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2026-09-24 04:44:43 UTC

Italy greenlights return of nuclear power after decades-long ban
Italy’s Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation paving the way for a return to nuclear power nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster prompted the country to abandon atomic energy.
The measure cleared the upper house 81-51 with seven abstentions. It marks a major step in Premier Giorgia Meloni’s drive to bolster energy security and meet climate goals, even though the construction of possible new reactors is still years away.
The bill, which earlier passed the lower Chamber...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/09/24/50c5f4a8-5f5d-443d-8730-dbf71fce3ad7_e9060f9b.jpg?itok=dGisaOU3&v=1790225076
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3368603/italy-greenlights-return-nuclear-power-after-decades-long-ban?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-09-18 12:00:07 UTC

Could China’s sixth-generation fighter carry a laser to defend against incoming missiles?
China may be aiming to equip its sixth-generation fighter jets with laser weapons that experts say could help defend them against incoming missiles.
At the 14th China International Defence Electronics Exhibition, held in Beijing from September 15 to 17, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Beijing Precision Engineering Institute for Aircraft Industry presented details of a “fighter aircraft laser-weapon tracking and aiming system”.
According to social media posts, the booth display...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368015/could-chinas-sixth-generation-fighter-carry-laser-defend-against-incoming-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-22 10:00:06 UTC

Why China’s EV boom is seen as an ‘unparalleled opportunity’ in Africa
While the US and some European governments view China’s vast production of electric vehicles and green-energy tech as overcapacity, African companies see it as an opportunity to secure EV technology and develop the industry.
China is the global leader of the EV industry – it makes nearly 75 per cent of the world’s electric vehicles and dominates the supply chain.
Its high production has driven down the cost of EVs, batteries and components, which has improved access to technologies that were...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/21/a5019c57-f781-49e5-8940-36bc4162c133_79dd0fce.jpg?itok=cwpHom7D&v=1787296282
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364799/why-chinas-ev-boom-seen-unparalleled-opportunity-africa?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-22 08:30:04 UTC

What’s so bad about a planned Hong Kong economy? Just look at Singapore
Why is the idea of a planned economy anathema to so many people despite China’s success? And why do so many retain faith in market economies given the economic chaos much of the Western world is descending into? These questions have acquired a particular piquancy as Hong Kong embraces long-term planning for the first time, attracting criticism from some that it is falling into Chinese-style error.
Having been in Asia for 50 years – in Singapore, which I consider a planned economy, and Hong Kong...
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https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3364315/whats-so-bad-about-planned-hong-kong-economy-just-look-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-15 01:00:15 UTC

‘Living in two worlds at once’: work in Hong Kong, live and play in Greater Bay Area
Regional cooperation is a key priority in Hong Kong’s first five-year plan. In the fourth of a five-part series on the plan, we look at how life in the Greater Bay Area can get better, with the right policies. Read part one here, part two here and part three here.
Eager to escape Hong Kong’s suffocating housing conditions, university administrative worker Polly Chan decided in 2023 to rent a weekend flat in Guangzhou.
On weekdays, she lives with her mother in a cramped 300 sq ft flat in Tai Po....
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/15/21f66062-7543-4d6a-adfa-9086bbeec263_89f62106.jpg?itok=G6f2KaJ9&v=1786726765
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3364114/living-two-worlds-once-work-hong-kong-live-and-play-greater-bay-area?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-15 01:00:13 UTC

Chinese boy abducted at 3, who inspired child trafficking film, enters direct PhD programme
A young Chinese man who has just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Technology from the prestigious Wuhan University is set to embark on a new life as a doctoral student at the same institution.
Peng Wenle is not just another ordinary 21-year-old; he was abducted at the age of three in 2008 from outside his parents’ telephone service shop in southern China’s Shenzhen and was recovered three years later, thanks to his parents’ tireless search.
Wenle seized this academic...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3364113/chinese-boy-abducted-3-who-inspired-child-trafficking-film-enters-direct-phd-programme?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-15 01:00:10 UTC

How China’s young managers grappled with billion-yuan mandates as AI shocks hit portfolios
As Leopold Aschenbrenner’s US hedge fund saw assets wiped off by more than two-thirds in a single month, some of China’s new portfolio managers also felt the shock across the Pacific, learning bitter lessons early in their careers.
The 50-day market turmoil, sparked by a global correction in artificial intelligence stocks in June, turned some of China’s rookie managers into an unwitting focal point. Even seasoned investors faced hard questions from clients as portfolios sagged.
For Yuan Zeqiang,...
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https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3364034/how-chinas-young-managers-grappled-billion-yuan-mandates-ai-shocks-hit-portfolios?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-07 11:30:07 UTC

China’s lab-grown diamonds get an AI boost as industry rides demand for chip cooling
Once overshadowed by natural diamonds in consumer markets, lab-grown versions of the world’s strongest natural substance have become a bright spot for industrial applications, fuelled by the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom.
As the world’s largest producer of the synthetic gems, China has posted strong export growth in recent years. Official data shows that the value of exports of lab-grown diamonds through the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) hit 1.41 billion yuan (US$210 million) in the...
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3363310/chinas-lab-grown-diamonds-get-ai-boost-industry-rides-demand-chip-cooling?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-05 02:01:05 UTC

Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew’s fountain pen valued at US$23,000-US$39,000 up for auction
A silver Montblanc fountain pen owned by Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew is up for auction with a starting bid of S$20,000.
Singapore auction house Hotlotz said on Wednesday that the pen, engraved “SM Lee Kuan Yew”, was previously sold at the Lee Kuan Yew Family Collection charity auction in July 2003.
Hotlotz has valued the silver Montblanc Meisterstuck No 146 fountain pen at S$30,000 (US$23,000) to S$50,000 (US$39,000). At the 2003 charity auction, it was estimated at S$4,000...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/04/afcb47ed-eb5e-4529-a57c-bb263151a0e1_3cb93819.jpg?itok=P1hs8dQz&v=1785848177
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3362963/singapores-lee-kuan-yews-fountain-pen-valued-us23000-us39000-auction?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-05 02:00:12 UTC

34% of Hong Kong students win university, diploma spots under admissions system
About 34 per cent of students who applied through Hong Kong’s university admissions system have secured tertiary education places this year, marking a slight drop from last year amid stiffer competition.
When the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Jupas) results were shared on Wednesday, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) each said they had offered places to half of the 24 top scorers in this year’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE)...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3362970/34-hong-kong-students-win-university-diploma-spots-under-admissions-system?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-05 02:00:07 UTC

Who are the officers filling the big shoes left behind in PLA anti-corruption drive?
The sweeping anti-corruption drive in China’s military appears to have cleared the way for a new batch of officers to quietly assume de facto leadership of key People’s Liberation Army bodies.
According to a South China Morning Post analysis of official insignia and protocol seating from state media coverage of recent meetings, dozens of fresh commanders have stepped into the roles of their ousted predecessors, positioning them to lead the world’s largest standing army.
Many have assumed major...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3362837/who-are-officers-filling-big-shoes-left-behind-pla-anti-corruption-drive?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-08-04 02:00:12 UTC

