China

Homeowners of a fire-hit Hong Kong estate who waited months for an extraordinary general meeting have expressed disappointment that its agenda excludes a crucial building examination report from last November’s deadly blaze. Hop On Management Company, the government-appointed administrator of Wang Fuk Court, arranged the meeting with flat owners on Sunday […]

Hong Kong’s lawmakers have embarked on an unprecedented week-long study visit to Beijing, with the Legislative Council’s president saying the trip would help their work of ensuring the city better aligns with national development. Starry Lee Wai-king on Sunday highlighted the significance of the trip, which marks the first time the entire legislature […]

Smaller, family-run businesses in mainland China are embracing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) more readily than large enterprises, while market agility and steady power supplies will determine the winners of the global AI race, industry leaders have said at a forum in Indonesia. Panel speakers at the inaugural Nusa Dua Forum in Bali, organised on […]

Hong Kong students can benefit from taking a gap year after the university entrance exam, but should set clear goals for their future, education sector experts have said, pointing to the increasing value of applicants with experience outside the classroom. NGOs and experts said that setting aside a year for internships, volunteer work or exchange programmes […]

Official support and collaboration with private capital are critical for sovereign wealth funds to succeed, the head of Hong Kong’s government-owned investment vehicle has said, as she spelled out strategies needed to deliver high returns. At the inaugural Nusa Dua Forum organised by the South China Morning Post and Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund […]

Hong Kong has embarked on the path of drawing up its first five-year plan – a significant moment in its history. Hong Kong’s first five-year plan should be more than a local economic blueprint. Properly conceived, it should define how the city contributes to China’s national development while preserving the global connections that make Hong Kong […]

Tears, anger and exhaustion marked the conclusion of an inquiry into the deadly fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court, as survivors condemned government departments for passing the buck and demanded accountability. Residents have reacted to the conclusion of an inquiry into the deadly fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court with tears of anger and exhaustion, […]

The recent resignation of Keir Starmer as Britain’s prime minister has reignited a debate over the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit identity – and talk of rejoining the European Union. Over the past decade, has Britain’s decision to exit the EU returned the UK to its splendid isolation – or merely a splendid squalor? It may seem a far-fetched idea but […]

WASHINGTON, D.C./BRASILIA: The United States has imposed 25 percent tariffs on many imports from Brazil while granting a broader-than-expected list of exemptions, marking the first use of the Trump administration's new trade strategy that could eventually be extended to other major trading partners. The tariffs, announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade […]

Tokyo [Japan], July 18 (ANI): Indian badminton star PV Sindhu advanced to the women's singles final of the Japan Open 2026 after her semi-final opponent Chen Yufei of the People's Republic of China retired hurt midway through the second game on Saturday.The Olympic medallist, ranked 12th in the world, was leading the match 21-19, 15-10 at the Tokyo […]

An independent committee examining the causes of Hong Kong’s deadly Wang Fuk Court blaze will delay submitting its final report to late October, a month later than expected, as more time is needed to review documents, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source confirmed to the SCMP on Saturday that the judge-led panel’s final report was likely […]

Washington DC [US], July 18 (ANI): Two senior Republican lawmakers have urged the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to consider restricting Chinese companies listed on American stock exchanges from accessing US capital markets, arguing that such measures are necessary to safeguard the country's economy, investors and national security.According to […]

SHANGHAI, July 18 (Xinhua) -- With the morning sun shining on shrimp ponds in Cambodia's Takeo Province, drones could be seen taking off one after another to begin their daily feeding rounds. Meanwhile, a real-time monitoring system operates around the clock at this spot, transmitting water-quality data to operators to help them make quick, precise […]

Hong Kong customs officers have arrested three men in connection with the seizure of 131kg (289lbs) of suspected ketamine worth about HK$51 million (US$6.5 million), disguised as sugar cubes and found in air cargo transported to the city. Chiu Kai-wing, a senior investigator with the Customs and Excise Department’s drug investigation bureau, said on […]

Some residents left homeless by Hong Kong’s deadliest inferno in decades have called for merging the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) with the Buildings Department after a public inquiry revealed communication failures between them. In recommendations submitted to the independent committee investigating the Wang Fuk Court fire, which […]

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), Hong Kong’s largest developer by market capitalisation, has sold out the first batch of units at its Garden Regency project in the New Territories on Saturday, according to agents. By 3.30pm, all 138 flats the developer had launched in the Kam Tin North project in Yuen Long had found buyers, the agents said. The launch of […]

An independent inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po fire has concluded after examining more than 1 million files and hearing from 80 witnesses across 30 public sessions, uncovering the causes of the blaze that killed 168 people. The panel, chaired by Justice David Lok Kai-hong, wrapped up its hearings on Friday after proceedings that began on March 19. […]

