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Traffic gridlock at Malaysia-Singapore causeway after Woodlands blackout

A massive power outage at the Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore caused a heavy traffic jam on most major roads leading to the Malaysian checkpoint in Johor Bahru on Wednesday. Although all counters were operating at optimum level at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in the…

How Democratic sweep could slow AI growth in US – and help China’s ambitions

The Democratic Party’s sweeping midterm election victory and takeover of both houses of Congress could slow down the pace of artificial intelligence development in the US, with implications for both the global AI trade and the technology rivalry between Washington and Beijing, analysts said. The assessment comes as…

Danish students join European wave of youth strikes over education cuts

Thousands of young Danes took to the streets on Wednesday to protest over a government plan to cut student allowances, adding to a wave of European youth anger. Under the banner “Enough is Enough”, 11 high school and university student associations marched from Copenhagen’s City Hall Square to parliament over the…

What will the US midterms mean for trade policy on China?

The Democrats’ comprehensive victory in the US midterm elections could embolden Congress to assert greater authority over trade policy and scrutinise the deals President Donald Trump made with China, analysts say, though a dramatic shift in Washington’s trade policy is unlikely. “Congress, including pro-free trade…

Can or not? 2 migrant workers in Singapore using recycling machine sparks debate

The refund is small – 10 Singapore cents (8 US cents) per bottle – for each return under Singapore’s Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS). But the uproar is big. Since BCRS reverse vending machines became fully operational on October 1, Singapore’s social media has been flooded with videos and posts criticising…

Needles, nails, pins found in Halloween sweets across Austria, Germany

Austrian police have launched an investigation after small metal objects such as nails, needles and pins were found in Halloween sweets at several locations across the country. Police received 13 reports of metal objects found in sweets collected by children at Halloween, federal criminal police said in a statement on…

India vows to dig its way out of China machinery curbs

India’s ambitious plans to construct high-speed railways, metro networks and strategic roads through the Himalayas could be hampered by China’s proposed restrictions on tunnel-boring machines, exposing a dependence on foreign technology that New Delhi may find difficult to overcome. Experts say while the curbs are…

What is the one big thing that could stop Xi, Putin and Trump meeting at Apec?

With just a fortnight until the Apec summit in Shenzhen, preparations are reportedly under way for the first meeting between the leaders of China, Russia and the United States. If the talks go ahead, they could bolster Beijing’s diplomatic standing, although the different priorities of each power were likely to limit…

Philippine police find child sex abuse material on devices linked to Thomas Markle

Philippine police said on Wednesday that three memory cards and a mobile phone turned over by the son of Meghan Markle’s estranged father contained child sexual abuse material. Last week, Philippine police said they were investigating a laptop found alongside images of child abuse at an alleged former residence of…

Singapore passes tougher anti-haze laws, fines to increase 10 times against offenders

Singapore’s parliament on Wednesday passed tougher penalties against companies responsible for forest fires in Indonesia, including curbs on related business dealings, as the city state doubles down on enforcement following one of its worst haze episodes in more than a decade. The amended Transboundary Pollution Haze…

UK foreign minister hints at formal slavery apology but says payouts ‘not feasible’

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said it was “not feasible” for the country to pay reparations for slavery, after King Charles III expressed remorse amid calls for a formal apology and compensation. “It’s not the right answer. It’s not practical. It’s not feasible for us, but there are things we can work on…

Hong Kong’s No 2 official credits government for success in university rankings

Hong Kong’s strong performance in a leading regional university league table – with five institutions among Asia’s top 10 – is the result of sustained government investment and clear policy direction, the city’s No 2 official has said, as a global alliance of 23 universities eyes the Northern Metropolis for…

DeepSeek engineer defends push for open-source AGI despite higher risks

DeepSeek is committed to open-source artificial intelligence to accelerate the arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI), even if it heightens safety risks, a company engineer says, defying growing safety concerns from the US and scrutiny in China over whether the strategy poses national security risks…