KMT accuses Taiwan’s government of failing to uphold South China Sea claims
Opposition parties in Taiwan have accused the government of failing to defend the island’s long-standing claims in the South China Sea, following its muted response to Philippine attempts to delimit a disputed shoal.
“The government speaks loudly when confronting mainland China, but falls silent when Japan or the Philippines challenges Taiwan’s claims,” Kuomintang culture and communications committee director Chen I-hsin said on Sunday.
Chen was referring to the Philippines’ move to assert...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3362823/kmt-accuses-taiwans-government-failing-uphold-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-07-26 05:42:21 UTC

100 days to US midterms, Trump faces defeat amid voter anger over inflation, Iran war
One hundred days before the US midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s Republicans are staring down polling that points to the loss of the House of Representatives and a ferocious battle to retain the Senate.
Trump will not appear on the ballot on November 3, but the stakes for his presidency could hardly be higher.
A Democratic house would give the party control of powerful committees and subpoena authority, likely subjecting Trump’s administration to two years of investigations and...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3361874/100-days-us-midterms-trump-faces-defeat-amid-voter-anger-over-inflation-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-07-20 04:27:41 UTC

Malaysia braces for record high temperatures under ‘super’ El Nino
Malaysia is expected ⁠to see record high ⁠temperatures next year ⁠as El Nino strengthens, its meteorological department has said.
The El Nino phenomenon is a natural part of the weather cycle, characterised by weakening trade winds and ‌warmer sea currents in the Pacific Ocean.
Climate experts have warned of a strong or super-strong El Nino this year, raising risks of severe weather such as droughts, floods and heatwaves.
Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, director general of Malaysia’s Meteorological...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/07/20/f5434b45-2738-492a-895e-36ef650e9ce9_3b3dce8f.jpg?itok=4Aw1K2qp&v=1784521660
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3361164/malaysia-braces-record-high-temperatures-under-super-el-nino?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-06-04 08:41:24 UTC

Tibetology is key to China shaping global views on the region, top official says
Chinese academics specialising in Tibet must find more creative ways to shape the global conversation about the region while remaining strictly aligned with the Communist Party’s ideology.
That was the message Li Ganjie, head of the Communist Party’s United Front Work Department, had for researchers who gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the China Tibetology Research Centre on Wednesday.
According to state news agency Xinhua, Li said that the international situation was “volatile” and...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3355946/tibetology-key-china-shaping-global-views-region-top-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-05-21 21:24:32 UTC

US voices hope on Iran deal progress before Pakistan army chief visit
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope on Thursday of progress on ending the war with Iran, with mediator Pakistan’s army chief due to arrive in the Islamic republic for talks.
The expected visit by Field Marshal Asim Munir, a powerful figure with a growing role in Pakistan’s foreign relations, comes a day after US President Donald Trump warned that negotiations to end the war were on the “borderline” between a deal and renewed strikes.
“I believe the Pakistanis will be travelling to...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/05/22/be79c1c7-7cca-4108-af76-ddea46349de1_88fd892a.jpg?itok=mikOkC_r&v=1779398554
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3354435/us-voices-hope-iran-deal-progress-pakistan-army-chief-visit?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-05-12 09:07:05 UTC

Asean explores ‘tentative’ Myanmar re-engagement with virtual talks
A planned virtual meeting between Southeast Asian foreign ministers and Myanmar’s junta-appointed representative has analysts predicting a potential normalisation of ties five years after the coup that first caused them to rupture.
Asean Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn confirmed on Thursday on the sidelines of the 11-member regional bloc’s summit in the Philippines that a meeting was expected “in the very near future”.
Myanmar’s military-backed government has been frozen out of the Association...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/05/12/520c90a9-4750-49c5-8689-a9821866d228_826131ec.jpg?itok=0u1HOeug&v=1778576732
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353268/asean-explores-tentative-myanmar-re-engagement-virtual-talks?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-05-08 00:00:17 UTC

Can Vietnam’s bureaucracy reform boost investment amid growth threats?
A bonfire of red tape to unleash investment and complete stalled projects across Vietnam may drive economic expansion but is unlikely to offset the damage caused by US tariffs and the fuel crisis which have threatened the country’s growth ambitions.
Vietnam’s Communist Party General-Secretary and President To Lam, the most powerful leader in a generation, has set an annual growth target of 10 per cent until 2030 to galvanise a nation whose ponderous bureaucracy has snarled private investment and...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/05/07/3e6066b0-de6d-4ee8-a86e-88a7257675b7_873c0524.jpg?itok=9r3nnQyE&v=1778167206
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352808/can-vietnams-bureaucracy-reform-boost-investment-amid-growth-threats?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-05-07 23:42:36 UTC

Islamic State-linked Australian women charged with keeping slave in Syria
Two Australian women “kept a female slave” after travelling to Syria in 2014 to support Islamic State, police said on Friday after the pair were charged in Melbourne.
The women returned to Australia on Thursday evening for the first time in almost a decade, travelling from a Syrian detention camp where they were stranded after the group’s collapse.
They were immediately arrested after their Qatar Airways flight landed at Melbourne International Airport.
Police accused the women – a mother and...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3352825/islamic-state-linked-australian-women-charged-keeping-slave-syria?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-05-02 08:37:09 UTC

Why are modern Chinese film audiences shying away from dubbed films?
At the December premiere of the Chinese-dubbed 1957 Billy Wilder classic Witness for the Prosecution in a Shanghai cinema, dubbing artist Qiao Zhen voiced a more immediate mystery: “Do you still enjoy Chinese-dubbed films?”
When audience members, mainly nostalgia-seeking fans, responded with applause and shouts of “Yes!”, the 83-year-old veteran became emotional, offering a moving defence of his art form.
“Several years ago we felt this profession had fallen into a low point,” he told the...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3352213/why-are-modern-chinese-film-audiences-shying-away-dubbed-films?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:54:18 UTC

Frenchman jailed for 10 years in Azerbaijan: ‘I’m not a spy’
Azerbaijan on Monday sentenced a Frenchman to 10 years in prison in an espionage case launched during a period of diplomatic tensions between Paris and Baku that have now eased.
Martin Ryan was arrested in December 2023 and went on trial in January last year, when relations between Azerbaijan and France had deteriorated to new lows over Paris’ support for Armenia, Baku’s long-time rival.
The court found him guilty of spying against Azerbaijan and sentenced him to 10 years.
Prosecutors had sought...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346788/frenchman-jailed-10-years-azerbaijan-im-not-spy?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:48:53 UTC

China and the US end trade talks as doubts form over Trump visit
China and the US wrapped up their sixth round of trade talks in Paris on Monday, with the agenda ranging from a possible extension of bilateral tariff and non-tariff measures as well as bilateral investment.
“China and US conducted deep, frank and constructive consultations,” Li Chenggang, China’s top international trade negotiator, said after the meetings.
Both sides agreed to “continue to maintain the stability of tariffs”, Li said.
A day earlier US President Donald Trump told the Financial...
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346787/china-and-us-end-trade-talks-doubts-form-over-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:33:01 UTC

Hong Kong in new push to get young people to register as voters
Young people can opt to make self-declarations to be exempted from producing proof of address to register as electors under a new Hong Kong government drive to boost voter numbers, lawmakers have been told.
A commissioner for oaths will be stationed at each Immigration Department registration of persons office, where young people replace their juvenile identity cards with adult ones upon turning 18.
The initiative was outlined as officials presented the 2026 voter registration campaign at...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346785/hong-kong-new-push-get-young-people-register-voters?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:32:07 UTC

