Sheer ignorance, fed by malign intent, historical prejudice and mutual misunderstanding, is often the crucial spark that ignites simmering international conflicts. If Adolf Hitler, remarkably ignorant of the US, had grasped the true extent of American industrial might, would he still have fatefully declared war on Washington in 1941? When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, it evidently had no idea what it was getting into. Humiliating defeat contributed greatly to its subsequent disintegration. In 1990, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait, convinced he had a green light from the…
Tag: Asia Pacific
Anger mounts in Hong Kong over apartment fires as Beijing warns against ‘anti-China disruptors’
Anger over a deadly blaze at a Hong Kong high-rise apartment complex simmered on Sunday as Beijing warned against attempts to use the disaster to disrupt the city, while people across the financial hub continued to mourn for the more than 128 victims. Police on Saturday detained one person who was part of a group that launched a petition demanding government accountability, an independent probe into possible corruption, proper resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight, two sources familiar with the matter said. University student Miles Kwan, 24,…
Rescue efforts end at Hong Kong tower block fire as death toll reaches 128
The death toll from the Hong Kong apartment complex fire that began on Wednesday has risen to 128 with as many as 200 missing, officials have said, as rescue operations were declared over. Firefighters had been combing through the high-rises on Friday, attempting to find anyone alive after the massive fire that spread to seven of eight towers in one of the city’s deadliest blazes. Authorities said they had recovered 108 bodies from the buildings, but 16 were still inside. Four people died of their injuries in hospital, Chris Tang,…
Hong Kong community groups deliver aid to survivors of Wang Fuk Court fire
Hong Kong’s grassroots community groups have sprung into action to help coordinate and deliver aid to the survivors of the Wang Fuk Court fire, a catastrophic blaze that is confirmed to have killed at least 128 people, with hundreds still missing. Restaurants, churches and gyms in the Tai Po area, where the Wang Fuk Court housing estate is located, have been turned into temporary shelters for people in need of clothes, food and information as a result of the tragedy. Some have compared the sudden and well-organised mobilisation of volunteers…
Millions in China cram for civil service exam and the hope of a job for life
A record number of people are set to take China’s notoriously gruelling national civil service exam this weekend, reflecting the increasing desire of Chinese workers to find employment in the public rather than private sector. Around 3.7 million people have registered for the tests on Saturday and Sunday, which will be the first since the government increased the age limit for certain positions. The age limit for general candidates has increased from 35 to 38, while the age limit for those with postgraduate degrees has been raised from 40 to…
Anger swelling in Hong Kong over deadliest fire in more than 70 years
Some think leader John Lee’s focus on blaming bamboo scaffolding deflects from actual cause The inferno that engulfed Wang Fuk Court residential compound in Hong Kong is still burning, but questions are already being asked about what the deadliest fire in more than 70 years means for Beijing’s grip on power in the city. The death toll from the blaze, which tore apart seven of the eight high-rise apartment buildings in Wang Fuk Court, a residential compound home to 4,800 people, is still rising. Hundreds of people are still missing.…
Hong Kong apartment fires continue to burn as people rally to support survivors – video
A fire at a group of residential tower blocks in Hong Kong has killed at least 75 people, with more than 250 still missing. Helen Davidson reports from the scene, where thick smoke still hangs in the air as firefighters continue to douse the flames and try to find any survivors The Guardian
Aerial video shows scale of Hong Kong apartment complex fire
At least 55 people have died after a fire engulfed several residential apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Wednesday. At least 45 people are in a critical condition and almost 300 people are missing. By Thursday morning, the fires had not been fully extinguished at the site, which comprises eight 32-storey towers containing about 2,000 flats. About 4,800 people live on the premises, which were being renovated at the time. Three men – two directors and an engineering consultant whose ages range…
Hong Kong fire: police blame construction firm’s ‘gross negligence’ as death toll rises to 55
Hong Kong police have alleged unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work may have been behind the rapid spread of a devastating fire at a group of residential tower blocks that has killed at least 55 people and left almost 300 missing. Firefighters were still battling to reach residents who may be trapped on the upper floors of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex on Thursday due to the intense heat and thick smoke generated by the fire. Authorities said the death toll had reached 55, with 45…
Cuddling capybaras and ogling otters: the problem with animal cafes in Asia
The second floor of an unassuming office building in central Bangkok is a strange place to encounter the world’s largest rodent. Yet here, inside a small enclosure with a shallow pool, three capybaras are at the disposal of dozens of paying customers – all clamouring for a selfie. As people eagerly thrust leafy snacks toward the nonchalant-looking animals, few seem to consider the underlying peculiarity: how, exactly, did this South American rodent end up more than 10,000 miles from home, in a bustling Asian metropolis? Capybara cafes have been cropping…