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Chinese scientists who inserted a gene from desert moss into cotton say their innovation can boost yields by nearly a quarter through protection against a pervasive fungal disease that threatens crops worldwide. The team, led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), inserted a stress-resistance gene from a species of steppe moss that thrives in the deserts of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region into cotton plants. The resulting...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Lots of cooperation opportunities' after C Asia trip

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau described the recent visit to Central Asia by a delegation led by the SAR chief executive as a great success, saying it has led to significant collaboration opportunities with the two countries. During the visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the 70-strong delegation reached 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) involving more than US$1.65 billion in total. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme on Monday, Yau, who was in the delegation, said the two countries are actively seeking economic diversification. "They are very proactive and hope to explore opportunities for collaboration with the SAR government, particularly in finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology, green development and tourism," he said. "They are developing very well in many aspects. There are plenty of cooperation opportunities with us." Yau said the volume of SAR trade with Central Asia is currently not very large as the city's focus used to be more on Europe, the United States and Asean. But its trade with Central Asia is on the rise, he said, noting that total merchandise trade stood at HK$2.53 billion last year – a rise of 27 percent compared with 2020. Yau said the two countries and Hong Kong have launched discussions on a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement and agreed to push ahead with discussions on an investment promotion and protection agreement. The move will step up investors' confidence and further strengthen trade ties between Hong Kong and the two countries, he said. With the city poised to initiate direct flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan next year, Yau said he believes they would make business travel much more convenient. Wingco Lo, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, who was also part of the delegation, said markets in Central Asia were not just interested in traditional trading opportunities in Hong Kong. They placed more emphasis on the SAR's role as an international financial centre and a platform of professional services. The association signed two MoUs during the visit, Lo added, and would arrange a trip to Central Asia again this year to allow members to find out which sectors and industries they need to gain a deeper understanding of and discuss collaboration details. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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China cleaner inspired by university students gets into graduate school after year of self-study

A university cleaner in southwestern China has secured a place in a master’s programme after a year of self-study while raising two children. Li Jia, 33, from Chengdu in Sichuan province, works full-time as a cleaner at Chengdu University of Technology. She and her husband once ran a restaurant near the campus, but it closed after struggling to stay afloat, according to local reports. Li later took a sanitation job at the university, valuing its stability, proximity to home and fixed hours,...

South China Morning Post

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Will ‘Trump-class’ battleship be a sitting duck for Chinese carrier-killer missiles?

A US congressional committee has cast doubt on Donald Trump’s “Golden Fleet” programme, warning it could overwhelm already strained nuclear-powered shipbuilding capacity and calling for a detailed review of its centrepiece battleship. One lawmaker also warned of the vulnerability of battleships in modern maritime warfare, citing the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army’s Dongfeng missile series, which includes the DF-21D ballistic missile – widely dubbed a “carrier killer”. The...

South China Morning Post

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North Korea says its nuclear programme is ‘irreversible’ ahead of Chinese leader’s visit

North Korea said on Sunday that its nuclear weapons programme was “irreversible”, challenging the US push for denuclearisation a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. After Donald Trump’s meeting with Xi last month, the United States said the two leaders shared the goal of denuclearising the Korean peninsula, although the Chinese statement did not mention the issue. But Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, described the comments as “false information”, and...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'CE's Central Asia visit a super success'

Trade Development Council (TDC) chairman Frederick Ma on Sunday described the visit by a Hong Kong delegation to Central Asia as super successful, with more firms from the region possibly seeking to raise capital in the SAR. Ma – who was one of the 70 members of a delegation led by Chief Executive John Lee – said more Kazakh state-owned enterprises may seek to list on Hong Kong's stock exchange, with a railway company already expected to go public on the city's bourse some time this year. "I believe that after our visit, they have a deeper understanding of us. In the future, they may send more of their companies to list in Hong Kong. This will definitely be a significant boost to our financial industry," he told a TVB programme. He noted that some Kazakh companies are already using Hong Kong's bond market and anticipated further financial cooperation ahead. Ma said the delegation had explored opportunities with businesses in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with representatives from the Airport Authority, education and cultural sectors signing multiple agreements. He also said the TDC is thinking about elevating its consultant office in the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan so it could carry out a more formal role to handle liaison work with the Kazakh government and businesses. He added that there is a need to maintain ties with Central Asian partners in the coming years to follow up on agreements and advance projects. Edited by Aaron Tam

