US court rules California ban on openly carrying guns is unconstitutional
A US appeals court ruled on Friday that California’s ban on openly carrying firearms in most parts of the state was unconstitutional.
A panel of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals sided 2-1 with a gun owner in ruling that the state’s prohibition against open carry in counties with more than 200,000 people violated the US Constitution’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
About 95 per cent of the population in California, which has had some of the nation’s...
Occupancy rate at Hong Kong tech park to hit 90% in first quarter of 2026
Hong Kong authorities expect the occupancy rate at the new innovation and technology (I&T) hub co-developed by the city and Shenzhen to hit 90 per cent in the first quarter of this year, a target previously set for the end of 2025.
Kevin Choi Kit-ming, permanent secretary for innovation, technology and industry, said on Saturday that lease renewals would be based on certain key performance indicators (KPIs) set for firms, but authorities would avoid overly stringent standards and make allowances...
Singapore’s animal shelters struggle with costs, falling adoption
At the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Singapore, it was yet another busy Monday as volunteers cleaned cages and leashed dogs for walks around the shelter.
Squinty, a seven-year-old male crossbreed, stretched his hind legs – which were covered in partially healed burn wounds – in anticipation. The canine’s energetic jaunt belied his kidney disease, which required him to take daily fluids and supplements.
The docile pooch is among many animals housed by the SPCA,...
Temperature in Hong Kong falls to 11.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest this winter
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The temperature in Hong Kong fell to 11.4 degrees Celsius (52.5 Fahrenheit) on Saturday morning, the lowest so far this winter, according to the city’s weather forecaster.
The Hong Kong Observatory also warned that sea levels at local coastal areas during high tide on Saturday night would...
Lawrence Wong thanks Trump for G20 invitation, Singapore-US mark 60th milestone
Singapore and the United States have started the new year by reaffirming their partnership, with 2026 marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the nations.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had a telephone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said.
“PM Wong and President Trump noted that 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and the United States,” the ministry said in a press statement.
“They...
Argentina targets US dollars hoarded under mattresses, eases tax evasion rules
Argentine President Javier Milei on Friday signed into law a so-called “tax innocence” bill, which aims to encourage people to bank dollars stashed under mattresses or in offshore accounts by forgiving a degree of tax evasion.
Over years of high inflation and currency controls, Argentines traded their battered pesos for dollars, which they often hoarded at home, in cash.
The government estimates Argentines are sitting on some US$251 billion in what are commonly called “mattress dollars” – six...
Hong Kong receives twice as many mainland Chinese visitors on New Year’s Day
Twice as many mainland Chinese visitors arrived in Hong Kong on New Year’s Day compared with the same day in 2025, with one lawmaker attributing the surge to a three-day holiday across the border this year.
Alan Chan Chung-yee, a legislator and chief operating officer of Miramar Group, also said on Friday that deteriorating relations between China and Japan had driven some mainland travellers to visit Hong Kong instead of Japan.
“To mainlanders, Hong Kong has a better Christmas atmosphere as the...
Hong Kong’s new legal aid chief pledges full support for Tai Po fire victims
The new head of Hong Kong’s Legal Aid Department has pledged full support to residents affected by the deadly Tai Po fire while vowing to answer society’s needs with “professional, efficient and empathetic” services.
Chan Chak-ming, who assumed the post as director of legal aid on Thursday, also revealed that his department would launch a string of measures to help affected residents.
“I will ensure that the Legal Aid Department makes every effort to provide all necessary legal assistance to...
Exhibition on classic Hong Kong police films opens at revitalised old station
An exhibition on Hong Kong’s classic crime films opened at the old Yau Ma Tei police station on Friday, with an intricate replica of a detective’s office among the immersive displays captivating long-time fans of the genre.
Curated by local filmmakers and titled “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey”, the exhibition at the revitalised and newly reopened 103-year-old venue is sold in 25-minute sessions, with each session catering to just 20 people. Tickets for the first three days have...
Saudi-UAE rivalry explodes into view after strike in war-torn Yemen
For years, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia projected geopolitical and economic power across the Gulf and beyond, seemingly in tandem.
But a growing rivalry and struggle for influence has come to a head - most recently in Yemen - following years of divergence over a tangle of competing interests that reach from regional waterways to the corridors of power in Washington, analysts say.
The once-close relationship between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Sheikh...
