China’s efforts to bring back foreign visitors are bearing fruit, but will they be enough?
By Jane CaiSylvie ZhuangPhoebe ZhangVanessa Cai
China spent the past year opening its arms to foreign visitors in an effort to revive its sluggish economy and improve the country’s image internationally in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The easing of visa restrictions, and other measures, have helped drive an 86 per cent increase in visitor numbers in the first 11 months of the year compared with the same period in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration.
But the 29 million trips from overseas recorded to the end of November 2024 is still 40 per cent below the figure recorded in the same period in 2019, and foreign residents and visitors alike have said there are a number of barriers that are still putting off people from coming to China.
These range from practical problems such as language barriers or the “Great Firewall” to wider international political tensions.
Over the course of the year, China has been steadily increasing the number of countries whose citizens can enjoy visa-free access for up to 30 days. It has also been easing a number of other restrictions.
Most recently it said it would allow citizens of 54 countries – including the United States, Australia, Japan and much of Europe – 10 days of visa-free transit.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Jane CaiSylvie ZhuangPhoebe ZhangVanessa Cai
China spent the past year opening its arms to foreign visitors in an effort to revive its sluggish economy and improve the country’s image internationally in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The easing of visa restrictions, and other measures, have helped drive an 86 per cent increase in visitor numbers in the first 11 months of the year compared with the same period in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration.
But the 29 million trips from overseas recorded to the end of November 2024 is still 40 per cent below the figure recorded in the same period in 2019, and foreign residents and visitors alike have said there are a number of barriers that are still putting off people from coming to China.
These range from practical problems such as language barriers or the “Great Firewall” to wider international political tensions.
Over the course of the year, China has been steadily increasing the number of countries whose citizens can enjoy visa-free access for up to 30 days. It has also been easing a number of other restrictions.
Most recently it said it would allow citizens of 54 countries – including the United States, Australia, Japan and much of Europe – 10 days of visa-free transit.
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Singapore growth beats estimates, PM Wong pledges support amid global tensions
By Bloomberg
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the country’s economy performed better than expected in 2024, building a strong foundation for the city state to confront a more complex international environment next year.
Gross domestic product expanded 4 per cent, Wong said in his New Year’s message. That beat the trade ministry’s November forecast for an expansion of around 3.5 per cent. The strong economy will allow real incomes to rise further to outpace inflation, Wong added.
In his first New Year message since becoming Singapore’s fourth prime minister since independence, Wong pledged to help the city navigate rising global tensions and to keep tackling livelihood issues at home.
“We will provide more targeted help to those who find it harder to cope, especially older people and lower-income groups,” Wong said, according to a copy of the speech released by the government. “No one will be left behind, because we are all in this together.”
The 52-year-old Wong, who succeeded Lee Hsien Loong in May, said Singapore has overcome tough challenges in recent years, with median income rising by 2.2 per cent per annum above inflation over the past decade.
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By Bloomberg
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the country’s economy performed better than expected in 2024, building a strong foundation for the city state to confront a more complex international environment next year.
Gross domestic product expanded 4 per cent, Wong said in his New Year’s message. That beat the trade ministry’s November forecast for an expansion of around 3.5 per cent. The strong economy will allow real incomes to rise further to outpace inflation, Wong added.
In his first New Year message since becoming Singapore’s fourth prime minister since independence, Wong pledged to help the city navigate rising global tensions and to keep tackling livelihood issues at home.
“We will provide more targeted help to those who find it harder to cope, especially older people and lower-income groups,” Wong said, according to a copy of the speech released by the government. “No one will be left behind, because we are all in this together.”
The 52-year-old Wong, who succeeded Lee Hsien Loong in May, said Singapore has overcome tough challenges in recent years, with median income rising by 2.2 per cent per annum above inflation over the past decade.
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2 elderly residents at Hong Kong care home given Covid-19 jabs expired for 2 weeks
By Ng Kang-chung
Two elderly residents at a care home in Hong Kong were given Covid-19 shots that were nearly two weeks past their expiration date, health authorities reported on Tuesday.
The Department of Health instructed the care home and medical centre involved to step up checks, as well as vaccine management, while also temporarily banning the attending doctor involved from government vaccination schemes.
