Explore treasures of art and culture of the Belt and Road countries
Embark on an eye-opening journey to nearly 20 exotic countries and regions at The Belt & Road National Art & Culture Expo, to be held in AsiaWorld-Expo from 23 to 25 September, 2022. The Belt & Road National Art & Culture Expo brings out the finest treasures and national culture of China, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Panama, Philippines, Thailand, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, Taiwan and Hong Kong. At the “Belt & Road Art and Culture Forum”, consuls of various countries will share their national culture, art and world heritage, as well as new opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative. Finally, the Hong Kong Primary & Secondary Students Chinese Paintings Competition and Awards Ceremony will also take place during the Expo. ------------Belt & Road National Art & Culture Expo l The 4th Hong Kong International Arts & Collectibles ExpoDate: 23-25 September 2022Venue: AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong KongOpening Hours: 11:30-19:00Admission: Free of chargeWebsite: www.beltnroadculture.comEnquiries: 2763 9011
Source:The Standard
September 20, 2022 08:18 UTC
Life sentence prisoner charged for offering bribe to correctional officer
A prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment was charged by the ICAC with offering a HK$300,000 bribe to a correctional services officer. The defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in July last year. The Correctional Services Department officers, including a Principal Officer in charge of the defendant's ward, would record the defendant's behaviors in her nursing notes which might be used for her psychiatric assessment. And on November 6, 2021, the defendant offered HK$300,000 to the above Principal Officer. Another aunt and uncle, Jim Siu-wai and Jim Chin-kui, were in hospital for three and ten days, respectively.
Source:The Standard
September 20, 2022 06:30 UTC
Candidate Eligibility Review Committee members appointed
Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki was appointed as the Chairperson of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee on Monday. The government announced Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's appointment of members of the CERC commencing on September 19. As the above appointment takes effect, Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary, ceases to be the Chairperson of the CERC. The official members of the CERC included Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung; and Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen. CERC is responsible for assessing and validating the eligibility of candidates in the Election Committee, CE and Legislative Council elections.
Source:The Standard
September 19, 2022 18:26 UTC
Govt tries every effort to hold HK Marathon but organisers hesitate: official claim
Authorities may seek further discussion with the Athletic Association to postpone the 2022 Hong Kong Marathon to next February, which was previously scheduled on November 20 but announced to be cancelled. Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon organiser, announced last Friday to cancel the event as it "had no choice" and failed to get the government's approval in time amid the Covid-19 epidemic. "We have always been actively responding to the Association's application, and we will support entirely for holding the race," Yeung said. However, he emphasised that the format of the race needs to take into account the circumstances of the epidemic. The previous races of the Hong Kong Marathon were generally held in January or February, but the race last year was brought forward to October.
Source:The Standard
September 19, 2022 17:17 UTC
China scales up coal production
Beijing has committed to peaking its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Overall carbon emissions in China have fallen for four consecutive quarters on the back of an economic slowdown, research reported by climate monitor Carbon Brief showed in early September. Premier Li Keqiang in June called for "releasing advanced coal capacity, as much as possible, and implementing long-term coal supply." Expanding coal capacity as a quick fix, however, goes against "immediate annual cuts in coal use that the UN and leading research organizations have called for," GEM analysts said. "The more coal China builds now, the harder it becomes to finance and deliver renewable energy projects later," Wu Jinghan, climate and energy project leader for Greenpeace East Asia, told AFP.
Source:Manila Times
September 19, 2022 04:14 UTC
Entry quarantine rules should be loosened before year ends as harming HK’ global image: lawmaker
The government should relax the entry quarantine rules before the year ends since it has affected the city’s international image, says a business sector lawmaker. Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung claimed on Sunday that the currently applied quarantine arrangement for arrivals has had adverse effects. It led to the cancellation of several major international events, including the 15th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships and the Hong Kong Marathon 2022. In a radio programme, Lam called for lifting the quarantine rules as it would be “too late” if they continue to be in force until the end of the year. He cites that top executives from about 20 leading global firms will come to Hong Kong for the financial summit in November.
Source:The Standard
September 18, 2022 19:17 UTC
Four gangsters arrested for teenager abduction over debt
Police arrested four triad members in the New Territories today, rescuing a teenager kidnapped by the arrestees for a debt of about HK$100,000. The force received a report Saturday night claiming a 17-year-old was kidnapped by his debtors in Mong Kok at about 7pm. The suspects drove the teenager to the station to get the money at around 4am on Sunday. The police arrested the party and rescued the teenager. The arrested four were in their twenties and have triad backgrounds, and the case is now being investigated by the Tai Po Police District Anti-Triad Squad Two.
Source:The Standard
September 18, 2022 07:26 UTC
Eight transsexual men among 31 arrested in anti-prostitution and gambling raids
Eight transsexual men dressed as women for prostitution were among 31 people arrested on Friday on Hong Kong Island as police launched a series of operations to combat illegal prostitution and gambling activities. Hong Kong Island regional anti-triad unit and Wan Chai police district first sent plain-clothes officers to raid Fuji Building on Lockhart Road and arrested eight men and a woman aged 26 to 36 for breaching their conditions of stay. It is understood that the eight men are transsexual men who dress as women for prostitution, charging HK$600 to HK$800 for each sexual service. In North Point, police raided two gambling dens on Fort Street and Cheung Hong Street and arrested a 35-year-old non-Chinese woman and a 39-year-old local man for operating a gambling establishment. Thirteen customers, including eight men and five women aged 31 to 52, were arrested for gambling in a gambling establishment.
