
To date, the UK has pledged over £12 billion (US$15.2 billion) in aid. That aid can come in large, glamorous deals involving tanks or guided missiles, which can take months or years to provide. Recently, Britain has sped up, committing to deliver 16 AS90 artillery guns within a tighter time frame.
Other deals can be smaller: bullets, grenades, shells and the like, which should be bought, sold and used up rapidly at the front. One of the companies I work with has, with great difficulty, secured a supply of much-needed artillery shells for Ukraine. The company can either sell these directly to Ukraine, or to the UK government, which will then gift them to Ukraine.
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By Nicolas Groffman
The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the European Union recently stressed the importance of “rapid and collective implementation” of the Group of Seven’s US$50 billion loan to Ukraine and said they supported Kyiv on its “irreversible path” to Nato membership.
Without aid from countries in the transatlantic security alliance, Ukraine might have already been defeated. However, countries could be doing better – not in terms of the amounts they pledge, which are generous, but in the speed of disbursement. Ukrainians are paying not in cash but in blood. If weapons do not arrive in time, people die.
Bureaucracy is an unnecessary barrier to the Nato war effort. Take the UK as an example.
Russia’s invasion in February 2022 prompted an immediate and forceful response from the UK. In 2022, then British prime minister Boris Johnson was one of the first Western leaders to visit Ukraine.
To date, the UK has pledged over £12 billion (US$15.2 billion) in aid. That aid can come in large, glamorous deals involving tanks or guided missiles, which can take months or years to provide. Recently, Britain has sped up, committing to deliver 16 AS90 artillery guns within a tighter time frame.
Other deals can be smaller: bullets, grenades, shells and the like, which should be bought, sold and used up rapidly at the front. One of the companies I work with has, with great difficulty, secured a supply of much-needed artillery shells for Ukraine. The company can either sell these directly to Ukraine, or to the UK government, which will then gift them to Ukraine.
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Hong Kong Hospital Authority surplus more than doubles to HK$986 million
By Sammy Heung
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority’s surplus more than doubled in 2023-24 from the previous financial year, while chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing’s pay increased by 4.8 per cent.
The authority’s annual report, published on Wednesday, showed gains from investments had jumped to HK$1.99 billion (US$256 million) from HK$789 million a year earlier.
Its surplus widened to HK$986 million, which was more than two times larger than the HK$478 million recorded in 2022-23.
But staff costs rose by almost HK$3 billion, or 5 per cent, to HK$62.4 billion.
The authority, which manages the city’s public hospitals, also released the latest information about the pay packets of its top five earners.
Ko was the highest paid at HK$6.87 million for the year ended March 31, 2024. The figure was 4.8 per cent higher than the HK$6.56 million he received in the previous year.
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By Sammy Heung
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority’s surplus more than doubled in 2023-24 from the previous financial year, while chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing’s pay increased by 4.8 per cent.
The authority’s annual report, published on Wednesday, showed gains from investments had jumped to HK$1.99 billion (US$256 million) from HK$789 million a year earlier.
Its surplus widened to HK$986 million, which was more than two times larger than the HK$478 million recorded in 2022-23.
But staff costs rose by almost HK$3 billion, or 5 per cent, to HK$62.4 billion.
The authority, which manages the city’s public hospitals, also released the latest information about the pay packets of its top five earners.
Ko was the highest paid at HK$6.87 million for the year ended March 31, 2024. The figure was 4.8 per cent higher than the HK$6.56 million he received in the previous year.
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Chinese scientists say Zuchongzhi 3.0 quantum computer is as powerful as Google’s Willow
By Ling Xin
Chinese scientists have unveiled Zuchongzhi 3.0, a 105-qubit quantum processor that brings China on par with the United States in the race to build the world’s most powerful quantum computer.
The announcement came about a week after Google revealed its Willow processor, highlighting how closely the two nations are matched in pushing the boundaries of quantum technology.
Both Zuchongzhi 3.0 and Willow house 105 qubits, so far the highest count achieved in superconducting quantum devices, according to a paper released by the Chinese team on Tuesday, which is yet to undergo peer review.
Zuchongzhi 3.0 showed high precision in qubit operations and stability, comparable to Willow’s performance, according to the research team led by Pan Jianwei of the University of Science and Technology of China.
