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‘I just need an answer’: widow haunted by husband’s shooting seeks inquest
Business

‘I just need an answer’: widow haunted by husband’s shooting seeks inquest

Two years after her mentally ill husband was fatally shot by a Hong Kong police officer, Mrs Li says she cannot forgive herself for calling for help Two years after her armed, mentally ill husband was fatally shot by a Hong Kong police officer, Mrs Li is still waiting to learn whether a death inquest will be held. On September 15, 2024, she called police when her 38-year-old husband, who had a history of mental illness, attacked his elderly mother and her at their North Point home. Officers wielding shields arrived and found the man holding a 30cm (11.8-inch) knife and a pair of scissors. Little did Mrs Li, who preferred to be identified by her spouse’s surname, expect that the day would end in tragedy.

China’s economy stays stable, powered by tech manufacturing and trade
Business

China’s economy stays stable, powered by tech manufacturing and trade

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. Industrial humanoid robots operate in a super intelligent factory in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, September 12, 2026. /VCG China's economy remained broadly stable in August, with growth increasingly supported by high-tech manufacturing, services and foreign trade, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday. Industrial production gained momentum during the month. Value-added industrial output rose 5.2% year on year, accelerating by 0.7 percentage points from July. Equipment manufacturing expanded 12.1%, while high-tech manufacturing grew 16.7%. New growth drivers continued to stand out. Output of lithium-ion batteries surged 57.2% year on year, while industrial robot and 3D-printing equipment production increased 34.6% and 29.9%, respectively. The services sector also maintained steady growth. The national services production index rose 4.1% year on year in August. Information transmission, software and IT services grew 9.6%, while leasing and business services increased 9.0%.

Singapore jails armed Malaysian gang for US$3.9 million ‘lightning heist’ at bungalow
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Singapore jails armed Malaysian gang for US$3.9 million ‘lightning heist’ at bungalow

The prosecution said the theft at the home, where a woman held high-stakes poker games, was one of the highest-value robberies in Singapore Prosecutors said seven men entered the King Albert Park good class bungalow in the early hours of April 18, 2024, in a “lightning heist”, some of them armed with machetes and baseball bats. They tied up the people inside and stole about S$4.9 million (US$3.9 million) in cash, valuables and cryptocurrency. Most of the men in the group were subsequently arrested and taken back to Singapore to face prosecution. One man, 33-year-old Malaysian Muhammad Yusuf Kassim, remains at large and is believed to have left Malaysia for Thailand, court documents stated.

Philippine VP’s impeachment trial heats up as unexplained wealth takes centre stage
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Philippine VP’s impeachment trial heats up as unexplained wealth takes centre stage

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial entered a politically explosive new phase on Monday as prosecutors turned to allegations of unexplained wealth in proceedings that could end her term and bar her from a possible presidential run in 2028. The Senate hearing opened its 24th day with congressmen serving as House prosecutors beginning to tackle the third of four impeachment charges against Duterte-Carpio, whose legal troubles have intensified alongside her...

Why Hong Kong’s economic future still hinges on national security
Business

Why Hong Kong’s economic future still hinges on national security

Whether under British rule or modern superpower competition, Hong Kong’s value as a strategic gateway makes it a vital security asset In any conversation about Hong Kong’s future, one question often emerges: when will the city pivot away from national security and back to economic development? To most, Hong Kong is fundamentally a commercial hub. After the turmoil of 2019, most reasonable people agreed that restoring public order was imperative. Today, the orchestrators of that unrest and the radicals are largely imprisoned or have fled. While occasional flare-ups and various forms of “soft resistance” persist, society at large appears to have reclaimed its traditional pragmatism. Few doubt that national security laws are here to stay, yet many wonder whether it’s time to turn the page and refocus on economic growth. As a journalist, I work in one of the most affected industries and this question is constantly on my mind. I have come to a conclusion that may sound counterintuitive, if not sacrilegious, coming from a media professional: national security will always remain a top policy priority for Hong Kong.

Chinese students ‘eating homework’ to relieve exam stress draws amused public reactions
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Chinese students ‘eating homework’ to relieve exam stress draws amused public reactions

For some children, consuming the very assignments that weigh them down offers a playful way to ease crushing academic pressure Children in China are embracing the trend of consuming “homework” made from rice paper as a way to alleviate their heavy study burdens, raising concerns regarding food safety. Recently, a snack called “homework” has gained viral popularity among primary and secondary school students. These snacks resemble miniature versions of Chinese textbooks and workbooks, but they are marketed as entirely edible. On China’s e-commerce platforms, these edible workbooks are priced at less than 0.50 yuan (7.5 US cents) each.

