HK seeks to tighten visit scheme: chief executive

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said yesterday that the Individual Visit Scheme for tourists from the Chinese mainland is not expanding and the government is seeking to tighten it

Cupid strikes for Hong Kong career women on the mainland

After a few failed relationships in her home city of Hong Kong, Doreen Cheung did not expect Cupid to strike when she moved to Shanghai in 2002. A PR manager then

Hong Kong | Grandmas vie for jobs as Asia’s worst aging crisis looms

Eighty-six years old and still job hunting. Wong Siu-ying had to stop passing out leaflets on a Hong Kong flyover when she hurt her knee in August. With two-thirds of her

New Zealand | Gov’t to send troops to Iraq to train local forces

  New Zealand will send a small number of troops to Iraq to help train local forces in their battle against the Islamic State group, Prime Minister John Key announced yesterday. Key told lawmakers

Indonesia | President rejects any intervention in executions

Indonesia’s president has rejected any attempts by other countries to intervene in the execution of foreign drug traffickers. The government has announced plans to execute eight people — one Indonesian

South Korea | Spy chief says teenager joined Islamic State group

A teenager who went missing in Turkey last month is probably the first known South Korean to join the Islamic State group, officials said yesterday. The director of South Korea’s National

Greece | Eurozone backs reforms; key hurdle to extend bailout 

  Greece’s creditors in the 19-country eurozone yesterday approved a list of reforms Athens proposed to get a 4-month extension to its bailout, which should keep the country afloat over the coming

USA | Alaska becomes 3rd US state to legalize marijuana

Alaska yesterday became the third U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but organizers don’t expect any public celebrations since it remains illegal to smoke marijuana in public. In

Ukraine | Rebels claim weapons pullback begins

Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine said yesterday they have begun a large-scale pullback of heavy weapons in line with an international peace plan that aims to form a wide buffer

Israel | Report: Mossad was less alarmed than Netanyahu on Iran

  Israel’s Mossad spy agency in October 2012 had a less alarmist view of Iran’s nuclear program than an assessment delivered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations just

USA | Republicans struggle for way out as Homeland shutdown looms

Divided Republicans are searching for a way out of an impasse over immigration that is threatening to shut down the Homeland Security Department within days. With the agency’s budget set to

This Day in History: 1964 Cassius Clay crowned world champion

Clay, from Kentucky, was announced the winner after the hot favourite retired at the end of the sixth round in Miami. When the bell rang for the start of the seventh

Offbeat | ‘Fifty Shades’ dominates box office again with USD22.2 million

Universal’s erotic drama starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan earned USD22.2 million at No. 1 in its second weekend at the box office. The total domestic haul for the adaptation

Cricket | World Cup: After surprising opening win, Ireland back in action v UAE

  Ireland captain William Porterfield reckons his team has had enough time to savor its surprising opening win over the West Indies at the World Cup. Now it's time to get

Philander ruled out of South Africa’s next World Cup match

Paceman Vernon Philander has been ruled out of South Africa's next World Cup match against the West Indies due to a left hamstring injury he picked up during last weekend's

The Autumn World Cup | FIFA recommends November-December for Qatar 2022

A FIFA task force yesterday recommended playing the 2022 World Cup in November-December to avoid the summer heat in Qatar. FIFA said the task force chose the "most viable period" over

World Views: Soda tax bubbles up

Is it smart to impose a sin tax on soda? Many Americans hate the idea, considering it an imposition on personal freedom. Congress, likewise, won’t go near it anytime soon. But

Wednesday, February 25, 2015 – edition no. 2257

* Hong Kong | Grandma has to find a job * New decline in casino shares * Seac Pai Van residents fear becoming ‘second Sin Fong’ * Cupid strikes for HK career women

The Buzz | Pope awards high church honor to Armenian mystic St. Gregory

Pope Francis has declared St. Gregory of Narek, a 10th-century mystic and poet revered in particular by Armenian Catholics, a doctor of the church. Yesterday’s designation of one of the highest

World briefs

TAIWAN A black sport utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into a security barrier outside the office building of Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou early yesterday, his office spokesperson Ma Wei-kuo said. The

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