Asean can ‘shape its own destiny’ amid US-China rivalry: Singapore PM Wong
Southeast Asian countries can shape their own destiny amid the deepening US-China rivalry, and the region seeks to be an “inclusive arena” where both powers are actively engaged, according to Singapore’s prime minister.
Lawrence Wong, speaking on Wednesday at a dialogue as part of a World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Tianjin, said countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) collectively made up a sizeable economy with “considerable heft”.
“Asean has the ability to shape...
15 suspicious cases uncovered in Hong Kong tech voucher programme
Hong Kong authorities have referred 15 suspicious cases under a government subsidy scheme to law enforcement in the past three years, while also conducting random checks on 1,860 projects funded by the programme.
Sun Dong, the secretary for innovation, technology and industry, in a written reply to questions by a lawmaker on Wednesday regarding the suspected abuse of the Technology Voucher Programme, said authorities would recover funding from applicants who were convicted in cases.
The...
Racism against indigenous Australians jumps 15% in a decade, survey finds
Most young indigenous people in Australia view it as a racist country, according to a survey that found a “significant” surge in discrimination experienced by them in the last decade, as campaign groups urged the government to devise policies to create a harmonious society.
The study by Reconciliation Australia, an NGO promoting rapprochement between natives and non-indigenous locals, showed 54 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experienced racism last year, up from 39 per...
Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan escapes death penalty
Vietnamese real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, who masterminded a US$12.5 billion banking fraud, has avoided the gallows after the government on Wednesday scrapped the death penalty for eight crimes, including embezzlement.
Lan, the chairwoman of property giant the Van Thinh Phat Group, was sentenced to death last year on embezzlement and bribery charges.
Her lawyer said the sentence “will be converted to life imprisonment” after the National Assembly abolished capital punishment for eight...
South Korea’s next labour minister was driving a train when he got the call
South Korea is set to appoint a train driver as the first blue-collar worker to lead its employment and labour ministry, as critics have expressed concerns about the role being entangled by influence peddling from politicians and labour unions.
Kim Young-hoon, 57, was in his driver’s seat operating a train between Busan and Gimcheon, southeast of Seoul, when the news broke of President Lee Jae-myung’s cabinet selections on Monday.
With his phone turned off, Kim said he had not learned about the...
Malaysia’s first ethnic Chinese lieutenant general reaches for the stars
Malaysia’s armed forces made a historic move when it promoted Johnny Lim Eng Seng to lieutenant general on Monday. Lim is the first ethnic Chinese serviceman to reach the rank of a three-star senior officer.
It was a significant promotion in the country’s Malay-dominated military, which has long struggled to attract interest from among the ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities to enlist as soldiers.
Lim, who hails from Melaka state in the peninsula’s south, has been with the armed forces...
China’s central bank doubles down on financing support to boost consumption
China is doubling down on its efforts to encourage domestic consumption, with the central government and the country’s wealthiest province rolling out policies aimed at providing structural financial support and on-the-ground incentives.
Continued policy support is crucial to keep China’s domestic consumption afloat as trade uncertainties and unemployment pressures persist, analysts said.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said on Tuesday that a 500 billion yuan (US$69.68 billion) relending quota...
Presale tickets for G.E.M. concert in Hong Kong gone in just over an hour
Presale tickets for Hong Kong singer Gloria Tang Tsz-kei were snapped up in just over an hour, with nearly 120,000 Hongkongers at one point vying to see the artist also known as G.E.M and dubbed “China’s Taylor Swift”.
A Post reporter who visited the Klook app at Wednesday, when ticket sales opened, observed that there was a queue of over 24,000 people waiting to buy tickets to the second edition of Tang’s “I AM GLORIA” world tour.
Less than five minutes later, the number of people waiting...
Angel Chong may have to end controversial bid to join Miss Hong Kong Pageant
The youngest district councillor in Hong Kong may pull out of the Miss Hong Kong Pageant after her attempt to enter the competition drew criticism for compromising her duty to residents, with the leader of her political party telling the Post she would be reaching a “thorough decision” soon.
Gary Chan Hak-kan, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said on Wednesday that the party had called on Sai Kung district councillor Angel Chong Nga-ting,...
‘Tactical move’: Japan just cancelled key US security talks. Why?
Japan’s abrupt cancellation of scheduled security talks with the United States reflects a calculated effort to deflect mounting American pressure and prevent Washington from intertwining trade disputes with defence obligations, analysts say.
Tokyo is also angling to re-engage with Washington after the Upper House election on July 20, hoping to negotiate from “a position of domestic strength”, according to observers.