North Korean palace visit by Kim’s daughter renews succession debate
An appearance by the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a sacred palace has renewed scrutiny on whether she is being groomed for succession in the secretive regime.
Kim Ju-ae, believed to be around 13 years old, made her first recorded visit on Thursday to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the holiest site in the country dedicated to its hereditary rule, sparking speculation she could receive an official title at a coming party congress.
While some observers see her prominent...
Yuen Cheung-yan, veteran Hong Kong actor and action choreographer, dies at 69
Veteran Hong Kong actor and action choreographer Yuen Cheung-yan has died at the age of 69.
Yuen, who was born in the city in 1957, died at noon on New Year’s Day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, according to film director and actor Lee Lik-chi, who announced the news on his Weibo page on Thursday.
“May Master Yuen rest in eternal peace,” Li said.
He added that the funeral would be held on February 1, giving no further details about Yuen’s cause of death.
Yuen was the son of the late Hong Kong...
China’s record hypergravity machine, Nepal’s ‘bride buying’ probe: SCMP’s 7 highlights
We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. China builds a record-breaking hypergravity machine to compress space and time
China is set to break its own record in hypergravity research with a colossal new centrifuge that can spin multi-tonne samples at unmatched intensities.
2....
Swiss ski resort bar inferno joins long list of world’s worst club fires
A fire at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day has left dozens of people presumed dead and around 100 injured, according to authorities.
Here is a look at some other nightclub, bar and music venue fires that have led to significant death tolls:
December 2025: A fire ripped through a popular nightclub in Arpora village, in India’s Goa state, killing 25 people, including kitchen workers and tourists.
March 2025: A fire and ensuing stampede at the...
Operation Santa Claus: elderly Hongkongers find new purpose on rooftop farms
On a sunny weekday, Hongkonger Lai Yee-man, 70, pulled weeds from a plot of leafy vegetables, shielding her face from the sun with a large white hat.
But Lai was not on a typical farm; she was on the rooftop of a shopping centre in the middle of an urban neighbourhood in the city.
“When Hong Kong people come here, they are surprised to see the vegetables. They say ‘Oh wow, that’s how eggplants are grown!’ Some kids have never seen these things being grown,” said Lai, pointing to bell peppers,...
Could 2026 be the make-or-break year of CK Hutchison’s Panama ports deal?
Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s US$22.8 billion global ports sale hung in the balance at the end of 2025, nearly 10 months after it was first announced, as a veteran political commentator said the most expensive terminal acquisition in history was unlikely to come to fruition amid geopolitical tensions.
What began as a strategic exit for billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate devolved into a high-stakes geopolitical stand-off between Washington and Beijing over the control of global trade...
Chinese tourists eye return trips for Visit Malaysia 2026: ‘hot weather, warm hospitality’
International visitors to Sabah found a treat waiting for them when they landed in Kota Kinabalu – Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) has kicked off.
Those interviewed expressed excitement at learning more about this campaign, which will see a host of festivals, concerts and international sporting events in the coming months.
A couple and their mother from Tianjin, China, were pleased to hear that 2026 is a special tourism year for Malaysia.
“We will check out what lies ahead in this Visit Malaysia...
How Hong Kong can take on a more frontier role in China’s development
On December 16, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on receiving a work report from Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, said the city should proactively align with the country’s 15th five-year plan and better integrate into, and serve, the national development agenda.
In recent days, discussion of the coming plan across the Hong Kong government and wider society has underscored a growing consensus behind deeper integration with the mainland.
While the 14th five-year plan spoke of “maintaining”...
Chinese ‘frog prince’ glassblower has unusually protruding cheeks after 30 years of work
A glassblower in China has seen his cheeks protrude dramatically like a frog because of the strain he has put on them during 30 years of work in the industry.
The 48-year-old, surnamed Zhang, who works at a glass manufacturer in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, southern China, has captivated social media with his bent-out-of-shape face, according to a report by the news outlet jxnews.com.cn.
Long-term and intensive work has strangely developed Zhang’s facial muscles, such that his cheeks puff out...
Hong Kong’s sex offence laws are to be overhauled. What needs to be updated?
Jessie Ho recalls facing traumatic questions in court that focused on tiny details of her sexual assault case four years earlier, from whether the accused had used his left or right hand to why she had not kicked or bitten him to protect herself.