Google’s Willow achieved major advances in quantum error correction, a crucial step towards making quantum machines more reliable. The Chinese scientists have announced plans to incorporate similar techniques for Zuchongzhi 3.0 in the coming months.
They said their processor widened the gap in computational abilities between quantum and classical computers, serving as “both a testament to the progress in quantum hardware and a foundation for practical applications”.
Quantum computers use qubits instead of traditional computer bits to process information. Unlike classical bits, which can represent either a 0 or a 1, qubits can exist in a “superposition” state – essentially representing both 0 and 1 simultaneously.
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By Ling Xin
Chinese scientists have unveiled Zuchongzhi 3.0, a 105-qubit quantum processor that brings China on par with the United States in the race to build the world’s most powerful quantum computer.
The announcement came about a week after Google revealed its Willow processor, highlighting how closely the two nations are matched in pushing the boundaries of quantum technology.
Both Zuchongzhi 3.0 and Willow house 105 qubits, so far the highest count achieved in superconducting quantum devices, according to a paper released by the Chinese team on Tuesday, which is yet to undergo peer review.
Zuchongzhi 3.0 showed high precision in qubit operations and stability, comparable to Willow’s performance, according to the research team led by Pan Jianwei of the University of Science and Technology of China.
Google’s Willow achieved major advances in quantum error correction, a crucial step towards making quantum machines more reliable. The Chinese scientists have announced plans to incorporate similar techniques for Zuchongzhi 3.0 in the coming months.
They said their processor widened the gap in computational abilities between quantum and classical computers, serving as “both a testament to the progress in quantum hardware and a foundation for practical applications”.
Quantum computers use qubits instead of traditional computer bits to process information. Unlike classical bits, which can represent either a 0 or a 1, qubits can exist in a “superposition” state – essentially representing both 0 and 1 simultaneously.
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Influencer Andrew Tate loses US$2.5 million tax battle with UK police
By Associated Press
A British court ruled on Wednesday that police can seize more than 2 million pounds (US$2.5 million) to cover years of unpaid taxes from influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan.
The Devon and Cornwall Police force went to court to claim the money, held in seven frozen bank accounts, from the Tates and a woman identified only as J.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that financial transactions by the brothers, including transferring US$12 million into an account in the name of J, were a “straightforward cheat” of the tax authorities.
A lawyer for the force said that the Tates were “serial” tax evaders who failed to pay any tax on 21 million pounds in revenue from their online businesses, including War Room, Hustlers’ University, Cobra Tate and OnlyFans, between 2014 and 2022.
At a hearing in July, lawyer Sarah Clarke quoted from a video posted online by Andrew Tate, in which he said: “When I lived in England I refused to pay tax.”
A lawyer for the brothers, Martin Evans, argued that the bank transfers were “entirely orthodox” for people who run online businesses.
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By Associated Press
A British court ruled on Wednesday that police can seize more than 2 million pounds (US$2.5 million) to cover years of unpaid taxes from influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan.
The Devon and Cornwall Police force went to court to claim the money, held in seven frozen bank accounts, from the Tates and a woman identified only as J.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that financial transactions by the brothers, including transferring US$12 million into an account in the name of J, were a “straightforward cheat” of the tax authorities.
A lawyer for the force said that the Tates were “serial” tax evaders who failed to pay any tax on 21 million pounds in revenue from their online businesses, including War Room, Hustlers’ University, Cobra Tate and OnlyFans, between 2014 and 2022.
At a hearing in July, lawyer Sarah Clarke quoted from a video posted online by Andrew Tate, in which he said: “When I lived in England I refused to pay tax.”
A lawyer for the brothers, Martin Evans, argued that the bank transfers were “entirely orthodox” for people who run online businesses.
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China’s bull run on bonds triggers fresh warning from central bank amid record-low yields
By Frank Chen
With the yields of Chinese government bonds slipping to record lows, China’s central bank has issued a stern warning to financial organisations to step up compliance efforts and mitigate risks, amid an intensified crackdown on bond-trading irregularities.
Overly aggressive bond trading will not be tolerated, the People’s Bank of China said in a meeting on Wednesday, warning some institutions to be more mindful of interest rate risks, according to the Financial News, a publication under the central bank.