The Financial Times first reported on Friday that Japan had called off a planned...
Hong Kong ranked most international city in Asia, narrowly beating Singapore
Hong Kong has been ranked as the most international city in Asia, narrowly beating out rival Singapore, in a new index released by a major business lobbying group.
But the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce also warned that the city must address glaring weaknesses in innovation and talent to secure its future amid rising geopolitical risks.
The inaugural “Asian Cities Internationality Index 2025”, released on Tuesday, ranked Hong Kong first with a score of 73.7, just two-tenths of a point...
China’s Li Qiang gives ‘Summer Davos’ keynote in tense global atmosphere
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to give the keynote speech at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as “Summer Davos”, in the northern port city of Tianjin on Wednesday morning.
The world’s second-largest economy has largely withstood the tariff war launched by US...
Hong Kong set for rain, squally thunderstorms on Thursday
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Hong Kong will experience rain and thunderstorms on Thursday, the weather forecaster has said, as it monitors the potential development of a tropical cyclone.
The Hong Kong Observatory said that unsettled weather would affect the city, with a broad area of low pressure over the central part of...
Hong Kong security firm’s coming closure ‘not a warning sign for industry’
The impending closure of one of Hong Kong’s leading security firms does not sound the alarm about a wave of industry shutdowns, trade representatives have said, while staff shortages remain a challenge for businesses.
Johnny Ho Kai-man, chairman of the Chamber of Security Industry, told the Post that the closure of CNT Security Company could be described as a “glorious winding up”.
Ho said the company was respected in the industry and that it did its due diligence by laying out a road map for...
South Korea’s first lady problem: plagiarism, privilege and Kim Keon-hee
When a top private university revoked the master’s degree of South Korea’s former first lady for plagiarism this week, it was more than just another routine academic scandal – it was a signal that the days of unchecked privilege for political spouses may be over.
On Monday, Sookmyung Women’s University announced it had annulled the art education degree awarded to Kim Keon-hee in 1999 – submitted under her previous name, Kim Myung-shin – after its research ethics panel found the thesis was so...
Hong Kong investors hit jackpot in city’s IPO boom
A blistering recovery in Hong Kong’s initial public offering (IPO) market this year has delivered a bonanza for investors, with returns above 30 per cent bucking a sluggish economy and languid property market.
Holding new shares from the 34 companies that have pulled off offerings in 2025 would generate an average return of 34 per cent, according to Bloomberg data. Even selling the stocks upon their debuts would have fetched a 10 per cent gain, the data showed.
The eye-popping returns have...
Xi will miss Brics in Rio as Li leads China delegation: sources
Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend next week’s Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Post learned from multiple sources on Tuesday.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Beijing told the Brazilian government that Xi had a scheduling conflict. Instead, Premier Li Qiang is expected to lead the Chinese delegation, as he did at the G20 summit in India in 2023.
Chinese involved in preparations, they said, cited Xi’s having met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva...
Zelensky tells Nato Chinese firms among Russia’s suppliers aiding war on Ukraine
Chinese defence companies are part of the network helping Russia sustain its war against Ukraine – a war “crucial” to European security, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Nato summit on Tuesday.
While Russia poses a long-term threat to Europe, it is not just Russia alone, Zelensky told the summit’s defence industry forum, held in The Hague.
Zelensky said that the continent was facing a “network of state and non-state actors” that are “assuring the course of aggression”.
“This...
Trump voices approval for China’s oil imports from Iran, marking US shift
US President Donald Trump voiced approval for China’s oil imports from Iran, marking a notable shift from Washington’s long-standing opposition to Tehran’s crude exports hours after he claimed to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
“China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the US, also. It was my Great Honor to make this happen!” Trump posted on social media on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Beijing’s top diplomat called his counterpart in...
Keung To of Hong Kong band Mirror rescued after accidently falling into sea
Keung To, a member of Hong Kong’s Cantopop boy band Mirror, was rescued after falling into the waters off Sai Wan on Tuesday.
Police received a report at 4.36pm that a man had fallen into the waters near the Western Wholesale Food Market. He was rescued and taken to the Central Government Pier on Man Fai Road and then transported by ambulance to Queen Mary Hospital for treatment.
Ahfa Wong Wai-kwan, Keung’s manager, posted a statement at 8.20pm on her Instagram on the star’s behalf, saying: “It...
5 Harvard postgraduates opt for Hong Kong’s HKUST after US sanctions
Five Harvard University postgraduate students have accepted offers from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) following the United States government’s ban on international student admissions last month.