As the grilling went on, Ho realised the defence lawyer was trying to portray her as having agreed to the actions of the accused and only later changing her mind.
“I felt confused at first as I didn’t know what had happened to me. But I have never been...
As history makes clear, a powerful China is not expansionist
Beneath the “China threat” thesis, often heard in Western policy circles, is the assumption that China will become expansionist as it grows more powerful.
But history gives us little reason to treat that as inevitable. At moments of peak strength, China has not consistently converted power into the kind of overseas colonialism, expansionism or conquest that marked the ascent of Western great powers.
There are three often-cited reasons to suggest China’s rise might lead to expansionism.
First,...
How China cracked US ‘super code’, health benefits of lard: 7 science highlights
We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. How China cracked US ‘super code’ that controls most power grids in the world
China is no longer using American software to run its power grid. The Southern Regional Electricity Market (SREM) – the world’s largest unified power market – has switched fully to Tianquan, a solver developed by Chinese engineers...
‘Cycle of goodwill’: ex-China soldier saves woman from river where he was rescued decades ago
A retired soldier from eastern China has saved an elderly woman from the same river where he was rescued 35 years ago.
According to the mainland’s CCTV News, 40-year-old Huang Daoxian from Zhejiang province was cleaning his parents’ house when he heard noises coming from the river.
He ran out and saw a woman struggling in the middle of the river, her hands frantically slapping the water as she sank.
A skilled swimmer, Huang immediately jumped in, lifted her chin and dragged her towards the...
US strikes at Isis fighters in Syria after 3 Americans killed
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced the start of an operation to “eliminate Isis fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites” in Syria following the deaths of three US citizens.
“This is not the beginning of a war – it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people,” he said on social media.
Two Iowa National Guard members and a US civilian interpreter were killed on...
Singapore’s Pritam Singh, Mediacorp apologise over court contempt in CNA interview
Singapore’s opposition leader Pritam Singh has apologised to the court for statements he made on a CNA programme while CNA’s parent company, Mediacorp, also issued an apology and took down the interview.
“I accept that my statements may be construed to be in contempt of court, including to impugn the integrity, propriety or impartiality of the court,” Singh wrote on social media on Saturday.
“Given that, I wholly and unreservedly apologise to the court and will avoid making comments to the same...
Porn star Bonnie Blue faces deportation, blacklisting from Bali
A controversial British adult film star faces deportation from Indonesia’s resort island of Bali for violating immigration laws after she was arrested on suspicion of making pornographic online content, police said on Thursday.
Local police last week raided a studio in the popular tourist hub of Badung near the island’s capital, Denpasar, detaining Bonnie Blue, whose real name is Tia Billinger.
Three men – two Britons and an Australian – were also detained after police received a tip-off from a...
Indonesian helper’s terrifying 3-hour ordeal as fire ravaged Hong Kong estate
An Indonesian domestic helper has recalled how she and her employer’s elderly parents huddled together in a smoke-filled bedroom for an agonising three hours, covering their noses with wet towels as they lay trapped while a deadly inferno engulfed a Hong Kong estate last month.
The helper, who gave her name as Olive, recalled to the Post the ordeal the trio went through on November 26, as the devastating fire swept through seven of the eight residential high-rise blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai...
China gives disputed Scarborough Shoal a clean bill of health
Coral reefs at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea are healthy and resilient to climate change, but growing thermal stress poses a potential bleaching risk, according to a Chinese environmental assessment.
The report rated the atoll’s maritime environment as excellent, with no signs of cyanide in seawater, sediment or fish samples.
Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is claimed by both countries, and Manila has accused...
Marcos’ sister says Philippines has leadership ‘vacuum’ in new jab at president
Senator Imee Marcos, the estranged sister of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, said there is a void in the nation’s leadership as politicians grapple with a growing corruption scandal and instead is backing his deputy as a potential replacement.
“There is a vacuum at the top,” Imee Marcos said during an interview in her Manila office on Thursday. “And that’s a problem because all sorts of sinister and malignant forces have jumped in to fill that void.”
Tensions between the siblings...
‘Limited alternatives’: why Japan will struggle to replace China’s tourists
Japan will find it hard to replace the revenue lost if Chinese tourists keep avoiding the country amid a diplomatic row over Taiwan, a subsidiary of the data provider Fitch Solutions warned on Friday.