The incident came to light after a review by the department of the vaccine orders and vaccination records of the Luxe Garden residential care home in North district.
Preliminary investigations by the department found that healthcare workers from the medical organisation Health & Young visited the care home on December 18 and administered the Comirnaty XBB Covid-19 vaccine to the two residents.
“[The vaccines] were 12 days beyond the recommended use-by date,” a department spokesman said.
According to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendation, the vaccine should be stored at between 2 degrees Celsius and 8 degrees (35.6 Fahrenheit and 46.4 Fahrenheit) after thawing, and should be used within 70 days.
The spokesman said the department was “highly concerned” about the incident and had immediately conducted an inspection at the care home.
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By Ng Kang-chung
Two elderly residents at a care home in Hong Kong were given Covid-19 shots that were nearly two weeks past their expiration date, health authorities reported on Tuesday.
The Department of Health instructed the care home and medical centre involved to step up checks, as well as vaccine management, while also temporarily banning the attending doctor involved from government vaccination schemes.
The incident came to light after a review by the department of the vaccine orders and vaccination records of the Luxe Garden residential care home in North district.
Preliminary investigations by the department found that healthcare workers from the medical organisation Health & Young visited the care home on December 18 and administered the Comirnaty XBB Covid-19 vaccine to the two residents.
“[The vaccines] were 12 days beyond the recommended use-by date,” a department spokesman said.
According to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendation, the vaccine should be stored at between 2 degrees Celsius and 8 degrees (35.6 Fahrenheit and 46.4 Fahrenheit) after thawing, and should be used within 70 days.
The spokesman said the department was “highly concerned” about the incident and had immediately conducted an inspection at the care home.
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‘Making the impossible possible’: Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou lauds US-sanctioned firm’s 2024
By Xinmei Shen
Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on Tuesday extolled the US-sanctioned company’s resilience on multiple fronts – from artificial intelligence (AI) chip development to growing adoption of its own mobile operating system, HarmonyOS – in a morale-boosting New Year’s Eve message.
Over the past six years, Huawei “experienced countless moments of darkness, uncertainty and defeat”, but has also seen “one miracle after another, making the impossible possible”, Meng, daughter of Huawei founder and chief executive Ren Zhengfei, wrote in a message published by the Shenzhen-based firm.
Meng, 52, thanked Huawei’s customers, supply chain partners and employees for a groundbreaking year. In October, she assumed for the second time the position of rotating and acting chairwoman at Huawei for a six-month tenure that ends on March 31.
She pointed out that hybrid engineering teams achieved breakthroughs – in areas of heat dissipation, power supply, high-speed transmission and chip reliability – as Huawei operated a dozen laboratories, where it worked with partners to design semiconductors, including high-bandwidth memory chips, used for training AI models.
The past 12 months also represented a “crucial” year to foster adoption of HarmonyOS Next, which no longer supports Android-based apps.
Huawei completed in just a year what took other firms 10 years in terms of developing an operating system, according to Meng.
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By Xinmei Shen
Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on Tuesday extolled the US-sanctioned company’s resilience on multiple fronts – from artificial intelligence (AI) chip development to growing adoption of its own mobile operating system, HarmonyOS – in a morale-boosting New Year’s Eve message.
Over the past six years, Huawei “experienced countless moments of darkness, uncertainty and defeat”, but has also seen “one miracle after another, making the impossible possible”, Meng, daughter of Huawei founder and chief executive Ren Zhengfei, wrote in a message published by the Shenzhen-based firm.
Meng, 52, thanked Huawei’s customers, supply chain partners and employees for a groundbreaking year. In October, she assumed for the second time the position of rotating and acting chairwoman at Huawei for a six-month tenure that ends on March 31.
She pointed out that hybrid engineering teams achieved breakthroughs – in areas of heat dissipation, power supply, high-speed transmission and chip reliability – as Huawei operated a dozen laboratories, where it worked with partners to design semiconductors, including high-bandwidth memory chips, used for training AI models.
The past 12 months also represented a “crucial” year to foster adoption of HarmonyOS Next, which no longer supports Android-based apps.
Huawei completed in just a year what took other firms 10 years in terms of developing an operating system, according to Meng.
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South Korean crypto boss Do Kwon extradited to US from Montenegro
By Agencies
Montenegro said on Tuesday it completed the extradition of crypto mogul Do Kwon to the United States, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said.