A HKUST spokeswoman confirmed that the university extended offers to six Harvard postgraduate students.
“The university has extended admission offers to six postgraduate Harvard offer holders and current students, whose research spans science, technology, humanities, and...
Hong Kong appeal court rejects early release for first security law challenger
The first person to mount a legal challenge against Hong Kong’s domestic national security law has lost an appeal to overturn a decision barring his early release from prison.
The Court of Appeal ruled in a judgment delivered on Tuesday that the Correctional Services Department was not obliged to consider granting an early discharge to Adam Ma Chun-man after he was “lawfully” sentenced to a term of imprisonment for inciting secession.
The three presiding judges stressed that any sentencing...
Embrace AI in teaching to survive ‘tsunami’, University of Hong Kong head says
Universities should embrace the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching if they want to survive, the president of Hong Kong’s oldest tertiary education institution has said, as he expects the sector to be reshaped in the coming decade.
Xiang Zhang from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) also said it would establish a school of government and public policy to attract young leaders to Hong Kong.
In an exclusive interview with the Post, Zhang said AI presented a huge opportunity and a...
Japan’s revolving-door prime ministers: is Ishiba next?
A stinging electoral rebuke has left Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) reeling and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s leadership in jeopardy, intensifying doubts about his future and raising the spectre of a broader collapse for the ruling party ahead of a national vote next month.
On Sunday, the LDP secured just 22 seats – one fewer than its previous record low in 2017 – amid mounting public anger over political funding scandals and growing economic anxieties. The result has fuelled rumours...
Iran attacks US military base in Qatar, after vowing response to strikes on nuclear sites
The Middle East crisis has intensified after Iran struck back against the United States following recent US actions targeting its nuclear programme. This critical development escalates an already volatile situation, building on weeks of rising tensions between arch-rivals Iran and Israel – and now, Israel’s key ally, the United States.
Since June 13, Israel and Iran have exchanged wave after wave of devastating and deadly strikes. Israel launched its aerial campaign asserting that Tehran is on...
China’s first counterterror chief Liu Yuejin gets suspended death sentence
Liu Yuejin, a former senior police officer and China’s first counterterrorism commissioner, has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve after being found guilty of taking bribes worth more than 121 million yuan (US$16.83 million).
Handing down the sentence on Monday, the Fuzhou Intermediate People’s court in Fujian province ordered that all of Liu’s personal properties be confiscated and his illegal gains turned over to the state.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the court said that...
Hong Kong police probe theft of HK$3,000 of Labubu figures from claw machine shop
Hong Kong police are investigating the theft of reportedly about HK$3,000 (US$382) worth of Labubu figures, a brand by a local designer that has taken the world by storm, from a claw machine store.
The force said on Saturday evening that the incident was reported by a claw machine shop owner surnamed Wong, who was based in Yau Ma Tei district.
Wong told police that when he stopped by his shop at around 6.30pm, he found that one of the machines had been damaged and some of the merchandise inside...
Prabowo’s visit to Russia underscores Indonesia’s non-aligned foreign policy
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Russia this week is seen as a pragmatic step towards advancing ties between the two Brics members while maintaining Jakarta’s non-aligned foreign policy.
Officially part of the 75th anniversary of Indonesia–Russia diplomatic ties, Prabowo’s three-day visit will include a keynote address by him at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday, following an invitation by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
Indonesia’s foreign...
Will return of Indian pilgrims to Tibet help ease tensions with China?
China has been urged to use the resumption of visits to Tibet by Indian pilgrims to improve relations between the two countries after years of tensions.
Earlier this year, China said it would allow pilgrims to return to the Tibet autonomous region this summer to follow two pilgrimage routes after a five-year suspension caused by Covid controls and ongoing cross-border tensions.
It is open to Indian citizens with valid passports who wish to travel to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar for...
Indonesia steps up defence buys, reflecting Prabowo’s military modernisation aim
Indonesia’s recent signing of several defence acquisition agreements has shed light on its desire to accelerate military modernisation, but its ability to finance and maintain new systems amid economic challenges has come under scrutiny by observers.
Last week, Turkey and Indonesia sealed an agreement for the sale of 48 units of the fifth-generation Kaan fighter aircraft during the INDO Defence 2025 exhibition held in Indonesia.
The deal, which will make Indonesia the first buyer of Ankara’s...
Hong Kong to assess risks before launching yuan-pegged stablecoins
Hong Kong will assess the risks and study Beijing’s monetary policies before launching yuan-pegged stablecoins to bolster the internationalisation of the Chinese currency, according to a local senior official.