A sustained drop-off in visitor numbers from China would “significantly impact” Japan’s retail and tourism industries, as Chinese tourists were not only Japan’s largest source of overseas visitors but were also higher-than-average spenders, subsidiary BMI said in a research note.
In the short term,...
Xpeng’s founder headlines SCMP Live’s 2025 Business Awards
Xpeng’s CEO He Xiaopeng is among three corporate founders who have been shortlisted as finalists in the 2025 Business Awards organised by SCMP Live, in a reimagination of a series of accolades first introduced in 1990.
A total of 43 nominations were received for the awards in six categories, honouring the most noteworthy business owner, corporate executive, company, small-and-medium-sized enterprise (SME), start-ups and the best globalised brand. A discretionary award honouring lifetime...
Justice or chaos? Bangladesh on edge as Hasina verdict looms
Bangladesh is bracing itself for a landmark court verdict on Monday that could see its self-exiled former leader Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, with the case potentially fuelling an already combustible political climate ahead of national elections.
The outcome could either deliver long-awaited justice for the 1,400 students killed during a brutal crackdown last year or spark a repeat of the chaos, according to analysts.
Hasina, 78, fled to India in August 2024...
The quiet US-China tech contest for the future
Power shifts begin in places most people never see – on assembly lines making batteries and robots, along transmission lines feeding data centre clusters, in local offices selling land and in labs training artificial intelligence models. The United States and China are using these quiet levers to construct different futures.
The contest will be decided not by slogans but by who builds the most productive, trusted and durable infrastructure. Those choices will shape billions of lives.
The global...
Beijing’s liaison office vows to help Hong Kong efforts on national development
Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has pledged to support the city’s integration into national development plans while stressing the importance of studying and applying the “spirit” of the country’s recent political leadership meeting, which will shape policymaking over the next five years.
The head of the central government’s liaison office, Zhou Ji, conveyed on Saturday the guiding ideology of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and laid...
Chipmaker CXMT eyes US$42 billion Shanghai listing, sources say
Chinese memory chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) plans an initial public offering (IPO) in Shanghai as soon as the first quarter of next year, eyeing a valuation of up to 300 billion yuan ($42.12 billion), according to two sources briefed on the matter.
Founded in 2016 with government backing, CXMT leads China’s strategic push to build a foothold in a global DRAM market long dominated by companies from Japan, South Korea and the United States.
China’s leading manufacturer of dynamic...
Why top Chinese scientist warned public against ‘hubris’ over country’s advances
The Chinese people have been urged to stay “calm and objective” about the country’s advances in cutting-edge weapons by a veteran rocket scientist, who warned “a lot of effort” was still needed.
An array of advanced rockets, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, featured in last month’s Victory Day parade in Beijing along with other hi-tech weapons, generating considerable public enthusiasm.
In an interview for a popular video account, Zhao Ruian, 84, a former researcher with the China...
‘Light in our darkest days’: mum of slain Malaysian schoolgirl moved by support
Wong Lee Ping, the grieving mother of 16-year-old Yap Shing Xuen, whose brutal murder on October 14 shocked Malaysia, has expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of community support, describing it as a beacon of light in our darkest hour.
“We are truly touched and humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and presence from all of you during this painful period. Your care has been a light in our darkest days,” Wong expressed in a touching message shared on social media following her...
A kiss, then goodbye: France’s ex-president Sarkozy enters jail proclaiming innocence
France’s ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former head of an EU state to be jailed Tuesday, proclaiming his innocence as he entered a Paris prison.
France’s right-wing leader from 2007 to 2012 was found guilty last month of seeking to acquire funding from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya for the campaign that saw him elected.
The 70-year-old - who has appealed the verdict - left his home, and after a short drive flanked by police on motorbikes, entered the La Sante prison in the French...
Hong Kong an aviation hub for Greater Bay Area, beyond: Airport Authority chief
The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is poised to serve as a major infrastructure for the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and markets beyond, as a fresh surge of Chinese companies moves to expand globally over the next decade, according to the head of the city’s Airport Authority.
“We mustn’t see the HKIA just as an airport for Hong Kong,” said Fred Lam Tin-fuk, Airport Authority chairman, in a speech at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Business Summit 2025 on Tuesday. “We very much see it as a...
