BEIJING – President Xi Jinping warned foreign countries that China would not tolerate interference in Hong Kong and Macau, as he swore in the gambling hub’s new Chief Executive and government in a ceremony on Friday (Dec 20). China’s top leader also lavished praise on what he said was Macau’s successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” governing framework, pointing… Read more »
Wellington: The death toll from New Zealand’s White Island volcano eruption rose to 18 Sunday, including two people whose bodies have not been recovered, police said. A land search early Sunday failed to find any sign of the missing pair and a sea search resumed in the afternoon amid increasing speculation both could be in the water. “The stream where… Read more »
the executioners used a government-owned backhoe to dig shallow graves on a rugged hilltop. When authorities in the small town in the southern Philippines arrived at the scene, they used the same backhoe to dig up 57 bullet-riddled corpses, including those of 32 journalists and media workers. The men and women had been en route to register an opposition candidate… Read more »
Camp Bagong Diwa, Philippines – A Philippine court has declared members of a powerful political family guilty of mass murder in the country’s deadliest incident of political violence. Brothers Datu Andal Unsay Jr and Zaldy Ampatuan and their accomplices were among those convicted of 57 counts of murder with a sentence of life imprisonment without parole bringing to an end… Read more »
A banner on the campus of Fudan University in Shanghai, calling for institutions to adhere to the political philosophy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. A banner on the campus of Fudan University in Shanghai, calling for institutions to adhere to the political philosophy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. SHANGHAI (AFP) – One of China’s top universities has removed references to… Read more »
Hong Kong protesters rallied outside diplomatic missions yesterday to urge foreign governments to follow the US and pass human rights Bills to raise pressure on Beijing and support their pro-democracy campaign. US President Donald Trump signed legislation last month requiring the State Department to certify, at least once a year, that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy from Beijing to justify… Read more »
BEIJING (AFP) – China said on Friday (Dec 6) it had taken “reciprocal” measures against US diplomats in the country, who will have to notify the Foreign Ministry before meeting local officials. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said China had notified the US embassy of the new measures on Wednesday (Dec 4), which she said were a “countermeasure” to Washington’s decision… Read more »
London: Former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer has called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to scrap its regional roots and embrace new security partners such as Australia, South Korea and Japan. His comments were made on the sidelines of the NATO Engages conference in Britain where leaders from the 29 member countries have gathered ahead of a meeting in… Read more »
Hong Kong’s government pledged HK$4 billion (S$696.7 million) on Wednesday (Dec 4) in new relief measures to help bolster an economy battered by months of protests that have eroded business confidence in the Asian financial hub. The latest boost brings the government’s total pledged amount of relief to HK$25 billion. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough… Read more »
China has warned that US legislation calling for a tougher response to Beijing’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority will affect bilateral cooperation, clouding prospects for a near-term deal to end a trade war. The United States Congress overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday a Bill targeting Beijing’s mass crackdown on ethnic Muslim minorities, less than a week after US President Donald… Read more »