Asia

by Yan ZHAO Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters appeared in court Wednesday after being charged with rioting, setting the stage for further unrest in a weeks-long crisis that has rocked the global financial hub. The announcement on Tuesday night that 44 people had been charged with rioting — an offence that carries a jail […]

Sometimes people do stupid things to be famous but it comes at a price if they are not careful. Malaysian singer Ara Johari did a food challenge that almost caused her her life and she received backlash for what she did. Malay Mail reported that Ara Johari did a challenge of eating spicy noodles with durian […]

After weeks of increasingly violent protests, China’s top policy body on Hong Kong affairs was set to hold an extremely rare press briefing Monday on the crisis engulfing the financial hub, where dozens of protesters were arrested in weekend clashes with police. What began as a mass display of opposition to an extradition bill two […]

Hijabi fashion entrepreneur Neelofa was criticised online recently for uploading clips of Disney’s The Lion King on social media. The 30-year-old has apologised since then, saying that she had no intention of breaking copyright-related laws and that she respects intellectual property. Neelofa, whose real name is Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor wrote an apology on Twitter. […]

Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse who has recently helmed cooking shows now hopes to whip another feast for the eyes on movie screens. Tse is reuniting with Donnie Yen after 14 years to shoot a thriller called Raging Fire. It is a comeback to action movies after starring in films such as New Police Story […]

Director-actor Stephen Chow has been the subject of many rumours regarding his love life despite being a private person. He was rumoured to be the mysterious father of actress Cecilia Cheung’s third child in Jan 2019. The latest rumour is that he is married. In 2010, he broke up with longtime girlfriend construction heiress Yu […]

Popular soft drink giant Coca-Cola will be releasing an alcoholic beverage but it will not be in the US market just yet. Coca-Cola spokesperson Scott Leith said the company will officially launch the Lemon-do alcoholic soft drink in Japan in October. It debuted in May 2018 in Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island in three varieties ranging […]

by Andrew BEATTY Australian universities are being investigated over their contracts with Chinese-state run Confucius Institutes, officials said Thursday, amid fresh revelations over the scope of Beijing’s control of teaching in the centres. Attorney-General Christian Porter said the government was looking at whether deals between thirteen Australian universities and the Confucius Institutes breach new foreign […]

An American warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy and Taiwanese authorities said Thursday, triggering concern in Beijing. The transit came as China, which views Taiwan as a renegade province, unveiled a defence white paper Wednesday stressing its willingness to use force to thwart any move towards the self-ruled island’s independence, and accusing […]

by Jerome TAYLOR The savage beating of Hong Kong protesters by a mob of triad gangsters has deepened fears about the city’s notorious criminal gangs and the use of shadowy hired muscle to defend China’s interests. At least 45 people were hospitalised after Sunday’s attack when men armed with poles and rods assaulted anti-government protesters […]

by Dan Martin / Lianchao LAN Trading begins Monday on a new Nasdaq-style technology board in Shanghai that represents one of China’s most significant market reforms, and a potential weapon in its growing tech rivalry with the United States. Twenty-five stocks will debut on the Shanghai Stocks Exchange’s Sci-Tech Innovation Board — dubbed the STAR […]

Reporter Justin Kroll from Variety posted tweets about auditioning for roles in Marvel Studio’s Shang-Chi, creating excitement in China. He wrote that Marvel Studios is “putting out test offers for a group of men in their 20s” for the role in Shang-Chi, adding that the studio has “been adamant to reps offering up their clients for the […]

US pop star Beyonce and Hong Kong’s Cantopop singer Jacky Cheung are collaborating in a duet for the first time for the new Lion King movie. The Disney live-action remake premiered in Chinese cinemas last Saturday with Beyonce’s voice acting as lion queen Nala and partnering with Cheung for the theme song ‘Can You Feel […]

Taiwanese star Elva Hsiao made a comeback to social media after two months on a hiatus. She posted a video of herself on Instagram seemingly dozing off while drunk. View this post on Instagram 半夜我好想我的毛小孩，可是我肚子餓了，吃完我就會睡了掰 A post shared by ELVAHSIAO (@hsiaoelva) on Jul 17, 2019 at 2:41pm PDT Hsiao said on the video that she […]

South Korean actress Song Hye Kyo has moved out of the house that she previously shared with ex-husband Song Joong Ki during their marriage. She moved into a luxury villa in the UN Village, one of Korea’s richest communities. She is abroad attending to her overseas schedules. Song Joong Ki moved in with his family […]