Sea CEO sees path to US$1 trillion market cap with help of AI
Sea founder Forrest Li told employees a trillion dollar market capitalisation – an increase of about 10 times – is possible as the Southeast Asia e-commerce leader joins tech companies globally betting on artificial intelligence for growth.
In a memo to staff Monday, seen by Bloomberg News, Li compared the rapid growth of AI to the personal computer and smartphone revolutions that expanded consumer access to products and services once available only to the wealthy. But Li said it would not be...
Can Scott Bessent see China’s trade counterstrike with clear eyes?
After a video call last Saturday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng are expected to meet in Malaysia this week to hopefully ease tensions before US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping potentially meet on the sidelines of this year’s Apec summit. The meeting was in doubt when Trump threatened to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on China, despite later relenting that it might not be sustainable.
Washington blamed Beijing for the escalation,...
Hong Kong’s Legco pulls farewell motion amid concerns over electoral fairness
Hong Kong’s legislature will break from another tradition by withdrawing a valedictory motion marking the end of its four-year term, with a veteran lawmaker citing concerns over electoral fairness.
Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Legislative Council’s House Committee, who was supposed to move the farewell motion, revealed on Tuesday that she withdrew it after receiving feedback from some lawmakers.
“The election is shaping up to be highly competitive. Some lawmakers worry that having the...
Hong Kong retains top spot in finance, logistics and tourism in Greater Bay Area
Hong Kong has retained its leading position in three out of six major industries within the Greater Bay Area, according to an index comparing the relative advantages of 11 cities across the southern Chinese region.
Shenzhen held onto its top spot in innovation and technology as well as manufacturing, while Guangzhou remained the leader in real estate.
The Greater Bay Area Industry Development Index, compiled by Our Hong Kong Foundation and Dah Sing Bank, surveyed 3,400 companies across 11 cities...
Major foreign banks raise China’s GDP forecast, annual target seen as ‘on track’
Several major banks forecast stronger economic growth for China this year, buoyed by third-quarter data showing slightly better-than-expected expansion despite domestic and external headwinds.
Investment bank Goldman Sachs raised its full-year gross domestic product forecast for 2025 from 4.8 per cent to 4.9 per cent, noting that the government’s target of “around 5 per cent” remains “largely on track”.
The bank also revised its estimate for 2026, up slightly from 4.2 per cent to 4.3 per cent,...
Palace and UK government under pressure to strip Prince Andrew of titles and home
He won’t call himself a duke any more, but that is not enough for many of Prince Andrew’s critics.
Buckingham Palace and the British government were under pressure Monday to formally strip Prince Andrew of his princely title and sumptuous home after new revelations about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After discussions with his elder brother King Charles, Andrew agreed on Friday to stop using titles including Duke of York. It was the latest effort to insulate the...
Evangelista’s wealth under fire, Singaporeans flock to Johor: 7 Asia highlights
We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. US call centre bill threatens Philippines’ US$30 billion outsourcing boom
As dusk settles over Angeles City, Justin Cunanan prepares for another long night. While the rest of the Philippines sleeps, he joins millions of his compatriots powering a global industry that is...
Hong Kong runway on standby a day after plane accident, crew to be questioned
The north runway of Hong Kong’s airport will be reopened on standby mode by noon on Tuesday, 32 hours after an Emirates cargo plane veered off it and struck a ground vehicle, sending it into the sea and killing two staff members, the airport operator has said.
A source also said the Air Incident Investigation Authority was expected to meet the four Turkish crew members on the flight as part of investigations on Tuesday, with police questioning them afterwards. The crew were not prevented from...
Argentina formalises US$20 billion lifeline from Trump as Milei faces poll test
Argentina on Monday formalised a currency swap agreement with the United States for up to US$20 billion aimed “at contributing to Argentina’s economic stability,” the South American country’s central bank said.
The deal is part of huge financial support from the administration of Donald Trump, a strong backer of Argentine President Javier Milei, who is under pressure ahead of midterm elections on October 26.
The peso has been fluctuating wildly ahead of the vote, disrupting the savings and...
China’s rare earth magnet exports to US plunge 29% as tensions simmer
The decline in China’s exports of rare earth magnets to the United States accelerated in September – a period predating Beijing’s expansion of controls over the flow of the critical minerals – an indication the prized items remain a major battleground in the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
China’s total exports to the US of the permanent magnets – essential components in manufacturing for several hi-tech industries, including electric vehicles and defence – reached...