Malaysia’s Petronas wins right to challenge Sarawak gas laws in court
Malaysia’s highest court on Monday allowed national energy firm Petronas to pursue a legal bid to challenge several laws passed by the state of Sarawak, amid a protracted dispute over gas distribution rights.
Sarawak, on Borneo island, is home to more than 60 per cent of Malaysia’s gas reserves and has long sought greater control over its natural resources.
In recent years, it has passed laws and appointed its own firm Petros to procure, distribute, supply and sell all natural gas in the state,...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346783/malaysias-petronas-wins-right-challenge-sarawak-gas-laws-court?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:30:11 UTC

Why Trump's push for China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz may hurt trade talks
US President Donald Trump’s reported threat that he may postpone a long-awaited visit to China – unless Beijing helps unblock the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz – may put the current trade talks in Paris at risk by sidelining earlier priorities and potential deals, analysts say.
As the US-Israeli war in Iran enters its third week and disrupts global energy markets, Trump has reportedly urged Beijing to send warships to help reopen the strait and ease oil shipments. About 20 per cent of the...
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346784/why-trumps-push-china-help-reopen-strait-hormuz-may-hurt-trade-talks?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:30:09 UTC

Europe says it must rearm – but to what end?
With the Middle East ablaze and war in Ukraine showing no sign of respite, a stark new consensus is hardening in Paris, London and Berlin that Europe must rearm.
Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron signalled a pivotal shift in deterrence by announcing an increase in the nation’s nuclear warheads and a “forward deterrence” plan. This follows a rare joint appeal from the British and German defence chiefs, who urged Europeans to build a moral and strategic case for a massive surge in...
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https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3346554/europe-says-it-must-rearm-what-end?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:02:37 UTC

Fix, don’t fire ‘digital employee’ OpenClaw over security risks: Paul Chan
Hong Kong’s finance chief has likened the powerful AI agent OpenClaw to an efficient “digital employee,” saying it should not be dismissed but rather improved to address security risk concerns.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s remarks on Monday followed the Digital Policy Office’s recent advisory urging government departments to avoid installing OpenClaw or its variants due to security concerns.
“AI agent OpenClaw has awed the world; the convenience it offers is just like having a digital...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346782/fix-dont-fire-digital-employee-openclaw-over-security-risks-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 12:00:09 UTC

AI poisoning: fake fitness tracker fools chatbots in China, sparking outcry
An undercover investigation by state-run China Central Television (CCTV) has cast a harsh light on a controversial practice in a nascent industry: the “poisoning” of artificial intelligence models with fabricated information.
The report showed how techniques of generative engine optimisation (GEO) – the AI version of search engine optimisation (SEO) – could be used to manipulate AI chatbots, provoking widespread public concern and debate as both industry insiders and observers anticipated...
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https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346761/ai-poisoning-fake-fitness-tracker-fools-chatbots-china-sparking-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 11:53:05 UTC

Hong Kong businessman expected to take loss on Peak properties he bought for US$255m
Luxury residential property on Hong Kong’s Peak Road owned by businessman Chan King-wai has been put up for sale by public tender, several years after he acquired it from companies linked to CK group.
Marketing agent JLL said on Monday that the adjoining sites at 86, 88 and 90 Peak Road are being offered for joint sale by tender. The residential lots have a combined area of about 28,620 sq ft.
The site could attract bids of about HK$70,000 (US$8,939) to HK$100,000 per square foot, said Joseph...
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https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346780/hong-kong-businessman-expected-take-loss-peak-properties-he-bought-us255m?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 11:49:26 UTC

Arrest of stateless teen in Malaysia highlights plight of Sabah’s 1 million non-citizens
The arrest of a 17-year-old stateless teenager during a school outing to buy Eid clothes at a Sabah mall for allegedly failing to show valid residence papers, has returned scrutiny to Malaysia’s treatment of undocumented people.
Niko Ansboy, a student at Borneo Komrad, an alternative school for stateless children, was waiting outside a store during a school trip to the 1Borneo Hypermall when police detained him on Sunday.
He was stopped by officers patrolling after the Kota Kinabalu District...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3346779/arrest-stateless-teen-malaysia-highlights-plight-sabahs-1-million-non-citizens?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 11:30:08 UTC

Papers please: China raises pressure on Panama amid canal row with ship inspection wave
Beijing has increased its inspections on Panama-flagged vessels entering Chinese ports, a source from the shipping industry said, an action intended to raise the Latin American country’s stress level after its courts voided the operating rights of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison in the Panama Canal.
Port state control (PSC) – the inspection regime countries may deploy to verify the compliance of foreign ships with various international standards – was being used as a form of leverage...
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346767/papers-please-china-raises-pressure-panama-amid-canal-row-ship-inspection-wave?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 10:30:11 UTC

Most Filipino women think a woman’s place is in the home, survey finds
The Philippines ranks among Asia’s most gender-equal societies by several international measures. Yet ask Filipino women where they truly belong and most will still tell you: at home.
A new survey has found that 83 per cent of Filipino women agree “being a housewife is just as fulfilling as working for pay”, up from 70 per cent when the same question was posed in 1994.
The findings, released by independent pollster Social Weather Stations earlier in March to coincide with National Women’s Month,...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3346760/most-filipino-women-think-womans-place-home-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 10:19:53 UTC

Iran to turn bombed girls’ school into museum commemorating US ‘crimes’
Iran plans to convert the girls’ school that was bombed on the first day of the war into a museum commemorating the nearly 200 victims of the strike.
“This school is a living document of the Americans’ willingness to commit crimes and must be registered and documented for preservation in the historical memory of the Iranian people,” the Iranian government said in a statement issued on Monday.
At least 168 pupils aged between seven and 12 years old, 26 teachers and four parents were killed in the...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346768/iran-turn-bombed-girls-school-museum-commemorating-us-crimes?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 10:15:52 UTC

Google to open Gemini chatbot to all Hong Kong users amid city’s AI push
Tech giant Google will gradually roll out its generative AI services to all users in Hong Kong starting with the Gemini web app before introducing a mobile version for the chatbot and virtual assistant.
The move is expected to eliminate the barriers that previously forced many residents to use virtual private networks (VPNs) or third-party platforms to access Google’s flagship artificial intelligence (AI) models or other alternatives.
“We believe expanding the Gemini experience will drive more...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346766/google-open-gemini-chatbot-all-hong-kong-users-amid-citys-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 10:00:09 UTC

How China ethnic minority groups use chicken bones of small roosters to predict fortunes
Ethnic minority groups in China have long relied on a gruesome method to predict their fortunes: beating a rooster to death and reading its femur bones, a practice that has lasted for centuries.
Tracing back to the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties, the custom is known as “Dajibu”, meaning chicken divination.
It originated from ancient spiritual beliefs in southwestern China, where people lacking access to medicine would beat bronze drums to pray for healing.
Chicken bone divination...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3346349/how-china-ethnic-minority-groups-use-chicken-bones-small-roosters-predict-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:30:14 UTC