Medical watchdog member quits to represent Tin-yu’s father at her death inquest

A prominent patients’ rights advocate and lawyer has resigned from Hong Kong’s medical watchdog to represent the father of Chau Tin-yu at an inquest into her death, after she spent four years in a vegetative state following an alleged medical blunder. Alex Lam Chi-yau, chairman of Hong Kong Patients’ Voices and a lay…

Indonesia says Asean diplomacy ‘must not stop’ despite Singapore row

A senior Indonesian diplomat said on Wednesday that dialogue “must not stop” among Asean members, amid a diplomatic row between Jakarta and Singapore over transboundary haze. Ties between the Southeast Asian neighbours have been tense after wildfires in Indonesia blanketed the city state in toxic smog for months…

In Asia, midterms spark worries about diplomatic uncertainty, economic pressure

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here In the wake of Democrats’ sweeping victory in congressional elections, Asian countries are weighing how their ties with the US will shift under a lame-duck Trump administration. Observers expect the “blue wave” midterm results will push the Trump administration to heighten pressure…

Education chief dismisses push for final-year university internships amid AI threat

Hong Kong’s education minister has shot down a suggestion to turn the final stretch of undergraduate degree programmes into an internship period to boost employability, amid a fall in entry-level jobs due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Wednesday that…

Lawyer dismisses rumours of Malaysia’s Najib settling US$12.3 million fine

Lawyers for Malaysia’s jailed former prime minister Najib Razak on Wednesday dismissed speculation about his imminent transfer to house arrest, as his former ruling party struggles to raise the 50 million ringgit (US$12.3 million) fine needed to bring him home. The rumours came as Najib’s United Malays National…

Roll-out of HK$5m anti-terrorism bollards in Causeway Bay draws mixed reactions

The installation of anti-ram bollards costing HK$5 million (US$637,230) has begun at a busy crossing in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay to prevent vehicles from mounting crowded pavements, sparking debate over whether the safety barriers justify the price tag. By Wednesday afternoon, workers had installed four fixed bollards…

Hongkongers to draft end-of-life treatment refusals online from next year

Hongkongers will be able to create advance medical directives electronically on the city’s eHealth record platform as early as next year, setting out which life-sustaining treatments they do not wish to receive when terminally ill, authorities have said. In a written reply to lawmakers on Wednesday, Secretary for…

Legal body’s new office boosts Hong Kong’s role as exchange hub, ex-minister says

The decision by a global law institute to open its first overseas office in Hong Kong reflects the city’s importance as a forum for legal international exchange, bolstered by its common law system and close ties to mainland China, a former justice minister has said. Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, secretary general of the…

Yachts, jewels and jets: Hong Kong’s luxury expo connects brands with new customers

Hong Kong’s first luxury expo is more than a showcase, offering international brands opportunities to find partners and develop business, the city’s finance chief has said, while exhibitors noted that bringing different sectors under one roof could help them reach new customers. The inaugural Festival of Connoisseurs…

Jakarta wants Russia not to recruit Indonesians in its war. Should Prabowo call Putin?

Indonesia has called on Russia to stop recruiting its citizens to fight in Ukraine, but the appeal may prove ineffective unless President Prabowo Subianto directly pressures his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the issue, analysts have said. On Sunday, Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Yvonne…

Indonesian military helicopter on wildfire mission crashes off Borneo, killing 1

An Indonesian military helicopter carrying eight people on a firefighting mission crashed in waters off Borneo island on Wednesday, killing a crew member, the army said. The Southeast Asian archipelago has for months been struggling to control wildfires that have burned through large swathes of Sumatra, Borneo and…

Abandoned by parents after cancer diagnosis, Chinese woman dies after solo battle

A Chinese influencer who became known for bravely battling bone cancer after her parents abandoned her following her diagnosis has died, prompting widespread mourning online. On October 27, the account of anti-cancer influencer Miracle Xia Xia posted an obituary announcing that she had died in a Shanghai hospital. The…

