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Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s recent policy address set out an ambitious reform agenda designed to sharpen Hong Kong’s competitive edge while enhancing people’s livelihoods. As we enter Mental Health Awareness Month, we should reflect on the role mental well-being can play in the city’s fortunes. Lee’s address mentioned an integrated approach featuring 11 measures as part of efforts to promote mental health. These include extending the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism, expanding...

The Victorian man sat with his arms crossed, and at times with his head down.

Online claims that archaeologists have identified the source of mercury in the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang – China’s first emperor, who unified the country more than 2,000 years ago – have revived interest in ancient cinnabar sites in northwestern China’s Shaanxi province. The claims, which sent related hashtags trending on social media late last month, centred on three sites in Xunyang where archaeologists last year found evidence of cinnabar mining, processing and transport during the pre-Qin...

"Why do you insist on living in Seoul? You could just live in your own region." Young people from outside the capital hear that question often, and they say it misses the point. About 30,000 of them move to Seoul each year in net terms for university or work, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The regional antagonism that split their parents' generation between the Jeolla provinces in Korea's southwest and the Gyeongsang provinces in the southeast has faded. In its place, the concentration of opportunity in Seoul alone has deepened their marginalization. Eight participants in a roundtable discussion described what that gap looks like from the other end of the country. Regional prejudice survives as mockery Participant 7: "The regional rivalry between Gyeongsang and Jeolla doesn't seem that strong among people in their 20s these days." Participant 6: "There isn't the same level of it as among people in their 50s and 60s. But I have encountered some anti-Jeolla sentiment. Some friends whose parents are from Jeolla make such comments even more openly." Participant 1: "I've har

Korea on Friday abolished the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office after 78 years and launched two new state agencies dividing its investigative and prosecutorial powers, ushering in one of the most sweeping changes to the country’s criminal justice system in decades. Under the new framework taking effect Friday, investigations will be divided among the newly established Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The new Prosecution Service will review cases, decide whether to indict suspects, request warrants from courts based on applications from investigative agencies and conduct prosecutions in court. But the launch of the new system leaves several unanswered questions: How agencies will handle cases when their jurisdictions overlap, whether prosecutors can exercise sufficient oversight without investigative authority of their own and whether the new agencies are adequately staffed and equipped to take over complex major-crime investigations. In the days leading up to the overhaul, prosecutor’s office

President Lee Jae Myung has approved a request for a parliamentary confirmation hearing for his nominee to become the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), a presidential spokesperson said Friday. The announcement came as the SCIA was set to launch later in the day to take over prosecutors' functions of investigating serious crimes as part of the Lee administration's prosecution reform. Lee's approval of a document requesting a parliamentary hearing for SCIA chief nominee Kim Ji-yong indicates the president might be taking steps to officially appoint him. The president nominated Kim early last month at the recommendation of the interior minister, but suspicions have since been raised within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, including over claims that Kim had once opposed prosecution reform. The presidential office said the previous day that Cheong Wa Dae will soon submit a request to the National Assembly for a parliamentary confirmation hearing for Kim. It said it had carried out an additional verification process on Kim but found that his nomination shou

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. posted record U.S. sales for September, driven by strong demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and hybrid models, the Hyundai Motor Group affiliates said Friday. Hyundai Motor America sold 77,439 vehicles last month, up 9 percent from a year earlier, marking its highest-ever September sales. Sales of the Palisade SUV surged 52 percent on-year, while the Sonata, Tucson and Santa Fe also posted double-digit growth. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) accounted for 28 percent of Hyundai's total U.S. sales during the month. Kia America also reported its best-ever September sales, with deliveries jumping 18 percent on-year to 77,009 units. The Seltos, Niro, K4, Telluride, Sorento, Carnival, K5 and Sportage were among the models that contributed to the strong monthly performance.

As education sector demand supports Hong Kong’s Grade A office leasing activity, analysts said infrastructure that will serve the Northern Metropolis could decide whether schools and universities move their administrative and other services to this potential new centre of the city. “Over the medium to long term, the Northern Metropolis could be a viable option for institutions seeking to expand their teaching, research and administrative facilities,” said Kelvin Lee, director at property agency...

Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have given Native tribes greater say on decisions about water. One tribal leader said it shows that the governor "doesn't care about tribes."

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A storied Australian engineering giant that originated with the Snowy Hydro scheme and still has government contracts paid $9 million as part of the settlement.

A woman was charged with murder in connection with the death of her 4-month-old baby, who was found dead in a dumpster earlier this week in South Los Angeles.