US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in China for a three-day visit as the two countries try to keep relations on an even keel amid differences. Blinken landed in Shanghai on Wednesday afternoon where he will meet students and business leaders. He'll later head to Beijing and hold talks with top Chinese officials there. The two sides ar…

China has condemned the latest package of US military assistance to Taiwan. The US Senate on Tuesday passed US$95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The package included US$8 billion for the island. In Beijing, the Taiwan Affairs Office said the aid seriously violates US commitments to China and sends a wrong signal to the "Taiwan indepe…

Unionists on Wednesday called on the government to improve labour protection, boost benefits for public servants and increase the city's minimum wage. Nine labour and civil service unions issued a "Labour Day Declaration" ahead of May 1, with 10 policy suggestions, including an end to further labour imports and improving occupational safety. The ch…

The number of emergency dental appointment slots at government clinics has fallen by almost half since the pandemic, the Audit Commission said on Wednesday, as it called for improvements to services. In a report, the government auditor said there was an annual quota of around 40,000 appointment slots at the city’s 11 public dental clinics in the ye…

The China Manned Space Agency on Wednesday introduced the crew for the Shenzhou-18 mission, the latest in a programme that aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. The trio of astronauts will be led by Ye Guangfu, a fighter pilot and veteran astronaut who took part in the Shenzhou-13 mission in 2021. Ye, along with Li Cong and Li Guangsu are sc…

The Shenzhou-18 crewed space mission on Tuesday completed its last joint practice before launch. The combination of the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket has been transferred to the launch site. Both the rocket and spacecraft have completed the electrical performance test, and the astronauts and all systems at the laun…

At least five people have died while attempting to cross the English Channel, according to French authorities, hours after Britain approved its migrant deportation bill. The regional Voix du Nord newspaper said the bodies were discovered at the Wimereaux beach in northern France on Tuesday. Local officials said about 110 migrants were crowded onto …

Two Malaysian navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a rehearsal on Tuesday for a naval parade, killing all 10 crew members aboard, the country's navy said in a statement. Naval officials said the incident occurred at the Lumut base in the western state of Perak on Tuesday morning. "All victims were confirmed dead at the scene and sent to the …

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday dismissed the need for legislation against "fake news", stressing the media sector's ability to improve credibility through professionalism and self-discipline. Lee acknowledged improvements in the dissemination of accurate information and praised the efforts of journalists' groups to combat misinformation. He sa…

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday expressed his condolences to the families of two workers who died in a manhole in Sha Tin. Initial investigations showed the pair inhaled hydrogen sulfide and fainted while working in the manhole. They were later certified dead at the hospital. Speaking before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said releva…

Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday that the authorities are ready for an influx of visitors during the mainland's Golden Week holiday next month, with preparations in place at immigration control points. Speaking ahead of the weekly Exco meeting, Lee said almost six million people are expected to enter or leave Hong Kong via the airport, rail…

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said the initial response to a ban on plastic tableware has been positive, adding the government would monitor the supply and price of alternative products. Speaking a day after the first phase of a citywide ban on single-use plastics took effect, Lee said it takes time for people's behaviour to change. "We are a…

An Australian court has ordered X to hide some posts commenting on the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney, deepening a war of words between the social media platform's owner Elon Musk and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Australia's federal court late on Monday granted the country's cyber regulator, the eSafety commissioner, a two-day injunc…

An investigation has been launched after two sewer maintenance workers died in a manhole in Sha Tin. Authorities say early indications are that the pair, and two other men who also fell ill while working in the manhole, inhaled hydrogen sulfide. The Drainage Services Department said the men were employed by a contractor to clean sewers using high-p…

India's main opposition Congress party filed a complaint to the Election Commission on Monday accusing Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "blatantly targeting" minority Muslims in a campaign speech. The world's most populous country is constitutionally secular and its election code bans canvassing based on "communal feelings." Modi's…

Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Monday said Hong Kong is on track to becoming one of the first jurisdictions to adopt sustainability disclosure requirements in line with global standards, as the government vowed to do more to support green energy transition in the region. Speaking at a forum to mark Earth Day, the finance chief said the government…

A catering sector leader on Monday said about 70 percent of Hong Kong's 18,000 restaurants are still handing out plastic cutlery, despite the first phase of a citywide ban on single-use plastics coming into effect. The government says it won't issue fines for breaches of the ban over the next six months. The president of the Federation of Restauran…

Authorities in Guangdong on Monday said four people were killed and 10 people were missing after continuous heavy rainfall hit many parts of the province over the past few days. The three deaths were reported in Zhaoqing City, while the remaining one is a rescuer in Shaoguan City. Guangdong's provincial emergency management department said search a…