Former Indian Prime Minister cremated in New Delhi, mourned worldwide
By Associated Press
Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform programme, was cremated after a state funeral on Saturday as politicians and the public mourned his death.
The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late on Thursday at age 92.
Singh’s body was taken to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi on Saturday morning, where party leaders and activists paid tribute to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.”
Abhishek Bishnoi, a party leader, said Singh’s death was big loss for the country. “He used to speak little, but his talent and his actions spoke louder than his words,” he said.
Later, Singh’s body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums.
Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Singh, whose casket was adorned with flowers and wrapped in the Indian flag. Security personnel honoured him with a ceremonial gun salute.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Singh one of the country’s “most distinguished leaders,” and several cabinet ministers took part in the funeral ceremony.
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By Associated Press
Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform programme, was cremated after a state funeral on Saturday as politicians and the public mourned his death.
The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late on Thursday at age 92.
Singh’s body was taken to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi on Saturday morning, where party leaders and activists paid tribute to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.”
Abhishek Bishnoi, a party leader, said Singh’s death was big loss for the country. “He used to speak little, but his talent and his actions spoke louder than his words,” he said.
Later, Singh’s body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums.
Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Singh, whose casket was adorned with flowers and wrapped in the Indian flag. Security personnel honoured him with a ceremonial gun salute.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Singh one of the country’s “most distinguished leaders,” and several cabinet ministers took part in the funeral ceremony.
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South Korean prosecutors: Yoon authorised ‘shooting’ during martial law bid
By Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk-yeol authorised the military to fire their weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed bid to impose martial law, according to a prosecutors’ report seen by journalists on Saturday.
The 10-page summary from former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun’s prosecution indictment report, which was provided to the media, also says Yoon vowed on December 3 to declare martial law three times if necessary.
Yoon, who was stripped of his duties by the National Assembly this month, is under investigation for his short-lived attempt to scrap civilian rule, which plunged the country into political turmoil and led to his impeachment.
Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun dismissed the prosecutors’ report, telling reporters it was “a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense”.
As lawmakers rushed to parliament on December 3 to vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration, heavily armed troops stormed the building, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter.
According to the prosecution indictment report, Yoon told the chief of the capital defence command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could shoot if necessary to enter the National Assembly.
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By Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk-yeol authorised the military to fire their weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed bid to impose martial law, according to a prosecutors’ report seen by journalists on Saturday.
The 10-page summary from former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun’s prosecution indictment report, which was provided to the media, also says Yoon vowed on December 3 to declare martial law three times if necessary.
Yoon, who was stripped of his duties by the National Assembly this month, is under investigation for his short-lived attempt to scrap civilian rule, which plunged the country into political turmoil and led to his impeachment.
Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun dismissed the prosecutors’ report, telling reporters it was “a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense”.
As lawmakers rushed to parliament on December 3 to vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration, heavily armed troops stormed the building, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter.
According to the prosecution indictment report, Yoon told the chief of the capital defence command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could shoot if necessary to enter the National Assembly.
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Why world should agree to hand nominal leadership to Trump’s America
By Anthony Rowley
This is the time for making New Year’s resolutions, but preferably only if these are well-intentioned. This cannot be said of US president-elect Donald Trump’s determination, expressed as he prepares to enter office in 2025, to ensure “peace through strength” because that implies the use of US force in a new iteration of Pax Americana.
A US-enforced global order is not where the world is at now. Primus inter pares, or first among equals, it may be, but only in the context of an order which respects the legitimacy of other ideologies to arrive at a viable form of modus vivendi, or living together.
Trump is unlikely to be the first to propose such a mutually respectful alliance among world leaders. It is incumbent upon leaders of the Group of 7 gathering of advanced nations – or preferably those of the Group of 20, which also includes emerging nations – to do so. Can one of them show sufficient statesmanship and true leadership to propose a joint alliance of world leaders? Someone has to take the lead, and we can count out the incoming occupant of the White House in this regard.
How can those leaders persuade people driven by the “Make America Great Again” mindset – someone possessed of the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority – to accept anything less than the idea of world domination? By appealing to their vanity and convincing them that they will accept their nominal leadership in the context of a form of constitutional monarchy.
Why should other G7 or G20 leaders accept the idea of existing under even the nominal leadership of the United States when their own countries and cultures date back much further than that of a former British colony?