Hong Kong woman, 81, loses heart and $5 million to scammer posing as PLA officer
An 81-year-old woman in Hong Kong has lost more than HK$5 million after falling victim to an elaborate online romance scam involving a fraudster who posed as a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer from mainland China.
In a post on its CyberDefender social media page on Monday, police said the woman received a WhatsApp message from a man who claimed to be a PLA officer and invited her to visit a military camp.
They quickly built an online romantic relationship through frequent affectionate...
US shutdown near end after ‘No Kings’ rallies: Hassett
The 20-day US federal government shutdown is likely to end this week, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Monday.
“I think the Schumer shutdown is likely to end sometime this week,” White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said in an interview on CNBC, referring to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council, said his “friends in the Senate” believed it was “bad optics for Democrats to open the government before the ‘No Kings’...
Why publishing Hong Kong court judgments is of vital importance to legal system
We are all familiar with the notion that Hong Kong follows the common law system. What that means, at a high level of generality, is that decisions of the courts – that is, judge-made law – are a key source of law for us.
Given how important judicial decisions are to our legal system and indeed our lives, it is perhaps a little surprising how few people know where to find this law. A question I frequently encounter, from friends here and abroad, is: “Where can I find these court decisions?”
The...
UK’s Starmer to release security statements after China spying case collapse
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday promised to release evidence provided to prosecutors by a senior official, seeking to distance ministers from the collapse of a China spying case which has led to weeks of criticism.
In an unexpected move last month, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped charges against two men who had denied passing politically sensitive information to a Chinese intelligence agent.
The CPS said the decision was made because the additional evidence it...
China’s Wingtech says Dutch court freezes control of Nexperia amid ‘national security’ dispute
In a move that could dent China’s relations with the European Union, Chinese technology company Wingtech said control of its Dutch subsidiary Nexperia has been effectively frozen, following an intervention by a government ministry and court in the Netherlands.
In a corporate filing dated October 13, lodged with the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Sunday, Wingtech said semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia is now under temporary external management following an order from the Dutch Ministry of Economic...
Why Egypt draws fire when Chinese question the West’s version of world history
Rising Chinese scepticism towards Western classical history and its scholarly framework has found its latest target in ancient Egyptian treasures, adding an unexpected twist to the two countries’ long-term partnership.
From July last year until August this year, the Shanghai Museum hosted a major exhibition on ancient Egypt, marking the first collaboration between a Chinese state-run museum and the Egyptian government.
It was the largest exhibition of Egyptian artefacts ever staged outside Egypt...
Hong Kong urged to regulate private schools in line with subsidised institutions
Hong Kong’s education authorities are being urged to implement regulations for private and international schools that align with those governing their subsidised counterparts, following the city leader’s plans to enhance oversight of these institutions.
While stricter regulations would help prevent irregularities in private schools, lawmakers also emphasised the importance of proactive monitoring and timely intervention should problems arise.
In his policy address, Chief Executive John Lee...
Indonesia’s grand capital plan gets a downgrade as Nusantara is redefined
Six years after Nusantara was unveiled as Indonesia’s future capital and a symbol of national transformation, President Prabowo Subianto has redefined its purpose, prompting debate over the fate of the megaproject and the legacy of his predecessor.
Under a presidential regulation Prabowo signed in late June, but made public only in September, Nusantara has been reclassified as Indonesia’s “political capital” – a phrase absent from existing legislation.
The regulation, which outlines development...
Luxury car owners skipping out on US$8.5 million road tax drive Malaysians mad
Malaysia lost US$8.5 million in unpaid road tax after politicians and VIPs skipped payments on their Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, a revelation that has triggered public anger over double standards and elite impunity.
Across Asia, anger at elite privilege is boiling, with resentment over the perceived excesses of “nepo babies” toppling the government in Nepal and sparking protests in the Philippines. Indonesians are pushing back against the owners of luxury vehicles abusing sirens to...
Spanish PM’s wife set for trial in embezzlement scandal
A judge investigating Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife Begoña Gómez for alleged embezzlement has ordered that she face trial in a case roiling national politics, a court document showed on Wednesday.
The long-running probe is one of several into Sanchez’s family and former close allies that have embarrassed the Socialist leader and heaped pressure on his minority coalition.
The embezzlement investigation centres on whether an official employed in the premier’s office, Cristina...