Stressing that the PBOC was taking a “zero tolerance” approach, the report said other requirements include improving investment-research capabilities and making more prudent bond investments while complying with the law.
The admonition was the latest in a series of warnings and actions taken in recent months. But China’s 10-year bond yield has continued its extended slump, hitting a record low this month as investors scramble for safe-haven options such as ultra-long-term bonds. Meanwhile, China’s policymakers are engaged in a concerted effort to cool China’s bond-market rally amid the nation’s economic slowdown.
“It is possible to see intervention to arrest the fall in bond yields following such stern verbal warnings, but it may not change the structural trend unless there is a clear sign of economic recovery,” said Gary Ng, senior economist for Asia-Pacific thematic research at French investment bank Natixis in Hong Kong.
“The bearish investors’ sentiment, and the expectation of lower interest rates, have continued to attract money into the bond market. However, regulators may be concerned that quick moves can also pose financial risks,” Ng said.
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By Frank Chen
With the yields of Chinese government bonds slipping to record lows, China’s central bank has issued a stern warning to financial organisations to step up compliance efforts and mitigate risks, amid an intensified crackdown on bond-trading irregularities.
Overly aggressive bond trading will not be tolerated, the People’s Bank of China said in a meeting on Wednesday, warning some institutions to be more mindful of interest rate risks, according to the Financial News, a publication under the central bank.
Stressing that the PBOC was taking a “zero tolerance” approach, the report said other requirements include improving investment-research capabilities and making more prudent bond investments while complying with the law.
The admonition was the latest in a series of warnings and actions taken in recent months. But China’s 10-year bond yield has continued its extended slump, hitting a record low this month as investors scramble for safe-haven options such as ultra-long-term bonds. Meanwhile, China’s policymakers are engaged in a concerted effort to cool China’s bond-market rally amid the nation’s economic slowdown.
“It is possible to see intervention to arrest the fall in bond yields following such stern verbal warnings, but it may not change the structural trend unless there is a clear sign of economic recovery,” said Gary Ng, senior economist for Asia-Pacific thematic research at French investment bank Natixis in Hong Kong.
“The bearish investors’ sentiment, and the expectation of lower interest rates, have continued to attract money into the bond market. However, regulators may be concerned that quick moves can also pose financial risks,” Ng said.
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Russian man gets 20 years in jail for trying to poison troops fighting Ukraine
By Agence France-Presse
A Russian military tribunal has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for having tried to poison troops in support of Ukraine, the FSB security service said on Wednesday.
The tribunal found the man, a resident of the city of Barnaul in the Altai region of Siberia, guilty of “attempted assault” and “attempted high treason” and sentenced him to 20 years in prison, the RIA Novosti state news agency quoted the FSB as saying in a statement.
“This Russian citizen, born in 1981, entered into contact with Ukrainian special services via social media” and expressed his “desire to support Ukrainian armed forces”, the statement said.
“As an employee of a canteen, he tried to poison the soldiers who were part of a mobilised contingent in the Altai”, filming the process for the Ukrainian special forces, it said.
Analyses showed that the substance that he put in the food could have caused acute poisoning and could have been fatal, it said.
The case is the latest in a long line of Russians handed heavy prison sentences for allegedly supporting Ukraine after Moscow sent troops into its neighbour in February 2022.
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By Agence France-Presse
A Russian military tribunal has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for having tried to poison troops in support of Ukraine, the FSB security service said on Wednesday.
The tribunal found the man, a resident of the city of Barnaul in the Altai region of Siberia, guilty of “attempted assault” and “attempted high treason” and sentenced him to 20 years in prison, the RIA Novosti state news agency quoted the FSB as saying in a statement.
“This Russian citizen, born in 1981, entered into contact with Ukrainian special services via social media” and expressed his “desire to support Ukrainian armed forces”, the statement said.
“As an employee of a canteen, he tried to poison the soldiers who were part of a mobilised contingent in the Altai”, filming the process for the Ukrainian special forces, it said.
Analyses showed that the substance that he put in the food could have caused acute poisoning and could have been fatal, it said.