Blow for Netanyahu as Israeli election body rejects claims of Arab party fraud

Israeli electoral authorities on Wednesday rejected allegations promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fraud by Arab parties, who could hold the key to removing him from power after a divisive vote. President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday urged political leaders to compromise in forming a government after an…

Trump suffers midterms trouncing weeks before Xi meeting

Democrats won control of both houses of Congress in midterm elections as US voters punished President Donald Trump over inflation, corruption and rising healthcare costs. The party was on track for at least 54 Senate seats after upset wins in long-standing Republican strongholds including South Carolina, Texas and…

Ex-HKEX vice-president and mother charged over alleged confidential data access

A former vice-president of the Hong Kong stock exchange’s operator and his mother have been charged by the city’s corruption watchdog over allegedly accessing confidential information of listed companies, which yielded more than HK$500,000 (US$63,720) in investment profits. Geoffrey Tong Po-hang, 39, former…

Australian PM Albanese takes swipe at ex-UK leader Liz Truss over backpacker visa rules

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday took aim at former UK leader Liz Truss and the thousands of British backpackers flocking to cities like Sydney, as the government seeks to tweak visa rules and ease pressure on the local job market. Truss, who lasted just 49 days in office before being forced to…

As US-Iran war shows, China’s influence can’t secure its line to Gulf oil

China is becoming increasingly important to the Gulf’s economic future. Yet the Gulf remains capable of disrupting China’s own. That is the contradiction exposed by the US-Iran war. Beijing’s importance as an energy customer, investor and technology partner has grown, but its ability to guarantee the maritime routes…

Taiwan flags massive PLA naval mobilisation, spike in air sorties

Taiwan expressed concern on Tuesday over more than 100 People’s Liberation Army naval vessels and mainland Chinese coastguard ships sailing across the western Pacific, including the Liaoning strike group conducting drills in the Philippine Sea. The maritime deployment overlapped with a sharp spike in PLA aerial…

‘Fake democracy’ or a plus for Beijing? Chinese internet users on the US midterms

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here Chinese social media users have voiced mixed views on the US midterm elections, criticising American politics while debating the implications of President Donald Trump’s political future for China. Held on Tuesday, the midterm elections saw Democrats win control of both chambers of…

Tencent unveils Hy4 as open-weight AI race with DeepSeek, Z.ai, Alibaba heats up

Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings has rolled out its latest flagship artificial intelligence model, Hy4, seeking to challenge top open-weight rivals with enhanced agentic capabilities built to power its enterprise software ecosystem. Released on Wednesday, the large language model (LLM) introduced visual…

US midterm shift could squeeze China on AI, but bring clarity to bilateral talks

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here Beijing has vowed to continue working with Washington towards a “constructive relationship of strategic stability” following the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the US midterm elections on Wednesday. But analysts said a Democratic-controlled US Congress would ramp up pressure on…

Malaysia’s debut Hyrox fitness event in beer sponsorship row

Organisers of Malaysia’s first Hyrox fitness competition agreed on Wednesday to exclude the event from a partnership with beer brand Carlsberg after Muslim entrants threatened to pull out and authorities warned they would withhold approval over the alcohol sponsorship. The tie-up had angered some participants who said…

Operator should lose tender marks in future over meter glitch, experts say

Hong Kong authorities should waive related fines and introduce a penalty mechanism for the city’s parking meter operator after a four-hour outage disabled about half of all meters, an industry expert and a lawmaker have suggested. They also called for clearer refund terms for Octopus card users on Wednesday, a day…

John Lee begins Beijing, Shanghai trip to deepen mainland economic ties

Hong Kong’s leader has begun a four-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai to deepen economic ties with mainland China, calling for closer collaboration on finance and innovation and technology (I&T), while pledging to help Chinese enterprises expand overseas. Speaking at the annual Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation…

