Hong Kong’s new culture minister must get her priorities right
By Alice Wu
Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, the city’s new secretary for culture, sports and tourism, is enjoying quite the warm welcome. Even wearing a red jacket to a Legislative Council meeting to introduce the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development three days into her new job was enough to get her compliments.
This perhaps reflects the lawmakers’ frustrations with Law’s predecessor more than anything. Seeing a new face was enough to get lawmakers’ hopes up.
But Law’s honeymoon period was short-lived. The blueprint has not been well-received, though it must be said it was not her doing. There has been disappointment with its lack of content, especially on the strategy front. It did not cover much that has not been said before, and it did not reveal any bold or innovative initiatives either.
One lawmaker was especially critical. Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong took issue with the use of Hong Kong Coliseum, which is notorious for being hard to secure. Ho cited examples of how many times local artists have been rejected to put on their concerts there. While Ho is wrong to assume the coliseum was not in use during non-concert days, he is not wrong in pointing out that the application and approval process could be more transparent.
This latter point is something that fellow lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok also mentioned. A veteran lawmaker and representative of the sector, Ma said he believes the approval process could be sped up with higher level of transparency to address the problem with public perception.
With the ambitious aim for Hong Kong to become an arts and cultural hub and regional centre of mega-events, it is imperative that these venue-related issues are addressed. The bigger problem with our city’s venues is an old one: the lack of them.
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By Alice Wu
Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, the city’s new secretary for culture, sports and tourism, is enjoying quite the warm welcome. Even wearing a red jacket to a Legislative Council meeting to introduce the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development three days into her new job was enough to get her compliments.
This perhaps reflects the lawmakers’ frustrations with Law’s predecessor more than anything. Seeing a new face was enough to get lawmakers’ hopes up.
But Law’s honeymoon period was short-lived. The blueprint has not been well-received, though it must be said it was not her doing. There has been disappointment with its lack of content, especially on the strategy front. It did not cover much that has not been said before, and it did not reveal any bold or innovative initiatives either.
One lawmaker was especially critical. Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong took issue with the use of Hong Kong Coliseum, which is notorious for being hard to secure. Ho cited examples of how many times local artists have been rejected to put on their concerts there. While Ho is wrong to assume the coliseum was not in use during non-concert days, he is not wrong in pointing out that the application and approval process could be more transparent.
This latter point is something that fellow lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok also mentioned. A veteran lawmaker and representative of the sector, Ma said he believes the approval process could be sped up with higher level of transparency to address the problem with public perception.
With the ambitious aim for Hong Kong to become an arts and cultural hub and regional centre of mega-events, it is imperative that these venue-related issues are addressed. The bigger problem with our city’s venues is an old one: the lack of them.
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Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign nets record number of ‘tigers’ in 2024
By William Zheng
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s war on corruption has ensnared a record number of high-ranking officials this year, with 56 senior cadres at vice-ministerial level or above being investigated, a tally by the South China Morning Post has found.
That marks a jump of nearly 25 per cent from 2023, when 45 high-ranking officials were subject to graft probes by anti-corruption agency the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, or CCDI.
According to the Post’s analysis, corruption cases involving top party organs and ministries have doubled, while there was also an increase in cases within the aviation and defence industries.
But in 2024 there were fewer corruption cases in the finance sector – a key focus of the campaign last year.
Deng Yuwen, former deputy editor of the Study Times newspaper published by the Central Party School, said more officials were getting caught up in the campaign.
“The anti-corruption net has been cast wider while the mesh is getting smaller – so more are getting caught and fewer can slip through,” he said.
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By William Zheng
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s war on corruption has ensnared a record number of high-ranking officials this year, with 56 senior cadres at vice-ministerial level or above being investigated, a tally by the South China Morning Post has found.
That marks a jump of nearly 25 per cent from 2023, when 45 high-ranking officials were subject to graft probes by anti-corruption agency the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, or CCDI.
According to the Post’s analysis, corruption cases involving top party organs and ministries have doubled, while there was also an increase in cases within the aviation and defence industries.
But in 2024 there were fewer corruption cases in the finance sector – a key focus of the campaign last year.
Deng Yuwen, former deputy editor of the Study Times newspaper published by the Central Party School, said more officials were getting caught up in the campaign.