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Typhoons tipped to be fewer this year but stronger

A former assistant director at the Observatory said the El Nino effect will bring fewer but stronger typhoons to Hong Kong this summer. He was speaking after the Observatory predicted that Hong Kong would see four to seven typhoons near the territory this year. Speaking after attending a radio programme on Saturday, Leung Wing-mo, a spokesman for the Meteorological Society, said El Nino increases sea surface temperatures in the eastern part of the equatorial Pacific while Hong Kong is located in the west. "When the pool of warm water shifts to the east, most of the tropical cyclones will develop in the east, which is further away from Hong Kong," he said. "So since the distance of the origin of the typhoons in Hong Kong increases, the chances of the typhoons coming very close to Hong Kong decrease as a result. "But if a typhoon comes close to Hong Kong, then it has a longer time and longer sea track for development. "There is a chance that the typhoons which eventually come close to Hong Kong would be a very strong typhoon, maybe a super typhoon." Leung also said El Nino would bring hot weather to Hong Kong, as well as the entire planet, due to the close interaction between the atmosphere and the ocean. He called on people to pay attention to their health condition, as extreme hot weather can trigger pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Edited by Robert Kemp

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Public urged to get jabs as flu cases spike

An expert on infectious diseases called on the public on Saturday to get vaccinated against influenza before the current batch of available jabs expires at the end of this month, as cases are on the rise. A recent serious case involved a 17-year-old who was left in a critical condition yesterday after developing complications, including severe pneumonia and shock from catching influenza B. He was not inoculated against the flu. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Professor Ivan Hung, head of the infectious diseases division at the University of Hong Kong and an honorary consultant at Queen Mary Hospital , said the hospital has also logged more flu cases among children and the elderly. “Right now we're seeing a rise in the number of cases in both flu A, which is [subtype] H3, and also flu B, with quite a number of older adults being admitted to hospitals with severe flu cases, and also for children as well. Recently, we have had a 17-year-old with a severe flu B infection,” he said after the show. “But whether it's peaking – it's not yet the so-called summer peak – I think we really have to wait for a few more weeks to see how the trend plays out. "I do recommend anyone who has not been vaccinated to get vaccinated before the end of June because the vaccine is going to expire by the end of June.” Hung urged the elderly, particularly those with chronic diseases, to wear masks in crowded places and use hand sanitisers. People do not have to be too worried over Covid-19, he said, adding that it has become endemic in the city. “I think the coronavirus itself is relatively benign. If you look at the variant, the latest is NB.1.8.1, it’s actually quite close to the LP.8.1, which is the vaccine candidate," Hung said. "Basically, I think it’s not a major concern in terms of coronavirus. “Overall, we have very, very few severe cases being hospitalised. For the last year or so, we didn’t really have a surge in Covid cases. In general, it’s very mild, even for the older adults.” However, those who are immunodeficient and suffer from chronic illnesses should get vaccinated regularly, Hung said, urging those who have not been inoculated against flu to take the jab without delay, as vaccines won’t be available for a short period until the next batch arrives in the fourth quarter. Edited by Robert Kemp

South China Morning Post

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Targeting US$610 billion longevity market, biotech firms race to reverse ageing

For Beijing-based METiS TechBio CEO Lai Tsai-ta, ageing is comparable to bugs building up in a complex software system – it happens once errors begin to accumulate in the genetic code of human cells, such as their DNA sequences. “Those errors can be reprogrammed. It becomes possible to use AI to read, rewrite and reverse cells, or at least slow the ageing process,” Lai said in an interview with the South China Morning Post. The process could begin by fixing “immune cells, such as T cells, as...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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IT/기술