“This extradition demonstrates our unwavering commitment to international justice and the rule of law,” he said in a social media post.
Kwon was “handed over to the competent law enforcement authorities of the United States of America and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)”, Montenegro’s interior ministry said in a statement.
He was extradited upon the decision of Montenegro justice ministry to face “criminal proceedings in the US for crimes of conspiracy to commit fraud”, the statement added.
Kwon faces charges of having deceived investors about the stability of the TerraUSD cryptocurrency and how an app used the Terraform blockchain.
Kwon is also wanted by Seoul over his firm’s multibillion-dollar bankruptcy, the country’s interior ministry said.
For months, Seoul and Washington have been seeking the South Korean’s extradition for his suspected role in a fraud linked to his company’s failure, which wiped out about US$40 billion of investors’ money and shook global crypto markets.
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By Agencies
Montenegro said on Tuesday it completed the extradition of crypto mogul Do Kwon to the United States, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said.
“This extradition demonstrates our unwavering commitment to international justice and the rule of law,” he said in a social media post.
Kwon was “handed over to the competent law enforcement authorities of the United States of America and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)”, Montenegro’s interior ministry said in a statement.
He was extradited upon the decision of Montenegro justice ministry to face “criminal proceedings in the US for crimes of conspiracy to commit fraud”, the statement added.
Kwon faces charges of having deceived investors about the stability of the TerraUSD cryptocurrency and how an app used the Terraform blockchain.
Kwon is also wanted by Seoul over his firm’s multibillion-dollar bankruptcy, the country’s interior ministry said.
For months, Seoul and Washington have been seeking the South Korean’s extradition for his suspected role in a fraud linked to his company’s failure, which wiped out about US$40 billion of investors’ money and shook global crypto markets.
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Why Trump’s tariff war with China is more dangerous than he thinks
By Terry Su
US president-elect Donald Trump called tariffs “the most beautiful word in the dictionary” during his campaign for re-election. Judging by his now well-known character and first-term record, he is certain to walk his talk after his inauguration on January 20 and impose tariffs across the board on all goods imported into the United States.
Amid all the discussion of a potential new “tariff war”, though, we need to make clear the tension inherent in the term as it is crucial to understanding the complexity of the current international landscape.
The use of the word “tariff” suggests the prospect of difficult trade disputes between the US and its allies, and perhaps the rest of the world too. However, a tariff “war” could turn into something far more precarious – even a hot war – with China, which is much more able to stand up to any US pressure thanks to its manufacturing prowess.
Adam Tooze, a historian and professor at Columbia University, said during an Asia Society speech last month that China’s current industrialisation “is not the industrial revolution done again. Everything prior to this was a prelude to the Chinese industrial revolution of our lifetimes”.
Trump has been described as a master deal maker, but he is ignorant of the subtleties involved in a “tariff war”. China will leave no stone unturned to prepare for such a war, while Washington’s allies will seek to play down the tariffs theme and play up the US-China war game to create more strategic wiggle room for themselves.
To America’s allies, “tariff war” is an exaggeration if not an outright misnomer. The US can in fact confidently exert pressure on them to solve its trade issues. Canada is the latest case in point. Before he has even entered the White House, Trump’s call for tariffs on imports from Canada has heaped pressure on the US’ northern neighbour. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government while Trudeau has faced calls to step down.
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By Terry Su
US president-elect Donald Trump called tariffs “the most beautiful word in the dictionary” during his campaign for re-election. Judging by his now well-known character and first-term record, he is certain to walk his talk after his inauguration on January 20 and impose tariffs across the board on all goods imported into the United States.
Amid all the discussion of a potential new “tariff war”, though, we need to make clear the tension inherent in the term as it is crucial to understanding the complexity of the current international landscape.
The use of the word “tariff” suggests the prospect of difficult trade disputes between the US and its allies, and perhaps the rest of the world too. However, a tariff “war” could turn into something far more precarious – even a hot war – with China, which is much more able to stand up to any US pressure thanks to its manufacturing prowess.
Adam Tooze, a historian and professor at Columbia University, said during an Asia Society speech last month that China’s current industrialisation “is not the industrial revolution done again. Everything prior to this was a prelude to the Chinese industrial revolution of our lifetimes”.