Asians are more pragmatic by nature compared to Westerners and take a longer-term view of life. A Pax Americana cannot be expected to last any longer than, or maybe not as long, the Pax Britannica – a period of relative peace in Europe which lasted from 1815 to 1914. This was the time when the British Empire was the world’s dominant power and Britain adopted the role of a global police force.
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By Anthony Rowley
This is the time for making New Year’s resolutions, but preferably only if these are well-intentioned. This cannot be said of US president-elect Donald Trump’s determination, expressed as he prepares to enter office in 2025, to ensure “peace through strength” because that implies the use of US force in a new iteration of Pax Americana.
A US-enforced global order is not where the world is at now. Primus inter pares, or first among equals, it may be, but only in the context of an order which respects the legitimacy of other ideologies to arrive at a viable form of modus vivendi, or living together.
Trump is unlikely to be the first to propose such a mutually respectful alliance among world leaders. It is incumbent upon leaders of the Group of 7 gathering of advanced nations – or preferably those of the Group of 20, which also includes emerging nations – to do so. Can one of them show sufficient statesmanship and true leadership to propose a joint alliance of world leaders? Someone has to take the lead, and we can count out the incoming occupant of the White House in this regard.
How can those leaders persuade people driven by the “Make America Great Again” mindset – someone possessed of the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority – to accept anything less than the idea of world domination? By appealing to their vanity and convincing them that they will accept their nominal leadership in the context of a form of constitutional monarchy.
Why should other G7 or G20 leaders accept the idea of existing under even the nominal leadership of the United States when their own countries and cultures date back much further than that of a former British colony?
Asians are more pragmatic by nature compared to Westerners and take a longer-term view of life. A Pax Americana cannot be expected to last any longer than, or maybe not as long, the Pax Britannica – a period of relative peace in Europe which lasted from 1815 to 1914. This was the time when the British Empire was the world’s dominant power and Britain adopted the role of a global police force.
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Former Singapore tycoon Lim Oon Kuin declared bankrupt after oil empire crumbled
By Bloomberg
Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire.
The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte. and his children Lim Huey Ching and Lim Chee Meng were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on December 19, the government gazette showed. The younger Lims were both directors at the company.
Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin of BDO Advisory Pte. Ltd. are the trustees, according to the gazette.
At its peak, Hin Leong traded a range of oil products, made lubricants and operated loading terminals and storage facilities. But the downfall of the man widely known as OK Lim came in 2020, as Covid-19 sent oil prices into free fall.
Hin Leong was accused of hiding more than US$800 million in losses and leaving more than 20 banks with huge liabilities.
Singapore’s High Court in September approved the Lims’ agreements to pay US$3.59 billion to the liquidators of his collapsed firm and creditor HSBC Holdings Plc, ending the civil case against him. Lim, 82, was quoted as saying at the time that he did not have enough assets to pay all of them and would apply for bankruptcy.
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By Bloomberg
Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire.
The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte. and his children Lim Huey Ching and Lim Chee Meng were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on December 19, the government gazette showed. The younger Lims were both directors at the company.
Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin of BDO Advisory Pte. Ltd. are the trustees, according to the gazette.
At its peak, Hin Leong traded a range of oil products, made lubricants and operated loading terminals and storage facilities. But the downfall of the man widely known as OK Lim came in 2020, as Covid-19 sent oil prices into free fall.
Hin Leong was accused of hiding more than US$800 million in losses and leaving more than 20 banks with huge liabilities.
Singapore’s High Court in September approved the Lims’ agreements to pay US$3.59 billion to the liquidators of his collapsed firm and creditor HSBC Holdings Plc, ending the civil case against him. Lim, 82, was quoted as saying at the time that he did not have enough assets to pay all of them and would apply for bankruptcy.
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Hong Kong’s year in medical blunders, from unneeded surgery to detached tubes
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong public hospitals suffered a series of medical incidents this year, with the health minister pointing to a “systemic issue” and ordering the Hospital Authority to conduct a comprehensive review.
In response, the authority put forward 31 recommendations in November to strengthen accountability and governance, with most of them expected to be implemented by June 30 next year.
The Post lists out the medical incidents that have unfolded in 2024.
A 51-year-old tuberculosis patient, who was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital last December, was in critical condition after suffering from septic shock and respiratory failure.
He needed ventilator support and was transferred to the isolation ward on February 5.
