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Ghana

A Chinese-invested gold processing plant in Orkney, South Africa is expected to create 4,000 new jobs. Photo: X/ @buamogaetsho

China-Africa relations

Chinese firms bet on African gold as prices surge in the face of uncertainty

Observers say mining investments in South Africa and Ghana could help Beijing weather geopolitical instability and potential sanctions.

25 Nov 2024 - 10:00PMvideocam

Denmark

Denmark shuts embassies in junta-led Mali and Burkina Faso

27 Aug 2024 - 2:20PMvideocam

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Shanti Pereira hopes Olympic exploits ‘put Singapore on map’, ‘sad’ after exit

6 Aug 2024 - 12:33AM

Food and Drinks

Climate change impact pushes Hong Kong chocolate makers to plant cacao trees

Prices of cocoa beans, key ingredient of chocolate, have rocketed as climate change hits harvests. Hong Kong’s bean-to-bar chocolate makers describe how they are growing their own.

8 Jul 2024 - 10:02AM

Chocobien Chocolatier founder Arron Liu started growing cacao trees in Hong Kong a few years ago. Photo: Chocobien Chocolatier

Indonesia

From scam syndicate slave to justice crusader: an Indonesian survivor’s journey

Trapped abroad and feeling forgotten about at home, Indonesia’s trafficking victims languish as their families demand more action.

25 Jun 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

Ukraine war

World leaders back just peace for Ukraine as Zelensky laments China’s absence from summit

Over 90 countries attended a Swiss summit at the behest of Ukraine’s president – but Russia was not invited and China did not attend.

17 Jun 2024 - 9:51AM

China-Africa relations

Can China balance local interests with its needs as it eyes African fish stocks?

The country is investing heavily in port facilities across the continent, but its trawlers are accused of putting local stocks at risk.

16 Jun 2024 - 3:13PMvideocam

A Chinese-flagged vessel is stopped by coastguards of the coast of Liberia on suspicion of illegal fishing. Photo: Sea Shepherd

Middle East

Opinion | Wary of ‘the ugly American’, Arab world is leaning towards China and Russia

As the US funds Israel’s war in Gaza, it is quickly losing credibility in the Middle East, where public opinion is tilting towards Beijing and Moscow.

12 Jun 2024 - 5:30AMvideocam

China-Africa relations

China envoys deliver Xi’s invite to African leaders for September FOCAC summit

In a break with tradition, several countries have announced the date for the China-Africa cooperation forum in Beijing.

7 Jun 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Profile

Mean Girls actress Jo Chim on building a legacy and scoring a Nasa invite

Hong Kong-born actress and filmmaker Jo Chim tells Kate Whitehead about hiding her Chinese side from school friends, being mean in Mean Girls and why she got invited to Nasa.

3 Jun 2024 - 7:15AMvideocam

Hong Kong filmmaker Jo Chim in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Photo: Antony Dickson

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Double delight for Losada, Eastern win FA Cup and Hong Kong hand him coaching role

Eastern head coach Roberto Losada’s side overcome spirited Sham Shui Po in extra-time thriller to claim FA Cup title. Hong Kong officials make him assistant coach for World Cup qualifiers.

1 Jun 2024 - 9:18PM

Eastern celebrate winning the FA Cup for a sixth time. Photo: Mike Chan

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

From fixing car lights to FA Cup final, Eastern star Baffoe cherishing pro dream

Eastern star Noah Baffoe will play key role in side’s FA Cup final side a year after combining football with work fixing car lights, but is non-committal over future after 28-goal season.

1 Jun 2024 - 2:26PM

Britain

UK ambassador to Mexico removed after pointing gun at staff

A video circulated on social media showed Jon Benjamin jokingly pointing an assault rifle at a local embassy employee inside a vehicle.

1 Jun 2024 - 8:47AM

Africa

US expected to designate Kenya as major non-Nato ally as Biden hosts Ruto

A designation would reflect Washington’s drive to deepen relations with the East African nation, which has long also had close relations with Russia and China.

23 May 2024 - 3:07PM

Kenyan President William Ruto visiting US President Joe Biden at the White House. Photo: Reuters

Banking & finance

The View | IMF, World Bank must do more to defuse the bomb of poor nations’ debt

The focus is on retooling current approaches when what debt-burdened countries need is an economic re-engineering to produce more lucrative goods and innovative ways to pay down debt using commodities.