Tech MoUs highlight last day of CE's Central Asia trip

Chief Executive John Lee announced a series of innovation and technology agreements with Uzbekistan, following a visit to the Central Asian nation’s flagship IT hub on Friday. Writing on his social media, Lee detailed the delegation’s visit to Uzbekistan IT Park, a national special economic zone in Tashkent, where they met with Ayubkhon Sultanov, Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies. He said the IT Park serves as a core engine for Uzbekistan’s digital economic transformation, offering tax incentives and rental concessions and facilitating visa arrangements to attract tech enterprises and talent. The park, he said, is central to implementing the “Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy” and the country’s national AI Strategy. The CE noted that while Uzbekistan is accelerating its economic transformation and I&T development, Hong Kong — as an international financial centre — is actively building itself into a global innovation hub. “Leveraging its world-class financing platform, professional services and unique bridging role connecting the mainland and international markets, Hong Kong is highly complementary to Uzbekistan’s development,” the CE wrote. Both places, he added, are important partners within the Belt and Road Initiative and can strengthen exchanges of development experience. Lee said senior executives from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Cyberport and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with IT Park during the visit. The agreements aim to establish platforms for startup incubation, acceleration programmes and cross-border market access. Under the deals, Uzbekistan’s I&T companies would gain a strategic gateway into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and global markets, while Hong Kong enterprises would be able to tap into Uzbekistan’s young IT talent pool for software development and innovative collaborations. “Going forward, we can further synergise the innovation and technology ecosystems of both sides, explore collaborative projects and achieve complementary advantages and win-win partnerships,” the CE said. Lee concludes his Central Asia trip on Friday. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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EPD aims to enhance environmental awareness

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on Friday said it was aiming to create a culture in which green living has become a way of life throughout the city. Principal environmental protection officer Jackie Ng said the department's current campaign aimed to make environmental protection accessible, convenient, and meaningful. The remarks came as the EPD this week launched a publicity campaign called "Beautiful Hong Kong Green Fest", to celebrate World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, and the department's 40th anniversary. Speaking on RTHK's Backchat programme, Ng said this week's environmental activities could foster a deeper emotional connection in which hands-on involvement becomes part of people's routines. "It [hands-on involvement] helps make the experience more engaging and memorable for everyone, transforming environmental protection from some abstract concepts into personal experience and action," Ng said. To strengthen environmental education for young people, Ng said the department has partnered with Ocean Park to deliver both on‑site and in‑school activities, where they can learn more about how to protect the environment and natural conservation. "The programme combines not only fun activities and also educational materials, making the concept more accessible and memorable, and these activities also provide them some opportunities to do some self-direct learning and exploration," he said. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Public Management Programme Puts Humans at the Centre of the AI Revolution

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes economies, labour markets and public services, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is making a clear bet: the defining skill for tomorrow’s public leaders will not be coding, but judgment. At the helm of its Master of Public Management (MPM) programme is Programme Director Prof. Donald Low, who argues that leadership in the AI age demands more than technical...

South China Morning Post

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Will Prabowo’s free meals scheme survive amid Indonesia corruption arrests?

Indonesia’s free meals programme has long been beset with governance problems, quality issues and mass food poisoning cases. Now, allegations of corruption and the arrests of top former officials overseeing Prabowo Subianto’s flagship scheme risk turning it into a political hot potato for the president. Prabowo sacked former National Nutrition Agency chief Dadan Hindayana and his two ex-deputies, Sonny Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung, on Tuesday. The trio were charged with corruption and taken into...

South China Morning Post

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West’s xenophobia, cash woes present huge openings for Hong Kong, scholar says

Xenophobia and financial woes in the West have created tremendous opportunities for higher education institutions in Hong Kong and the broader Eurasian region, the head of a leading university in Kazakhstan has said. Professor Waqar Ahmad, the president of Nazarbayev University, also revealed on Wednesday that the institution would soon launch another joint undergraduate programme in computer science and artificial intelligence with Polytechnic University. Starting next year, the programme will...