But it was later found that the ventilator tube became detached from the patient, who was unresponsive with no pulse. The tube was immediately reconnected and resuscitation was successfully performed on the patient.
The Root Cause Analysis Panel believed that the patient’s body movement had caused the dislodgement. When the double doors of the ward were closed, staff could not detect the visual and audible alarms of the ventilator and the bedside monitor.
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By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong public hospitals suffered a series of medical incidents this year, with the health minister pointing to a “systemic issue” and ordering the Hospital Authority to conduct a comprehensive review.
In response, the authority put forward 31 recommendations in November to strengthen accountability and governance, with most of them expected to be implemented by June 30 next year.
The Post lists out the medical incidents that have unfolded in 2024.
A 51-year-old tuberculosis patient, who was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital last December, was in critical condition after suffering from septic shock and respiratory failure.
He needed ventilator support and was transferred to the isolation ward on February 5.
But it was later found that the ventilator tube became detached from the patient, who was unresponsive with no pulse. The tube was immediately reconnected and resuscitation was successfully performed on the patient.
The Root Cause Analysis Panel believed that the patient’s body movement had caused the dislodgement. When the double doors of the ward were closed, staff could not detect the visual and audible alarms of the ventilator and the bedside monitor.
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Number of Hongkongers leaving city over Christmas holiday rose by 50%
By Sammy HeungKahon Chan
The number of local residents leaving Hong Kong between December 25 and 26 increased by about 50 per cent from last year, while the city also recorded a slight uptick in incoming mainland Chinese tourists over the Christmas holiday.
Immigration Department data showed that 905,035 local residents had left Hong Kong on Christmas Day and Boxing Day of this year, a 50.7 per cent increase from the 599,083 who departed from the city over the same period in 2023.
While many residents departed the city over the holiday, the Post observed crowds at Christmas markets in Stanley and West Kowloon Cultural District, as well as shoppers flocking to commercial spaces such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.
“Some people were worried before the holiday whether Hong Kong would become a dead city as many Hongkongers would travel during the break,” Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association, told a TV programme that aired on Saturday.
“Now you can clearly see that such fears have absolutely not materialised in the past few days. There are many Hongkongers travelling, but those who stay here are actually willing to spend and want to have fun.”
Wong, who is also executive director of restaurant chain LH Group, said that while business in the catering sector had increased by up to a fifth this month compared with November, overall receipts remained about 5 to 10 per cent lower than last December.
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By Sammy HeungKahon Chan
The number of local residents leaving Hong Kong between December 25 and 26 increased by about 50 per cent from last year, while the city also recorded a slight uptick in incoming mainland Chinese tourists over the Christmas holiday.
Immigration Department data showed that 905,035 local residents had left Hong Kong on Christmas Day and Boxing Day of this year, a 50.7 per cent increase from the 599,083 who departed from the city over the same period in 2023.
While many residents departed the city over the holiday, the Post observed crowds at Christmas markets in Stanley and West Kowloon Cultural District, as well as shoppers flocking to commercial spaces such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.
“Some people were worried before the holiday whether Hong Kong would become a dead city as many Hongkongers would travel during the break,” Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association, told a TV programme that aired on Saturday.
“Now you can clearly see that such fears have absolutely not materialised in the past few days. There are many Hongkongers travelling, but those who stay here are actually willing to spend and want to have fun.”
Wong, who is also executive director of restaurant chain LH Group, said that while business in the catering sector had increased by up to a fifth this month compared with November, overall receipts remained about 5 to 10 per cent lower than last December.
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Yoon’s ‘crazy’ actions rattle South Korea’s currency and economy
By Agence France-Presse
After South Korea’s president and his replacement were both deposed over a failed bid to impose martial law, deepening political turmoil is threatening the country’s currency and shaking confidence in its economy.
The won, which plunged on Friday to its lowest level against the US dollar since 2009, has been in near-constant decline since President Yoon Suk-yeol’s attempt to scrap civilian rule in early December.
Business and consumer confidence in Asia’s fourth-largest economy have also taken their biggest hit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to figures released by the Bank of Korea.
Lawmakers impeached Yoon in mid-December on charges of insurrection, and on Friday they impeached his successor, acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo, arguing that he refused demands to complete Yoon’s removal from office and bring him to justice.
That thrust Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok into the additional roles of acting president and prime minister.