Trump has been described as a master deal maker, but he is ignorant of the subtleties involved in a “tariff war”. China will leave no stone unturned to prepare for such a war, while Washington’s allies will seek to play down the tariffs theme and play up the US-China war game to create more strategic wiggle room for themselves.
To America’s allies, “tariff war” is an exaggeration if not an outright misnomer. The US can in fact confidently exert pressure on them to solve its trade issues. Canada is the latest case in point. Before he has even entered the White House, Trump’s call for tariffs on imports from Canada has heaped pressure on the US’ northern neighbour. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government while Trudeau has faced calls to step down.
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Indonesia’s Prabowo wants protection from foreign interest in palm oil sector
By SCMP’s Asia desk
President Prabowo Subianto has called for tighter security to protect Indonesia’s palm oil plantations, saying the commodity is being targeted by foreign countries.
“They really need our palm oil, as it turns out, palm oil is a strategic material,” said Prabowo, who was speaking on Monday at a meeting for national development planning in Jakarta.
“Many countries are afraid of not getting palm oil,” he added, according to a report by the Tempo news website.
Prabowo asked the Indonesian military and police to help regional authorities in protecting palm oil plantations.
The president’s call comes as Indonesia and other commodity exporters are preparing to meet the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is set to take effect on December 30, 2025, after the bloc’s authorities recently agreed to a one-year delay in its implementation.
The EUDR requires that commodities such as palm oil, timber, soybeans, coffee and cattle sold in EU markets must not come from land deforested or degraded after December 31, 2020.
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By SCMP’s Asia desk
President Prabowo Subianto has called for tighter security to protect Indonesia’s palm oil plantations, saying the commodity is being targeted by foreign countries.
“They really need our palm oil, as it turns out, palm oil is a strategic material,” said Prabowo, who was speaking on Monday at a meeting for national development planning in Jakarta.
“Many countries are afraid of not getting palm oil,” he added, according to a report by the Tempo news website.
Prabowo asked the Indonesian military and police to help regional authorities in protecting palm oil plantations.
The president’s call comes as Indonesia and other commodity exporters are preparing to meet the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is set to take effect on December 30, 2025, after the bloc’s authorities recently agreed to a one-year delay in its implementation.
The EUDR requires that commodities such as palm oil, timber, soybeans, coffee and cattle sold in EU markets must not come from land deforested or degraded after December 31, 2020.
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Crowds gather in top spots ahead of Hong Kong’s New Year’s Eve fireworks
By Winnie WongJohnny WanEmily Hung
Thousands of residents and tourists have gathered at top Hong Kong harbourfront viewing spots hours ahead of the highly anticipated countdown fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
At the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the best locations for watching the display, excited visitors began gathering in the early afternoon on Tuesday, many equipped with cameras, tripods and picnic mats.
Among them was Slovenian tourist Wendy Lomparte, who is holidaying in Hong Kong for four days with her family. The 49-year-old lawyer said she was surprised by the large crowd and decided to stay put to secure a good spot.
“What a pity because we could have taken the time to see other attractions, [but] I think it’s worth it,” she said.
Asked what her New Year’s wishes were, Lomparte said: “Health and happiness for the family. That’s the basic thing I guess. ”
The countdown celebration, titled “The Symphony of Happiness”, will start at 11pm. It will feature four sets of opening fireworks, music and dance performances. A 12-minute fireworks display will start at midnight.
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By Winnie WongJohnny WanEmily Hung
Thousands of residents and tourists have gathered at top Hong Kong harbourfront viewing spots hours ahead of the highly anticipated countdown fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
At the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the best locations for watching the display, excited visitors began gathering in the early afternoon on Tuesday, many equipped with cameras, tripods and picnic mats.
Among them was Slovenian tourist Wendy Lomparte, who is holidaying in Hong Kong for four days with her family. The 49-year-old lawyer said she was surprised by the large crowd and decided to stay put to secure a good spot.
“What a pity because we could have taken the time to see other attractions, [but] I think it’s worth it,” she said.
Asked what her New Year’s wishes were, Lomparte said: “Health and happiness for the family. That’s the basic thing I guess. ”
The countdown celebration, titled “The Symphony of Happiness”, will start at 11pm. It will feature four sets of opening fireworks, music and dance performances. A 12-minute fireworks display will start at midnight.
