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Total solar eclipse to cast its shadow over Europe

Millions of people will turn their gaze towards the heavens on Wednesday to witness one of nature's greatest spectacles -- a rare total solar eclipse -- as it sweeps over mainland Europe to briefly turn day into night. The Moon is first expected to blot out the Sun, leaving only the shimmering glow of its outer corona, in Russia's remote Arctic north, before parts of Greenland and Iceland are enveloped in the arc of its eerie shadow. Excitement was highest in Spain, where tourists thronged the streets of normally quiet villages to experience the dramatic natural phenomenon as the eclipse's narrow path cuts across the Iberian Peninsula from the northern Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean Sea in the south. Mainland Europe has not experienced a total solar eclipse for 20 years while Spain has not witnessed one in more than a century. Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, however, has not seen a total solar eclipse since 1433. "It's the first time and it's the last time, the only time I'm going to see an eclipse," Yenny Guevera, a 50-year-old Peruvian living in France, told AFP excitedly in Burgos, northwest Spain. Supplies of special viewing glasses were in high demand as a partial eclipse will be visible for millions more in most of Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa. But the phenomenon is fleeting: in parts of Russia and Greenland, the total eclipse will last under two-and-a-half minutes. For observers in Spain, it will last less than two minutes just before sunset. The partial eclipse -- which occurs as the Moon starts and finishes crossing the Sun's path, dimming its light -- will last around one hour and 45 minutes. The event, to be livestreamed by both NASA and the European Space Agency, presents scientists with a rare opportunity to study the Sun's atmosphere and its outermost layer, as they seek to uncover secrets about solar winds and our star's magnetic field. Another total eclipse will cross southern Spain and northern Africa in August 2027, while an annular eclipse -- when the Moon is not big enough to completely blot out the Sun, creating a so-called "ring of fire" -- is due to visit the Iberian Peninsula in 2028. Edited by Raymond Yeung

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Summer severe paediatric flu infections reaches nine

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported another severe paediatric case of influenza A on Wednesday, taking the number of such cases in the summer flu season to nine. The latest patient is a 17-month-old girl with no significant underlying health conditions. She had not received a flu jab recently. The toddler developed a fever and cough on Sunday, and her condition worsened the following day with shortness of breath. She was subsequently admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and was diagnosed with influenza A complicated by severe pneumonia and septic shock. She remains in critical condition. Of nine severe paediatric flu infections recorded since late June, one had died, three others had been discharged, and the rest remained in hospital. Citing surveillance data, CHP controller Edwin Tsui said flu transmission levels remained high across the community. "As the number of infections is expected to rise, the number of severe cases will subsequently increase," he said. "In general, the situation in the current influenza season is comparable to that of previous influenza seasons, and the disease primarily affects the elderly and children." Tsui also urged parents to stay vigilant, as children's health can deteriorate rapidly when infected with influenza. He advised parents to monitor their children closely and seek medical attention if they notice signs such as shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, persistent fever, or convulsions. Edited by Raymond Yeung

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Former premier Zhu Rongji dies at 98

Former premier Zhu Rongji has died at the age of 98. He died of illness in Beijing shortly after 11am on Wednesday, Xinhua News Agency reported. Zhu served as premier from 1998 to 2003 and was a Politburo Standing Committee member between 1993 and 2003. An obituary jointly issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the State Council and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference praised Zhu as an excellent Party member, a time-tested and loyal communist fighter, and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, statesman and leader of the Party and the state. Zhu is best remembered for implementing market reforms that helped drive China's economic rise, and leading the country into the World Trade Organisation. (Additional reporting by Xinhua) Edited by Edmond Fong

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C919 jet serves first int'l route to Mongolia

China's home-grown C919 narrowbody passenger jet on Wednesday launched its first international commercial route, connecting Beijing with Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, according to Air China. The inaugural flight, CA723, departed from Beijing Capital International Airport at around 3pm, before arriving at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar at around 5.15pm. Meanwhile, the return flight, CA724, was scheduled to depart from Ulaanbaatar at 7pm and arrive in Beijing at around 9pm. The route will be operated daily. Speaking in an interview with RTHK in Beijing, a tourist surnamed Jiang noted that it was his first time to take a flight using the domestically developed C919. "I feel very excited. Previously I didn't know [that we're taking the C919 passenger jet], but our tour guide just told us about it. "I've always wanted to experience the C919 jet, and fortunately, I got the chance to do so today," he said. Separately, a passenger from Taiwan, surnamed Tang, said he looked forward to visiting Mongolia after travelling in Beijing over the past few days. "I haven't taken a C919 flight before. I think it'll be very memorable," he told RTHK. Another visitor, surnamed Peng, believed the new route marked an important step for the C919 as it embarks on routes abroad. The C919 is the country's first large passenger jetliner, developed in accordance with international standards and with independent intellectual property rights. It is 38.9 meters long, 3.96 meters wide, and 11.95 meters high, with a capacity to carry 158 passengers. As of August 10, the C919 passenger jet was serving 57 routes linking 25 cities, including Harbin, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, handling more than 7.5 million passenger trips, according to official data. The aircraft also completed its first scheduled commercial flight outside the mainland from Shanghai to Hong Kong on January 1, 2025. It's currently operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, according to its developer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. Edited by Tony Sabine

