0:12 major fire in Taipo [music]
0:14 highrises with at least four killed and
0:17 seven injured.
0:19 Those who escaped the fire are [music]
0:20 desperately worried about their trapped families.
0:23 families.
0:25 And Donald Trump claims he [music] urged
0:27 China to buy US soybean at a quicker pace.
0:40 >> Good evening and thank you for joining
0:42 us. At least four people have been
0:44 killed in a number five alarm fire in
0:47 Wangpuk Court, a housing estate in
0:49 Taipo. Seven others are injured and an
0:51 unknown number of people are missing. At
0:54 least one firefighter was killed.
0:55 Scaffolding was erected in all eight
0:57 blocks of the estate for repairs and
1:00 caught fire. The flames have also burned
1:01 all the way to the top of the building.
1:15 The fire spread into units on the lower floors.
1:20 Thick smoke rose into the air visible as
1:34 At 2:51 p.m., the fire services
1:36 department was alerted to a blaze at
1:40 Wong Chong House in Wang Foot Court.
1:42 Calls for help from track residents
1:44 continue to pour in as the blaze quickly
1:59 At 3:02 p.m., the fire services
2:01 department upgraded the fire to alarm
2:04 level three and at 3:34 raised it to a
2:06 number four alarm fire with
2:18 >> Several people were in a serious
2:20 condition. Some rescued residents were
2:22 unconscious and paramedics continuously
2:33 >> The fire occurred at Wanguk Court, a
2:35 subsidized housing estate with eight
2:37 blocks. Completed in the early 1980s, it
2:39 was undergoing months of renovations
2:41 that were nearing completion. Many
2:43 residents said they were unable to
2:46 contact their families. Resident
2:49 Resident
2:51 Mr. Yip said the fire was fierce. He
2:53 said he had earlier told his wife to
2:55 return to home after the fire reached
2:57 the entrance of the building. He was
3:04 >> Anxious resident Mr. Ho said he could
3:07 not find his wife unable to gain access
3:09 to the site. Continuous flames caused
3:12 the safety netting to burn and fall onto
3:14 the street. The police expanding the
3:16 cordon. The authorities together with
3:18 the community care team assisted
3:21 residents in the evacuation. David
3:23 Garrett, TVBB News.
3:25 >> Our reporter Samantha Lee is on the
3:27 ground for us in Taipo tonight.
3:29 Samantha, bring us up to speed on the latest.
3:35 >> The fire continues to rage on and shows
3:38 no sign of abating. The blaze has spread
3:41 to at least eight blocks in the estate.
3:43 And as night fell, we can clearly see
3:45 flames glowing vividly with ashes
3:48 falling all around. And just a few
3:51 minutes ago, we can see firemans
3:54 battling the blaze with drones. And we
3:56 also see some injured people rescued
3:59 from the scene. Well, some residents
4:01 verently searching for their family
4:03 members, calling out their names and
4:06 hoping for a response amid uncertainty.
4:08 The fire services department urges
4:11 nearby residents to stay indoors, close
4:14 doors and windows. Stay calm and avoid
4:16 going to the affected area. We will stay
4:19 here for more updates. For now, back to
4:20 you in the studio.
4:23 >> And that's our Samantha Lee on the
4:25 ground in Taipo for us. Meanwhile, a
4:27 fireman was killed while battling the
4:29 blaze in Taipo. Director of the fire
4:31 services department Andy Yung Yanqin
4:34 gave a briefing to the press.
4:37 Jung said the fireman was found by his
4:39 colleagues outside the lifts in Wang
4:42 Chung House at around 4 p.m. His face
4:43 was charged and his colleagues tried to
4:45 resuscitate him using CPR. He was
4:49 confirmed dead at 4:45 p.m. The deceased
4:52 firefighter with a surname ho was 70 37
4:54 years old and has served in the FSD for
4:56 9 years.
4:57 So far,
4:59 >> the government has opened the Kuang Fo
5:01 Community Hall and the Tong Chong Street
5:03 Community Hall in Taipo as temporary
5:05 shelters for residents affected by the fire.
5:07 fire.
5:08 The government first arranged for the
5:10 evacuated residents and nearby workers
5:12 to take shelter at Church of Christ in
5:16 China Fun Kid Memorial Secondary School.