Choi has pledged to do all he can to end “this period of turmoil” and resolve the political crisis gripping the country.
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By Agence France-Presse
After South Korea’s president and his replacement were both deposed over a failed bid to impose martial law, deepening political turmoil is threatening the country’s currency and shaking confidence in its economy.
The won, which plunged on Friday to its lowest level against the US dollar since 2009, has been in near-constant decline since President Yoon Suk-yeol’s attempt to scrap civilian rule in early December.
Business and consumer confidence in Asia’s fourth-largest economy have also taken their biggest hit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to figures released by the Bank of Korea.
Lawmakers impeached Yoon in mid-December on charges of insurrection, and on Friday they impeached his successor, acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo, arguing that he refused demands to complete Yoon’s removal from office and bring him to justice.
That thrust Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok into the additional roles of acting president and prime minister.
Choi has pledged to do all he can to end “this period of turmoil” and resolve the political crisis gripping the country.
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Hongkongers can now book self-service kiosks for international driving permits
By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong’s Transport Department launched online bookings on Saturday for a new initiative allowing residents to apply for international driving permits at self-service kiosks, expecting about 10,000 users a year.
The two kiosks, which have a daily quota of 32 people each, will serve the public from January 13 onwards as part of a pilot operation and successful applicants will be able to obtain the permit on the same day.
“The purpose of this kiosk is to provide an additional means of submission of the international driving permit applications, to provide more convenience to the public,” said Chow Wai, a CEO with the department’s licensing section.
“We are always encouraging members of the public to use online applications. If they use our kiosk, one of the benefits is that they can get the permit within the same day or within an hour after submitting their applications.”
Applicants for international driving permits currently have several options to submit their application, including an in-person submission at the licensing office, using a drop-in box, through the post or doing so online.
While the in-person application also allows for the same-day collection of the document, other methods would see drivers receive their permit within 10 working days.
One kiosk each will be placed at the Transport Department’s licensing office in Admiralty and Cheung Sha Wan, and prior booking is required to use the service.
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By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong’s Transport Department launched online bookings on Saturday for a new initiative allowing residents to apply for international driving permits at self-service kiosks, expecting about 10,000 users a year.
The two kiosks, which have a daily quota of 32 people each, will serve the public from January 13 onwards as part of a pilot operation and successful applicants will be able to obtain the permit on the same day.
“The purpose of this kiosk is to provide an additional means of submission of the international driving permit applications, to provide more convenience to the public,” said Chow Wai, a CEO with the department’s licensing section.
“We are always encouraging members of the public to use online applications. If they use our kiosk, one of the benefits is that they can get the permit within the same day or within an hour after submitting their applications.”
Applicants for international driving permits currently have several options to submit their application, including an in-person submission at the licensing office, using a drop-in box, through the post or doing so online.
While the in-person application also allows for the same-day collection of the document, other methods would see drivers receive their permit within 10 working days.
One kiosk each will be placed at the Transport Department’s licensing office in Admiralty and Cheung Sha Wan, and prior booking is required to use the service.
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Hong Kong ‘highly concerned’ over pace of rail link works for I&T centre
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong authorities are “highly concerned” about ensuring that a railway link’s development keeps pace with the opening of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology (I&T) Park, a minister has said in response to concerns from lawmakers.
Lawmakers earlier expressed concerns that the Northern Link, which will connect the Tuen Ma line with the Lok Ma Chau Spur route branch on the East Rail line, would only be fully completed nine years after the park opened in 2025.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on Saturday that Kwu Tung station, a stop on the coming rail link and located near the proposed park in Lok Ma Chau Loop, would only be completed in 2027, adding there were other ways to commute there.
“I have noticed the relevant media reports on this topic. We are highly concerned about it. In fact, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau has been conducting intensive consultations with the relevant government departments,” he told a radio programme.
“Aside from the park’s own planning and development, the surrounding facilities, especially transport infrastructure, are very important.”
The park is expected to be completed in two phases, with the first stage involving the construction of three buildings set to be finished by the end of 2024. The site will start operating next year.
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By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong authorities are “highly concerned” about ensuring that a railway link’s development keeps pace with the opening of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology (I&T) Park, a minister has said in response to concerns from lawmakers.
