The artist was born at Itsinkoudi, a remote village in the Comoros archipelago off Mozambique, southern Africa. He spent his childhood there with friends and relatives until he was 10, when he moved to France. In the title piece, In Deeds and Gestures, he drew his brother based on an old photograph. He wants Hongkongers getting their first glimpse of his works to relate to them just as fellow human beings. In Deeds and Gestures is showing at The Galleria, Central, until June 18.

‘Importers should pay pre-inspection cost of agricultural products’In an interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said that the pre-inspection was already proven effective before for the National Food Authority (NFA) when it was still empowered to import rice. “At the load port, we have representatives from the government agencies and private sector. Estoperez said that the government should not incur additional expenses for the pre-inspection and instead require the private sector to shoulder the cost. The best way is to require the private sector since they are the ones importing. It is more beneficial compared to the impact of smuggling, the impact of disease that we cannot control,” he added.

Caroline ZhengHong Kong retail sales grew by 15 percent year-on-year in April, beating estimates, official data showed yesterday, as consumption sentiment and visitor arrivals continued to improve. The value of total retail sales in April increased to HK$34.7 billion, according to provisional data provided by the Census and Statistics Department, marking growth for a fifth consecutive month and beating a market expectation of 13.8 percent. In terms of volume, total retail sales increased by 13.3 percent in April from a year earlier, versus a 39.3 percent year-on-year increase in March. For the first four months this year, the total value of retail sales advanced by 21.7 percent from the same period in 2022, with a 19.9 percent growth in volume during the period. Hong Kong Retail Management Association chairwoman Annie Tse Yau On-yee, however, warned that the recovery of the retail industry in the SAR is still facing multiple challenges, including uncertainty in the external environment, rising rents and a shortage of talent.

The Heat face the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday (Friday in Manila). NBA Finals games won't start until 2:30 a.m. in Serbia, but that nation is one of the 200 or so where the series will be broadcast. GUEST REPORTERSDenver's Jamal Murray was harassed in his NBA Finals media day news conference by a reporter. Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin is one of four players who will serve as NBA Finals media correspondents during the Denver-Miami series. As Mathurin pressed Murray for details about this 1-on-1 game, Murray eventually — though playfully — made clear he had enough.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the Japan Bank for International Cooperation's (JBIC) expression of interest to partner with Philippine companies for energy development and in the newly passed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF). In response, the President said such investments are what the country needs, one of the reasons the MIF was passed by Congress. "It's so that we, the Philippines, can participate in what would be, what is regarded, of course, as an investment for us. But it is basically seen as our government participation in projects that, mostly, will really be in the Philippines," he added. The bank's main operational principle is to supplement the financial transactions implemented by private financial institutions.

Japan bank ‘interested’ in Maharlika FundPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Japan Bank for International Cooperation chair Tadashi Maeda on Thursday to discuss the country's energy sources. MANILA, Philippines — The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has “expressed interest” in the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) and is eyeing energy development tie-ups with local firms, Malacañang said yesterday. “The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is seeking partnerships with Philippine companies for energy development and has also expressed interest in the newly passed Maharlika Investment Fund,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement. Marcos told the JBIC official that the investment fund would be an instrument for the Philippine government to take part in various projects. In its website, the bank said it conducts lending, investment and guarantee operations while complementing the private sector financial institutions.

'Betty' affects 30,000 people in six regionsThe paper milling building of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) collapsed in Sta. Ana, Cagayan due to the wind brought upon by Typhoon Betty on May 29, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Cyclone Betty (Mawar) has so far affected over 30,000 people from Luzon and Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Thursday. In its latest report, the NDRRMC said Betty has affected 30,506 individuals in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas. The government has provided assistance amounting to P1.95 million to residents affected by Betty.

No injuries were reported as a flaming tire tore loose from a truck heading to Sheung Shui this morning. According to the video, a truck was driving along San Tin Highway around 9 am when its rear left wheel suddenly ignited near Mai Po San Tsuen. The flaming wheel then flew off the truck, spewing bits of burning rubber which nearly struck the vehicles following behind. The truck driver switched to the slow lane and turned on the hazard lights, stopping the truck and contacting the police. The flames were extinguished by firefighters who arrived at the scene.

