Japan's central bank keeps its benchmark interest rate unchanged but pledges greater flexibility for bond purchases

Jul 28, 2023

Japan's central bank keeps its benchmark interest rate unchanged but pledges greater flexibility for bond purchases

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's central bank keeps its benchmark interest rate unchanged but pledges greater flexibility for bond purchases.

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How traditional Chinese medicine is shaping Kazakhstan’s health system

China has pledged to expand its health partnership with Kazakhstan by helping the Central Asian nation integrate traditional medicine directly into its national healthcare system, shifting away from simple product exports. The Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan on Monday called for the alignment of high-level policy to enhance bilateral health cooperation for both countries’ benefit. “Both nations should promote the qualitative upgrading of cooperation in smart healthcare, hi-tech diagnostics and...

How traditional Chinese medicine is shaping Kazakhstan’s health system

Elderly man found dead, wife hospitalised after smell reported at Hong Kong flat

An elderly man was found dead and his wife was taken to hospital after authorities responded to a report of a foul smell from a flat in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Authorities received a report at about 5.20pm from security staff at One Madison, a residential building on Castle Peak Road in Cheung Sha Wan, after an unusual odour was detected from the flat and the occupants had not been seen for some time. Firefighters were called to the scene and forced entry into the flat. The man was found in the...

Elderly man found dead, wife hospitalised after smell reported at Hong Kong flat

Greenpeace catches Hong Kong geopark ‘golden week’ visitors damaging marine life

About 100 incidents of visitors catching sea cucumbers and digging up sea snails and clams were recorded at a popular spot in Hong Kong’s Unesco-listed geopark on a single day of the National Day “golden week”, a green group has found, following similar incidents last year. The Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail in Sai Kung was also strewn with rubbish on a separate day, Greenpeace said on Tuesday. At nearby Long Ke Beach, the group recorded nearly 90 instances of environmentally...

Greenpeace catches Hong Kong geopark ‘golden week’ visitors damaging marine life

Indonesia to take delivery of first Chinese J-10CE fighter jets in 6 months, report says

Indonesia is expected to receive its first Chengdu J-10CE fighter jets in six months, according to an Indonesian media report, which would make it the third international operator of the Chinese-made aircraft. Jakarta confirmed an order of 42 of the 4.5-generation fighter jets – known as Vigorous Dragons – last October, with an approved budget of US$9 billion. The first delivery is expected in April though it is not known how many aircraft will be delivered, Indonesian news outlet Republika...

Indonesia to take delivery of first Chinese J-10CE fighter jets in 6 months, report says

Fire breaks out on rooftop of residential building in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok

Firefighters are battling a rooftop blaze at a residential building in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky. The Fire Services Department received a report at about 5.20pm on Tuesday that items stored on the rooftop of the 26-storey Block B at the Shun King Building on Nelson Street had caught fire. No casualties had been reported as of 7pm, while some residents self-evacuated the building. Firefighters were tackling the blaze with one water jet. Strong flames and...

Fire breaks out on rooftop of residential building in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok

Hong Kong’s Generation Y unhappiest amid housing and economic pressures, poll finds

Hong Kong’s Generation Y residents – those aged 30 to 45 – are the city’s unhappiest age group, largely because of dissatisfaction with economic and housing conditions, a poll has found. The Hong Kong Happiness Index stood at 5.87 out of 10, according to a survey of 1,039 adults conducted by HK.WeCare, an initiative under non-profit organisation Wofoo Social Enterprises. The score remained below the passing level for a fourth consecutive year, despite an overall upward trend since 2024. More...

Hong Kong’s Generation Y unhappiest amid housing and economic pressures, poll finds

Construction worker jailed for life for killing bus driver after smoking dispute

A construction worker has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a man who confronted him about smoking while they were waiting for a lift at a private housing estate in Hong Kong. A High Court jury on Tuesday found Tam Yun-chiu, 52, guilty of killing Ho Lok-man after hearing that he repeatedly punched the victim in the face, knocked him to the ground and kicked his head on the podium floor of Amoy Gardens in Kowloon Bay on September 19, 2023. Ho, a 48-year-old bus driver, became...

Construction worker jailed for life for killing bus driver after smoking dispute

Hong Kong remains world’s freest economy as Switzerland overtakes Singapore

Hong Kong has retained its status as the world’s freest economy in the latest annual ranking by a top Canadian think tank, although its score has declined in recent years. Switzerland overtook Singapore to claim second place in 2026, pushing the city state down to third in the league table released by the Fraser Institute on Tuesday. The Economic Freedom of the World report, compiled by the Vancouver-based public policy research organisation using data from 2024, ranked Hong Kong first among 165...

Hong Kong remains world’s freest economy as Switzerland overtakes Singapore

Germany joins France in call for China trade defences

Germany and France, the European Union’s two largest economies, jointly called for tougher EU trade defences, as European and Chinese negotiators prepare for crunch talks this week under the shadow of a potential trade war. “The open and rules-based trade system is massively affected by weaponisation of trade, systemic market-distorting practices, and global macroeconomic imbalances,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron said in an open letter. “We need urgent...

Germany joins France in call for China trade defences

Short trade truce can’t paper over realities of US-China relationship

The recent US-China summit yielded a narrow, caution-filled outcome for bilateral trade: a two-month extension of the Kuala Lumpur trade truce, which now expires on January 10 next year. This reprieve eases fears of immediate tariff escalation and shows that head-of-state diplomacy can still curb spiralling confrontation. Yet the short timeline exposes the wide gulf separating the two sides’ priorities. China’s position has been unambiguous: removal of all punitive tariffs and restrictive...

Short trade truce can’t paper over realities of US-China relationship

China’s Transsion, Africa’s top phone maker, targets US$500 million Hong Kong listing

Shenzhen Transsion Holdings, the maker of Africa’s bestselling phones, aims to kick off its Hong Kong share offering on Wednesday to raise up to US$500 million ahead of a targeted October 15 listing, according to people familiar with the matter. The company, which already trades in Shanghai and has a market capitalisation of 62 billion yuan (US$9.24 billion), could offer up to 132 million offshore ordinary shares, according to approval documents from the China Securities Regulatory Commission...

China’s Transsion, Africa’s top phone maker, targets US$500 million Hong Kong listing

West Kowloon arts hub deficit widens to HK$998 million as operating costs rise

The authority managing Hong Kong’s arts hub in West Kowloon recorded a wider deficit in the 2025-26 financial year but expects to generate more income next year by putting a residential development project out to tender. The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s deficit ballooned to HK$998 million (U$127 million) in the year to March 30, from HK$769 million in the same period a year earlier. The increase was mainly due to higher operating costs as it prepared to open the new WestK...

West Kowloon arts hub deficit widens to HK$998 million as operating costs rise

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