AFP News

Hard right makes early gains as local polls test UK’s main parties

Britain’s hard-right Reform UK party made early gains Friday as results trickled in from local elections that were expected to deliver a bruising for the country’s two establishment parties. Reform, led by anti-immigrant firebrand Nigel Farage, picked up dozens of council seats from both Labour and the Conservatives as Britain’s political landscape shows signs of…

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Local elections this week are a key test for Britain's Trump ally Nigel Farage

Local elections this week are a key test for Britain’s Trump ally Nigel Farage

SCUNTHORPE, England — Tucking into tea and cake in the spring sunshine, Nigel Farage glows with anticipation and big ambitions. The man who helped drag Britain out of the European Union wants Reform U.K. to displace the Conservatives as the country’s main party on the right, challenge left-of-center Labor for power and ultimately reach the prime minister’s…

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No need to merge Hong Kong’s RTHK with government press department: minister

No need to merge Hong Kong’s RTHK with government press department: minister

Hong Kong’s commerce minister has rejected a lawmaker’s suggestion to merge public broadcaster RTHK with the government’s press department, saying there were no overlaps in job responsibilities. RTHK also came under fire on Wednesday over its staffing levels, with lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee calling for in-depth reforms at the broadcaster and better use of…

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Hongkongers unlikely to dispute triage status under fee subsidies reform: A&E doctor

Hongkongers unlikely to dispute triage status under fee subsidies reform: A&E doctor

Hong Kong’s reform of public healthcare subsidies is unlikely to cause conflicts over fees between patients and frontline workers, as “critical” and “emergency” cases are understood to be life threatening, a government A&E doctor has said. Under the reform announced by authorities on Tuesday, a two-tier fee structure will be implemented at accident and emergency…

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Hongkongers brace for public hospital fee increases under service reform

Hongkongers brace for public hospital fee increases under service reform

Some patients and advocacy groups have voiced concerns over medical fee increases under a reform of Hong Kong’s subsidised public healthcare model, while experts have called for alternative services to be strengthened to support affected residents. Ng Ka-lun, who suffers from severe amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye”, will have to pay about HK$2,000 (US$257)…

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