5:18 >> This renovation worker says he was
5:20 working on the exterior wall spraying
5:21 works and they have been handling that
5:24 for a few months.
5:25 This resident says it's heartbreaking
5:27 and she wouldn't even think too much
5:29 about the loss of property. She felt
5:30 helpless watching her home go up in
5:32 flames. Authorities later arranged
5:34 coaches to transport residents to the
5:36 Kuang Fo community hall. Police and care
5:39 teams were on site to assist. A central
5:40 command point have been set up inside
5:42 the hall to help residents contact their
5:44 family members. Water, food, and
5:48 essential supplies are available.
5:50 A local district counselor says many
5:52 missing persons cases involve elderly
5:54 people. A lot of young people and
5:55 residents rushed back after work to
5:57 check on the situation and try to locate
6:00 their elderly family members. Another
6:01 temporary shelter has been set up at the
6:03 Tong Chung Street community hall and the
6:05 government has activated the emergency
6:07 service station at Alice Homulu Link
6:10 Nethers Hospital for public inquiries.
6:12 The Yamate section of the central Kum
6:14 bypass will be open to traffic on
6:16 December 21st. The government expects a
6:19 $42 billion project will trim peak hour
6:22 travel time between Yaoate and Kumbay
6:24 from 30 minutes to just 5 minutes.
6:27 Samantha Lee has the details.
6:29 >> After eight years of construction, the
6:32 central Kum bypass will soon see light
6:35 at the end of the tunnel as it is now at
6:37 the final stage of works with the last
6:39 test being conducted
6:42 >> on December the 21st.
6:47 The Yao Mati section of our new central
6:51 Kowun bypass will open.
6:56 It's a dual threelane 4.7 kilometer carriageway.
6:57 carriageway.
7:00 >> The western portal of the bypass runs
7:03 between Yang Mate and Keitech with a 3.9
7:06 km tunnel in between. According to a
7:08 driving simulator video by the highways
7:10 department, drivers starting from
7:13 Olympic MTR station can keep left on the
7:15 West Kun Highway, then enter the central
7:19 Kum bypass while not changing lane. By
7:21 the time you get to the tunnel exit,
7:24 choose a lane for your destination.
7:26 Drivers heading to Keitech and Kun Bay
7:28 can stay left.
7:30 Those taking the other lanes can head
7:34 towards Kung and the cruise terminal.
7:36 The authorities estimated the commute
7:38 time from Yao Matei and Kun Bay could be
7:41 reduced from 30 minutes to just five
7:43 minutes during peak hours, relieving the
7:47 burden of the existing transport system.
7:49 The new highway will charge $8 per trip
7:52 for all vehicles. Meanwhile, the eastern
7:54 portal which ls Keitech interchange and
7:57 Chunguano Lamin tunnel is expected to be
8:02 completed next year. Samanthi TV news.
8:04 The government is launching a slew of
8:06 special offers and free visits over the
8:08 legislative council election weekend in
8:10 a bit to encourage the public to stay in
8:12 Hong Kong and vote. They include free
8:14 admission to the wetland park, public
8:16 swimming pools, and museums. A thank you
8:18 card will be given to voters allowing
8:20 them to redeem discounts at
8:24 participating retailers and eeries.
8:26 With just over a week to go before the
8:28 LCO election, the government unveiled
8:29 the rollout of incentives for the
8:32 weekend of December 6th and 7th. They
8:33 include free entry to the wetland park,
8:35 the science museum, space museum, art
8:38 museum, and public swimming pools.
8:40 Calling the election a happy occasion,
8:41 the government said it will host a
8:43 variety show on December 6th at the West
8:45 Kum Cultural District along with an
8:47 election funday featuring exhibitions
8:48 and booth games across various
8:51 districts. Several discipline services
8:53 departments will open their premises for
8:55 public visits. Over those two days, the
8:57 Gina community scheme will offer double
8:59 reward points for recycling and a
9:01 designated housing authority moss and
9:03 markets. Spending over the set amount
9:05 will offer an extra hour of free parking.
9:06 parking.
9:08 >> Some citizens hope opening hours too can
9:09 be extended.