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China recalls cars from Tesla, Trumpchi as safety issues emerge
By Mia Nulimaimaiti
China has issued a recall for 77,650 domestically produced Tesla electric vehicles as well as more than 88,000 vehicles from four other carmakers due to safety hazards, including GAC Trumpchi, Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler.
The State Administration for Market Regulation announced on Tuesday that the Tesla recall involves Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, as a software issue may delay the display of faults detected by the tyre pressure monitoring system.
Additionally, the market regulator recalled 63 imported Model S and Model X vehicles from the US carmaker due to a potential airbag defect.
The recall came after 1.68 million Tesla vehicles were taken off the streets in August, when Beijing asked the company to resolve an issue with the lids of front trunks on certain models.
Another carmaker facing a significant recall is China’s GAC Trumpchi, based in Guangzhou, which will need to repair 74,422 vehicles for a software issue that could prevent the display of critical information in extreme situations.
German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has also been asked to repair 4,748 imported vehicles due to potential flaws in engine testing functions or insufficiently secured parts caused by loose bolts. The German truck manufacturer MAN SE was also required by regulators to repair 418 trucks due to insufficient high-temperature resistance in the sockets.
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By Mia Nulimaimaiti
China has issued a recall for 77,650 domestically produced Tesla electric vehicles as well as more than 88,000 vehicles from four other carmakers due to safety hazards, including GAC Trumpchi, Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler.
The State Administration for Market Regulation announced on Tuesday that the Tesla recall involves Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, as a software issue may delay the display of faults detected by the tyre pressure monitoring system.
Additionally, the market regulator recalled 63 imported Model S and Model X vehicles from the US carmaker due to a potential airbag defect.
The recall came after 1.68 million Tesla vehicles were taken off the streets in August, when Beijing asked the company to resolve an issue with the lids of front trunks on certain models.
Another carmaker facing a significant recall is China’s GAC Trumpchi, based in Guangzhou, which will need to repair 74,422 vehicles for a software issue that could prevent the display of critical information in extreme situations.
German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has also been asked to repair 4,748 imported vehicles due to potential flaws in engine testing functions or insufficiently secured parts caused by loose bolts. The German truck manufacturer MAN SE was also required by regulators to repair 418 trucks due to insufficient high-temperature resistance in the sockets.
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China plans for 15% annual data industry growth as digitisation deepens
By Sylvia Ma
China’s top economic planner has unveiled its blueprint for the country’s data industry, with ambitions for over 15 per cent annual growth in the sector by 2029 as digitalisation continues across the world’s second-largest economy.
Advancing the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and achieving breakthroughs in data technology were major points in a set of guidelines issued jointly on Monday by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and five other departments.
“The data sector is at the heart of industrial transformation,” said Chen Ronghui, deputy head of the commission’s National Data Administration, at a press briefing covering the guidelines on Tuesday.
Chen called attention to the integration of data with emerging industries such as autonomous driving, embodied AI and the “low-altitude economy” to “speed up strategic planning and seize opportunities for growth.”
The guidelines encouraged industry players and internet platforms to establish independent entities for data operations, aiming to strengthen and scale up the data sector through intensive, large-scale development.
At the same time, the document called for greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), urging larger entities to provide SMEs with access to data, algorithms and computing power.
Lower-level government bodies were also encouraged to fund early-stage and small enterprises, as well as establish specialised funds to cultivate professional investors within the data sector.
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By Sylvia Ma
China’s top economic planner has unveiled its blueprint for the country’s data industry, with ambitions for over 15 per cent annual growth in the sector by 2029 as digitalisation continues across the world’s second-largest economy.
Advancing the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and achieving breakthroughs in data technology were major points in a set of guidelines issued jointly on Monday by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and five other departments.
“The data sector is at the heart of industrial transformation,” said Chen Ronghui, deputy head of the commission’s National Data Administration, at a press briefing covering the guidelines on Tuesday.
Chen called attention to the integration of data with emerging industries such as autonomous driving, embodied AI and the “low-altitude economy” to “speed up strategic planning and seize opportunities for growth.”
The guidelines encouraged industry players and internet platforms to establish independent entities for data operations, aiming to strengthen and scale up the data sector through intensive, large-scale development.
