Some cite ‘patriotic education’ as Hong Kong Garrison opens doors to public as part of 29th anniversary celebrations of city’s return to Chinese rule
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Japan’s G7 rare earth proposal risks further regional tension
Anthony Rowley is a veteran journalist specialising in Asian economic and financial affairs.
Led by Japan, East Asia seems to be setting off along a road to nowhere – beyond tension and maybe eventual conflict. This may seem a harsh indictment yet consecutive Japanese leaders have shown a lack of vision on the constructive role their country could play in achieving regional peace and economic integration.
The latest manifestation of this is Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s proposal this
Last professional letter writer in Chinese city pens 100,000 missives over 59 years
A 77-year-old man in southeastern China has spent nearly six decades turning homesickness, hardship and family duty into letters sent across the sea.
Jiang Mingdian, from Quanzhou in Fujian province, is regarded as one of China’s last active professional letter writers, though no public figures show how many still practise the trade.
Over 59 years, he has reportedly written more than 100,000 letters for local families to relatives overseas, reaching countries including the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia
Bolivia’s president declares state of emergency, paving way for troop deployment
Bolivia ’s crisis intensified on Saturday as President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency, enabling wider military deployment to clear blockades and restore order after protests brought the economy to a halt over the past 50 days.
The emergency declaration gives Paz broader constitutional tools to restore order, such as sending armed forces to clear blockades. While the order goes into effect immediately, the president must notify Congress of the state of emergency within 24 hours of issuing the decree, which then has up to 72 hours
After another suicide, Hong Kong to review age threshold to cover more elderly in need
Hong Kong will review the age threshold of elderly residents in need to better identify priority cases and prevent more tragedies from happening, the welfare chief has vowed following the latest suicide of an elderly resident.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han made the pledge on Saturday after a 70-year-old man was found hanging in his flat in Lai King Estate in Kwun Tong the day before.
Police said the man’s wife, 78, was found unconscious in the bedroom with her head covered
More Northern Metropolis areas to benefit from eased flow of cross-border resources
More areas within the Northern Metropolis could benefit from new measures to the ease the cross-border flow of data, materials and capital, with pilot initiatives set to launch this year in the innovation zone Hong Kong shares with Shenzhen.
The details were revealed in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council by the Development Bureau, which provided an update on drafting dedicated legislation to
Can Russia secure ‘third power’ status in Southeast Asia with energy push?
As Southeast Asia grapples with energy supply uncertainty, fallout from the Iran conflict and intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, Russia appears to be presenting itself as a viable “third power” option for the region, analysts say.
Moscow’s pitch was on display at the Asean -Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on Thursday, where Russian leader Vladimir Putin met regional counterparts, and the two sides agreed to bolster political and economic ties,
US envoy Witkoff, Iranian minister to meet in Switzerland for talks
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi were both headed to Switzerland for talks, Axios said on Friday, as a ceasefire in Lebanon appeared to revive efforts to turn an interim Iran war pact into a lasting regional deal.