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Nov 1, 2026

Could Taipei’s unexpectedly tight mayoral race add to cross-strait tensions?

Taipei Mayor Wayne Chiang Wan-an faces an unexpectedly tough re-election fight in a race closely watched for its potential to damage the main opposition party Kuomintang and further strain the island’s relations with Beijing. Just five months ago, Chiang appeared comfortably positioned for a second term in a city where the KMT has traditionally enjoyed an advantage over the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. A poll by local cable news network TVBS in late May put him 28 percentage points ahead...

'Revolutionary change aimed for building maintenance'

Nov 1, 2026

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam on Sunday said the government’s efforts to amend the law following the deadly Wang Fuk Court inferno aim to make a "revolutionary change" to the entire building maintenance ecosystem in Hong Kong. His remarks came as authorities plan to submit legislative amendments to the Legislative Council within this year to reform the building maintenance and renovation system, as well as combat bid-rigging activities. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Lam said dishonest contractors should be driven out of the market. “In today’s large-scale building maintenance, there is an objective fact – an unfortunate and unacceptable fact – that the 'fat of the meat' is too rich, and the market was almost monopolised by bad actors,” he said. "A friend of mine in law enforcement put it very well: bad money drives out good. Genuinely decent maintenance workers and professionals were not willing to take part in the market. People have no choice – it’s all bad actors. "So the first step is to drive the bad actors out of the market, so that the highly professional and honest people will be willing to re-enter the market." Lam said authorities should also assist home owners in finding suitable contractors and professionals, and ensure that construction works are carried out in a safe and lawful manner. Speaking on the same show, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said bid-rigging involves complex issues including price-fixing and market sharing. He believes criminalising such activities would enable greater powers to combat bid-rigging, expressing hope that the amendments could be passed by April next year. Edited by Tony Sabine

Nov 1, 2026

Ex-Japanese adult film actress in intensive care after alleged drugging in Hong Kong

Former Japanese adult film actress Mao Hamasaki was admitted to intensive care at a Hong Kong hospital after being allegedly drugged while working in a club in Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday morning. Hamasaki’s manager published a post on her Facebook page at 5.40am on Sunday morning, with two photos showing her in a wheelchair being taken to an ambulance. The post read “drugged while working”. Hamasaki had performed as a disc jockey at several clubs on Halloween night until the early hours of Sunday,...

Nov 1, 2026

‘Be alive’: Hongkonger with muscular dystrophy turns 18, against all odds

Celebrating one’s 18th birthday is not typically a poignant occasion, but for outgoing Hongkonger Chen Tsz-kin, adulthood began last week with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. At 18 months old, Chen was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition that causes muscles to weaken over time. Doctors told his mother, Michelle Li Yuan-feng, that people with the incurable illness had an average life expectancy of 18. “I felt like a brand new self waking up this morning. It’s been...

Nov 1, 2026

3 Hong Kong Chinese-language newspapers raise retail prices by HK$3

Three Chinese-language newspapers in Hong Kong have raised their retail prices by HK$3 (40 US cents) this month, marking the first sector-wide adjustment in two years. Ming Pao’s price rise took effect on Sunday, increasing its single-copy price from HK$12 to HK$15, up 25 per cent. Two financial broadsheets will follow suit on Monday. The Hong Kong Economic Times (HKET) will raise its price from HK$12 to HK$15, while the Hong Kong Economic Journal (HKEJ) will increase its price by 20 per cent...

Nov 1, 2026

Love hotteok? Here's how the sugary, oil-fried snack can affect your diet

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Comedian Shin Bong-sun, who has drawn attention for her slimmer figure, turned down even a tempting snack to stay on track with her diet. Shin recently posted a photo of a black plastic bag on social media, writing, “Hotteok my older sister bought me from Namdaemun. I won't eat it.” She also shared a full-body photo taken at a gym, saying she was playing tennis and attending a personal training session. Shin previously revealed that she had lost 11 kilograms in just 100 days. She has since continued to exercise regularly and manage her diet. Hotteok: A calorie bomb with sugar and oil Hotteok is a snack made by filling wheat flour dough with a sweet filling and cooking it in oil. The carbohydrates in the dough, combined with sugar and oil, make the snack high in calories. Its calorie content varies depending on its size, filling ingredients and the amount of oil used during cooking. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's food nutrition database, hotteok containing nuts has 314 kilocalories per 100 grams. Eating a 150-gram hotteok

Nov 1, 2026

Korea's top diplomat discusses ties with German, Polish counterparts

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met separately with his German and Polish counterparts on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Atlanta to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, his office said Saturday. Cho met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday (U.S. time), expressing hope for deeper ties with the European nation in a wide range of areas, including defense, the economy and cutting-edge industries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In response, Wadephul thanked Seoul's foreign ministry for successfully preparing for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent visit to Korea and expressed hope for expanded cooperation in bilateral trade and investment. Cho also met with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski, and called for continued discussions on cooperation in areas such as defense and batteries as a follow-up to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's visit to Korea in April, the ministry said. Sikorski also requested Korea's attention and support for Warsaw's efforts to join the G20, with Cho proposing continued consultations on the matter.

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Could Taipei’s unexpectedly tight mayoral race add to cross-strait tensions?

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Ex-Japanese adult film actress in intensive care after alleged drugging in Hong Kong

‘Be alive’: Hongkonger with muscular dystrophy turns 18, against all odds

3 Hong Kong Chinese-language newspapers raise retail prices by HK$3

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Love hotteok? Here's how the sugary, oil-fried snack can affect your diet

Korea's top diplomat discusses ties with German, Polish counterparts