At the same time, the document called for greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), urging larger entities to provide SMEs with access to data, algorithms and computing power.
Lower-level government bodies were also encouraged to fund early-stage and small enterprises, as well as establish specialised funds to cultivate professional investors within the data sector.
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New Zealand lights up for New Year’s as Pacific region is first to welcome 2025
By dpa
The Pacific was the first region in the world to welcome in the new year, with fireworks shows and outdoor gatherings.
As the first major international centre to welcome in the New Year, the landmarks of New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland lit up at midnight.
Seven songs made up a “midnight moment” soundtrack, synchronised with the lights, lasers and fireworks.
The five-minute and 30-second-long Sky Tower fireworks and laser display started with a 10-second countdown projected onto the base of the tower.
Following this, 500 kilograms of pyrotechnics were launched from the tower, the highest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Planning began six months ago, with 14 kilometres of electrical cabling and wiring and 1500 lines of programming code needed.
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By dpa
The Pacific was the first region in the world to welcome in the new year, with fireworks shows and outdoor gatherings.
As the first major international centre to welcome in the New Year, the landmarks of New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland lit up at midnight.
Seven songs made up a “midnight moment” soundtrack, synchronised with the lights, lasers and fireworks.
The five-minute and 30-second-long Sky Tower fireworks and laser display started with a 10-second countdown projected onto the base of the tower.
Following this, 500 kilograms of pyrotechnics were launched from the tower, the highest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Planning began six months ago, with 14 kilometres of electrical cabling and wiring and 1500 lines of programming code needed.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Kung fu nuns showcase martial arts at Nepal monastery reopening after Covid-19 closure
By Reuters
About a dozen nuns performed hand chops and high kicks, some of them wielding swords, as they showed off their martial art skills to hundreds of cheering well-wishers at the long-awaited reopening of their nunnery in Nepal.
The nuns of the hilltop Druk Amitabha Monastery, put on the show of strength to mark the institution’s reopening five years after the Covid-19 pandemic forced it to close its doors to the public.
The group of kung fu nuns, aged from 17 to 30, are members of the 1,000 year-old Drukpa lineage, which gives nuns equal status as monks and is the only female order in the patriarchal Buddhist monastic system.
Usually, nuns are expected to cook and clean and are not allowed to practise any form of martial art. But His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, a monk who ranks only slightly below the Dalai Lama in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, decided to train women in kung fu to improve their health and spiritual well-being.
He opened the nunnery in 2009, and it now has 300 members aged between six and 54.
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By Reuters
About a dozen nuns performed hand chops and high kicks, some of them wielding swords, as they showed off their martial art skills to hundreds of cheering well-wishers at the long-awaited reopening of their nunnery in Nepal.
The nuns of the hilltop Druk Amitabha Monastery, put on the show of strength to mark the institution’s reopening five years after the Covid-19 pandemic forced it to close its doors to the public.
The group of kung fu nuns, aged from 17 to 30, are members of the 1,000 year-old Drukpa lineage, which gives nuns equal status as monks and is the only female order in the patriarchal Buddhist monastic system.
Usually, nuns are expected to cook and clean and are not allowed to practise any form of martial art. But His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, a monk who ranks only slightly below the Dalai Lama in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, decided to train women in kung fu to improve their health and spiritual well-being.
He opened the nunnery in 2009, and it now has 300 members aged between six and 54.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Gaza healthcare nearing ‘total collapse’ due to Israeli strikes: UN
By Agence France-Presse
A United Nations report published on Tuesday found that Israeli strikes on and near hospitals in the Gaza Strip had left healthcare in the Palestinian territory on the verge of collapse.
The report by the UN human rights office said such strikes raised grave concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law.
“Israel’s pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effect on Palestinians’ access to health and medical care,” the UN human rights office said in a statement.
Its 23-page report, entitled “Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza”, looked at the period from October 7, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
It said that during this time, there were at least 136 strikes on 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities, claiming significant casualties among doctors, nurses, doctors and other civilians and causing significant damage to, if not the complete destruction of, civilian infrastructure.
The report noted that medical personnel and hospitals are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not commit, or are not used to commit, acts harmful to the enemy outside their humanitarian function.
