Beijing, China | AFP | China insisted Tuesday it alone held the authority to rule on constitutional matters in Hong Kong, as it condemned a decision by the city’s high court to overturn a ban on face masks worn by pro-democracy protesters. The statement raised hackles among activists in Hong …
Read More »Xi Jinping warns that attempts to split China risk ‘smashed’ bodies
Beijing, China | AFP | President Xi Jinping has warned that any attempts to split China would result in “bodies smashed and bones ground to powder”, amid four months of anti-Beijing unrest in Hong Kong. Xi issued the dire message during a weekend visit to Nepal, according to a …
Read More »Sexual harassment in the sky: Hong Kong flight attendants fight back
Hong Kong, China | AFP | Immaculate-looking flight attendants who appear unruffled by the demands of a life spent in the air are part of the slick image sold by carriers — but Hong Kong-based workers are increasingly hitting back against sexual harassment. Female cabin crew told AFP of how …
Read More »Hong Kong ex-official Patrick Ho convicted in US over bribery scheme
New York, United States | AFP | Hong Kong’s former home affairs secretary Patrick Ho Chi Ping was convicted by a New York court Wednesday over a multimillion dollar bribery scheme in Africa on behalf of a top Chinese energy company. Ho, 69, was convicted by a jury of seven …
Read More »China scientist defends gene-editing babies as trial paused
Hong Kong, China | AFP | The Chinese scientist who claims to have created the world’s first genetically-edited babies defended the highly controversial procedure Wednesday, but announced a halt to the trial following an international outcry. He Jiankui told a packed Hong Kong biomedical conference he was “proud” to have …
Read More »China scientist claims world’s first gene-edited babies
Hong Kong, China | AFP | A scientist in China claims to have created the world’s first genetically-edited babies, a move that would be a ground-breaking medical first but which has generated a barrage of criticism. Chinese university professor He Jiankui posted a video on YouTube saying that the twin …
Read More »Standard Chartered profits up by quarter in January-September
Hong Kong, China | AFP | Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered on Wednesday said pre-tax profits rose 25 percent in the first nine months of the year, and warned it was keeping tabs on worsening China-US trade tensions. The results come as the world’s top two economies have imposed a series …
Read More »A bridge so far: China’s controversial megaproject
Hong Kong, China | AFP | Touted as an engineering wonder, the world’s longest sea bridge, which connects Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, includes a snaking road crossing and an underwater tunnel and reportedly uses enough steel to build 60 Eiffel Towers. Nine years after construction began on the 55-kilometre …
Read More »Standard Chartered brings back dividends as profits jump
Hong Kong, China | AFP | Banking giant Standard Chartered on Tuesday announced a return of dividends for shareholders after a two-year hiatus as it reported a surge in annual profits following restructuring and cutbacks. The Asia-focused lender said it would pay out a full-year dividend of 11 cents per …
Read More »Chinese leasing firm orders 50 Airbus jets in $5.42 bn deal
Hong Kong, China | AFP | A Chinese aircraft leasing company said on Thursday it will buy 50 Airbus A320neo jets for $5.42 billion as part of a drive to capitalise on ever-growing demand for air travel in China. Hong Kong-listed China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) will take delivery of …
Read More »