No ships cross Strait of Hormuz for first time since conflict began, data shows
Maritime tracking data showed that no ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first full day since the Middle East conflict began without any confirmed commercial traffic in either direction.
Crossings dropped to zero, below the previous seven-day average of 2.57 daily transits, according to maritime analytics firm Windward. Although no vessels entered the waterway that day, about 400 ships sailed in the Gulf of Oman on Friday, it said.
“The concentration suggests that...
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346755/no-ships-cross-strait-hormuz-first-time-conflict-began-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:15:03 UTC

Hong Kong policeman denies molesting clerk at headquarters in indecent assault case
A senior Hong Kong police officer has denied molesting a government clerk at the force’s headquarters more than a year ago.
Ian Chow Ngai-kong, 50, on Monday stood trial at Eastern Court on three counts of indecent assault over the alleged incidents at the police headquarters in Wan Chai on June 19 and November 1, 2024.
The court heard the complainant, a senior clerical officer from the Civil Service Bureau, was seconded to the police force to provide administrative support from August 2023.
She...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346750/hong-kong-policeman-denies-molesting-clerk-headquarters-indecent-assault-case?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:14:40 UTC

Confusion over Malaysia-US trade deal as ‘null and void’ claim retracted
Malaysia’s government has been forced onto the defensive over its much-touted tariff deal with the United States, after a minister walked back an earlier claim that the agreement had been rendered “null and void” by a US Supreme Court ruling.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration signed the deal in October, promising US$240 billion in investments and purchases of American goods, including beef and aircraft, in exchange for continued access to the world’s largest consumer market at a...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3346749/confusion-over-malaysia-us-trade-deal-null-and-void-claim-retracted?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:14:17 UTC

Dubai flights disrupted after drone attack near airport; missile kills 1 in Abu Dhabi
Missiles and drone attacks hit across the UAE on Monday, with a drone-related incident sparking a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport that disrupted travel, while a missile killed a civilian in Abu Dhabi.
In the eastern emirate of Fujairah, a drone attack on oil infrastructure sparked a fire, just one day after smoke was seen rising from a major UAE energy installation in the emirate.
The attacks came a day after Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview that rockets had been...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346748/dubai-flights-disrupted-after-drone-attack-near-airport-missile-kills-1-abu-dhabi?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:11:33 UTC

2 dead after Japanese school trip boats capsize off US military base site in Okinawa
Two boats carrying 21 people capsized on Monday off Henoko, a controversial relocation site for a US military base off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, throwing all into the water and leaving two of them dead, officials said.
The Japan Coast Guard said 18 of them were students from a Kyoto high school on two boats, 10 on Heiwa Maru and eight on the smaller Fukutsu, to observe the Henoko area as part of their peace education programme.
Rescuers pulled all 21 people out of the water, but a...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3346746/2-dead-after-japanese-school-trip-boats-capsize-us-military-base-site-okinawa?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:04:14 UTC

China may snub Trump plea for help in Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said he may put off a planned visit to Beijing as he sought to press China and other nations into helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in Iran.
“We may delay” the trip, he told the Financial Times on Sunday, without saying for how long. The visit, scheduled for March 31 to April 2, includes a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump has “demanded” that about seven countries help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, he told reporters on Sunday, as the...
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https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346744/china-may-snub-trump-plea-help-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:00:12 UTC

Malaysia’s US$6 billion megaport imperils Mah Meri way of life
Lingan bin Man pulls up to the fishing jetty in the early afternoon, guiding his small boat towards a narrow strip of wooden planks as waves crash against the dock.
On board are his wife and toddler. Together, the Malaysian family inspects the day’s catch: 2kg (4.4lbs) of clams after three hours at sea.
“I can sell this for US$7,” the 52-year-old said.
For fishermen in Kampung Sungai Kurau, a village on Pulau Carey, an island in Selangor state, this has become the new normal.
Members of the Mah...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3346725/malaysias-us6-billion-megaport-imperils-mah-meri-way-life?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 09:00:10 UTC

Could this Chinese breakthrough pave way for global organ transplant system?
A team of scientists in China has developed a way to freeze and revive organs for transplant, extending their viability from as little as six hours to several days, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Medical Devices.
While the technology is still at the experimental stage and has not yet progressed to human trials, it could one day transform the entire field of organ transplantation, especially for hearts, the researchers say.
“If just half of the currently discarded...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346722/could-chinese-breakthrough-pave-way-global-organ-transplant-system?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 08:00:10 UTC

Shanghai sees massive F1 turnout, boosting city’s pitch as sporting destination
The Formula One (F1) Chinese Grand Prix drew record crowds over the weekend, another indication the wide-ranging efforts from host city Shanghai to raise its profile as a global sports and event destination are paying off.
The three-day event, which concluded on Sunday, attracted more than 230,000 cumulative spectators, the highest attendance headcount reported by the Chinese financial centre in nearly two decades.
On the opening day, the number of foreign arrivals through Shanghai’s ports...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/03/16/99fca937-bbf4-416a-af1e-771d6d18b0c1_e2746196.jpg?itok=DLOYEC-N&v=1773643167
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346721/shanghai-sees-massive-f1-turnout-boosting-citys-pitch-sporting-destination?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 07:00:11 UTC

AI to narrow China’s rural-urban economic divide
China is counting on artificial intelligence (AI) to help the 450 million people living in rural areas left behind by the nation’s economic boom.
Farmers are already benefiting from the technology, using AI offerings such as DeepSeek or ByteDance’s Doubao for help with issues like pig rearing, pest control and government subsidies. The State Council’s “No 1 document” of 2026, extended a push for the “digital upgrading” of farming, with an emphasis on the greater integration of AI, drones, robots...
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https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-trends/article/3346713/ai-narrow-chinas-rural-urban-economic-divide?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 06:51:29 UTC

Myanmar’s junta-proxy parliament meets for first time since 2021 coup
Five years after armoured vehicles rolled through the streets of Myanmar’s capital and the generals tore up an election result they did not like, a new parliament sat for the first time on Monday.
The legislature that convened in Naypyidaw was stacked almost entirely with allies of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the coup leader who ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.
In Myanmar’s recent election, held across barely a third of the country, the army-backed Union Solidarity...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/03/16/e378b4c9-80c9-4f26-80a9-8c326b165781_29fa2540.jpg?itok=VRC2g9IZ&v=1773643887
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346724/myanmars-junta-proxy-parliament-meets-first-time-2021-coup?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 06:36:21 UTC

China’s supply chain meets the wall of African resource nationalism
Resource-rich African nations are increasingly asserting control over critical minerals to maximise domestic returns, sending global prices soaring and exerting pressure on Chinese supply chains.
Zimbabwe, Africa’s largest lithium producer, last month abruptly suspended exports of raw lithium minerals and concentrates, moving its 2027 deadline forward.
Zimbabwe’s mines minister Polite Kambamura revealed in a post-cabinet briefing on March 3 that following notice of the intended ban, the industry...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346717/chinas-supply-chain-meets-wall-african-resource-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 06:36:13 UTC

9 injured as car mounts pavement in Hong Kong
Nine people have been injured after a car mounted the pavement on a Hong Kong street.
Police were called to Lam Hing Street in Kowloon Bay at about 12.40pm on Monday following reports of a car veering onto the walkway.
The vehicle, which has both local and mainland Chinese number plates, sustained damage to its left front door and window, as well as its rear left door.
pavement bricks were left scattered across the walkway, while several lamp posts, trees and roadside fences were damaged.
Five...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3346720/9-injured-car-mounts-pavement-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 06:24:36 UTC