Lawmakers earlier expressed concerns that the Northern Link, which will connect the Tuen Ma line with the Lok Ma Chau Spur route branch on the East Rail line, would only be fully completed nine years after the park opened in 2025.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on Saturday that Kwu Tung station, a stop on the coming rail link and located near the proposed park in Lok Ma Chau Loop, would only be completed in 2027, adding there were other ways to commute there.
“I have noticed the relevant media reports on this topic. We are highly concerned about it. In fact, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau has been conducting intensive consultations with the relevant government departments,” he told a radio programme.
“Aside from the park’s own planning and development, the surrounding facilities, especially transport infrastructure, are very important.”
The park is expected to be completed in two phases, with the first stage involving the construction of three buildings set to be finished by the end of 2024. The site will start operating next year.
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Chinese woman wrapped in large plastic bag after hospital discharge post-childbirth – but why?
By Alice Yan
A woman in China was seen wrapped in a large plastic bag after being discharged from the hospital following childbirth, a sight that quickly gained traction on mainland social media.
Her story has reignited a debate about traditional health practices for post-partum women.
On December 10, a woman, already dressed in a long and thick down jacket, was filmed by a passer-by as she covered her body from head to legs with a huge plastic bag while walking outside to shield herself from the wind, as reported by Tide News.
The hospital, located in Dalian in northeastern Liaoning province, was experiencing temperatures below 5 degrees earlier this month.
“I just gave birth to a baby and I am quite weak. I don’t want to be blown by the wind,” the woman was quoted as saying.
“My mother thought of this idea of using the plastic bag to keep out the wind. It is such a good choice because it is cheap while it works well in shielding the wind,” she added.
Preventing new mothers from being exposed to the wind is one of the traditional caring practices in China during the one-month-long post-partum period.
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By Alice Yan
A woman in China was seen wrapped in a large plastic bag after being discharged from the hospital following childbirth, a sight that quickly gained traction on mainland social media.
Her story has reignited a debate about traditional health practices for post-partum women.
On December 10, a woman, already dressed in a long and thick down jacket, was filmed by a passer-by as she covered her body from head to legs with a huge plastic bag while walking outside to shield herself from the wind, as reported by Tide News.
The hospital, located in Dalian in northeastern Liaoning province, was experiencing temperatures below 5 degrees earlier this month.
“I just gave birth to a baby and I am quite weak. I don’t want to be blown by the wind,” the woman was quoted as saying.
“My mother thought of this idea of using the plastic bag to keep out the wind. It is such a good choice because it is cheap while it works well in shielding the wind,” she added.
Preventing new mothers from being exposed to the wind is one of the traditional caring practices in China during the one-month-long post-partum period.
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From Taylor Swift to Messi: looking back at Hong Kong’s 2024 mega-event flops
By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong held more than 110 mega-events in the first half of 2024 as part of government efforts to bolster the local economy, with some activities struggling to get off the ground and a few even attracting controversy.
From football fiascos, drone show failures to multimillion-dollar balloons, the Post looks back on some of Hong Kong’s mega-event misses over the past year.
As global superstar Taylor Swift made her way around the world for her Eras Tour, Hong Kong could only look on as nearby Singapore welcomed tens of thousands of Swifties to the city state in March for six sold-out shows.
Some estimates suggested that the resulting surge in tourists coming to Singapore could increase its gross domestic product in the first quarter by 0.2 per cent.
Global news outlets at the time also reported that Swift’s concert promoter and the Singaporean government were believed to have signed an exclusive deal, quoting Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who said he was informed of a proposed arrangement worth up to US$3 million.
Over in Hong Kong, lawmakers grilled authorities on their efforts to attract top pop stars to the city, with then tourism minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung saying it was ultimately up to the market regarding which stars came to the city.
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By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong held more than 110 mega-events in the first half of 2024 as part of government efforts to bolster the local economy, with some activities struggling to get off the ground and a few even attracting controversy.
From football fiascos, drone show failures to multimillion-dollar balloons, the Post looks back on some of Hong Kong’s mega-event misses over the past year.
As global superstar Taylor Swift made her way around the world for her Eras Tour, Hong Kong could only look on as nearby Singapore welcomed tens of thousands of Swifties to the city state in March for six sold-out shows.
Some estimates suggested that the resulting surge in tourists coming to Singapore could increase its gross domestic product in the first quarter by 0.2 per cent.