9:13 >> In Hong Kong, people tends to work uh
9:16 over time till 8:00. If the facilities
9:19 has extended uh opening hours, then uh
9:21 we can have more opportunities to uh participate.
9:23 participate.
9:24 >> Just like the previous district council
9:26 election, voters will receive a thank
9:28 you card after casting their ballot. The
9:30 new card designed using artificial
9:33 intelligence featuring ballot box masks.
9:34 The thank you card are accepted by some
9:36 merchants and restaurants for
9:37 promotional discounts on election day.
9:40 Before I would like to say thank you to
9:42 many um private companies and the
9:45 private sector that they to provide
9:50 special offers uh to those who vote uh
9:52 in the election I mean electoral
9:55 election. I think this is um um to
9:58 encourage more people to vote. It is
10:00 also very important for the future of
10:03 Hong Kong gaming.
10:05 When asked whether civil servants will
10:06 be required to present the thank you
10:09 card as proof. Chances the card bears no
10:11 name and has no serial number. So the
10:12 government will not use the thank you
10:14 card to check whether civil servants
10:16 have voted. But they hope the government
10:17 workers could understand the importance
10:20 and cast their vote voluntarily.
10:22 US President Donald Trump touted
10:24 relations with China as extremely strong
10:26 in the wake of his phone call with
10:29 Chinese President Xi Jinping. Daniel Rao
10:31 tells us more.
10:33 Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force
10:35 One, US President Donald Trump touted
10:37 relations with China as extremely
10:39 strong. This following a phone call with
10:42 Chinese President Xiinping on Monday,
10:44 which Trump said was mostly about trade.
10:46 >> I spoke to President Xi about a lot of
10:49 things, but uh trade and buying our farm
10:52 products, and he said he agreed with me.
10:54 He's gonna I think he's going to very
10:55 much surprise you on the upside. I think
10:57 he's going to I asked him, I'd like you
10:59 to buy it a little faster. I'd like you
11:02 to buy more. and he's more or less
11:04 agreed to do that. I think we will be
11:07 pleasantly surprised by the actions of
11:08 President Xi.
11:10 >> Trump's comments come as traders with
11:11 knowledge of the matter told Reuters,
11:13 "China bought at least 10 cargos of US
11:16 soybeans worth around $300 million US in
11:19 contracts signed since Tuesday, a day
11:20 [snorts] after the presidents of both
11:22 countries spoke on the phone. The
11:24 reported purchases come despite US
11:25 soybeans being priced higher than
11:27 Brazilian supplies." US Treasury
11:29 Secretary Scott Bezant commented on the
11:31 matter. He said Chinese purchases of
11:33 American soybeans are right on schedule.
11:35 In an interview with CNBC, Besson said
11:37 the US and China will always be natural
11:39 rivals, but the two countries
11:41 relationship is in a good place.
11:42 Meanwhile, Chinese ambassador to the US
11:44 Sher fun delivering a keynote speech at
11:47 the 2025 Koulang forum said efforts
11:49 should be made to promote the sound and
11:51 sustained development of China US
11:53 relations. He stressed Beijing and
11:54 Washington need to stand for peace and
11:56 inject stability and certainty into the
11:58 world. The Global Times quoted Trump as
12:00 saying during the phone call that China
12:02 was a big part of the Allied victory in
12:04 World War II and Washington understands
12:06 how important the Taiwan issue is to
12:08 Beijing. The Xi Trump phone call took
12:10 place amid increasing tensions between
12:12 China and Japan prompted by Japanese
12:14 Prime Minister Sai Tukiji's comments
12:17 regarding her stance on Taiwan. Donal TV News.
12:19 News.
12:21 >> Thousands of Chinese tourists have
12:23 canled trips to Japan after tensions
12:24 between the two countries recently
12:26 escalated. When Japan's Prime Minister
12:29 Son Takayichi suggested Japan could
12:31 become militarily involved if there were
12:34 a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. This
12:36 tea room in Tokyo's Asakusa usually has
12:39 around 3,000 Chinese tourists visiting
12:41 each year where a classroom of up to 40
12:43 students can watch and experience a
12:47 traditional tea ceremony. Riier Ta says
12:48 she has been receiving cancellations
12:50 from Chinese visitors who couldn't
12:52 attend her classes. A volunteer tour
12:54 guide said if the number of Chinese
12:56 visitors dips, it would be a major blow
12:58 to for the people in this area. An
13:00 executive economist at Namura Research
13:03 Institute said if the current level of
13:05 travel advisory remains, it could cost
13:08 Japan 1.8 trillion yen or 11.5 billion
13:11 US, knocking 0.3 percentage points off
13:13 the country's already weak annual
13:16 economic growth.