20 Thai sailors return home after Iranian attack in Strait of Hormuz
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.
The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346718/20-thai-sailors-return-home-after-iranian-attack-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 06:01:28 UTC

James Taylor-Foster, Para Site’s ‘wild card’ director, on ‘beautiful paradox’ of Hong Kong
With his peroxide blond hair, dark moustache and luxuriant eyebrows, London-born curator and writer James Taylor-Foster is easy to pick out among the tourists and selfie-takers in the courtyard of Yick Cheong Building, also known as the “Monster Building”, in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay neighbourhood.
The South China Morning Post is meeting the 33-year-old here shortly after the board of the Hong Kong non-profit art space Para Site chose him to be its next executive director. That space, a few...
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https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3346461/james-taylor-foster-para-sites-wild-card-director-beautiful-paradox-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 06:00:08 UTC

China woman uses AI-generated man to lecture on respecting science, rejecting superstition
Young people in China are contributing to a fake account generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to lecture their parents about healthy and scientific life values.
A social media account called “Lao Zhao jiang dao li”, or “Mr Zhao talks sense”, went viral recently, amassing over 200,000 followers in just two months.
The man surnamed Zhao, based in southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality, claimed in his profile that he is a retired professor who has specialised in parent-child relationships...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346320/china-woman-uses-ai-generated-man-lecture-respecting-science-rejecting-superstition?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 05:35:42 UTC

Couple to face child neglect charges after son swept into sea during Typhoon Ragasa
A Hong Kong couple whose five-year-old son was swept into the sea at a waterfront during Super Typhoon Ragasa last year have been charged with child neglect and are set to appear in court on Tuesday.
Police revealed on Monday that the boy’s father, a 40-year-old man surnamed Yen, and mother, a 38-year-old woman surnamed Li, were arrested in Chai Wan on January 6 and were charged last Wednesday with ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person.
The case will be heard at...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346714/couple-face-child-neglect-charges-after-son-swept-sea-during-typhoon-ragasa?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 04:52:23 UTC

Malaysia’s government accused of using law to silence critics
Several Malaysian civil society groups on Monday accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government of using a harsh criminal law provision to intimidate critics after police questioned activists, academics and political researchers over an alleged plot to topple the government.
The backlash follows an announcement in late February that police were investigating allegations of a conspiracy to “topple the government and sabotage national stability” involving “a local influential figure” and an...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346706/malaysias-government-accused-using-law-silence-critics?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 04:12:09 UTC

China defence experts vanish online, Thai coconut cartel crisis: 5 weekend reads you missed
We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Top Chinese nuclear, radar and missile experts vanish from engineering body site
2. The US is shifting THAAD to the Middle East. What does that mean for China?
3. Hong Kong OpenClaw users say tool is helpful ‘family member’ who must be watched
4. Inside the coconut cartel: how Chinese money...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3346695/china-defence-experts-vanish-online-thai-coconut-cartel-crisis-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 04:00:10 UTC

Things ‘I do not like’ drove me to quit US for Hong Kong: top mathematician Ngo Bao Chau
World-leading Vietnamese mathematician Ngo Bao Chau has said his decision to leave the US was not just the result of the worsening academic environment there, but also a vision to transform Asia into the next global powerhouse for maths and science.
Ngo, the first Vietnamese recipient of the prestigious Fields Medal, will join the University of Hong Kong in June.
“I want Asia to be the next America or the next Europe [as] a place where science and mathematics strive,” he said in an interview on...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346664/things-i-do-not-drove-me-quit-us-hong-kong-top-mathematician-ngo-bao-chau?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 04:00:08 UTC

Philippines’ Jollibee stands out as Southeast Asia’s global restaurant exception
From Singapore’s hawker stalls to Thailand’s street markets and Vietnam’s noodle shops, Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s most celebrated food cultures.
Yet the region has produced relatively few restaurant chains with global brand recognition, even as Chinese food and beverage groups climb international rankings.
Analysts say structural factors – including smaller domestic markets, fragmented regional consumer tastes and fewer brands expanding aggressively overseas – have slowed the...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3346547/philippines-jollibee-stands-out-southeast-asias-global-restaurant-exception?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 03:12:32 UTC

Guess says it will shut all mainland China stores amid retail rethink
US fashion brand Guess has told customers it will close all its stores in mainland China by the end of March, pending a new business model at a time when a growing number of international fashion retailers retreat from the market amid what analysts believe are issues including weak localisation and slow decision-making.
Other foreign brands that have withdrawn entirely from mainland China in recent years include US label Old Navy, UK brand Topshop, and several labels owned by Spanish fashion...
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https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346601/guess-says-it-will-shut-all-mainland-china-stores-amid-retail-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 03:09:20 UTC

Courier SF Express imposes temporary fuel surcharges within Hong Kong and Macau
China’s largest courier, SF Express, will introduce temporary fuel surcharges for local document and parcel deliveries within Hong Kong and Macau, set at HK$1 (13 US cents) and MOP$1, respectively, starting Monday amid a surge in global oil prices.
The Shenzhen-based company said on Sunday that the surcharge was introduced in response to “the recent drastic fluctuations in global fuel prices due to the international situation,” adding that monthly credit account clients would not be subject to...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346700/courier-sf-express-imposes-temporary-fuel-surcharges-within-hong-kong-and-macau?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 02:37:12 UTC

Malaysia will not intervene militarily in Middle East, Anwar says
Malaysia cannot get involved in what is happening in the Middle East, especially not via military intervention, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said.
He said that as a free country, Malaysia could voice its objections towards war and violence – but not by sending in troops.
Dialogue and engagement should be the means to resolve any form of disputes, he said.
“We do not agree when any country is attacked and colonised. We do not want any country to interfere in our national affairs,” he said on...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346699/malaysia-will-not-intervene-militarily-middle-east-anwar-says?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 02:00:11 UTC

How Asean can loosen dependence on US, China amid trade war fallout
As trade tensions and new US tariff investigations rattle global supply chains, Southeast Asian economies are looking to broaden their options, but analysts say the region’s deep links with the US and China mean any shift will be gradual rather than a clean break.
The disruption could actually work in Asean’s favour, accelerating supply-chain diversification and shifting more manufacturing to the region from markets such as Europe, India and the Middle East, they say.
Economic ministers from the...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3346594/how-asean-can-loosen-dependence-us-china-amid-trade-war-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 02:00:10 UTC

China’s economy starts 2026 strongly as retail sales, investment rise
China’s economy got off to a strong start in 2026, as industrial output and retail sales stayed resilient in the first two months while fixed-asset investment registered a small expansion.
The figures will offer a boost to Beijing as it strives to achieve an economic growth rate between 4.5 per cent and 5 per cent this year and ward off deflationary pressures on the economy.
China’s industrial output rose 6.3 per cent in January and February compared with the same period last year, according to...
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3346697/chinas-economy-starts-2026-strongly-retail-sales-investment-rise?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 01:30:08 UTC

Mainland-style oversight system could help Legco to deliver
After the annual “two sessions” in Beijing, it’s clear that Hong Kong policymakers have their work cut out for them. It has been made abundantly clear what is expected of Hong Kong: stop messing around and get on with the national programme.
Hong Kong is part of the nation’s plans to move forward. The country knows exactly where the city fits into the big picture, how it can catapult growth in key areas and play the role of superconnector between China and the rest of the world.
The 15th...
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https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346468/mainland-style-oversight-system-could-help-legco-deliver?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 01:00:12 UTC