Source:The Standard
September 17, 2022 18:18 UTC
Mars rover sees hints of past life in rock samples
(UPDATE) WASHINGTON, D.C.: NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has detected its highest concentrations yet of organic molecules, in a potential signal of ancient microbes that scientists are eager to confirm when the rock samples are eventually brought to Earth. "It is very fair to say that these are going to be, these already are, the most valuable rock samples that have ever been collected," David Shuster, a Perseverance return sample scientist, told reporters during a briefing. Organic molecules — compounds made primarily of carbon that usually include hydrogen and oxygen, but also at times other elements — are not always created by biological processes. The results showed a class of organic molecules called aromatics, which play a key role in biochemistry. There have been other tantalizing clues about the possibility of life on Mars before, including repeated detections of methane by Perseverance's predecessor, Curiosity.
Source:Manila Times
September 17, 2022 08:52 UTC
Home prices set to hit five-year low as rates bite
Prices in the world’s most expensive housing market are set to fall to the lowest since 2017 as surging borrowing costs deter buyers. Mortgage rates may jump to the highest since 2008, in tandem with US rate hikes, BI analysts Patrick Wong and Francis Chan wrote in a note on Friday. But it’s the rise in interest rates that has most changed the dynamic between buyers and sellers, according to property agents. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said in March that home prices in Hong Kong will drop 20 percent by 2025. In addition, home owners are more able to withstand higher rates following stress tests that were introduced in the 2010s.
Source:The Standard
September 16, 2022 18:53 UTC
Plenty of tasks ahead for 2,300 party delegates
Some 2,300 Communist Party delegates from 38 election divisions, including those representing Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, will gather in Beijing for the 20th national congress from October 16 to decide on the party's leaders for the next five years. The five-yearly event, usually lasts for seven days. It will be attended by party representatives from 32 provincial and municipal divisions, including one for People's Liberation Army and People's Armed Police. The three major items on the agenda includes the review of a report by the General Secretary, Xi Jinping, and ironing out future directions, to revise the party's constitution and to elect around 200 members and 170 alternate members. Members of the new central committee will also elect the next party general secretary.
Source:The Standard
September 16, 2022 07:13 UTC
(Video) Close call for school bus driver as 10-meter-tall tree collapses onto vehicle’s roof
A school bus driver narrowly escaped death on Friday morning when a tree measuring 10 meters collapsed onto the vehicle in Ho Man Tin. Online footage shows that the school bus, along with three other private vehicles were stopped at a red traffic light when the tree suddenly collapsed and landed on them. The tree crushed the roof right above the driver’s seat of the school bus, smashing its windshield, while the other vehicles suffered slight damage. The driver was taken to the hospital with a hand injury, while the school bus nanny and one other driver were also hospitalized for a leg injury and back pain, respectively. Speaking to reporters at the scene, the school bus nanny said that all students had fortunately alighted right before the accident, or else some might have gotten injured.
Source:The Standard
September 16, 2022 04:23 UTC
BoI makes more investments happen @55
THE Board of Investments (BoI) further brings more opportunities through investment, as it celebrates its 55th Founding Anniversary. BoI sent its virtual assistants, Bordie and Vestie to a new mission of providing investment-related information to make more investments happened in the country. In Batangas, BoI approved the P60-M high-value crops producer project. Local investments accounted for 77% of total approved investments with Php503.63 billion while approvals from foreign sources amounted to Php151.80 billion or a 23% share. BoI is responsible for the development of investments in the Philippines and for leading the promotions of various industries and investment opportunities.
Source:Manila Times
September 16, 2022 02:23 UTC
UK plans song for Eurovision 2023
Next year's Eurovision Song Contest host country has confirmed their selection plans for the show. "After Sam Ryder's incredible result in Turin, we have a hard act to follow, but are looking forward to the challenge of finding a stand-out act and song for Eurovision 2023 that will be cheered on by a home crowd!" BBC Studios musical director Suzy Lamb stated. "TaP are very excited to be back working with the BBC to select the UK entry for Eurovision 2023," the record executives said in a statement. "I hope we can find another artist who will not only be a brilliant ambassador for Eurovision but like Sam will sing their head off with a stand out song."
Source:Manila Times
September 15, 2022 13:28 UTC
Environmental Protection Department warns of 'Serious' air pollution
Since Saturday, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has recorded higher than normal air pollution levels. It is expected that the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) at some monitoring stations may reach the "Serious" health risk category today (Sept 11) and remain higher during the next couple of days. Under the influence of a dry continental airstream, the weather in Hong Kong is fine and scorching with light winds, which is unfavourable for pollutant dispersion and results in rising regional pollution levels. EPD expects that the regional pollution level affecting Hong Kong will remain higher than average until the advent of stronger wind. The general public is advised to reduce outdoor physical exertion to a minimum and to reduce time staying outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic.
Source:The Standard
September 11, 2022 05:29 UTC