Office rents plummet as coronavirus drags Hong Kong’s commercial property transactions to an all-time low
Hong Kong’s commercial property market, already reeling from last year’s protests, is about to slide further into the doldrums as the coronavirus epidemic saps demand, according to analysts.The volume of transactions for office, retail and industrial p...
Italy, reeling from coronavirus outbreak, discovers what it’s like to be Chinese
Italy was the first European Union country to ignore the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) advice not to ban flights to and from China because of the coronavirus outbreak. Now, with a whole Italian region on lockdown, is Rome regretting that decision? ...
Syrian journalist and activist Raed Fares receives 2020 Courage in Journalism Award
Raed Fares, the Syrian journalist and prominent activist who was fatally shot by armed gunmen in November 2018, is awarded the 2020 Courage in Journalism Award by the Legatum Institute. Raed Fares, founder and director of the independent Syrian radio station Radio Fresh, was shot and killed along with his colleague Hamoud al-Jnaid, by unknown […]
Coronavirus boosts fortunes of e-learning providers, while Hong Kong’s private tutoring industry struggles
The coronavirus epidemic is proving to be a mixed bag for education services providers, as authorities in Hong Kong and China extend closure of schools to contain the deadly outbreak.While online education providers are riding on a surge in student use...
Democrat debate clash: rivals round on Sanders, Bloomberg faces China questions
Democratic White House hopefuls rounded on leftist front-runner Bernie Sanders at a feisty debate on Tuesday, attacking him as too extreme for American voters and a weak challenger to President Donald Trump.Joe Biden, who needs a victory in South Carol...
Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada on working with Johnny Depp and teaching Japanese culture to Hollywood
Hiroyuki Sanada is a Japanese powerhouse and the 59 year-old, who has been based in Los Angeles for 20 years, doesn’t mind playing second fiddle to Hollywood superstars. In fact, he makes them look great, whether it be alongside Hugh Jackman in The Wol...
Oracle funding dark money group Internet Accountability Project to fight big tech
When the Internet Accountability Project popped up late last year and joined the growing crusade against big tech, the non-profit group refused to say who was financing it.Turns out, at least one of its benefactors is Oracle.Oracle donated between US$2...
Hong Kong, China stocks fall after US markets tumble again over coronavirus fears at home
Good day, traders -- Overnight, US stocks tumbled, leaving all three major benchmarks in negative territory for the year. A US health official warned the public to get ready for a coronavirus outbreak at home. Keep up with the latest news and moves ...
Sars left Hong Kong fencer Maria Chan close to the brink – but her teammate’s ‘lie’ hit a nerve and sparked a ‘miracle’ recovery
After five days in the intensive care unit, Maria Chan Siu-san’s condition was worsening and doctors feared for her life. One of 1,755 people in Hong Kong struck by severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in 2003, the Hong Kong fencer seemed to lack t...