Hong Kong has recorded six consecutive “hot nights”, tying the longest such streak for May, as an intense heatwave grips the city. The Hong Kong Observatory said the minimum temperature at its headquarters had stayed at or above 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 Fahrenheit) for six straight days through Thursday night, equalling the previous May record…
Hong Kong authorities have delayed plans to lower the age threshold for mandatory medical certification for taxi and other commercial vehicle drivers, as well as to require annual check-ups, with legislative proposals now expected in the second half of the year. “The government is carefully reviewing the views of various stakeholders to finalise the details…
Budget carrier HK Express will cut its fuel surcharge on flights departing Hong Kong to overseas destinations by 12.8 per cent from May 16, reducing the fee by HK$50 (US$6.38) to HK$339 per leg, the airline has said. The reduction, revealed on its website on Wednesday, excludes mainland China routes, and follows lower fuel prices…
Anna, a domestic helper from the Philippines, had managed her finances well until she took out two loans over the past few months for a friend she described as being “like a mother to me”. The 37-year-old, who asked to be identified only by her first name, now has to pay creditors about HK$9,000 (US$1,149)…
MANILA, Philippines — A pair of heavily-armed Chinese anti-ship bombers and their fighter escort flew over Scarborough Shoal in a combat exercise meant to deter Manila amid the largest Philippine military exercise in years. The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command (PLA STC) claimed that its forces conducted a combat readiness patrol at the disputed…
TAIPEI, April 29 (Reuters) – The Taiwanese minister in charge of the Coast Guard visited a second Taiwan-controlled islet deep in the South China Sea, she said on Wednesday, adding that complaints by Vietnam about her trip would not cause any regional tensions. Taiwan and China claim sovereignty over most of the South China Sea…
TAIPEI, April 23 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s minister in charge of the coast guard has made a rare visit to a Taiwan-controlled island in the South China Sea for exercises, including practising the armed boarding of a suspicious ship. Taiwan and China claim sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, and Taiwan has control of…
BEIJING, April 21 (Reuters) – China on Tuesday implied energy assistance for the Philippines could be tied to Manila holding military drills with the U.S. and other allies, as its top newspaper showed Beijing’s readiness to leverage its reserves in diplomatic disputes. In an editorial headlined “The Philippines should create conditions for deepening cooperation,” the ruling…
TOKYO, April 21 (Reuters) – Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons. The move aimed at strengthening Japan’s defence industrial base marks another step away from pacifist restraints that have shaped…
MANILA, April 20 (Reuters) – Philippine and U.S. forces will carry out maritime strike drills on a remote Philippine island near Taiwan during annual exercises that started on Monday, which Manila’s military chief said would test their readiness under “real‑world conditions”. The April 20 to May 8 exercises known as “Balikatan”, or “shoulder-to-shoulder”, will be…