25 Apr 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

A woman from a small village near Samre town in Tigray, Ethiopia, on May 26 last year. Ethiopia saw one of the bloodiest wars of the 21st century which led to widespread starvation. The African country has applied for debt restructuring under the G20’s Common Framework. Photo: Getty Images

Music

Music for ‘the weirdos’: meet the DJs of LGBTQ collective Möth Agency

Möth Agency evolved to fill a gap in Hong Kong’s dance music scene, one of the DJs leading it says, but its mission extends to providing social welfare and solidarity for people who feel marginalised.

25 Apr 2024 - 5:15PM

China-Africa relations

Chinese navy steps up African port calls in push to cement diplomatic ties

After pausing them during the pandemic, Beijing’s growing military diplomacy is seeing more frequent port visits.

13 Apr 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Poland

Polish sex orgy priest gets 18 months in jail

The priest was sentenced to 18 months in jail for sex and drug crimes, after an incident in which a man reportedly collapsed after taking too many erectile dysfunction pills during an orgy at his home.

10 Apr 2024 - 8:33AM

A Polish priest was sentenced to 18 months in jail for sex and drug crimes, after an incident in which a man reportedly collapsed during an orgy at his home. Photo: Shutterstock

China-Africa relations

My Take | Who’s afraid of China? Not Africa

Continent’s leaders are pushing back against Western pressure and tilt increasingly towards Beijing.

8 Apr 2024 - 9:00PM

Africa

‘What happened is a crime’: outrage after Ghana priest, 63, marries child bride

The girl and her mother were placed under police protection soon after the marriage, as Ghana’s attorney general opened an investigation.

3 Apr 2024 - 11:30PM

Fashion

No gemstones here: artist makes jewellery from rope, brass, and salt crystals

Her jewellery is made from materials not usually associated with luxury. It is meant to reflect the talismanic role of jewellery in Kenyan culture, says Ami Doshi Shah, a Kenyan of South Asian origin.

19 Mar 2024 - 7:15PM

A staff member displays neck piece jewellery from a display of Kenyan designer Ami Doshi Shah’s handcrafted designs. Photo: AFP

Climate change

Outside In | What price chocolate as climate change hits cocoa crops of poor farmers?

Chocolate will stay expensive as the cocoa crop faces existential challenges while demand continues to surge, including from China. The most urgent task is to grow cocoa without harming the environment, and ensure that cocoa farmers can lift themselves out of poverty in the process.

15 Mar 2024 - 8:30PM

A pile of cocoa pods, showing signs of black pod disease, during a harvest at a farm in the town of Kwabeng, Ghana, on October 22 last year. Photo: Bloomberg

Sustainability

Asian garment makers wear sustainability hats as fast fashion no longer in vogue

Despite higher cost, manufacturers are turning to regenerative farming practices that aim to leave the land in a better condition than the previous cycle.

22 Mar 2024 - 7:23PMvideocam

Royalty

6 handsome equerries who stole attention away from the royal family

From Queen Camilla’s 29-year-old aide Major Ollie Plunket to ‘hot equerry’ Jonathan Thompson, meet the royal aides at risk of stealing the limelight from the British royal family

15 Mar 2024 - 5:55AM

France

France’s parliament votes to slow down fast fashion, with eye on China’s Shein

High fashion is a cornerstone of the French economy, but the lower-end segment is losing ground to Chinese mass producers.

15 Mar 2024 - 3:04AM

A woman poses for photos with her purchases after being among the first group of shoppers at a Shein pop-up in Ontario, California, in October 2023. Photo: TNS

Diplomacy

Opinion | Taliban has a choice: renounce al-Qaeda or remain in isolation

The world is willing to negotiate with the Taliban and help solve Afghanistan’s problems but, first, the de facto rulers must cut ties with al-Qaeda and address rising terrorism.

25 Feb 2024 - 9:17AMvideocam

Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund (left) welcomes China’s new ambassador to Afghanistan Zhao Sheng during the recognition ceremony at the Presidential Palace, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 13, 2023. China has told the Taliban it needs to “take stronger measures to counter various terrorist forces within Afghanistan”. Photo: Handout

Tourism

How Host a Sister Facebook group improves safety for female travellers

The Host a Sister Facebook group was inspired by solo women’s travel horror stories. Its more than 550,000 female members offer accommodation and advice and help bring travellers together.

25 Feb 2024 - 11:16PM

Food and Drinks

7 Lunar New Year candies and cookies Hongkongers love, and their origins

Lunar New Year celebrations in Hong Kong, for many, mean eating Ferrero Rocher, sucking on White Rabbit candy, and other sweet treats. We look at some of the city’s favourites, and their origins.

10 Feb 2024 - 7:35AM

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Ghana

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Ghana. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Accra

Head of State

President Nana Akufo-Addo

Head of Government

President Nana Akufo-Addo

last updated:

27 September, 2024