South China Morning Post

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Indonesia arrests sacked head of free meal scheme

Indonesian officials arrested on Wednesday the former head of the country’s free school meals programme, blighted by mass food poisonings and corruption claims, a day after he was fired. The much-hyped billion-dollar feeding scheme was the flagship policy of President Prabowo Subianto’s 2024 election campaign. Prabowo fired Dadan Hindayana, an entomologist who had led the National Nutrition Agency since its inception in August 2024, along with two deputies on Tuesday. All three were taken into...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Chung King-fai, a giant of HK theatre, dies at 89

Veteran stage actor and director Chung King-fai on Wednesday passed away in his sleep at the age of 89. Affectionately known as "King Sir", Chung was the founding Dean of the School of Drama at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and is best remembered for being a mentor to generations of performers. In a career spanning decades, he worked as an actor, director, drama educator, television producer, host and voice-over artist. On social media, Chung's nephew, Chung Chi-kuen, wrote that he dedicated his entire life to theatre, nurturing countless students and earning deep respect and love from everyone. Former RTHK programme host Serina Ha, who knew Chung for more than 20 years, described him as steady and graceful, and someone who took his work very seriously. "He's a gentleman. Very polite and genuine. Among all the people I know, he is a mentor who truly connected with the times. He gave me the kind of guidance that a senior should. And his attitude – his seriousness – that is something worth learning from," she said. Chung held a bachelor's degree in speech and drama from Oklahoma Baptist University in the United States and and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale University. A pioneer in staging Cantonese versions of absurdist dramas and Broadway musicals, he won Best Actor eight times and Best Director four times at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, along with many other accolades throughout his career. In addition to the Academy for Performing Arts, he lectured at Hong Kong Baptist University for 23 years and worked in various local television outlets. In a statement, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law expressed her condolences to Chung's family, saying he dedicated his life to the performing arts with countless productions and contributions to Hong Kong theatre. "His passing is a tremendous loss to Hong Kong's performing arts sector. We will always treasure the memory of this stage veteran and remain deeply grateful for his distinguished contributions to the performing arts in Hong Kong," she said. Edited by Edmond Fong

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'People-to-people exchanges drive HK-Kazakh ties'

People-to-people exchanges are already laying the groundwork for a different kind of Belt and Road collaboration. That's on full display in Astana as Chief Executive John Lee’s delegation wrapped up the Kazakhstan leg of his Central Asian tour with a visit to Nazarbayev University (NU) on Wednesday. Two individuals on the NU campus – a Hong Kong-born engineering professor and a local Kazakh startup founder – believe the story lies not just on a government level, but also in student exchanges, educational technology innovation and a new business corridor between Astana and Hong Kong. For the past eight years, Annie Ng, an associate professor at NU’s School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, is one of the few Hongkongers working in Kazakh academia. Ng said the chief executive’s visit is a long-overdue catalyst. “I think this is a very good start. I believe there will be more MoUs and more collaborations with different university institutes in Hong Kong with NU and Kazakhstan – not just for research, but also other education programmes or short courses,” she said. Ng sees Kazakhstan as a pivotal player under the Belt and Road framework, but notes a gap in Hong Kong’s engagement compared with the mainland. While there has been a growing number of mainland tourists and entrepreneurs in Almaty and Astana, she said Hongkongers remain conspicuously absent and should explore opportunities in Kazakhstan. “Young people will be more interested here and explore something new – not a typical country to visit. Kazakhstan, Central Asia, we are also close to other Central Asian countries,” she said. For Hong Kong businesses, she said, the potential is tangible. “A lot of things are developed in Hong Kong but not here. They can find a lot of room to expand their business.” Nurken Bolatov is chief operational officer of Artisan Education, a startup based on the NU campus that produces engineering kits and a web-platform for learning robotics, programming and STEM. Bolatov’s company has already been accepted into the ideation programme at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP). “For us, I hope it’s a great opportunity and experience to try our products in another region, with other students, and get some more feedback,” he said. But his ambitions for Hong Kong go beyond market testing. He sees the city as a manufacturing gateway. “There are a lot of manufacturers in Hong Kong and in China, so probably it would be great for us to cooperate with them so we can produce a lot more of our products.” He also hopes to tap into Hong Kong’s talent pool. “As I know, there are a lot of strong universities in China and in Hong Kong. Probably it would be helpful to find some potential team members to get into our project.” His startup is already piloting its products in several countries, including South Korea, Türkiye and the UK. Edited by Edmond Fong