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By Agence France-Presse
A United Nations report published on Tuesday found that Israeli strikes on and near hospitals in the Gaza Strip had left healthcare in the Palestinian territory on the verge of collapse.
The report by the UN human rights office said such strikes raised grave concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law.
“Israel’s pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effect on Palestinians’ access to health and medical care,” the UN human rights office said in a statement.
Its 23-page report, entitled “Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza”, looked at the period from October 7, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
It said that during this time, there were at least 136 strikes on 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities, claiming significant casualties among doctors, nurses, doctors and other civilians and causing significant damage to, if not the complete destruction of, civilian infrastructure.
The report noted that medical personnel and hospitals are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not commit, or are not used to commit, acts harmful to the enemy outside their humanitarian function.
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Hong Kong floats land premium offer to boost interest in 2 large sites
By Edith LinVivian Au
Developers could pay lower land premiums for two of three large sites in Hong Kong under a pilot scheme in the Northern Metropolis if they surrendered industrial sites in urban areas or even relocated facilities to the parcels, the government suggested on Tuesday.
The Development Bureau floated the incentive as it invited industry players to submit expressions of interest by the end of March before rolling out tenders later in 2025 and 2026 for three parcels of land each sized between 10 and 20 hectares in the northern New Territories.
Under the pilot scheme, developers can pay a lower land premium for conducting site formation work and building public facilities for the government, while keeping private residential plots for profit.
The incentive aims to promote modern industrial development at two sites in Hung Shui Kiu and Fanling North.
The Hung Shui Kiu site has 45 per cent of its 12.5 hectares reserved for “enterprise and technology park” purposes including commercial and convention uses, while one-third of the 15.9 hectares of the Fanling North one is earmarked for logistics facilities.
Noting that many industrial facilities were located in urban areas, the bureau asked if developers would be more interested in joining the bid if they could pay less land premium for surrendering such sites in urban areas to the government, or even relocating their operation to the two parcels.
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By Edith LinVivian Au
Developers could pay lower land premiums for two of three large sites in Hong Kong under a pilot scheme in the Northern Metropolis if they surrendered industrial sites in urban areas or even relocated facilities to the parcels, the government suggested on Tuesday.
The Development Bureau floated the incentive as it invited industry players to submit expressions of interest by the end of March before rolling out tenders later in 2025 and 2026 for three parcels of land each sized between 10 and 20 hectares in the northern New Territories.
Under the pilot scheme, developers can pay a lower land premium for conducting site formation work and building public facilities for the government, while keeping private residential plots for profit.
The incentive aims to promote modern industrial development at two sites in Hung Shui Kiu and Fanling North.
The Hung Shui Kiu site has 45 per cent of its 12.5 hectares reserved for “enterprise and technology park” purposes including commercial and convention uses, while one-third of the 15.9 hectares of the Fanling North one is earmarked for logistics facilities.
Noting that many industrial facilities were located in urban areas, the bureau asked if developers would be more interested in joining the bid if they could pay less land premium for surrendering such sites in urban areas to the government, or even relocating their operation to the two parcels.
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South Korea’s Jeju Air crash: calls for removal of runway wall, as scrutiny intensifies
By Park Chan-kyong
Scrutiny over a runway wall that Jeju Air flight 7C2216 slammed into intensified on Tuesday, with experts calling for the removal of the structure at Muan Airport and other terminals across South Korea.
The doomed flight carrying 181 people on board had attempted a wheelless or so-called belly landing amid undercarriage issues suspected to be caused by a bird strike, skidding and crashing into the mount some 250 metres beyond the runway.
There were only two survivors from Sunday’s tragedy – both cabin crew members found at the tail section of the ravaged plane.
More details of communication from the pilots surfaced on Tuesday, with the transport ministry saying the plane had sent a distress signal to the control tower at 8.59am, two minutes after it was warned of a flock of birds nearby.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday. Bird strike, bird strike. [We’re] going around,” the pilot was quoted as saying to the control tower.
Four minutes later, the plane touched down without deploying its landing gear, skidded along the runway at high speed and slammed into the barrier in question, triggering an explosion.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Park Chan-kyong
Scrutiny over a runway wall that Jeju Air flight 7C2216 slammed into intensified on Tuesday, with experts calling for the removal of the structure at Muan Airport and other terminals across South Korea.