“The anti-corruption net has been cast wider while the mesh is getting smaller – so more are getting caught and fewer can slip through,” he said.
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Qatar vows to stop EU gas sales if fined under due diligence law: media report
By Reuters
Qatar will stop shipping gas to the EU if member states strictly enforce a new law cracking down on forced labour and environmental damage, Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday.
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, approved this year, requires larger companies operating in the European Union to check whether their supply chains use forced labour or cause environmental damage and to take action if they do.
Penalties include fines of up to five per cent of global turnover.
“If the case is that I lose five per cent of my generated revenue by going to Europe, I will not go to Europe. I’m not bluffing, Kaabi told the newspaper, adding that “five per cent of generated revenue of QatarEnergy means five per cent of generated revenue of the Qatar state. This is the people’s money, so I cannot lose that kind of money – and nobody would accept losing that kind of money.”
Kaabi, the chief executive of state-owned QatarEnergy, has said the EU should thoroughly review the due diligence law. He has also said that his Gulf country has no concerns about US president-elect Donald Trump’s promise to lift a cap on liquefied natural gas exports.
Qatar, among the world’s top LNG exporters, is seeking to play a larger role in Asia and Europe as competition from top supplier the United States increases. It plans to expand its liquefaction capacity to 142 million tons per year by 2027 from 77 million.
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By Reuters
Qatar will stop shipping gas to the EU if member states strictly enforce a new law cracking down on forced labour and environmental damage, Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday.
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, approved this year, requires larger companies operating in the European Union to check whether their supply chains use forced labour or cause environmental damage and to take action if they do.
Penalties include fines of up to five per cent of global turnover.
“If the case is that I lose five per cent of my generated revenue by going to Europe, I will not go to Europe. I’m not bluffing, Kaabi told the newspaper, adding that “five per cent of generated revenue of QatarEnergy means five per cent of generated revenue of the Qatar state. This is the people’s money, so I cannot lose that kind of money – and nobody would accept losing that kind of money.”
Kaabi, the chief executive of state-owned QatarEnergy, has said the EU should thoroughly review the due diligence law. He has also said that his Gulf country has no concerns about US president-elect Donald Trump’s promise to lift a cap on liquefied natural gas exports.
Qatar, among the world’s top LNG exporters, is seeking to play a larger role in Asia and Europe as competition from top supplier the United States increases. It plans to expand its liquefaction capacity to 142 million tons per year by 2027 from 77 million.
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Minorities fear targeted attacks in post-revolution Bangladesh
By Agence France-Presse
For generations, the small Hindu temple outside the capital in Muslim-majority Bangladesh was a quiet place to pray – before arsonists ripped open its roof this month in the latest post-revolution unrest.
It is only one of a string of attacks targeting religious minorities since a student-led uprising toppled long-time autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina in August.
“We don’t feel safe,” said Hindu devotee Swapna Ghosh in the village of Dhour, where attackers broke into the 50-year-old family temple to the goddess Lakshmi and set fire to its treasured idols on December 7.
“My son saw the flames and doused them quickly,” said temple custodian Ratan Kumar Ghosh, 55, describing how assailants knew to avoid security cameras, so they tore its tin roof open to enter.
“Otherwise, the temple – and us – would have been reduced to ashes.”
Hindus make up about eight per cent of the mainly Muslim nation of 170 million people.
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By Agence France-Presse
For generations, the small Hindu temple outside the capital in Muslim-majority Bangladesh was a quiet place to pray – before arsonists ripped open its roof this month in the latest post-revolution unrest.
It is only one of a string of attacks targeting religious minorities since a student-led uprising toppled long-time autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina in August.
“We don’t feel safe,” said Hindu devotee Swapna Ghosh in the village of Dhour, where attackers broke into the 50-year-old family temple to the goddess Lakshmi and set fire to its treasured idols on December 7.
“My son saw the flames and doused them quickly,” said temple custodian Ratan Kumar Ghosh, 55, describing how assailants knew to avoid security cameras, so they tore its tin roof open to enter.
“Otherwise, the temple – and us – would have been reduced to ashes.”
Hindus make up about eight per cent of the mainly Muslim nation of 170 million people.