The case is the latest in a long line of Russians handed heavy prison sentences for allegedly supporting Ukraine after Moscow sent troops into its neighbour in February 2022.
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EU leaders set to avoid direct accusation over Chinese role in Russia’s war in Ukraine
By Finbarr Bermingham
European Union leaders will avoid directly calling out China over Russia’s war in Ukraine at a major summit this week, according to a draft statement seen by the Post.
Beijing’s relations with Moscow are a cause for much concern in European capitals, and in recent weeks anxiety has been stoked further by evidence disseminated by one EU member state that indicates a factory in Xinjiang has been making drones for Russia’s military.
But while directly arming Russia has been repeatedly described as a “red line” by the European Council, which represents the 27 member governments, has chosen not to open a new front with Beijing in a week that the EU sanctioned Chinese companies over their role in the war for the first time.
“The European Council strongly condemns support by third countries, and actors and entities therein, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine,” read a draft statement negotiated by representatives of the 27 states.
“The arms transfers and deepening military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK [North Korea] and Iran, as well as the deployment of the DPRK’s military forces to Russia and their use on the battlefield against Ukraine represent an international escalation of the war, with serious consequences for international peace and security,” the statement continued.
The text could change before Thursday’s summit, where the issue is expected to be discussed, but sources said the language was acceptable to all capitals. It said the council “urges all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine”.
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By Finbarr Bermingham
European Union leaders will avoid directly calling out China over Russia’s war in Ukraine at a major summit this week, according to a draft statement seen by the Post.
Beijing’s relations with Moscow are a cause for much concern in European capitals, and in recent weeks anxiety has been stoked further by evidence disseminated by one EU member state that indicates a factory in Xinjiang has been making drones for Russia’s military.
But while directly arming Russia has been repeatedly described as a “red line” by the European Council, which represents the 27 member governments, has chosen not to open a new front with Beijing in a week that the EU sanctioned Chinese companies over their role in the war for the first time.
“The European Council strongly condemns support by third countries, and actors and entities therein, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine,” read a draft statement negotiated by representatives of the 27 states.
“The arms transfers and deepening military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK [North Korea] and Iran, as well as the deployment of the DPRK’s military forces to Russia and their use on the battlefield against Ukraine represent an international escalation of the war, with serious consequences for international peace and security,” the statement continued.
The text could change before Thursday’s summit, where the issue is expected to be discussed, but sources said the language was acceptable to all capitals. It said the council “urges all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine”.
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Over half of Hongkongers experience depression, highest level in 7 years: survey
By Fan Chen
Over half of Hongkongers experience depressive symptoms, the highest level in seven years, with dissatisfaction over government policies and the economic downturn being the greatest cause of residents’ unhappiness, a poll has found.
According to a survey of 1,093 adults by HK. WeCare, a platform established under non-profit Wofoo Social Enterprises, over 20 per cent of residents experienced “moderate” depressive symptoms while over 35 per cent experienced “moderately severe to severe” effects.
In addition, more than 10 per cent of respondents reported feeling down, depressed, or hopeless “almost every day”.
The city’s happiness index dropped to 5.63 out of 10 – the lowest level in seven years – with those aged 35 to 44 scoring the lowest among all age groups.
“Depression is a contagious disease,” lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen of the centrist political party Third Side, said.
“I feel that this mood in Hong Kong is now having a very serious radiating effect.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Fan Chen
Over half of Hongkongers experience depressive symptoms, the highest level in seven years, with dissatisfaction over government policies and the economic downturn being the greatest cause of residents’ unhappiness, a poll has found.
According to a survey of 1,093 adults by HK. WeCare, a platform established under non-profit Wofoo Social Enterprises, over 20 per cent of residents experienced “moderate” depressive symptoms while over 35 per cent experienced “moderately severe to severe” effects.
In addition, more than 10 per cent of respondents reported feeling down, depressed, or hopeless “almost every day”.
The city’s happiness index dropped to 5.63 out of 10 – the lowest level in seven years – with those aged 35 to 44 scoring the lowest among all age groups.
“Depression is a contagious disease,” lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen of the centrist political party Third Side, said.