The doomed flight carrying 181 people on board had attempted a wheelless or so-called belly landing amid undercarriage issues suspected to be caused by a bird strike, skidding and crashing into the mount some 250 metres beyond the runway.
There were only two survivors from Sunday’s tragedy – both cabin crew members found at the tail section of the ravaged plane.
More details of communication from the pilots surfaced on Tuesday, with the transport ministry saying the plane had sent a distress signal to the control tower at 8.59am, two minutes after it was warned of a flock of birds nearby.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday. Bird strike, bird strike. [We’re] going around,” the pilot was quoted as saying to the control tower.
Four minutes later, the plane touched down without deploying its landing gear, skidded along the runway at high speed and slammed into the barrier in question, triggering an explosion.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Fraser Stoddart, Nobel laureate and professor at University of Hong Kong, dies
By William Yiu
Fraser Stoddart, a Nobel laureate in chemistry and chair professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) hailed for changing the way chemists think about materials science and molecular nanotechnology, has died. He was 82.
HKU said on Tuesday it was deeply saddened by the death of Stoddart, who received his Nobel Prize in 2016 and joined the department of chemistry last year.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
“The university was privileged to have Professor Stoddart as a chair professor in the department of chemistry, where he established a cutting-edge laboratory to advance research in a wide range of areas, including molecular machines and carbohydrate chemistry,” the university said.
“Together with the team of outstanding scholars and students he assembled, Professor Stoddart contributed to the enhancement of HKU’s profile and prestige as a leading institution in teaching and research globally.”
Stoddart joined HKU in September last year amid an escalating row between university president Xiang Zhang and Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, chairwoman of the school’s governing council.
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By William Yiu
Fraser Stoddart, a Nobel laureate in chemistry and chair professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) hailed for changing the way chemists think about materials science and molecular nanotechnology, has died. He was 82.
HKU said on Tuesday it was deeply saddened by the death of Stoddart, who received his Nobel Prize in 2016 and joined the department of chemistry last year.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
“The university was privileged to have Professor Stoddart as a chair professor in the department of chemistry, where he established a cutting-edge laboratory to advance research in a wide range of areas, including molecular machines and carbohydrate chemistry,” the university said.
“Together with the team of outstanding scholars and students he assembled, Professor Stoddart contributed to the enhancement of HKU’s profile and prestige as a leading institution in teaching and research globally.”
Stoddart joined HKU in September last year amid an escalating row between university president Xiang Zhang and Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, chairwoman of the school’s governing council.
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China banks on festive handouts and tighter security to ward off social instability
By William Zheng
Local governments across China are tightening security and giving handouts to underprivileged groups to try to ensure social stability over the holiday and legislative season.
In addition to the annual weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, meetings of provincial legislature and political consultative bodies will take place in January and February to select deputies for the national sessions – a particularly sensitive time on the country’s political calendar.
At a municipal work planning meeting in Beijing on Sunday, Communist Party boss Yin Li told cadres to “thoroughly investigate and resolve disputes, and make every effort to maintain social stability”, according to Beijing Daily.
Yin also told officials to take care of people in need “with heart and affection” during the festive season, respond to residents’ complaints immediately and resolve urgent problems faced by the public.
He also warned about industrial safety risks and threats from natural disasters, urging the city to prepare for extreme weather events such as blizzards and cold snaps.
The city should have cadres on duty round the clock to respond rapidly to emergencies, he said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By William Zheng
Local governments across China are tightening security and giving handouts to underprivileged groups to try to ensure social stability over the holiday and legislative season.
In addition to the annual weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, meetings of provincial legislature and political consultative bodies will take place in January and February to select deputies for the national sessions – a particularly sensitive time on the country’s political calendar.
At a municipal work planning meeting in Beijing on Sunday, Communist Party boss Yin Li told cadres to “thoroughly investigate and resolve disputes, and make every effort to maintain social stability”, according to Beijing Daily.
Yin also told officials to take care of people in need “with heart and affection” during the festive season, respond to residents’ complaints immediately and resolve urgent problems faced by the public.
He also warned about industrial safety risks and threats from natural disasters, urging the city to prepare for extreme weather events such as blizzards and cold snaps.
The city should have cadres on duty round the clock to respond rapidly to emergencies, he said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
