- Asian markets mixed after Wall St drop, Shanghai dips before briefing
- Automaker Stellantis says CEO will retire in 2026
- Musk's promised robotaxi unveil delayed
- Kamada says Japan can close in on World Cup place against Australia
- On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument
- Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island
- Argentina held, Brazil leave it late in 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Obama blasts 'crazy' Trump in first rally for Harris
- 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a plea in favour of world order?
- Fry homers as Guardians down Tigers to stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Japan PM presses China's Li on airspace intrusion
- In Trump 'Truths,' conspiracies, attacks -- and doubts about the election
- How Sebastian Stan found a 'relatable' Trump for 'The Apprentice' biopic
- Panama's water wheel trash collector keeps plastic at bay
- It's still 'the economy, stupid,' says US political guru Carville
- Five key dates in the history of the America's Cup
- Zelensky to meet Pope, Scholz as whirlwind Europe tour ends
- At least 10 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Far from eye, Hurricane Milton's deadly tornados rampaged Florida
- At least 10 dead in Florida after Hurricane Milton spawns tornadoes
- Argentina held, Bolivia stun Colombia in 2026 qualifiers
- Socceroos have 'nothing to fear' from Japan
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial set for May 2025
- Bolivia stun Colombia in World Cup qualifiers
- Internet Archive reels from 'catastrophic' cyberattack, data breach
- Greece earn late win against England in Nations League, Italy-Belgium stalemate
- Trump biopic 'The Apprentice' hits US theaters weeks before election
- Pavlidis dedicates 'special' Greece win over England to tragic Baldock
- Wall Street stocks retreat from records on US inflation data
- 'Like a quake': Beirut shaken after deadliest strikes on centre
- Fallen giants Ghana in AFCON trouble after Sudan draw
- Asian leaders meet in Laos with US, Russia on world turmoil
- England gamble backfires as Pavlidis fires emotional Greece to victory
- Obama stumps for Harris, Trump talks US protectionism
- New-look France ease past Israel in Nations League
- Belgium fight back to draw with 10-man Italy in Nations League
- 'Get a life': Hurricane whips up US election storm
- Japan stay perfect in World Cup qualifying
- Relief as Lebanon evacuees dock in Turkey
- Lebanon says 22 dead in Israeli strikes on central Beirut
- NBA boss Silver sees games back in China 'at some point'
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 22
- Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention
- Civilians flee Gaza's Jabalia in tightening Israeli siege
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 18
- At least 10 dead in Florida from tornadoes caused by Hurricane Milton
- Warhol's rare 'Queen' collection opens at Dutch museum
- Three-time NBA champion Green retires
- MLB Twins up for sale after 40 years
- S.Sudan floods affect 893,000, over 241,000 displaced: UN
Hong Kong's popular Octopus card expands to mainland China
Hong Kong's popular Octopus tap-and-go card will be accepted on public transport in more than 336 mainland Chinese cities from Tuesday, the e-payment company has announced.
The move comes as post-pandemic domestic tourism picks up again, with large numbers of Hong Kong residents flocking to the neighbouring Chinese city of Shenzhen for cheaper products since the border opened last year.
Hong Kong and mainland China use different currencies -- the Hong Kong dollar and the China yuan -- and operate different capital controls, under the "One Country Two Systems" principle that Beijing has used to rule Hong Kong since the former British colony's handover to China in 1997.
Unlike most public services in mainland China, users of the new Octopus-China card are not required to register their real names and identity information.
The Octopus card is possessed by 98 percent of Hong Kong's 7.5-million population with over 20 million copies in circulation.
While it is accepted almost everywhere in Hong Kong, the card is little known and used in mainland China, except for two special versions designed for cross-border usage in Guangdong province.
Under the new scheme, the Octopus-China card will be accepted on buses, subways, trains and ferries in about half of the cities in mainland China.
Customers in Hong Kong can buy the new card for HK$88 ($11.25) from around 300 convenience shops and 10 subway stations, and deposit up to HK$3,000 ($383.56) on it.
Transactions in mainland China will be paid in Hong Kong dollars, according to the daily exchange rate.
L.Mason--AMWN