US voters unleash blue wave, handing Congress to Democrats in rebuke to Trump

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here After weeks of insults, fearmongering and eye-popping spending on advertising, Americans settled down to vote on Tuesday, unleashing a blue wave that saw Democrats projected to take the House and the Senate, in a sharp rebuke to US President Donald Trump and his controversial…

Chinese firms’ third-quarter dividend growth lags global average amid market slump

Chinese listed firms’ third-quarter dividend payments lag behind the global average, according to a report by Capital Group, throwing doubt over the effectiveness of Beijing’s ongoing stock market stabilisation plans. In China, dividends only rose 5.3 per cent on a core basis in the third-quarter, compared with global…

Why North Korea’s Kim sees no need for another Trump ‘photo-op summit’

Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister on Wednesday rejected holding any further talks with the United States, days after the FBI accused North Korea of stealing more than US$6 billion from a cryptocurrency exchange and Washington launched a new round of sanctions aimed at Pyongyang. Analysts say the latest developments have…

Crash landing for K-dramas? Waning output threatens genre’s future

Twelve South Korean ⁠industry groups ⁠urged the government ⁠on Wednesday to invest in and support production of Korean television dramas, known as K-dramas, warning that the country’s production ‌base risked collapse. K-dramas have been hugely popular globally, but the number produced has fallen about 30 per cent from…

Frequently labelled as communists, who are the Democratic Socialists of America?

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here For years, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) had little influence over the machinery of the Democratic Party. That is beginning to change. The organisation has more than doubled its membership since 2024, reaching roughly 120,000, while growing numbers of DSA-backed…

Malaysian police arrest woman over viral shopping mall brawl

Malaysian police have arrested a 25-year-old woman who allegedly caused a disturbance by assaulting visitors at a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur, with the suspect admitting her involvement in the incident. Dang Wangi OCPD Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Azwan Amin Nordin said the local woman was arrested at about 5.40pm…

Chinese scientists discover thickening ground ice in parts of warming Tibet

The Tibetan Plateau, home to the world’s largest expanse of alpine permafrost, is warming at about twice the global average but, counter-intuitively,researchers have found that ice in parts of the Tibet autonomous region is actually thickening. A team from Peking University found that shallow ground ice has…

Will US midterm results lead to disruption in Washington’s ties with China?

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here The United States’ midterm elections are unlikely to deliver a “disruptive” shock to relations between Beijing and Washington despite potential volatility over the issue of Taiwan, according to a prominent mainland Chinese expert in US studies. Chen Dongxiao, president of the…

Baidu’s new AI simulator gives robotaxis a crash course in rare road hazards

For autonomous vehicles, the hardest lessons to learn are the ones that can test the skills of even the most experienced human drivers: an errant cyclist darting through a red light, or an animal bolting into oncoming traffic from behind a corner. The Chinese tech giant Baidu has developed a new AI-driven simulator to…

Praised as heroes, stung by criticism: firefighters torn over Tai Po blaze report

After spending 12 gruelling hours battling the Tai Po inferno, frontline firefighter Ah Fai* could not have imagined that, barely a year later, his department would find itself under the harsh glare of public scrutiny. The trauma of that night is still raw. He remembers burning debris from the bamboo scaffolding…

China training Solomon Islands police to use water cannons under security pact

China is helping to train Solomon Islands police to use water cannons as part of an ongoing security partnership that is viewed with scepticism by the West. The Chinese embassy said on Tuesday that six officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force took part in a week-long training exercise, without giving…

Vietnam surpasses Indonesia on per-person GDP. Is Thailand next?