Global news outlets at the time also reported that Swift’s concert promoter and the Singaporean government were believed to have signed an exclusive deal, quoting Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who said he was informed of a proposed arrangement worth up to US$3 million.
Over in Hong Kong, lawmakers grilled authorities on their efforts to attract top pop stars to the city, with then tourism minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung saying it was ultimately up to the market regarding which stars came to the city.
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It was East Asia: Chinese scientist challenges ‘out of Africa’ theory of human evolution
By Dannie Peng
The long-held theory of human evolution says that modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other parts of the world.
However, that “out of Africa” model is being challenged by a Chinese evolutionary biologist – who argues instead that East Asia was the most likely origin.
Huang Shi is a recently retired professor of epigenetics – the study of how behaviour and environment can cause changes and affect gene activity – and evolution at Central South University (CSU) in Changsha, Hunan province.
According to Huang’s new molecular evolution theory, East Asian populations, which have the least genetic diversity, are likely to have been the real ancestors of modern humans.
Huang has focused on his theory since 2009, when he returned to China after nearly three decades in the United States as a researcher and teacher.
“Multiple lines of tests, including ancient DNA analyses, lend robust support to the ‘out of East Asia’ model as the more accurate representation of modern human origins,” he said in an article published last month in the Chinese-language journal Prehistoric Archaeology.
For decades, the dominant hypothesis on human origin has been the “out of Africa” theory, which holds that modern humans first appeared in southern Africa around 50,000 years ago and then migrated to Eurasia, largely replacing indigenous populations.
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By Dannie Peng
The long-held theory of human evolution says that modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other parts of the world.
However, that “out of Africa” model is being challenged by a Chinese evolutionary biologist – who argues instead that East Asia was the most likely origin.
Huang Shi is a recently retired professor of epigenetics – the study of how behaviour and environment can cause changes and affect gene activity – and evolution at Central South University (CSU) in Changsha, Hunan province.
According to Huang’s new molecular evolution theory, East Asian populations, which have the least genetic diversity, are likely to have been the real ancestors of modern humans.
Huang has focused on his theory since 2009, when he returned to China after nearly three decades in the United States as a researcher and teacher.
“Multiple lines of tests, including ancient DNA analyses, lend robust support to the ‘out of East Asia’ model as the more accurate representation of modern human origins,” he said in an article published last month in the Chinese-language journal Prehistoric Archaeology.
For decades, the dominant hypothesis on human origin has been the “out of Africa” theory, which holds that modern humans first appeared in southern Africa around 50,000 years ago and then migrated to Eurasia, largely replacing indigenous populations.
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Hong Kong online-only retailers log another month of growth amid wider slump
By Jiang Chuqin
Sales from Hong Kong stores without a physical shopfront have grown for 16 straight months, measured year on year, reaching HK$1.35 billion (US$174 million) in October, despite an overall retail decline.
Sales from online-only stores increased from HK$777 million in September 2020 to HK$1.2 billion in September 2024, according to monthly data released by the Census and Statistics Department.
“This was probably due to the changing consumption patterns, as well as the continuous development of e-commerce businesses by adopting ready-to-use digital technology solutions,” the department said.
Candy Chan, who launched her online shop the Lara Jewellery Studio in 2019, has no plans to rent a physical location even after five years of operation.
“Our prices will not be competitive if we factor in rent and hiring sales staff, especially since it is now very easy to order from online platforms in mainland China,” she said.
She said the cost of renting a physical space in the city remained high and could force her to raise prices. She relies on social media advertisements and recommendations from existing clients to sell her products.
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By Jiang Chuqin
Sales from Hong Kong stores without a physical shopfront have grown for 16 straight months, measured year on year, reaching HK$1.35 billion (US$174 million) in October, despite an overall retail decline.
Sales from online-only stores increased from HK$777 million in September 2020 to HK$1.2 billion in September 2024, according to monthly data released by the Census and Statistics Department.
“This was probably due to the changing consumption patterns, as well as the continuous development of e-commerce businesses by adopting ready-to-use digital technology solutions,” the department said.
Candy Chan, who launched her online shop the Lara Jewellery Studio in 2019, has no plans to rent a physical location even after five years of operation.
“Our prices will not be competitive if we factor in rent and hiring sales staff, especially since it is now very easy to order from online platforms in mainland China,” she said.
She said the cost of renting a physical space in the city remained high and could force her to raise prices. She relies on social media advertisements and recommendations from existing clients to sell her products.