Hong Kong regulator sets ‘comprehensive’ review of medical insurance costs
Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority aims to increase transparency and the available range of medical insurance products to address rising costs, while also reviewing regulations with an eye towards attracting more international life-insurance buyers.
“We would like to see the insurance companies introduce more medical insurance products that are more accessible and affordable for the general public, with sales practices that are fair to consumers,” said Clement Lau Chung-kin, the authority’s...
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https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346649/hong-kong-regulator-sets-comprehensive-review-medical-insurance-costs?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 01:00:10 UTC

China Liaoning warship’s sole female senior officer urges fellow women to prioritise professional skills
The sole female senior officer aboard China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has urged women to put aside their gender and focus on professionalism and responsibility.
On March 7, during the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, a poised and confident female military deputy in uniform captured nationwide attention.
Zhu Yuemeng, 36, from a modest family in Jilin province, northeastern China, is a naval lieutenant colonel and serves as a political instructor on board the Liaoning aircraft...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346243/china-liaoning-warships-sole-female-senior-officer-urges-fellow-women-prioritise-professional-skills?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 00:30:16 UTC

30% jump in demand for regional holidays among Hongkongers amid Middle East war
Demand for some regional holiday destinations among Hong Kong travellers has jumped by as much as 30 per cent ahead of Easter, as locals seek to avoid long-haul trips amid rising airfares and disrupted routes caused by the ongoing war in Iran, according to industry players.
Travel agencies said the number of inquiries for trips to Japan, South Korea, mainland China and Australia had risen by between 10 and 30 per cent since the war escalated, while demand for destinations linked to the Middle...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346683/30-jump-demand-regional-holidays-among-hongkongers-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 00:00:13 UTC

Trump wants Japanese warships in Hormuz. Can Takaichi ‘dodge the bullet’?
The rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East threatens to overshadow this week’s meeting between Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump, where the two leaders are expected to deepen economic cooperation and collaboration in shipbuilding.
Thursday’s summit at the White House puts Takaichi in a bind, caught between Trump’s call for Tokyo and others to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and her country’s constitutional limits on taking part in...
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https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346660/trump-wants-japanese-warships-hormuz-can-takaichi-dodge-bullet?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-16 00:00:09 UTC

Precision strike: China targets US, Japan stranglehold on photoresist supply
China’s push for semiconductor self-sufficiency is shifting from broad aspiration to a precision strike on chokepoint materials, with photoresist – the light-sensitive chemical essential for etching microscopic circuits onto silicon wafers – emerging as a new battlefield.
The sector, which provides the key material for lithography, was expected to enter a critical stage of “accelerated breakthroughs and large-scale application” over the coming years, according to Fu Zhiwei, chairman of Xuzhou...
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https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346555/precision-strike-china-targets-us-japan-stranglehold-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 22:00:10 UTC

Why Iran strikes may drive Asian nuclear race, hit China in the Middle East: Zhao Tong
Zhao Tong is a senior fellow with the Nuclear Policy Programme at Washington-based think tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and its East Asia-based research centre on contemporary China, Carnegie China.
His research focuses on strategic security issues, including nuclear weapons policy, deterrence, arms control, non-proliferation, missile defence, hypersonic weapons, regional security in the Asia-Pacific, and China’s security and foreign policy. This interview first appeared in...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346215/why-iran-strikes-may-drive-asian-nuclear-race-hit-china-middle-east-zhao-tong?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 21:30:08 UTC

How US-Israel war on Iran rocks foundations of the Abraham Accords
The 2020 Abraham Accords were heralded as a transformative diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. The US-brokered agreements normalised relations between Israel and Arab states including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. They established full diplomatic relations, opening embassies, initiating direct commercial flights, expanding trade ties and encouraging people-to-people exchanges.
The accords were notable because the participating Arab states agreed to normalise relations with...
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https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3346247/how-us-israel-war-iran-rocks-foundations-abraham-accords?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 20:27:44 UTC

Afghan asylum seeker dies in ICE custody, US advocacy group says
An Afghan immigrant who previously worked with the US military in Afghanistan and later sought asylum in the United States died this weekend in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody less than 24 hours after ‌being detained in Texas, a US veteran-led advocacy group said on Sunday.
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, who was living in a Dallas suburb with his wife and six children while his asylum case remained pending, was arrested by federal agents outside his flat on Friday morning while...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346691/afghan-asylum-seeker-dies-ice-custody-us-advocacy-group-says?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 19:43:29 UTC

Police arrest 12 as hundreds join banned pro-Palestinian march in London
Hundreds of people turned out in London on Sunday for a pro-Palestinian march banned by the government after police said it was organised by a group “supportive of the Iranian regime”.
Police said in a statement they had arrested 12 people and were investigating anti-Israeli chants allegedly made at the rally.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said earlier this week she had agreed to the ban to “prevent serious public disorder” in the context of the continuing conflict in the Middle East, where...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346690/police-arrest-12-hundreds-join-banned-pro-palestinian-march-london?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 18:49:00 UTC

Gaza’s Rafah crossing to open on Wednesday ‘for limited movement of people’, Israel says
Gaza’s ⁠main gateway, ⁠the Rafah crossing with Egypt that was closed at the start of ‌the Iran war, will open on Wednesday for limited movement of people in both directions, Israel’s COGAT, the ⁠military body in charge of humanitarian ‌matters, said on Sunday.
The crossing had reopened ‌in early February after being largely ⁠shut ⁠since May 2024, in the ‌early months of Israel’s war against Hamas ‌in ‌Gaza. Its reopening offered ‌some relief to Palestinians who ⁠want to leave Gaza for ⁠medical...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346689/gazas-rafah-crossing-open-wednesday-limited-movement-people-israel-says?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 18:00:12 UTC

Iran says women’s football captain has withdrawn Australia asylum bid
The captain of the Iranian women’s football team which played in the Asian Cup in Australia has withdrawn her bid for asylum, state media said on Sunday, making her the fifth member of the delegation to change her mind.
A former player and a Persian-language television channel based outside Iran said the players had been pressured to reverse their stance through threats against families back home. But Iranian authorities have in turn accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.
Captain...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3346688/iran-says-womens-football-captain-has-withdrawn-australia-asylum-bid?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 17:12:51 UTC

Brother of Michigan synagogue attacker was Hezbollah commander, Israeli military claims
The brother of the man who attacked a Michigan synagogue last week, who was killed earlier this month in an Israeli air strike, was a Hezbollah commander, Israel’s military claimed on Sunday.
Ibrahim Ghazali was killed in Lebanon along with three other of the attacker’s relatives on March 5 - a week before authorities allege Ayman Mohamad Ghazali drove his car into a major synagogue outside Detroit and killed himself after security fired at him.
The FBI’s Detroit office, which is investigating...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346686/brother-michigan-synagogue-attacker-was-hezbollah-commander-israeli-military-claims?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 16:02:44 UTC