13:18 And still ahead,
13:21 former Brazilian president Ja Borsardo
13:24 starts his long jail term
13:26 and English cities ready to charge
13:48 Welcome back. Ukrainian President
13:50 Vladimir Zalinski has told the coalition
13:52 of the willing that he is ready to meet
13:54 with US President Donald Trump and
13:57 discuss sensitive points relating to
13:59 ending the four-year war with Russia.
14:01 This as Russian forces stage a mass
14:03 drone attack on the Ukrainian city of
14:05 Zebasia, triggering fires and injuring
14:10 12 people. Tracy Feres has more.
14:11 Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force
14:14 One, US President Donald Trump expressed
14:16 optimism about the prospect of Russia
14:18 and Ukraine reaching a peace deal,
14:20 calling the status very close.
14:23 >> And we're having good talks.
14:25 It started with Russia. We're having
14:28 some talks with Russia. Ukraine is doing
14:30 well. I think they're pretty happy about
14:33 it. They'd like to see it end. And we
14:35 won't know for a little while, but we'll
14:36 we're making progress.
14:38 >> You said what are the big stages?
14:40 settled eight wars and I thought this
14:42 would be one of the easier ones because
14:45 of my relationship with President Putin,
14:47 but this is probably one of the more
14:48 difficult ones. There's a lot of hatred.
14:50 >> What's the next step?
14:51 >> They're going to keep talking. They're
14:54 talking to Russia now. Uh Steve Whit is
14:56 going over maybe with Jared. I'm not
14:58 sure about Jared going, but he's
15:01 involved in the process. Smart guy. And
15:02 uh they're going to be meeting with
15:05 President Putin, I believe, next week in
15:08 Moscow. One Ukrainian official who was
15:10 part of Ukraine's negotiating delegation
15:12 attending talks in Geneva said there is
15:14 no final version or framework for a
15:16 peace plan.
15:18 >> I would say there is no final version of
15:21 any peace framework so far. So the
15:23 document that was presented to Ukraine
15:24 and discussed in Geneva was
15:27 significantly transformed and it
15:29 reflects a lot of things that Ukraine
15:32 wanted to put there or to change or to
15:34 exclude from this plan. But there is no
15:37 final drop. This is Ukraine's Vladimir
15:39 Zalinski speaking via video link to
15:41 members of the coalition of the willing
15:43 said he is ready to meet with the US president
15:45 president
15:47 >> and I'm ready to meet with President
15:49 Trump and there are sensitive points to
15:53 discuss they we have them still and we
15:56 think that the presence of European
15:58 leaders could be helpful and let's
16:00 discuss some key issues today in a
16:02 closed format.
16:04 Meanwhile, constant missile and drone
16:06 attacks have turned the soil surrounding
16:10 Nats for gas facility in central Ukraine
16:14 from black to a rusty red.
16:16 >> The company's CEO said due to
16:18 destruction shelling, they have lost a
16:20 large part of Ukrainian gas production.
16:22 So now they are forced to import
16:25 additional volumes of gas. He said the
16:28 country needs 4.4 billion cubic meters
16:30 of gas during the heating season. Tracy
16:33 Furnus, TVB News.
16:35 Brazil's former president Ja Borsaro is
16:38 starting a 27-year prison term for
16:40 attempting a coup. The reaction in South
16:42 America's largest country has been a mix
16:45 of anger and jubilation. David Garrett reports.
16:47 reports.
16:49 >> The federal police headquarters in the
16:51 capital of Brazil where Ja Bolsinaro is
16:54 currently incarcerated and will stay
16:57 facing 27 years behind bars for plotting
17:00 a coup. The former president in a 12 m
17:02 square room since the weekend where he
17:04 was taken into custody fearing he could
17:07 flee amid planned protests outside small
17:10 demonstrations calling for Bolsinaro to
17:12 be let free. Anistia amnesty for
17:15 political prisoners. This sign says
17:17 these supporters say the charges and
17:19 sentence are politically motivated and
17:26 >> Opponents of Bosanaro CELEBRATING WILDLY.