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Xi’s vision for Macau, Hong Kong boon to confidence amid geopolitics: Paul Chan
By Denise TsangJess Ma
Chinese president Xi Jinping’s commitment to maintaining the “one country, two systems” governing principle for Hong Kong and Macau has boosted people’s confidence amid a complex geopolitical situation, according to Paul Chan Mo-po.
In his weekly blog post on Sunday, Hong Kong’s financial secretary said Xi’s speech at the inauguration of Macau’s new administration had summed up the institutional advantages of the governing systems and practical experiences of both cities, which successfully marked a “win-win cooperation” between different social systems that were key to maintaining their long-term prosperity.
Chan noted a good stable system must be maintained for a long time, embodying the values of peace, tolerance, openness, and sharing.
“In the current complex geopolitical situation, the speech is more positive and makes people more confident,” he said.
In his speech at the inauguration of Macau’s sixth administration under Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai last week, Xi underscored the importance of maintaining the one country, two systems governing principle.
Summarising his vision for the long-term implementation of the principle, Xi said Hong Kong and Macau should exploit the advantages of the arrangement in four areas: prioritising national security; pushing for high-quality development; boost connectivity both internally and externally; and fostering tolerance and harmony.
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By Denise TsangJess Ma
Chinese president Xi Jinping’s commitment to maintaining the “one country, two systems” governing principle for Hong Kong and Macau has boosted people’s confidence amid a complex geopolitical situation, according to Paul Chan Mo-po.
In his weekly blog post on Sunday, Hong Kong’s financial secretary said Xi’s speech at the inauguration of Macau’s new administration had summed up the institutional advantages of the governing systems and practical experiences of both cities, which successfully marked a “win-win cooperation” between different social systems that were key to maintaining their long-term prosperity.
Chan noted a good stable system must be maintained for a long time, embodying the values of peace, tolerance, openness, and sharing.
“In the current complex geopolitical situation, the speech is more positive and makes people more confident,” he said.
In his speech at the inauguration of Macau’s sixth administration under Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai last week, Xi underscored the importance of maintaining the one country, two systems governing principle.
Summarising his vision for the long-term implementation of the principle, Xi said Hong Kong and Macau should exploit the advantages of the arrangement in four areas: prioritising national security; pushing for high-quality development; boost connectivity both internally and externally; and fostering tolerance and harmony.
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China property flare-ups resurface as crisis enters fifth year
By Bloomberg
One of China’s leading developers is now on authorities’ radar for default risk. A major Hong Kong builder is asking lenders to extend loans. Another industry peer is selling an iconic but largely empty mall in Beijing.
As China’s property debt crisis enters its fifth year, there’s little indication that distressed developers are finding it easier to repay debt as a slump in home sales continues. Their dollar bonds are still trading at deeply distressed levels, debt issuance has nearly dried up and the sector a notable laggard in the stock markets.
Alarm bells went off again in recent weeks, when the banking regulator told top insurers to report their financial exposure to China Vanke to assess how much support the country’s fourth-largest developer by sales needs to avoid default. Over in Hong Kong, New World Development sought to delay some loan maturities while Parkview Group put a landmark commercial complex up for sale in Beijing.
The latest signs of stress are adding to concerns that the worst is far from over for the housing sector, once a powerful growth engine and now a big drag on demand for items from furniture to cars. And they are particularly worrying because Vanke’s woes show the liquidity crisis is hurting one of the few big builders that have avoided default. The trouble faced by its Hong Kong peers, meanwhile, means the contagion is increasingly felt offshore.
“While recent government policies have helped to arrest the speed of decline, it could take another one or two years for the sector to [hit] bottom,” said Leonard Law, senior credit analyst at Lucror Analytics. “Against this backdrop, we can’t rule out the possibility of some more defaults next year, albeit the overall default rate should be much lower than before.”
Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to ease the slowdown, including interest rate cuts, slashing purchasing costs and restrictions, as well as state guarantees for bond sales by stronger developers. Top leaders also pledged to stabilise the property market next year at a key economic meeting earlier this month.
However, the rescue measures adopted so far have focused on preventing a collapse in property prices, protecting owners of unfinished flats and using state funds to help absorb excess supply. At the same time, policymakers chose to look on as former industry behemoths China Evergrande Group and Country Garden Holdings defaulted.