IEA says oil from emergency stocks to flow in Asia immediately
The International Energy Agency said oil from a record stockpile release will be made available in Asia immediately as buyers in the region clamour to replace barrels lost to war-related disruptions in the Middle East.
The agency released a statement after it said it received implementation plans from member states. Barrels for Europe and the Americas will only be made available from the end of March.
The IEA last week said that the oil market is seeing the biggest supply disruption in history...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3346685/iea-says-oil-emergency-stocks-flow-asia-immediately?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 15:30:14 UTC

US energy chief signals Iran war could continue for several more weeks
Energy Secretary Chris Wright signalled the war with Iran may last several more weeks, with oil and petrol prices elevated as the US and Israel seek to destroy Iranian military capabilities.
In television interviews on Sunday, Wright defended the Trump administration’s argument that Americans are facing short-term pain at the pump in a midterm election year for the larger goal of eliminating Iran as a threat to the Middle East.
“I think that this conflict will certainly come to the end in the...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346684/us-energy-chief-signals-iran-war-could-continue-several-more-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 14:37:00 UTC

Search under way for 68‑year‑old man missing since Friday in Hong Kong
Hong Kong authorities were searching on Sunday for a 68‑year‑old man who has been missing for two days after leaving his home in Tai Po.
Lau Kin‑pong left his residence at Wan Tau Tong Estate at around 3pm on Friday. His family became unable to contact him and filed a missing‑person report on Saturday.
He was last seen that afternoon on Shan Tong Road in Tai Po.
Lau is described as about 1.7 metres tall (5 feet, 7 inches), weighing 60kg (132lbs), of thin build with short white hair.
He was last...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346682/search-under-way-68-year-old-man-missing-friday-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 14:36:40 UTC

‘Cease fire’! Pope Leo demands end to Middle East war, urging ‘those responsible’ to talk
Pope Leo XIV demanded a ceasefire in the Middle East on Sunday in his strongest comments to date, directly addressing the leaders who launched the war in Iran.
“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict,” Pope Leo said. “Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that the people are waiting for.”
Pope Leo did not cite the United States...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346681/cease-fire-pope-leo-demands-end-middle-east-war-urging-those-responsible-talk?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 14:33:11 UTC

Online influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate seen partying in Hong Kong
Online influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who both face rape and human‑trafficking charges in Romania and the United Kingdom, were reported to have entered Hong Kong over the weekend, sparking heated discussion online.
Andrew posted a photo of himself on a luxury boat in Victoria Harbour on X on Sunday, while other posts showed the brothers visiting the Lan Kwai Fong nightlife district and a crab restaurant in Causeway Bay.
A video he posted a day earlier showed the brothers singing...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346680/online-influencers-andrew-and-tristan-tate-seen-partying-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 14:22:48 UTC

Over 300 Wang Fuk Court homeowners to petition Hong Kong’s John Lee for meeting
More than 300 homeowners from the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have signed a petition to be sent to Hong Kong’s leader, demanding a face-to-face meeting with government-appointed Hop On Management Company over unresolved issues.
The letter to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, obtained by the South China Morning Post on Sunday, bore 336 signatures – or 15 per cent of homeowners – who raised concerns in seven areas. These include the use of remaining renovation funds, the handling of...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346679/over-300-wang-fuk-court-homeowners-petition-hong-kongs-john-lee-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 14:00:10 UTC

Could the PLA’s new shipborne drone redefine naval operations in the South China Sea?
A new type of autonomous helicopter has been seen operating on the Type 075 amphibious assault ship, possibly improving the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) capabilities in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
Mainland state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday released a video explaining the operational capabilities of China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship. It showed a lightweight uncrewed helicopter parked on the ship with folding rotors that appeared to be slightly smaller than the PLA’s...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346655/could-plas-new-shipborne-drone-redefine-naval-operations-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 13:54:23 UTC

Over 800,000 Lebanese – 1 in 7 of the population – displaced by war in 10 days
Fatima Nazha slept on the street for two days after she and her family fled their home in Beirut’s southern suburbs following an Israeli mass evacuation order.
All of the schools the government turned into shelters were full, and the family could not afford a hotel or a flat, so she and her husband eventually moved into a tent in the country’s biggest stadium while their kids and grandchildren found shelter near the southern coastal city of Sidon.
In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people in...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346678/over-800000-lebanese-1-7-population-displaced-war-10-days?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 13:28:11 UTC

Hong Kong researcher sounds alarm after toxic electronic waste found in dolphins
A Hong Kong researcher has called for stricter regulations and urged the public to use electronics more responsibly after a study found toxic pollutants from laptops, televisions and smartphones in the bodies and brains of endangered dolphins and porpoises that washed up on the city’s beaches.
Yuhe He, an associate professor at City University of Hong Kong and one of the study’s authors, said he was alarmed to find that liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) – the pollutants identified in the research –...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346676/hong-kong-researcher-sounds-alarm-after-toxic-electronic-waste-found-dolphins?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 13:00:07 UTC

Why is Andy Lau’s name carved on a 600-year-old brick from the Ming dynasty?
A 600-year-old brick bearing Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau Tak-wah’s name has gone viral on social media in mainland China.
Three characters, identical to the actor and singer’s Chinese name, were carved into the city wall of Nanjing, the ancient capital of the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
The inscriptions, carved into a brick now preserved at the Nanjing City Wall Museum, offer clues about the identity of the ancient namesake – whose name is pronounced “Liu Dehua” in Mandarin.
The Ming-era...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346658/why-andy-laus-name-carved-600-year-old-brick-ming-dynasty?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 12:58:48 UTC

Panama urges Chinese shipping giant Cosco to resume operations at Canal
The Panamanian government has asked Chinese shipping giant Cosco to reconsider its decision to suspend operations at the Balboa port amid geopolitical tensions surrounding the strategic gateway and Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings.
Panama’s Minister for Canal Affairs Jose Ramon Icaza told reporters on Friday that Cosco’s decision had caught the government off guard.
“The Cosco issue has actually taken us a bit by surprise. All cargo is important, and certainly, Cosco cargo is important for us,...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346674/panama-urges-chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-resume-operations-canal?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 12:44:43 UTC

Top nuclear, radar and missile experts vanish from Chinese Academy of Engineering site
The profile of one of China’s top nuclear weapons scientists has been scrubbed from the website of the nation’s engineering brains trust.
Zhao Xiangeng, 72, was a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), the nation’s highest academic body for engineering science and technology, but his profile page has disappeared from the CAE’s site.
It is not known when the page was removed, but Chinese media reports noted the change on Saturday.
Similar online references to other CAE academicians,...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346672/top-nuclear-radar-and-missile-experts-vanish-chinese-academy-engineering-site?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 12:30:07 UTC

‘Two sessions’ signals China-US tech contest is entering a new era
With the conclusion of China’s annual parliamentary “two sessions” meetings, emerging policy priorities suggest its relationship with the United States is entering a new technological era.
This year’s government work report set an economic growth target of 4.5 to 5 per cent and announced increased fiscal support for science and technology, including a 10 per cent funding rise for research and development and over 16 per cent for basic research. More than routine budget adjustments, these figures...
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https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346402/two-sessions-signals-china-us-tech-contest-entering-new-era?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 12:26:50 UTC