“I feel that this mood in Hong Kong is now having a very serious radiating effect.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Ex-Hong Kong beauty queen fears for third pet dog after 2 die by poisoning
By Harvey Kong
A former Hong Kong beauty queen has said her third and sole surviving dog is at risk of “bleeding out” after the animal was believed to have licked poison-laced meat that had killed the pageant winner’s two other canines.
Miss Hong Kong 2020 winner Lisa-Marie Tse Ga-ye told her social media followers on Tuesday evening she had discovered that her pet dog Leo had urinated blood while walking home, with a vet revealing the animal had ingested traces of poison.
“The poison in his body and his blood now can’t clot. So for the next few weeks, until we can get that fixed, we have to be very careful as he is at risk of bleeding out,” she wrote.
“So although he is still there, he isn’t safe yet. The nightmare seems to not be ending.”
Tse also wrote that she had spent Tuesday afternoon with Leo and had noticed he was bleeding as they walked home. The former beauty winner rushed her dog to a vet, who suspected the dog had licked some of the poison, she added.
A day earlier, Tse wrote on social media that her two other dogs had died after she took the trio for a walk in She Shan village in Lam Tsuen on Sunday.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Harvey Kong
A former Hong Kong beauty queen has said her third and sole surviving dog is at risk of “bleeding out” after the animal was believed to have licked poison-laced meat that had killed the pageant winner’s two other canines.
Miss Hong Kong 2020 winner Lisa-Marie Tse Ga-ye told her social media followers on Tuesday evening she had discovered that her pet dog Leo had urinated blood while walking home, with a vet revealing the animal had ingested traces of poison.
“The poison in his body and his blood now can’t clot. So for the next few weeks, until we can get that fixed, we have to be very careful as he is at risk of bleeding out,” she wrote.
“So although he is still there, he isn’t safe yet. The nightmare seems to not be ending.”
Tse also wrote that she had spent Tuesday afternoon with Leo and had noticed he was bleeding as they walked home. The former beauty winner rushed her dog to a vet, who suspected the dog had licked some of the poison, she added.
A day earlier, Tse wrote on social media that her two other dogs had died after she took the trio for a walk in She Shan village in Lam Tsuen on Sunday.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Jimmy Lai maintains UK had ‘moral responsibility’ towards Hongkongers
By Brian Wong
Former media owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has maintained the British government had a “moral responsibility” to offer citizenship to Hongkongers, while denying the move constituted a hostile response to Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on the city.
Lai on Wednesday also dismissed a contention that he advocated American interference with his comments on closer US-Taiwan ties in a live broadcast interview, adding he did not want a full-scale war between mainland China and the self-ruling island.
The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was testifying at West Kowloon Court for the 20th day in his marathon national security trial. The 77-year-old stands accused of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and of publishing seditious materials.
Lai, in an episode of the online broadcast series “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai” dated September 10, 2020, appeared to praise the United Kingdom’s decision to suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong and grant the right of abode to millions of British National (Overseas) passport holders from the city.
British political activist Benedict Rogers, who appeared on the episode as a guest, said he expected “other measures” to follow “in the months to come”, adding his nation should “lead the international community on this”.
In reply, Lai appealed to “our old colonial government” to take up the “moral responsibility” of drawing other governments’ attention to Hong Kong “at this time of disaster”.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Brian Wong
Former media owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has maintained the British government had a “moral responsibility” to offer citizenship to Hongkongers, while denying the move constituted a hostile response to Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on the city.
Lai on Wednesday also dismissed a contention that he advocated American interference with his comments on closer US-Taiwan ties in a live broadcast interview, adding he did not want a full-scale war between mainland China and the self-ruling island.
The founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was testifying at West Kowloon Court for the 20th day in his marathon national security trial. The 77-year-old stands accused of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and of publishing seditious materials.
Lai, in an episode of the online broadcast series “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai” dated September 10, 2020, appeared to praise the United Kingdom’s decision to suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong and grant the right of abode to millions of British National (Overseas) passport holders from the city.
British political activist Benedict Rogers, who appeared on the episode as a guest, said he expected “other measures” to follow “in the months to come”, adding his nation should “lead the international community on this”.
In reply, Lai appealed to “our old colonial government” to take up the “moral responsibility” of drawing other governments’ attention to Hong Kong “at this time of disaster”.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