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By Bloomberg
One of China’s leading developers is now on authorities’ radar for default risk. A major Hong Kong builder is asking lenders to extend loans. Another industry peer is selling an iconic but largely empty mall in Beijing.
As China’s property debt crisis enters its fifth year, there’s little indication that distressed developers are finding it easier to repay debt as a slump in home sales continues. Their dollar bonds are still trading at deeply distressed levels, debt issuance has nearly dried up and the sector a notable laggard in the stock markets.
Alarm bells went off again in recent weeks, when the banking regulator told top insurers to report their financial exposure to China Vanke to assess how much support the country’s fourth-largest developer by sales needs to avoid default. Over in Hong Kong, New World Development sought to delay some loan maturities while Parkview Group put a landmark commercial complex up for sale in Beijing.
The latest signs of stress are adding to concerns that the worst is far from over for the housing sector, once a powerful growth engine and now a big drag on demand for items from furniture to cars. And they are particularly worrying because Vanke’s woes show the liquidity crisis is hurting one of the few big builders that have avoided default. The trouble faced by its Hong Kong peers, meanwhile, means the contagion is increasingly felt offshore.
“While recent government policies have helped to arrest the speed of decline, it could take another one or two years for the sector to [hit] bottom,” said Leonard Law, senior credit analyst at Lucror Analytics. “Against this backdrop, we can’t rule out the possibility of some more defaults next year, albeit the overall default rate should be much lower than before.”
Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to ease the slowdown, including interest rate cuts, slashing purchasing costs and restrictions, as well as state guarantees for bond sales by stronger developers. Top leaders also pledged to stabilise the property market next year at a key economic meeting earlier this month.
However, the rescue measures adopted so far have focused on preventing a collapse in property prices, protecting owners of unfinished flats and using state funds to help absorb excess supply. At the same time, policymakers chose to look on as former industry behemoths China Evergrande Group and Country Garden Holdings defaulted.
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From pandas to postboxes: hotspots for selfies in Hong Kong over Christmas
By Winnie WongDenise Tsang
Hong Kong’s skyline and street views have been transformed over Christmas, with the city boasting colourful new attractions this holiday season.
From giant panda exhibitions to bustling indoor malls and vividly decorated postboxes, there are no lack of new offerings for Christmas excursions, with opportunities for selfies to burnish social media photo galleries.
The Post highlights five places to enjoy the seasonal splendour.
Stalls selling trinkets line both sides of Pottinger Street, one of the city’s oldest streets widely known as “stone slab street”, creating an atmosphere of festival cheer and nostalgia.
The stalls are filled with ornaments and decorations for sale, ranging from traditional red-and-white Santa Claus hats, to green, gold and red Christmas globes.
Stroll past colourful stalls and their paraphernalia along the street’s shallow, wide granite steps and catch the jingles that play as trams arrive at the nearby station.
The songs will ring out till January 1.
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By Winnie WongDenise Tsang
Hong Kong’s skyline and street views have been transformed over Christmas, with the city boasting colourful new attractions this holiday season.
From giant panda exhibitions to bustling indoor malls and vividly decorated postboxes, there are no lack of new offerings for Christmas excursions, with opportunities for selfies to burnish social media photo galleries.
The Post highlights five places to enjoy the seasonal splendour.
Stalls selling trinkets line both sides of Pottinger Street, one of the city’s oldest streets widely known as “stone slab street”, creating an atmosphere of festival cheer and nostalgia.
The stalls are filled with ornaments and decorations for sale, ranging from traditional red-and-white Santa Claus hats, to green, gold and red Christmas globes.
Stroll past colourful stalls and their paraphernalia along the street’s shallow, wide granite steps and catch the jingles that play as trams arrive at the nearby station.
The songs will ring out till January 1.
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Chinese classicists battling to save Greek, Roman works from online conspiracy theories
By Dannie Peng
Chinese academics studying the Western classics are battling an increasingly popular conspiracy theory that Greek and Roman literature, philosophy and even famous monuments are hoaxes.
The pseudo-historical school – as its detractors have called it – has been around for years, but what was once a fringe position has become increasingly prominent online with some noted nationalist intellectuals helping to amplify conspiracy theories, with some even questioning whether Aristotle and his surviving works were real.