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Education MoUs boost HK-Kazakhstan ties: CE

Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday said memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed between education institutions in Hong Kong and Kazakhstan lay the foundation for further cooperation between the two sides in the long run. He witnessed the exchange of MoUs between Nazarbayev University and Education University of Hong Kong as well as the Hong Kong Polytechnic University during a visit to the institution in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on the final day of his trip to the Central Asia country. “These agreements will deepen academic and research collaboration. They will strengthen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan,” Lee said in a speech. “This growing network of institutional partnerships is precisely how we build enduring foundations for long-term cooperation and mutual rewards." The CE noted that some 500 students from Kazakhstan are currently studying in universities in Hong Kong, and he invited more people from the country to pursue career opportunities in the SAR. “The Kazakh community in Hong Kong is growing, and I invite you to look to Hong Kong for your future. To students here, we welcome talented youth and entrepreneurs with open arms. The opportunities are wide open too.” Lee also pointed out that Nazarbayev University was where President Xi Jinping first proposed the Belt and Road Initiative back in 2013. "Since its inception, the Belt and Road has developed a comprehensive framework for global partnership. It's anchored in policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, free and unfettered trade, financial integration, and critically, people-to-people bonds. More than a decade on, the foundations laid here are delivering rewarding results," he said. Professor Waqar Ahmad, president of Nazarbayev University, said his institution, which opened in 2010, has a lot to learn from universities in the SAR. Last year, Nazarbayev University launched a partnership with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to establish a joint Bachelor of Business Administration programme under which students spend two years at each institution. “One of the inspiring examples for us is the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,” Ahmad said. “35-year-old doesn't behave like a 35-year-old institution, behaves like a fantastic, mature institution which competes with universities which are 200, 300, 400 years old, fantastic in everything that it does, and that's the kind of inspiration that we get excited by. “We are a university which is still in the making. You've got well-established universities with a global reputation. We need to learn from you to get there.” Before the exchange ceremony, Lee and his delegation toured the university and visited its teaching facilities on artificial intelligence, new materials and energy technologies. Lee will head to Uzbekistan on Wednesday afternoon to continue his trip in Central Asia. Edited by Edmond Fong

South China Morning Post

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Tears in North Korea as Kim meets footballers after historic title win

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally received the country’s AFC Women’s Champions League winners in Pyongyang earlier this week, embracing the players and posing for photographs with them as they wept with joy and leapt in celebration. Naegohyang Women’s FC clinched Asia’s top club title with a 1-0 defeat of Tokyo Verdy Beleza of Japan in the final in Suwon on May 23, becoming the first North Korean side to win the AFC Women’s Champions League. Kim congratulated the players on their...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Child neglect case 'mind-boggling': lawmaker

A lawmaker on Wednesday called a controversial child neglect case "mind-boggling", saying he couldn't understand how the parents would leave their newborn without a birth certificate or any medical records. The parents were arrested on Tuesday after the case went viral online as they refused DNA testing to prove their relationship with the baby following a home birth. Speaking on an RTHK programme, Peter Koon, who chairs Legco's social welfare panel, says the baby's safety is what matters most – and a court could issue a protection order if the parents are found unfit to care for him. "Following the issuance of a child protection order, the baby could be sent to a facility that specialises in caring for newborns," he said. "As for who becomes the guardian, that really depends on the court's order. But theoretically, temporary guardianship could be granted to the Director of Social Welfare." Speaking on the same programme, Patrick Ip, a paediatrics professor at the University of Hong Kong, said he's worried about the baby's health. "This case makes me uneasy. The parents had two other children — neither went smoothly. One of them died young. Was there a problem with the way they cared for them?" he questioned. "For this newborn without a birth certificate, there's no way to get proper vaccinations or health monitoring. This is very far from ideal." The Social Welfare Department said it is seeking a protection order for the infant from the court, adding it will come up with a plan that puts the baby's health and interests first. Edited by Tony Sabine

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