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Athlete cash incentive renewed ahead of Asian Games

Cash rewards of up to HK$2 million will be offered for outstanding performances under the latest phase of Hong Kong's athlete incentive programme. Organisers confirmed that the latest phase of the scheme will encompass several high-profile competitions, including the Asian Games and Asian Para Games in Japan this year, the 2027 Winter Universiade, the 2027 World University Games, the National Winter Games in 2028 and the Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympic Games later that year. The Asian Games, scheduled for September 19 to October 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, will be the first major event covered by the initiative. The Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, organised by the Hong Kong Sports Institute and sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, held its kick-off ceremony on Wednesday to announce the continuation of financial support for SAR athletes competing in major multi-sport events. The scheme will provide cash awards to athletes securing gold, silver, and bronze medals in both individual and team categories, with individual gold medallists receiving HK$1 million and team gold medallists earning HK$2 million. Martial artist Samuel Hui, who claimed a full set of gold, silver and bronze medals in wushu across the 2021 World University Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games held in 2023, emphasised that the incentive scheme offers more than just monetary rewards. "This reward is not simply a round of applause after a performance. It provides practical financial support in our daily lives," he said. "Beyond that surface-level financial aspect, it serves as affirmation of our training results, the effort and dedication we have invested, and even the support from our families. To us, that validation means a great deal." Olympic medallist and star swimmer Siobhan Haughey offered words of encouragement for young athletes preparing for upcoming competitions, urging them to prioritise the experience over outcomes. "I think sometimes we pay too much attention to competition results. I want to encourage everyone to focus more on your training process and enjoy the whole journey," she said. "When you feel you need help, you should rely on the support network around you – whether it's your coach, teammates, family, and so on – because there are many people who support you." Speaking at the ceremony, Commissioner for Sport George Tsoi highlighted the remarkable achievements of SAR athletes in recent years. He pointed to steady improvement, citing the SAR's performance at the Asian Games. Hong Kong, China secured 53 medals in Hangzhou, up from 46 in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018. Tsoi also said that Hong Kong athletes and coaches are now in full preparation mode for the upcoming Games and expressed his hope that the team would reach new heights. Under the previous phase of the scheme from 2023 to 2026, more than 220 athletes received incentive awards totalling over HK$94.66 million. Edited by Edmond Fong

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'Dedicated teams should be set up for NM projects'

The Business and Professionals Alliance (BPA) on Wednesday proposed that dedicated teams could be established to expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis. The suggestion was among a number of ideas it put forward for the city's first five-year plan, covering a wide range of areas such as infrastructure, innovation and technology, economic development, as well as the SAR's status as an international finance and aviation hub. The BPA said the workforce for projects under the Northern Metropolis development could comprise of elites from relevant departments — for example education, plannings, and commerce. By having them working together at the same site, BPA vice-chairwoman and lawmaker Priscilla Leung said it could streamline the approval process and shorten the time needed from months to just days. She said that fast-developing mainland cities, particularly Beijing and Hefei, have set up dedicated teams to work on particular projects, instead of getting a number of departments to be in charge. "When they find a project to be very special, [that] has to be quickly approved, they work together and help that to be approved very soon," Leung said. She went on to say that all personnel involved, including officials, should sign a so-called task commitment statement to strengthen their discipline and implementation awareness. "When you take up the responsibility to develop the Northern Metropolis, this is a big task, mission, and really the only opportunity for Hong Kong to climb up for our second era," Leung said. "So I believe this signing act is not only an act, it really can be a very strong driving force." Outstanding performers, she said, could be rewarded. As for the university town, Leung suggested authorities make transfers possible between local, mainland and overseas institutions, as the SAR might not have sufficient professors for certain fields. The two-month public consultation for the five-year blueprint concludes on Friday. Edited by Tony Sabine

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IEA cuts oil demand forecast again amid Hormuz crisis

Global oil supplies will fall by 4.3 million barrels per day (bpd), or around four percent, this year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly oil market report on Wednesday. It comes as renewed hostilities in the Middle East since July are set to plunge the world deeper into an oil-market deficit. "With an agreement enabling the reopening of Hormuz and unhindered transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait still elusive, we have again lowered supply estimates for the rest of the year," the IEA said. The 4.3 million bpd supply drop compares with the 3.7 million bpd forecast ⁠in the IEA's July report, and will take total supply to the IEA's lowest forecast yet for this year at 102.02 million bpd. (Reuters) Edited by Tony Sabine

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