Mantineia Liu, a postgraduate student studying Western classical philosophy at Shanghai’s Fudan University, said that over the past 10 years she had seen this idea spreading from small groups in certain chat groups to something her older relatives keep bringing up when she went home for family gatherings such as Lunar New Year.
But she feels that since 2017, the conspiracy theory had “suddenly expanded”. More than once older family members have said to her: “I’ve heard that all these Western historical and cultural relics are faked, is it possible? ”
An associate professor studying classical Western philosophy at a top Chinese university echoed Liu’s comments.
“People who are really interested in ancient philosophy, thought or history don’t buy this kind of view, and it’s often taken as a joke in academia, but it has a huge market among the general public,” the academic, who asked not to be named, said.
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By Dannie Peng
Chinese academics studying the Western classics are battling an increasingly popular conspiracy theory that Greek and Roman literature, philosophy and even famous monuments are hoaxes.
The pseudo-historical school – as its detractors have called it – has been around for years, but what was once a fringe position has become increasingly prominent online with some noted nationalist intellectuals helping to amplify conspiracy theories, with some even questioning whether Aristotle and his surviving works were real.
Mantineia Liu, a postgraduate student studying Western classical philosophy at Shanghai’s Fudan University, said that over the past 10 years she had seen this idea spreading from small groups in certain chat groups to something her older relatives keep bringing up when she went home for family gatherings such as Lunar New Year.
But she feels that since 2017, the conspiracy theory had “suddenly expanded”. More than once older family members have said to her: “I’ve heard that all these Western historical and cultural relics are faked, is it possible? ”
An associate professor studying classical Western philosophy at a top Chinese university echoed Liu’s comments.
“People who are really interested in ancient philosophy, thought or history don’t buy this kind of view, and it’s often taken as a joke in academia, but it has a huge market among the general public,” the academic, who asked not to be named, said.
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By Alice Yan
The wife of China’s Olympic boxing champion Zou Shiming has sparked a heated discussion on hormone treatment after she decided to give growth injections to their teenage son, who appeared to have stayed at the same height for years.
Zou’s wife Ran Yingying, a former TV hostess and now an online influencer, said in mid-December that she and her husband had been anxious about one of their their sons, nicknamed Haohao, for two years.
This prompted them to take him to hospital for hormone treatment to make him grow taller, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.
The couple, who are both 162cm tall, have three sons. Haohao, 11, is 136.6cm in height, about 30cm shorter than his brother who is two years older.
Ran said she noticed Haohao seemed not to grow at all over the past two years.Haohao’s parents became anxious after their son failed to grow over a two-year period. Photo: Baidu
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Crowds throng at busy Hong Kong airport as residents depart for holidays
By Jiang Chuqin
The Hong Kong International Airport experienced busier-than-usual traffic on Sunday morning as residents left in droves for the Christmas holidays, with the estimated waiting time between security checks and departure gate access exceeding two hours.
Expecting heavier traffic and longer queues, many passengers arrived at the airport hours in advance to avoid rushing before their scheduled flights,
Hongkongers interviewed by the Post said they were taking several days off from work before the public holidays to create a week-long getaway, while many domestic helpers were travelling back to their home countries, some for the first time since the pandemic.
Adelaide Tsoi, a 30-year-old educator, decided to take 2½ days off work to extend her holiday into a six-day getaway.
She and her husband were heading to Malaysia with their daughter and would visit KidZania, an educational theme park where children can learn through interactive role-play, among other places. They had not set a specific budget for themselves, with Tsoi saying they simply wanted to “chill for several days”.
“I think compared to other holiday times, the airport today does not seem too hectic,” said Tsoi.
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By Jiang Chuqin
The Hong Kong International Airport experienced busier-than-usual traffic on Sunday morning as residents left in droves for the Christmas holidays, with the estimated waiting time between security checks and departure gate access exceeding two hours.
Expecting heavier traffic and longer queues, many passengers arrived at the airport hours in advance to avoid rushing before their scheduled flights,
Hongkongers interviewed by the Post said they were taking several days off from work before the public holidays to create a week-long getaway, while many domestic helpers were travelling back to their home countries, some for the first time since the pandemic.