It means a return-trip ticket between Hong Kong and America or Europe could cost HK$408 less. For Cathay flights between Hong Kong and India, the surcharges are reduced by around HK$100, from HK$440 to HK$343. Hong Kong Airlines reduced its fuel surcharges to HK$161 from HK$207 for flights between Hong Kong and Taipei, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam Brunei, Indonesia, and Maldives. But the fuel fees for destinations, including the mainland, America, Europe, the Middle East, and South West Pacific, will remain at HK$900 per ticket. But he said the drop in fuel surcharges would not bring a significant change to travelers' ticket costs, as there are other additional charges.

HONG KONG — An absence of women among China’s top leadership is concerning, the United Nations said in a report, as it recommended China adopt statutory quotas and a gender parity system to quicken equal representation of women in government. The recommendations for China by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, published on Tuesday, was made alongside findings on Germany, Iceland, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Spain, Timor-Leste and Venezuela. ADVERTISEMENTThe committee said that while China’s representation of women in political and public life has increased, it was concerned that women only represent 26.54% of deputies to the 14th National People’s Congress. It urged China to increase the number of women in all government bureaus including the judiciary and foreign service, particularly at decision making levels. Feminist voices have also been muzzled and in recent years, the government has increasingly emphasized the value of traditional roles for women as mothers and carers.

KHARTOUM – Sudan’s army suspended talks with a rival paramilitary force on Wednesday over a ceasefire and aid access, raising fears the six-week-old conflict will push Africa’s third largest country deeper into a humanitarian crisis. Eyewitnesses reported on Wednesday that the RSF had expanded its footprint within central Khartoum’s Mogran district. CHALLENGING NEGOTIATIONSCommenting on the Sudanese army’s withdrawal from the Jeddah talks, Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, African Union spokesperson on the crisis in Sudan, said: “It is not surprising. Before the ceasefire deal was renewed, an army source said the army had demanded the RSF withdraw from civilian homes and hospitals as a condition for an extension. After the five-day extension was agreed, talks continued on the truce terms.

Ayala boss Cezar Consing: I’m still standingHow has it been for Cezar “Bong” Consing, the man who made history less than a year ago when he was appointed as the first president and CEO of Ayala Corp. who is not a member of the Zobel clan? “I’m still standing,” Mr. Consing said in jest but almost deadpan. An Ayala veteranThe veteran executive though is no stranger to being the boss and neither is he new in the sprawling Ayala business empire. Who knows, maybe Mr. Consing, the silent worker that he is, is already working on similar initiatives. It’s challenging and gratifying at the same time,” Mr. Consing said at the end of our quick chat.

China said on Wednesday it had taken "appropriate" action in response to India's unfair treatment of Chinese journalists, in the latest episode to highlight tense relations between the big Asian neighbours. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that China and India had ejected nearly all of each other's journalists in recent weeks. Citing people familiar with the matter, the newspaper said India had this month declined to renew the visas of the last two Chinese state media journalists in India. China and India have been uneasy neighbours for decades following a war on their disputed Himalayan frontier in the early 1960s. Mao said the status of Indian journalists in China would depend on India's support for Chinese journalists.

During the session, Zubiri trumpeted that the Senate approved 31 bills and more than 70 resolutions during its first year. The proposed MIF — Marcos’ pet bill — seemed to be the grand finale of Congress’ first regular session since both the Senate and the House of Representatives were heavily fixated on passing the measure before they go on a break. ADVERTISEMENTChamber’s eyeZubiri pointed to another aspect of the Senate’s performance, which the “scoreboard does not reveal.”“The courage to investigate abuses. The first regular session of the 19th Congress witnessed a heap of Senate investigations on an array of issues – agricultural smuggling, human trafficking, political killings, and other anomalies that lawmakers did not sweep aside. Senate work continuesAlthough Congress has adjourned sine die, Zubiri promised that the Senate would “still be hard at work.”“The heartbeat of lawmaking will continue.

NowTV is currently the only pay TV channel in Hong Kong after i-Cable Communications (1097) returned its license earlier this year. When asked about whether HKT will further expand its businesses in the Greater Bay Area, Li said HKT can only provide some non-core services, as the mainland telecom market is dominated by the three state-owned giants. HKT now offers digitalization solutions for the mainland subsidiaries of Hong Kong companies. Li said this service has a good start but accounts for a small part of total revenue. Li added that PCCW has used AI to provide support to enterprises, though has no plans to use it for retail customers.