Vietnam’s average economic output per person is set to overtake Indonesia’s, according to the International Monetary Fund. Gross domestic product per capita, which provides a snapshot of a country’s standard of living, is projected to rise 8.9 per cent to US$5,259 in Vietnam this year – nearly double the figure a…

US midterms: what happened while Asia slept, and when to expect results

Polls began closing across the United States on Tuesday evening in midterm elections that will decide whether US President Donald Trump’s Republicans keep control of Congress, after a day of voting disrupted by floods and machine glitches but largely free of the problems many had feared. The first polls closed at 6pm…

Trump says US close to trade deal with Canada, Carney says work remains

US ⁠President Donald Trump said on ⁠Tuesday the United States was close to making a trade deal with Canada, but Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said work remained to be done ‌and that Washington had dropped some demands. “Canada is very good, we’re going to make a deal with Canada very soon. We’re going to make a…

China and beyond: how the Democrats’ blue midterm wave has rippled around the world

The midterm elections have handed control of Congress to the Democrats, shaping the last two years of Donald Trump’s presidency with major consequences for US-China relations, global trade, and the war with Iran. The Republican Party lost its majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate as Democrats…

Spain’s transport minister resigns after train crash that killed 69

Spain’s transport minister handed in his resignation on Tuesday following a train crash that killed 69 people, one of the worst railway disasters in Europe this century and a blow for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ahead of a snap poll this month. Oscar Puente, who had earlier pledged to work “tirelessly” to restore…

China’s new nightmare: a Japanese containment arc in the Indo-Pacific

Just weeks after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked their countries’ World War II alliance at the White House, Keen Sword 27 turned symbolism into hardware. The 11-day exercise, which wrapped up on October 29, deployed US Marine NMESIS anti-ship launchers and MADIS air-defence systems…

Greenland ratifies Trump deal despite questions about value

Greenland’s parliament on Tuesday ratified the Arctic ⁠island’s security agreement ⁠struck earlier this year with US ⁠President Donald Trump, although some opposition party members questioned the deal’s economic value. The US, Denmark and Greenland in September signed the agreement, aimed at ending tensions after…

Fake bomb threats on flights and cruise ship cause travel disruption in Europe

At least seven flights and a cruise ⁠ship in Europe received bomb threats on ⁠Tuesday, causing disruption at airports although no devices were discovered. At least ⁠two flights to Warsaw, two to Sofia, two to Rome and one to Murcia airport in Spain were subjected to the threats on Tuesday, and another flight to Sofia…

China accuses Philippine politicians of ‘intolerable’ conduct as tensions rise

Amid continuously escalating tensions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday accused a handful of Philippine politicians of “egregious, irrational and intolerable” conduct, urging Manila to rein in their anti-China rhetoric, state media reported. Wang made the remarks during a phone conversation with Philippine…

UK’s King Charles calls slavery ‘monstrous injustice’, as PM mulls apology

King Charles called the transatlantic slave trade “a monstrous injustice” on Tuesday, opening a Commonwealth summit in which UK leader Andy Burnham is holding talks about apologising for Britain’s role in slavery. The monarch told the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda that slavery “still…

Trump axes US$3.8b annual military aid for Israel: ‘they no longer need it’

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Washington was ending a 10-year security aid deal with Israel that allowed US$3.8 billion in annual aid to its ally until 2028. Trump said Israel was “fine” with him ending the aid, which began in 2019 and was signed under his predecessor, Barack Obama, three years…

Indonesian police arrest 3 for tapping Prabowo’s phone

Indonesian authorities have arrested three people for allegedly tapping President Prabowo Subianto’s phone, according to police on Tuesday, with media reports suggesting one of the suspects may be a senior official. Prabowo, who took office in 2024, has come under increasing pressure for his government’s handling of…

Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders exempt from UK’s proposed 10-year settlement wait

Hongkongers moving to the United Kingdom under the British National (Overseas) visa scheme will be exempt from plans to double the qualifying period for settlement to 10 years, according to an official announcement. But they will still face stricter English-language requirements and tighter rules on criminal records…

Spanish police open manslaughter inquiry after footballer dies from on-pitch clash

Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter after a soccer player died following an on-field collision with the opposing team’s goalkeeper in a second-division match. Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel died after he suffered cardiac arrest from the on-field collision, his club said…

