Four Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians are removed from power under new Chinese laws that disqualifies lawmakers deemed ‘a threat to national security’ Comes after Beijing ruled any politician can be removed without court approval Latest blow to democracy since imposition of sweeping security law in June China’s leaders have called it a ‘sword’ hanging over the head … Read more
Although the world is still battling the coronavirus, one Italian designer is looking toward a post-pandemic world to help commuters travel safely and securely to their destination. Andrea Ponti released a gallery of concept designs for a private jet-like drone that carries up to four passengers while they sit in single seats with soft fabric and … Read more
Model Mandy Lieu is poised to swap the catwalk for muddy boots after becoming the new owner of Ewhurst Park, the former seat of the Duke of Wellington. The 35-year-old, one of Asia’s biggest stars who has fronted campaigns for Dior and is also a TV presenter and actress, paid £28 million for the estate, … Read more
Jonathon Bennett is as confused as he is angry. A veteran textile importer, he works for Metropolitan Pacific, a long-established Hong Kong firm. When the clarion call sounded for personal protective equipment as the first wave of the coronavirus engulfed Britain, he stepped forward. His contacts in China, the world’s biggest manufacturer of PPE, are … Read more
A mutated strain of coronavirus that originated in Spain may be the culprit behind Europe’s catastrophic second wave, a study has claimed. An international team of scientists tracking the virus as it spreads and evolves, said the variant, called 20A.EU1, is behind 90 per cent of cases in the UK since summer. Every virus mutation … Read more
People are now just as likely to catch coronavirus in England as they are if they went abroad on holiday, official data suggests. Before today, people were more likely to test positive for the infection if they had travelled overseas in the past 30 days. But the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed today there … Read more
China’s President Xi violently coughs throughout speech, prompting speculation on his health, as state media cuts away each time he is forced to stop speaking Xi Jinping was giving a speech to party faithful in Shenzhen on Wednesday Towards the end of his address, he was seen and heard repeatedly coughing Cameras cut away from … Read more
Not much more than a year ago songwriter Herbert Kretzmer was watching television at his home in Kensington, West London. The news was on and the screen was full of the brave citizens of Hong Kong protesting at the threat to their liberties and independence from mainland China. As they marched they sang a song … Read more
A Chinese virologist who claims the coronavirus was cooked up in a military lab has accused Beijing of fabricating the virus genome data to cover up its ‘unrestricted bioweapon’. Although scientists are still unravelling the origin of the pandemic, it is widely suggested that the virus had jumped onto humans from wild animals, such as bats … Read more
Dominic Raab refuses to rule out boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and Prince William may not attend over concerns about China’s abuse of Uighur Muslims Foreign Secretary said there is ‘evidence of egregious human rights violations’ China previously denied claims it is carrying out forced sterilisation of Muslims Around 380 sites in the Xinjiang … Read more