7 die in Nepal as bus carrying Indian pilgrims plunges off mountain road into ravine
A passenger bus carrying Indian pilgrims slipped off a mountain road and rolled down its slopes in central Nepal, killing seven people and leaving nine more injured, police said Sunday.
All seven killed were Indian pilgrims, and seven other Indian pilgrims on board were injured and taken to nearby hospitals to get medical treatment. The other two injured in the crash, which happened on Saturday night, were the Nepali bus driver and his assistant.
The bus was returning after the pilgrims visited...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3346670/7-die-nepal-bus-carrying-indian-pilgrims-plunges-mountain-road-ravine?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 12:00:07 UTC

Carpool: Chinese giants use idled foreign plants to fuel global expansion
Chinese carmakers, saddled with excess capacity and weak demand at home, are taking a new approach to global expansion: utilising idled facilities abandoned by international marques.
By adopting an asset-light strategy, companies from Geely Auto to Great Wall Motor (GWM) can assemble their cars overseas at lower costs, broadening their influence on the global automotive sector, according to analysts.
“Mindful of profitability as well as geopolitical and operating risks, Chinese carmakers are...
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https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346472/carpool-chinese-giants-use-idled-foreign-plants-fuel-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 11:36:25 UTC

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issue death threat for Israel’s Netanyahu
Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with death, in a statement published on Sunday by Iran’s Fars and IRNA news agencies.
Netanyahu would be pursued and killed, the IRGC statement said.
The announcement followed mutual overnight attacks in the war between Iran, Israel and the United States.
The current round of hostilities began when Israel and the US launched a large-scale offensive against Iran on February 28.
Tehran...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346667/irans-revolutionary-guards-issue-death-threat-israels-netanyahu?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 10:35:44 UTC

Hong Kong to replace, not punish, underperforming Medical Council members
Hong Kong authorities have proposed replacing, rather than punishing, Medical Council members who underperform, after public outcry over a 15-year delay in an alleged medical blunder inquiry.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said the government had no plans to impose rigid deadlines for each stage of complaint handling by the quasi-judicial body, saying the requirement was “asking the impossible” and the council would “be required to” set time frames on their own.
The ombudsman previously...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 10:34:52 UTC

Body tied to bags of bricks found off Hong Kong pier in ‘suspicious’ case
Hong Kong police have launched an investigation after the body of a 60-year-old woman tied to bags of bricks was found floating off the public pier in Sai Kung, with officers describing the circumstances as “suspicious”.
At about 6am on Sunday, a passer-by reported seeing what appeared to be a human figure floating about five metres (16.4 feet) off the New Public Pier.
Firefighters and marine police retrieved the body. It had been bound with nylon rope and attached to three plastic bags...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346663/body-tied-bags-bricks-found-hong-kong-pier-suspicious-case?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 10:25:31 UTC

‘Black rain’: Iran war’s toxic pollution will spread and last for decades
News of black rain falling on Tehran felt all too familiar to Nejat Rahmanian as he scrolled through alerts on social media feeds and tried to contact relatives on March 8.
Israeli drone strikes hit giant oil depots and refineries on the outskirts of the Iranian capital a few hours earlier, setting fuel on fire and releasing columns of black smoke, which mixed with rain clouds that poured toxic chemicals onto the city later in the day.
The descriptions reminded the Iranian researcher of a...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346662/black-rain-iran-wars-toxic-pollution-will-spread-and-last-decades?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 10:00:25 UTC

China AI start-up Moonshot snags funds at US$18 billion valuation
Moonshot AI is seeking to raise as much as US$1 billion in an expanded funding round that would value the start-up at about US$18 billion, more than quadrupling its valuation in just three months and underscoring growing interest in Chinese artificial intelligence developers racing to rival Silicon Valley leaders.
The company behind the Kimi chatbot kicked off discussions for the latest round, people familiar with the matter said, after securing more than US$700 million earlier this year, which...
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https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346659/china-ai-start-moonshot-snags-funds-us18-billion-valuation?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 10:00:13 UTC

Could China build an ‘army of centaurs’ with this non-invasive cyborg tech?
Chinese researchers have developed a wearable human-robot hybrid device that could transform soldiers into mighty “centaurs”, enabling them to push beyond their physical limits while walking and hauling loads in brutal environments.
The People’s Liberation Army has already rolled out exoskeleton robot systems to boost soldiers’ stamina and mobility. But this new device, dubbed the “centaur robot”, promises to give an even greater extra push.
The system, developed by a group at the Southern...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346287/could-china-build-army-centaurs-non-invasive-cyborg-tech?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 10:00:09 UTC

Iraqi reporter raised in China, famous for viral dance, gets engaged to Xinjiang woman
An Iraqi journalist, who is also an online celebrity in China and was once praised by China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, has become engaged to a woman from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
Ameen Muneer Mohammed Al-Obaidi, who is better known by his Chinese name, Fang Haoming, boasts about 5 million followers on social media.
He works as a China correspondent for the Dubai-based China-Arab TV.
Fang, 26, joined other foreign journalists to perform the popular Subject Three street dance at a...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346237/iraqi-reporter-raised-china-famous-viral-dance-gets-engaged-xinjiang-woman?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 09:22:19 UTC

Ukraine wants cash, technology in return for helping Middle East nations fight drones
Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after Kyiv ‌sent specialists to four countries in the region.
Zelensky told reporters in comments cleared for release on Sunday that each of the three teams sent to the Middle East consisted of dozens of people who will conduct expert assessments and demonstrate how drone defences should operate.
Gulf states have ⁠expended large quantities of...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3346657/ukraine-wants-cash-technology-return-helping-middle-east-nations-fight-drones?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 09:10:52 UTC

ByteDance reportedly suspends launch of Seedance video AI model after copyright disputes
TikTok’s ⁠Chinese parent, ByteDance, has put ⁠on hold the global ⁠launch of its latest video-generation model, Seedance 2.0, after copyright disputes with major Hollywood studios and streaming platforms, The Information reported on Saturday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the situation.
Reuters could not ‌immediately verify the report. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ByteDance said last month it would take steps to prevent the unauthorised use of...
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1280x720/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/03/15/d1b1aac4-a965-4903-be8d-f6dc81d4048c_dc3e940b.jpg?itok=vMgIhSyT&v=1773565850
https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346654/bytedance-reportedly-suspends-launch-seedance-video-ai-model-after-copyright-disputes?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 09:00:09 UTC

Tariffs, stockpiles, distrust: the EU’s messy bid to ditch China hits capacity problems
Ambassadors from the EU’s 27 member states will huddle in Brussels this week to thrash out a memorandum on critical minerals with the United States.
Underpinning the debate will be a tension that girds many elements of the bloc’s dealings in 2026: capacity versus trust.
Envoys will negotiate in the shadow of a new trade threat from US President Donald Trump, who last week shocked Brussels with a tariff investigation linked to overcapacity and forced labour of 60 economies including China, the EU...
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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346639/tariffs-stockpiles-distrust-eus-messy-bid-ditch-china-hits-capacity-problems?utm_source=rss_feed

2026-03-15 08:53:39 UTC

China and US begin fresh round of trade talks in Paris
Senior officials from China and the United States have started a new round of trade talks in Paris, as the two sides seek to pave the way for US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to Beijing later this month.
The delegations – led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – arrived at the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Sunday local time.
Tucked deep inside the residential and quiet 16th arrondissement of...
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https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346652/china-and-us-begin-fresh-round-trade-talks-paris?utm_source=rss_feed