Adelaide Tsoi, a 30-year-old educator, decided to take 2½ days off work to extend her holiday into a six-day getaway.
She and her husband were heading to Malaysia with their daughter and would visit KidZania, an educational theme park where children can learn through interactive role-play, among other places. They had not set a specific budget for themselves, with Tsoi saying they simply wanted to “chill for several days”.
“I think compared to other holiday times, the airport today does not seem too hectic,” said Tsoi.
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Trump says he might demand Panama hand over canal
By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump on Saturday accused Panama of charging excessive rates for the use of the Panama Canal and said that if Panama did not manage the canal in an acceptable fashion, he would demand the US ally hand it over.
In an evening post on Truth Social, Trump also warned he would not let the canal fall into the “wrong hands,” and he seemed to warn of potential Chinese influence on the passage, writing the canal should not be managed by China.
The post was an very rare example of a US leader saying he could push a sovereign country to hand over territory. It also underlines an expected shift in US diplomacy under Trump, who has not historically shied away from threatening allies and using bellicose rhetoric when dealing with counterparts.
The United States largely built the canal and administrated territory surrounding the passage for decades. But the US government fully handed control of the canal to Panama in 1999 after a period of joint administration.
“The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.
“It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question.”
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By Reuters
US president-elect Donald Trump on Saturday accused Panama of charging excessive rates for the use of the Panama Canal and said that if Panama did not manage the canal in an acceptable fashion, he would demand the US ally hand it over.
In an evening post on Truth Social, Trump also warned he would not let the canal fall into the “wrong hands,” and he seemed to warn of potential Chinese influence on the passage, writing the canal should not be managed by China.
The post was an very rare example of a US leader saying he could push a sovereign country to hand over territory. It also underlines an expected shift in US diplomacy under Trump, who has not historically shied away from threatening allies and using bellicose rhetoric when dealing with counterparts.
The United States largely built the canal and administrated territory surrounding the passage for decades. But the US government fully handed control of the canal to Panama in 1999 after a period of joint administration.
“The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.
“It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question.”
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Relocating to Hengqin: Macau residents tell of the woes and perks of settling in the zone
By Emily Hung
When Macau residents Amy Leong and Danniel Ng embarked on a plan to relocate for retirement, they hit an unexpected hurdle: finding affordable moving services proved challenging because of the extra charges for customs clearance.
They had decided to move from the casino hub, where they had lived for decades, to Hengqin, a neighbouring island jointly managed by the Guangdong and Macau governments.
A residential project exclusively for Macau residents, the Macau New Neighbourhood, was rolled out last year.
The couple in their 60s bought a three-bedroom flat for about 3 million yuan (US$411,180), which they said was more expensive than other homes in Zhuhai, but still cheaper than in the casino city.
“Hiring a mover is even more expensive than buying all [the furniture] over again from the mainland,” Leong said. The couple decided to move their belongings using their own car, making multiple trips between Macau and Hengqin.
“It was quite a headache, we had to throw away many pieces of furniture that couldn’t fit in our car,” Leong said. “Why couldn’t the two governments sit down and work out a plan to help us move easier?”
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By Emily Hung
When Macau residents Amy Leong and Danniel Ng embarked on a plan to relocate for retirement, they hit an unexpected hurdle: finding affordable moving services proved challenging because of the extra charges for customs clearance.
They had decided to move from the casino hub, where they had lived for decades, to Hengqin, a neighbouring island jointly managed by the Guangdong and Macau governments.
A residential project exclusively for Macau residents, the Macau New Neighbourhood, was rolled out last year.
The couple in their 60s bought a three-bedroom flat for about 3 million yuan (US$411,180), which they said was more expensive than other homes in Zhuhai, but still cheaper than in the casino city.
“Hiring a mover is even more expensive than buying all [the furniture] over again from the mainland,” Leong said. The couple decided to move their belongings using their own car, making multiple trips between Macau and Hengqin.
“It was quite a headache, we had to throw away many pieces of furniture that couldn’t fit in our car,” Leong said. “Why couldn’t the two governments sit down and work out a plan to help us move easier?”