17:29 WILDLY.
17:31 PRO OR anti-bsolinaro taking different
17:34 stances on the Supreme Court ruling
17:36 arguing outside the building where the
17:38 former Brazilian president is being held.
17:40 held.
17:41 We come and stand in defense of
17:44 democracy, says Keat Lima, who with
17:46 other critics never believed they'd see
17:48 Balssonaro jailed. They've caught
17:50 champagnes. They've made their chance.
17:52 And they celebrated what they think is
17:54 going to be a very long prison time for
17:55 the former president Mosanado at these
17:58 federal police facilities in Brazilia.
18:00 >> The 70-year-old was found guilty in
18:02 September of trying to change the result
18:05 of the 2022 presidential runoff that he
18:07 narrowly lost to Lewis Ignasio Lula
18:10 Dilva. The Supreme Court dismissed
18:12 claims from Bossaro's lawyers that their
18:14 client was in poor health and should
18:16 stay under house arrest as he had been
18:18 since August. The courts say he is a
18:20 flight risk amid reports he'd asked
18:23 Argentina's President Javier Malay and
18:24 Hungary's Prime Minister Victor Orban
18:28 for political asylum.
18:30 His sons visited their father saying he
18:36 >> Our doctor left his medication separated
18:38 so he does not mix them. He needs care
18:41 for hiccups. We are concerned. Senator
18:44 Flavio Bossinaro left after a halfhour
18:47 visit. His father's legal team told no
18:49 further appeals are possible. David
18:51 Garrett, TVB News.
18:54 >> A tourist tax is to be introduced across
18:56 England with local mayors imposing a
18:58 modest charge on overnight stays. The
19:00 revenue earned will be plowed back into
19:02 local transport and infrastructure.
19:05 Tracy Feres has more.
19:08 Tourists visiting England will now have
19:09 to dig a little deeper into their
19:11 pockets as local mayers introduce a
19:14 tourist levy, calling it a modest charge
19:16 on visitors staying in hotels, bed and
19:18 breakfast, guest houses, and holiday
19:21 lets. Officials said the measures would
19:23 bring cities in England in line with
19:24 other tourist destinations around the
19:27 world which charge a similar levy such
19:31 as in New York, Paris, and Milan. London
19:32 Mayor Sadi Khan welcomed the
19:34 announcement, saying, "It is great news
19:37 for London," adding, "The extra funding
19:39 will directly support London's economy
19:41 and help cement our reputation as a
19:43 global tourism and business
19:45 destination." Greater Manchester Mayor
19:48 Andy Bernham said, "Nearly 2 million
19:49 people all over the world choose to
19:52 visit Greater Manchester every year. The
19:54 money they spend contributes about 9
19:56 billion pounds annually to our economy,
19:59 supporting over a 100,000 jobs. The levy
20:02 will be invested in infrastructure as
20:04 well as keeping the streets clean and
20:06 enhancing the public transport systems
20:09 including later running buses and trams.
20:11 A research report from the Greater
20:15 London Authority in 2017 estimated a 5%
20:18 levy on accommodation could raise 239
20:21 million a year in the capital alone.
20:25 Tracy Furnis, TVB News. The marriage
20:27 allowance under Macau's social security
20:31 fund will rise from the current MOP 2220
20:34 to MOP 4,000 next year, marking an
20:37 increase of more than 80%.
20:40 >> If both newly wets meet the eligibility
20:41 requirements, they can each submit an
20:43 application, meaning a couple may
20:47 receive a total of MOP 8,000 in support.
20:48 Some residents say their family
20:50 originally asked them to get married
20:52 this year because it's an auspicious
20:54 year, but they consider postponing it
20:55 because of the allowance. The wedding
20:57 industry believes the policy could
20:59 benefit the sector by encouraging more
21:01 young people who might have wanted a
21:03 simple registration to consider holding
21:06 a proper ceremony. Macau lawmakers
21:07 remind couples that to receive the
21:10 marriage allowance, both partners must
21:12 have contributed to the social security
21:14 fund for at least 9 months. And that's