Christopher Hui Ching-yu, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, said during a panel on Wednesday at the Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai that while Hong Kong was technically ready to proceed, more time was needed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of issuing such a...
China urges US to ‘look at the whole picture’ on tariffs to see true trade ties
The envoys of the world’s two leading powers painted starkly different pictures of US-China ties, each offering a competing assessment of the state of their economic relations – just as a recently agreed framework to ease trade tensions hangs in limbo.
Speaking at the US-China Business Council in Washington on Wednesday, Chinese ambassador Xie Feng called the trade relationship “generally balanced” and tariffs on Chinese imports “still unreasonably high”, warning that the US goods deficit would...
Another Iraq? Fears mount of US joining Israel-Iran war
With President Donald Trump poised to determine whether the United States will plunge into the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, anxiety over the possible consequences is sweeping across the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday broadened his demands for Iranian capitulation, moving beyond calls to dismantle the Islamic Republic’s nuclear enrichment programme. Now, he is insisting Iran scraps its ballistic missile arsenal and abandons support for its...
Xia Baolong to kick off 5-day visit to Hong Kong on Wednesday: John Lee
Beijing’s point man overseeing Hong Kong affairs will begin a five-day visit to the city on Wednesday to inspect its development and attend a national security forum, the chief executive has said, confirming the Post’s report.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, would attend the key forum, organised by the Department of Justice to mark the fifth anniversary of the imposition of the national security law, on Saturday.
“The...
Malaysia to go ahead with petrol subsidy cuts despite outcry, inflation concerns
Malaysia will press on with planned cuts to petrol subsidies, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said, despite mounting public pushback over government measures to cut costs and raise taxes.
The government is expected to slash costly petrol subsidies as early as July, a move that Anwar said was necessary to deflate the country’s multibillion-dollar subsidy bill and make sure the savings reach those most in need.
But the move has raised concerns that it could trigger inflation if consumers have to...
Will Kim Jong-un reciprocate first move by South Korea’s Lee to ease tensions?
The call by South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung for a halt to the launch of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets signals what analysts see as a potential major policy shift towards easing inter-Korean tensions.
The Unification Ministry on Monday said it was “strongly urging” civic groups to stop sending anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets across the border into the North.
“Such actions raise tensions on the Korean peninsula and may threaten the lives and safety of residents near...
Man in Japan arrested over suspected attempt to repeat 1987 attack on reporters
Police in Japan have arrested a man over a parcel containing threats sent to a news outlet in a suspected copycat attempt of the most serious attack on the media in the country’s modern history.
Kazuhiro Muto, 38, was arrested at his home in the city of Fuji, Shizuoka prefecture, on June 3, a month after a parcel allegedly from him was delivered to an office of the Asahi Shimbun in Nishinomiya, the newspaper reported.
The parcel arrived just after the anniversary of the May 3, 1987 attack in the...
What are Hong Kong’s best deals, discounts for this year’s July 1 celebrations?
Hong Kong residents and tourists will be able to enjoy plenty of discounts, giveaways and other deals when the city celebrates the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1.
From Star Ferry fares to must-see museums, the Post gives a rundown of what the city has to offer for the occasion.
Free transport
Commuters will have a chance to win one of the 71,000 MTR tickets available in a raffle being held on July 1 via the rail operator’s mobile app. The tickets are valid until January...
A quantum leap: Chinese institute begins photonic chip production
An institute affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University has commenced production of photonic chips, marking a milestone in China’s semiconductor sector and providing a boost to the country’s quantum computing capabilities in spite of increased US export controls.
The Chip Hub for Integrated Photonics Xplore (CHIPX), located in Wuxi in eastern Jiangsu province, now produces 6-inch thin-film lithium niobate photonic chip wafers, according to local authorities.
The development underscores...
US trade officials mull further rollback of port fee rules – what’s different now?
As the world awaits the outcome of the China-US trade talks in London this week, the US Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed changes to shipping policy – marking another possible rollback from the stricter measures announced in April that aimed to revive the domestic industry and curb China’s shipbuilding dominance.
The proposed revisions, issued in a short press release over the weekend, would reduce port fees for car carriers and ease restrictions on liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers....
Nara’s famed deer could face food crisis in winter as acorn trees cut down
A move to cut down acorn-bearing trees in Japan’s Nara Park has sparked concern among researchers about the survival of the attraction’s free-roaming deer during the harsh winter.
Acorns serve as a vital food source for deer, while the trees also provide critical shelter, with the animals often gathering beneath dense canopies for warmth and protection in the colder months.