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2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident
By Associated Press
Two US Navy pilots were shot down on Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the US military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries, but the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become over the ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite US and European military coalitions patrolling the area.
America’s military had conducted air strikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time, though the US military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was and did not immediately respond to questions from Associated Press.
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On December 15, Central Command acknowledged the Truman had entered the Middle East, but hadn’t specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea.
“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.
From the military’s description, the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
It wasn’t immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, particularly as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication. However, Central Command said that warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels.
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By Associated Press
Two US Navy pilots were shot down on Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the US military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries, but the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become over the ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite US and European military coalitions patrolling the area.
America’s military had conducted air strikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time, though the US military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was and did not immediately respond to questions from Associated Press.
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On December 15, Central Command acknowledged the Truman had entered the Middle East, but hadn’t specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea.
“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.
From the military’s description, the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
It wasn’t immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, particularly as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication. However, Central Command said that warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels.
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Beijing lodges ‘serious protest’ with US after latest arms pledge for Taiwan
By Amber Wang
Beijing said on Sunday it had lodged a protest with Washington against its latest military assistance and arms sale to Taiwan, and vowed to take all necessary measures.
The remarks in a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry came after the White House on Friday [US time] announced military support worth US$571.3 million to Taiwan, along with an additional US$295 million in arms sales approved by the State Department.
“The decision is a severe breach of the US leaders’ commitment of not supporting ‘Taiwan independence’, and sends a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” read the statement attributed to the ministry spokesperson.
“China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it and lodged serious protests at once with the US,” it said.
The statement also urged the United States to “immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop the dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”, while vowing to “firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited, by force if necessary. The US, like most countries, does not recognise the self-governed island as an independent state, but is opposed to any attempt to take it by force and is legally committed to arming it for defence.
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By Amber Wang
Beijing said on Sunday it had lodged a protest with Washington against its latest military assistance and arms sale to Taiwan, and vowed to take all necessary measures.
The remarks in a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry came after the White House on Friday [US time] announced military support worth US$571.3 million to Taiwan, along with an additional US$295 million in arms sales approved by the State Department.
“The decision is a severe breach of the US leaders’ commitment of not supporting ‘Taiwan independence’, and sends a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” read the statement attributed to the ministry spokesperson.
“China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it and lodged serious protests at once with the US,” it said.
The statement also urged the United States to “immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop the dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”, while vowing to “firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited, by force if necessary. The US, like most countries, does not recognise the self-governed island as an independent state, but is opposed to any attempt to take it by force and is legally committed to arming it for defence.
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Malaysia’s new wave chefs drive Kuala Lumpur’s culinary boom
By Joseph Sipalan
When Zack Sze left for Hong Kong four years ago, Kuala Lumpur’s fine dining scene was rather predictable, dominated by familiar culinary trends that offered little in terms of innovation.
Back then, molecular gastronomy and deconstructed dishes were limited to a highly exclusive clientele, with most diners still bound by Western traditional tastes of what constituted a fancy meal – typically meticulously prepared French dishes, elegantly plated and paired with expensive wines.
But when Sze moved back earlier this year, he found an entirely different landscape – a vibrant scene driven by the adventurous new tastes of young Malaysians and bursting with restaurants and pop-ups offering an astonishing variety of food by local chefs, all showcasing their own unique interpretations of Malaysian food and flavours.
“I was shocked. Four years ago, where was all this?” Sze said over a serving of hanwoo beef tartare flavoured with sambal hijau, a local chilli condiment typically served at Malay homes and restaurants.
Malaysia is now moving up the food chain, and competing with its neighbours – Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – for Michelin recognition and the wave of enthusiastic tourists that the acclaimed badge can bring.
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By Joseph Sipalan
When Zack Sze left for Hong Kong four years ago, Kuala Lumpur’s fine dining scene was rather predictable, dominated by familiar culinary trends that offered little in terms of innovation.
Back then, molecular gastronomy and deconstructed dishes were limited to a highly exclusive clientele, with most diners still bound by Western traditional tastes of what constituted a fancy meal – typically meticulously prepared French dishes, elegantly plated and paired with expensive wines.