Israel deepens Somaliland ties with first ambassador, testing Horn of Africa balance

Last week, Somaliland, a breakaway region that declared independence from Somalia in 1991, welcomed its first ambassador from Israel. Diplomat Michael Lotem presented his credentials in Hargeisa, while officials laid the cornerstone for an Israeli embassy. The ceremony, announced by Israel’s foreign ministry on…

Cuba flight, Taiwan trade pushback, Panama probe: 7 Latin America relations reads

We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Air China scrambles to fly stranded passengers out of fuel-starved Cuba As a US oil embargo deepened…

Top Chinese general meets Russian defence minister days after Politburo appointment

Zhang Shengmin, China’s most senior uniformed general, met Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov in Beijing on Tuesday in his first publicly reported meeting with a foreign official since he became a member of the Politburo. Zhang, the vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), pledged to deepen…

In Israel, Arab lawmakers key to unseating Netanyahu amid divided opposition

The Israeli opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot pledged on Tuesday to form a government quickly to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but remained unclear on how, with divisions over whether to ally with Arab lawmakers. Meeting for the first time since an election a week ago brought an inconclusive result, the…

Hong Kong set for first taste of autumn as a strong northeast monsoon approaches

Hong Kong could be in store for its first real taste of autumn early next week, with temperatures forecast to dip below 20 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) as a strong northeast monsoon approaches the Guangdong coast. The Hong Kong Observatory said the monsoon would bring windy conditions to the region over the…

Indian navy frees hijacked Iranian fishing crew off Somalia

Indian naval forces freed an Iranian fishing boat and its crew of 20 hijacked off Somalia after an operation lasting more than 48 hours, India’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. The rescue of the Azini was completed on Monday in the Arabian Sea, more than 3,000km (1,860 miles) from Mumbai, Indian Defence Minister…

Chinese court hears US$53.5 billion Covid defamation case against US state of Missouri

A Chinese court has begun hearings in a defamation case filed by authorities and institutes in Beijing and Wuhan against the US state of Missouri over accusations tied to Covid-19. In a notice on Monday, the Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court said it held a hearing on Friday and legal proceedings were continuing. The…

German tourist missing in Indonesia’s Bali after landslide amid rainy season

A German tourist was among two men still missing on Tuesday after a landslide struck a glamping resort on the island of Bali in Indonesia. Heavy rains on Sunday afternoon caused the landslide, which struck the Eco Park Pelaga Glamping Retreat in Petang district at around 11pm, The Bali Times reported. Three tents…

The new Canada is much like the old one

I came of age in Canada during the Pierre Trudeau years – the Trudeau whom Canadians actually respect – as a high school student from Hong Kong. Back then, Canadian politics meant deliberate independence from the United States. Some Canadians today, especially younger ones, seem amazed that Prime Minister Mark Carney…

South Korea revokes Unification Church leader’s bail after secret visits exposed

A South Korean court revoked the Unification Church leader’s bail in a bribery case on Tuesday after footage emerged of her visiting the secretive movement’s headquarters in breach of release conditions. Han Hak-ja, 83, was sentenced to two years in prison in August for providing luxury items, including a designer…

Alibaba’s Joe Tsai champions open-source AI at Wuzhen Summit amid US pushback

Open source is the only viable path to creating a sustainable artificial intelligence industry, Alibaba Group Holding chairman Joe Tsai said on Tuesday, as the Chinese technology giant doubles down on its open-source AI strategy. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in…

China tests wave-piercing stealth trimaran as unconventional naval fleet grows

China appears to be testing a stealthy new trimaran at sea, according to a photograph circulating on social media, in what could be a further effort to develop unconventional naval platforms. The image first emerged on Weibo on Sunday and appears to show a vessel featuring an inverted wave-piercing bow, three-hull…

