A 15-year legal battle over late tycoon Lim Por-yen’s HK$2.9 billion (US$371.8 million) estate is set to continue, with rival parties preparing for further legal action after a Hong Kong court ruled that his third wife and children were entitled to inherit part of his estate. Lim’s estate lodged an appeal after losing the legal battle last year, while Pearl Ling Meng-chu, daughter of Lim’s third wife, told the South China Morning Post that she had not ruled out taking further action. “She is...

The wife of a British passenger who died after severe turbulence struck Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ321 in May 2024 has begun legal proceedings against the carrier in Britain, seeking damages after she suffered serious spinal injuries in the incident. Linda Kitchen, 74, broke her back during the flight and has begun High Court proceedings seeking damages to help her access specialist support for her recovery, the BBC reported. Her husband Geoff Kitchen, 73, had also died on the...

A yellowing receipt, framed behind glass near the entrance of Abdul Razak Gold House, records an address that no longer officially exists: “63 Ampang Street, Kuala Lumpur (Malaya)”. The shop’s modern glass frontage, polished counters and gleaming bullion cases give little away about its history. But step inside and that simple receipt serves as a small window onto pre-independence Malaysia. For six decades, this family business has reinvented itself in step with the city around it. What began as...

A retired American teacher has reunited with a Chinese farmer 26 years after their initial encounter, returning to the once-barren sandy landscape transformed by his generous donation into a lush green environment. In 1999, Ronald Sakolsky, now 67, was teaching English in Luoyang, Henan province, central-eastern China, when he discovered Inner Mongolian farmer Yin Yuzhen’s efforts to combat desertification. Inspired by her dedication, he donated US$5,000 to support her mission. The pair first...

Friction between humans and wild animals at China’s Giant Panda National Park intensified significantly over the past decade as conservation efforts expanded, a new study has found. Farmers reported increasing losses between 2015 and 2024 stemming from damage to property and crops as well as attacks on humans and livestock. The team behind the study said the issue had become the most prominent challenge facing the park’s administrators. The Giant Panda National Park covers 22,000 sq km (8,500 sq...

JD.com’s rapid expansion in Hong Kong could challenge the property model that has long made the city’s busiest streets and shopping centres its most valuable, analysts say. The Chinese e-commerce giant has invested more than HK$10 billion (US$1.3 billion) in Hong Kong property over the past two years, building a network of stores, warehouses and other assets that analysts said could reduce the importance of footfall for some retailers while increasing the value of logistics hubs and other...

Hong Kong’s low fertility rate is an opportunity rather than a challenge and gives the city a chance to become a global leader in building a child-friendly environment, a former UN resident coordinator in China has said. Siddharth Chatterjee, who held the role from 2021 until March this year, said Hong Kong could create a “pioneering blueprint” for others to follow if it could earn the status of a “Child Friendly City” under a UN initiative. While most developing countries and territories are...