But when Sze moved back earlier this year, he found an entirely different landscape – a vibrant scene driven by the adventurous new tastes of young Malaysians and bursting with restaurants and pop-ups offering an astonishing variety of food by local chefs, all showcasing their own unique interpretations of Malaysian food and flavours.
“I was shocked. Four years ago, where was all this?” Sze said over a serving of hanwoo beef tartare flavoured with sambal hijau, a local chilli condiment typically served at Malay homes and restaurants.
Malaysia is now moving up the food chain, and competing with its neighbours – Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – for Michelin recognition and the wave of enthusiastic tourists that the acclaimed badge can bring.
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Top NYPD officer abruptly resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations
By Associated Press
The highest-ranking uniformed officer in the New York Police Department has resigned amid allegations he demanded sex from a subordinate in exchange for opportunities to earn extra pay.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch accepted Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey’s resignation on Friday night, effective immediately, according to a department statement on Saturday.
Chief of Patrol John Chell will take over as interim chief of department, and Philip Rivera will assume Chell’s duties as the head of the patrol division, the NYPD said.
Late on Saturday, Tisch replaced the head of the internal affairs bureau, which investigates alleged police misconduct, saying in a statement that the unit “must always be dedicated to preserving integrity and rooting out corruption in all its forms.”
She appointed Edward Thompson as interim chief after Miguel Iglesias was relieved of his command.
The NYPD declined to comment on the allegations against Maddrey other than to say it “takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate this matter.”
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By Associated Press
The highest-ranking uniformed officer in the New York Police Department has resigned amid allegations he demanded sex from a subordinate in exchange for opportunities to earn extra pay.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch accepted Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey’s resignation on Friday night, effective immediately, according to a department statement on Saturday.
Chief of Patrol John Chell will take over as interim chief of department, and Philip Rivera will assume Chell’s duties as the head of the patrol division, the NYPD said.
Late on Saturday, Tisch replaced the head of the internal affairs bureau, which investigates alleged police misconduct, saying in a statement that the unit “must always be dedicated to preserving integrity and rooting out corruption in all its forms.”
She appointed Edward Thompson as interim chief after Miguel Iglesias was relieved of his command.
The NYPD declined to comment on the allegations against Maddrey other than to say it “takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate this matter.”
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Hong Kong travellers opt for short-haul holiday season deals in snowy locales
By Ng Kang-chung
Hong Kong travellers have begun leaving the city over the Christmas holiday season, opting for short-haul, value-for-money destinations in South Korea, Japan and northeast mainland China, particularly snowy locales.
Companies organising short-haul tours experienced a 30 per cent increase in bookings for Christmas and New Year – a return to pre-pandemic levels – while those specialising in long-haul luxury travel reported slow business over the same period as residents chose deals that were more affordable.
The Travel Industry Council, a federation of local travel trade associations, estimated about 1,800 tour groups would be departing the city during the holiday season, about the same number as last year.
Fanny Yeung, the council’s executive director, said: “The most popular destinations are Japan, South Korea, and northeastern China. People tend to look for a white Christmas.
“Tour prices in general are relatively lower than last year due to resumption of short-haul flight capacity, which increases the supply.”
The Immigration Department, meanwhile, estimated that over 13 million passengers, including locals and visitors, would pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the Christmas and New Year period, from December 21 to January 1.
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By Ng Kang-chung
Hong Kong travellers have begun leaving the city over the Christmas holiday season, opting for short-haul, value-for-money destinations in South Korea, Japan and northeast mainland China, particularly snowy locales.
Companies organising short-haul tours experienced a 30 per cent increase in bookings for Christmas and New Year – a return to pre-pandemic levels – while those specialising in long-haul luxury travel reported slow business over the same period as residents chose deals that were more affordable.
The Travel Industry Council, a federation of local travel trade associations, estimated about 1,800 tour groups would be departing the city during the holiday season, about the same number as last year.
Fanny Yeung, the council’s executive director, said: “The most popular destinations are Japan, South Korea, and northeastern China. People tend to look for a white Christmas.
“Tour prices in general are relatively lower than last year due to resumption of short-haul flight capacity, which increases the supply.”
The Immigration Department, meanwhile, estimated that over 13 million passengers, including locals and visitors, would pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the Christmas and New Year period, from December 21 to January 1.
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