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Slovakia threatens Ukraine with power cuts if Russian gas flows stop as tensions deepen
By Bloomberg
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to cut off back up power supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv stops transporting Russian gas to central Europe.
“After January 1, we will assess the situation and potential reciprocal measures against Ukraine,” Fico said in a video posted on Facebook on Friday evening. “If necessary, we will stop supplying electricity that Ukraine urgently needs during network outages.”
Russian gas that flows through Ukraine to Europe will halt at the end of the year when the current deal expires if an alternative cannot be found. Slovakia is one of the biggest remaining buyers and has been cranking up the pressure on Ukraine to find a solution.
Fico threatened to retaliate if Volodymyr Zelensky does not give him what he wants and the comments on Friday are his strongest warning yet.
Russia stepped up missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March, destroying half of power generating capacities and causing blackouts across the country. Ukraine heavily relies on imports, including from Slovakia.
Slovakia still receives Russian oil that transits Ukraine through the Druzhba pipeline. Halting supplies could be a possible countermove for Kyiv if Slovakia stops electricity exports, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing politically sensitive matters.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Bloomberg
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to cut off back up power supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv stops transporting Russian gas to central Europe.
“After January 1, we will assess the situation and potential reciprocal measures against Ukraine,” Fico said in a video posted on Facebook on Friday evening. “If necessary, we will stop supplying electricity that Ukraine urgently needs during network outages.”
Russian gas that flows through Ukraine to Europe will halt at the end of the year when the current deal expires if an alternative cannot be found. Slovakia is one of the biggest remaining buyers and has been cranking up the pressure on Ukraine to find a solution.
Fico threatened to retaliate if Volodymyr Zelensky does not give him what he wants and the comments on Friday are his strongest warning yet.
Russia stepped up missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March, destroying half of power generating capacities and causing blackouts across the country. Ukraine heavily relies on imports, including from Slovakia.
Slovakia still receives Russian oil that transits Ukraine through the Druzhba pipeline. Halting supplies could be a possible countermove for Kyiv if Slovakia stops electricity exports, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing politically sensitive matters.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China makes room for younger faces on middle rungs of Communist Party promotions ladder
By William Zheng
A slew of cadres in their early 50s clinched significant administrative positions with full ministerial rank this year, as China’s ruling Communist Party moves younger faces into mid-tier leadership positions.
The latest to be promoted was Liu Jie, 54, who was made acting governor of Zhejiang in eastern China on December 18. Zhejiang is well-known as a power base of President Xi Jinping, who governed the province in the early 2000s.
Liu’s appointment makes him China’s youngest provincial governor. He is also the third “post-70s” cadre – a term used to describe officials born between 1970 and 1979 – to achieve full ministerial rank.
After graduating from University of Science and Technology Beijing with a degree in metallurgy, Liu started his career in 1992 as a technician with Xiangtan Iron and Steel Group in central Hunan province.
He spent nearly 15 years with the state-owned firm, rising to general manager before being appointed director of the Hunan Department of Commerce in 2008.
After a decade-long rotation to Jiangxi province in the southeast and Guizhou in the southwest, Liu’s career took a decisive leap in 2021 when he was picked to replace a scandal-hit party boss in Zhejiang.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By William Zheng
A slew of cadres in their early 50s clinched significant administrative positions with full ministerial rank this year, as China’s ruling Communist Party moves younger faces into mid-tier leadership positions.
The latest to be promoted was Liu Jie, 54, who was made acting governor of Zhejiang in eastern China on December 18. Zhejiang is well-known as a power base of President Xi Jinping, who governed the province in the early 2000s.
Liu’s appointment makes him China’s youngest provincial governor. He is also the third “post-70s” cadre – a term used to describe officials born between 1970 and 1979 – to achieve full ministerial rank.
After graduating from University of Science and Technology Beijing with a degree in metallurgy, Liu started his career in 1992 as a technician with Xiangtan Iron and Steel Group in central Hunan province.
He spent nearly 15 years with the state-owned firm, rising to general manager before being appointed director of the Hunan Department of Commerce in 2008.
After a decade-long rotation to Jiangxi province in the southeast and Guizhou in the southwest, Liu’s career took a decisive leap in 2021 when he was picked to replace a scandal-hit party boss in Zhejiang.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