5 Hong Kong universities in Asia’s top 10, with 3 in top 5 after more than a decade

Five Hong Kong universities have been ranked among Asia’s top 10, with three of them in the top five for the first time in more than a decade and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) retaining its No 1 spot, according to an annual UK survey. Meanwhile, three universities in mainland China were ranked in the top 10…

Why a midterm mauling for Trump will not bring Asia trade relief

Since returning to the White House in January last year, US President Donald Trump has upended the global trading order with his scattergun approach to tariffs and launched a war on Iran that sent oil prices soaring. On Tuesday, American voters hurting from nagging inflation and the high cost of living that have…

Beijing offers to boost China-Pakistan corridor safety as terror threat grows

China has pledged to work with Pakistan to advance “high-level security cooperation” and ensure the safety of a joint flagship infrastructure project that has become a target for terrorists. That was the message Liu Haixing, head of the Communist Party’s International Department, conveyed in talks with Pakistan…

China-US AI investment gap narrower than figures suggest: report

The AI investment race between China and the US is closer than headline figures suggest, even though the technology is expected to make a greater contribution to economic growth in America, according to a Chinese think tank. The findings come as artificial intelligence becomes a focal point of technological…

Journalists may need judicial review to access land records under new rules

Hong Kong journalists may have to rely on judicial reviews if the government refuses to provide land records under a proposed new system, although authorities have vowed to simplify applications and deliver records in as little as one to two working days. Officials made the pledge on Tuesday as lawmakers raised…

Chinese University of Hong Kong to offer free AI dementia screening to 2,700 seniors

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) will launch its first free, district-based dementia screening programme next year, using artificial intelligence (AI)-powered retinal imaging to detect early signs of cognitive decline in 2,700 older residents within two years. The programme will be implemented in Wong Tai…

Spanish police dismantle Madrid housing protest camp ahead of snap election

Police on Tuesday dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid which had spearheaded protests over Spain’s housing crisis for more than a month and prompted early elections, police and activists said. Officers closed off much of the Spanish capital’s emblematic Puerta del Sol square on Tuesday morning as municipal…

Hong Kong homeowners prompt government rethink on proxy vote proposals

Hong Kong homeowners’ pushback against proposals to limit proxy votes and restrict meeting attendance to relatives has prompted authorities to study alternatives to resolve estate management issues behind the deadly Tai Po fire. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Home and Youth Affairs…

China’s HQ series intercepts 2 new missile types as PLA tests weapon platform

A People’s Liberation Army air defence unit has for the first time intercepted two new types of missile simultaneously during a drill – including one that made a sudden change of direction, according to state television. The CCTV report on Monday said it was a rapid response operation by the ground-based Shenwei…

What is it? PNG says it’s an artillery shell. China says it’s a wine bottle

China’s embassy in Papua New Guinea has disputed reports that a suspected Chinese-made artillery shell was found in a shipping container in Port Moresby, saying the object was instead a shell-shaped wine bottle. The embassy said in a social media post on Tuesday it was awaiting the official findings of an…

Mid-air helicopter collision on Nepal’s Everest kills Indian tourist

An Indian tourist was killed and a New Zealand national injured when two helicopters collided and crashed while attempting to land in Nepal’s Everest region on Tuesday, police said. There are few roads in the Himalayas, and helicopters are widely used to transport tourists, climbers and supplies, as well as carry out…

Hong Kong seeks to balance finance growth against cyber risks

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said that building Hong Kong “remains a key strategy for China” as he outlined four ways for the city to boost its long-term prospects and support the country’s development. The city should strengthen its role as a centre for international finance and the offshore yuan market, promote…

Hong Kong records 15th straight quarter of growth as GDP rises 5.2%

Hong Kong’s economy grew by 5.2 per cent year on year in the third quarter, marking its 15th consecutive quarter of expansion, while retail sales rose by 6.4 per cent in September. For the first three quarters combined, the economy expanded by 5.1 per cent, its fastest growth for the period in five years, advance…