“The base of these trees becomes a critical place that determines whether the deer can survive winter,” said Shiro...
Hong Kong backs start-ups at VivaTech show in push for European market
Hong Kong is making its presence known at a major tech conference in Paris this week, as the city looks to forge closer business ties with Europe amid its efforts to become an innovation hub.
The government-funded Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) will support 18 of its start-ups at the VivaTech trade show in Paris this week, aiming to find partnerships and investments, and to help their market expansion in Europe, HKSTP chief marketing officer Hilda Chan said in an...
From quasiparticles to quasi-worlds, and the possibilities for quantum research
In the sixth instalment of his exclusive monthly series for the South China Morning Post, American theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek asks if there really is any fundamental distinction between the universe we know and quasi-worlds, and the undeniable, routine proliferation of quasi-multiverses. Read his previous articles here.
The fact that physics inside materials can be described using the same ideas we use to describe fundamental physics in empty space – and vice versa –...
Hong Kong moves to curb ‘abuse’ of traffic accident compensation
Lawmakers have supported the Hong Kong government’s proposal to significantly reduce the number of compensated sick leave days and daily subsidy available to traffic accident victims, claiming that the move will help prevent future abuses of the system.
A discussion at a Legislative Council welfare services panel meeting on Monday primarily focused on reviewing the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme.
Administered by the Social Welfare Department, the fund provides financial aid to...
2.3% rise in mainland visitors to Hong Kong on first day of Dragon Boat Festival
Hong Kong has recorded a 2.3 per cent increase against last year in the number of mainland Chinese tourists arriving on the first day of the Tuen Ng Festival holiday, as some opted to avoid crowds across the border and instead experience the city’s festive vibe.
Data published by the Immigration Department on Sunday showed that 139,585 visitors from the mainland arrived in the city on Saturday, the start of what is a three-day long weekend across the border.
The city also recorded 574,895...
Glass window on MTR train cracks on Kwun Tong line on Thursday evening
A glass panel of a window on a train travelling on the MTR’s Kwun Tong line cracked on Thursday night, prompting shocked passengers to disembark at Lok Fu station.
The MTR said on Friday that it would investigate the cause of the incident, saying no injuries were reported due to the window’s double-glazed safety glass design.
The rail operator said the incident happened at around 7.30pm on Thursday as the train was approaching Lok Fu station and the captain was alerted by passengers to the...
Dozens of firefighters battle No 3 alarm fire at Hong Kong warehouse
Firefighters are battling a No 3 alarm fire at a Hong Kong warehouse, with at least one person sent to hospital and nearby residents urged to close their doors and windows amid heavy smoke.
The Fire Services Department said the blaze broke out on Ha Tsuen Road in Tin Shui Wai at 12.40pm on Tuesday and was upgraded to No 3 alarm less than an hour later at 1.33pm.
“The Fire Services Department is currently engaged in firefighting operations,” a spokesman said.
“Residents affected by smoke and...
Russia kills at least 12 in Ukraine war’s largest air attack
Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched 298 drones and 69 missiles, although it said it was able to down 266 drones and 45 missiles.
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163,400 Hongkongers arrive in the UK under BN(O) visa since 2021
Number of Hong Kong residents moving to UK under bespoke visa has increased by 2,220, or 1.3 per cent, since December.
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British climbers conquer Mount Everest in record time using Xenon gas innovation
Xenon is a colourless, odourless gas with anaesthetic properties that can improve acclimatisation and protect against altitude sickness.
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Ant Group’s global unit pulls in US$3 billion in revenue ahead of spin-off
Ant International could fetch an IPO valuation of between US$8 billion to US$24 billion if it lists in Hong Kong, analysts say.
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Trump move to end Syria sanctions catches his own administration by surprise
The very officials who’d be responsible for implementing the policy change were not warned before the US president made his announcement.
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Big Chinese pharma firms can withstand Trump’s policies with cost advantages: analysts
Trump seeks to slash domestic drug prices, bring back pharmaceutical manufacturing to the US and slap tariffs on imports.
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American Idol creator Simon Fuller launches search for Hong Kong’s next pop star
Collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club will see the winner join ‘multicultural pop group’ Now United and take to the stage at the races.
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Saudi Aramco profits drop in first quarter as uncertainty rises
Aramco had expected to declare total dividends of US$85.4 billion in 2025, down sharply from last year’s payout of over US$124 billion.
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Philippine warship sinks prematurely, scuppering its use for Balikatan target practice
The 80-year-old BRP Miguel Malvar was supposed to be a target ship in the US-Philippines Balikatan drills – until it started taking on water.
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