Japanese delegations flock to China, but thaw hinges on Takaichi mending ties
Business

Japanese delegations flock to China, but thaw hinges on Takaichi mending ties

With bilateral ties in a deep freeze since late last year, a flurry of planned China visits by Japanese lawmakers and business leaders has been interpreted as an attempt to break the ice ahead of November’s Apec summit in China. However, analysts warned that these efforts to carve out a diplomatic opening with Beijing might not achieve much unless Tokyo sends a clearer signal to mend ties from the very top. Relations reached their lowest point in a decade following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae...

Mitch McConnell returns to US Senate after 3-month health absence
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Mitch McConnell returns to US Senate after 3-month health absence

Frail-looking 84-year-old Kentucky Republican returns in a wheelchair following his June hospitalisation Republican Senator Mitch McConnell returned to the Capitol on ⁠Monday after a three-month absence spent recuperating from a fall ⁠in his Washington home that had raised questions about his fitness to serve in Congress. “I must admit. After two years of – decades, actually – dodging your questions, I wasn’t sure how many of you would be here today. But I’m glad ‌to see you. Time to get back to work, finish the job for this Congress,” the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican told reporters from a wheelchair outside the Senate chamber. Looking frail and speaking in a voice that sometimes faltered, McConnell said he was determined to work to pass new farm legislation, aid US relations with Nato and counter Russian aggression in ⁠Ukraine. He ignored a reporter who asked if he intended to serve out the remainder of ‌his Senate term, which ends in January. He then entered the chamber to vote for a Republican judicial nominee.

Hong Kong’s next policy address is just around the corner. Here’s what to expect
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Hong Kong’s next policy address is just around the corner. Here’s what to expect

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s coming policy address will introduce measures to remove hurdles for businesses setting up shop in the Northern Metropolis and include proactive initiatives to strengthen innovation hubs, research efforts and tech applications, the South China Morning Post has learned. Government sources said measures supporting the megaproject in the northern New Territories and backing innovation were expected to be major highlights of the chief executive’s policy address on...

US Supreme Court rejects Trump mail ballot restrictions for midterms
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US Supreme Court rejects Trump mail ballot restrictions for midterms

Justices allow existing voting procedures to continue as a last-minute legal challenge is rejected The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to restrict mail ballots for the midterm elections, capping a flurry of last-minute legal action with voting already under way. The decision allows states to continue sending out mail ballots under the same processes they’ve used for years. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissented from the brief order. The Trump administration had asked the court, once again at the centre of a roiling political controversy, to clear the way for restrictions before the pivotal November contests for control of Congress. The case has major implications because nearly one-third of the country votes by mail.

Iceland’s whaling ban plan threatens to leave Japan alone in defending industry
Business

Iceland’s whaling ban plan threatens to leave Japan alone in defending industry

Reykjavik’s move to end hunts increases international pressure on Tokyo as low consumption of whale meat and high subsidies fuel debate The Icelandic government has announced plans to submit a bill early next year to end whaling – a step that would leave Japan and Norway as the world’s only two nations still carrying out commercial hunts. For environmental campaigners, the move has renewed hopes that Japan will no longer be able to justify the annual killing of up to 412 whales. Public opinion in Japan has shifted away from support for whaling in recent years, according to surveys. Animal rights groups say negative publicity and a sense of isolation would intensify if Tokyo and Oslo were left standing alone.

China targets offshore operations of brokerages in crackdown on pay loopholes, corruption
Business

China targets offshore operations of brokerages in crackdown on pay loopholes, corruption

The move extends Beijing’s regulatory reach to financial institutions’ overseas activities, which have been a grey zone for corruption China’s securities regulator and its industry body are moving to close compensation loopholes for brokerage management and staff, extending anti-corruption oversight to overseas operations for the first time, as Beijing pushes the sector to build world-class investment banks. The Securities Association of China, a self-regulatory body under the supervision of the regulator, recently sent brokerages a revised draft of its rules on “clean practices”, seeking industry feedback by September 29, domestic media reported on Monday, citing industry sources. Under the proposed rules, offshore operations have been explicitly targeted for integrity oversight, marking a major expansion of Beijing’s regulatory reach into financial institutions’ overseas activities – a sector long viewed as a grey zone vulnerable to illicit transfers and kickbacks. Brokerages will be required to establish clawback mechanisms to recover bonuses and performance pay from employees who violate ethical standards or regulatory rules.