The Hong Kong government has indicated that it is unlikely to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy left by former lawmaker William Wong Kam-fai’s resignation over his drink-driving and hit-and-run case, citing time constraints and concerns about cost-effectiveness. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa also said on Saturday […]

(260718) -- YANGON, July 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit the Myanmar International Auto Expo 2026 in Yangon, Myanmar, July 17, 2026. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese brands take center stage at Myanmar int'l auto expo" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

SHANGHAI, July 18 (Xinhua) -- As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes economies and societies, global attention is shifting beyond technological breakthroughs to how AI can be developed responsibly and inclusively.For many, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), being held in Shanghai on July 17-20, represents an important […]

The number of phone scams recorded in Hong Kong in the first five months of 2026 has surged by 46 per cent compared with the same period last year, with a recent police operation leading to the arrest of 61 suspects in cases involving more than HK$31 million (US$3.95 million). The suspects, aged 17 to 82, were arrested this month in a police operation […]

Some 43,347 day-school candidates sat Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam this year, but there are only about 12,000 subsidised undergraduate places at the city’s eight public universities. So what options do the tens of thousands of remaining students have? According to a survey by education authorities, 85 per cent of Form Six […]

BERLIN, Germany: Uber has agreed to acquire Germany's Delivery Hero in a deal valuing the food-delivery company at about US$14.8 billion, creating the world's largest food-delivery platform outside China as the industry continues to consolidate. The acquisition strengthens Uber's global food-delivery business as it seeks to compete more effectively with […]

Hong Kong delivery company Lalamove and professional services firm EY have joined forces and jumped on the “low-altitude economy” bandwagon in the hopes of expanding their reach in the Greater Bay Area and transforming conventional business. The companies told the South China Morning Post that the collaboration would leverage Lalamove’s logistics […]

New posts03:46CENTCOM Says Seventh Night Of Attacks Concluded At 5 A.M. Iran TimeThe US Central Command at 5 a.m. Iran time on July 18 said its latest wave of strikes -- the seventh night in a row of attacks -- had been concluded."US Central Command (CENTCOM) hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and […]

New posts00:38US Launches Fresh Strikes On Iran After American Soldiers Killed in JordanThe US military said it has launched new air strikes on Iran, the eighth consecutive night it has done so, just hours after confirming two US soldiers were killed and another missing during defensive operations in Jordan during attacks launched by Tehran."Today at 6 p.m. […]

New posts11:38Iran Warns Gulf Neighbors Of 'Corresponding' Military ResponseIn a stark warning following the seventh night of US strikes against Iran, the regimes Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the country's Gulf neighbors must be ready to receive a corresponding and proportional response.In the statement, the IRGC warned the host […]

New posts16:30Bahrain Directs Citizens To Safety After Tehran Attack ClaimsBahrains Interior Ministry on July 18 advised its citizens and residents to head to a safe place as Tehran claimed it had targeted the Jufair military base in the north of the island.The Jufair base, known as the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, is the home of the US Fifth Fleet […]

About 90 per cent of homeowners at the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court estate in Hong Kong have returned signed letters accepting the government’s buy-back offer, but some residents have raised concerns about being rushed into decisions linked to priority flat selection. The Deputy Financial Secretary’s Office said on Friday that as of July 16, a total of […]

(Photo credit: Mandel Ngan-Reuters via Imagn Images)As this North American-hosted World Cup nears its conclusion, United States President Donald Trump expressed his desire for the U.S. to host another World Cup in the near future at a reception in New York Friday ahead of Sunday's final.'You should choose the United States of America again,' Trump said at […]

NANJING, July 18 (Xinhua) -- A music and cultural exchange camp between young people of China and the United States was held in Changzhou and Nanjing from July 12 to 17.Young people from both countries engaged in cultural experiences, staged music performances, and visited museums as well as historical memorial halls, which promoted cultural mutual learning […]

(260718) -- MELBOURNE, July 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece interacts with a quadruped robot at a partner conference held by Chinese embodied AI company AGIBOT in Melbourne, Australia, July 17, 2026. Chinese embodied AI company AGIBOT held an Australia and New Zealand partner conference in Melbourne on Friday, announcing a […]

(Photo credit: Esports World Cup)BetBoom Team and Vici Gaming became the final two teams to advance to the semifinals of the Esports World Cup Dota 2 tournament thanks to their wins Friday in Paris.Vici opened the day with a 2-0 victory over Team Falcons, and BetBoom added a 2-0 win over Nigma Galaxy in the quarterfinal stage.BetBoom and Vici will square […]

(260718) -- HOHHOT, July 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits an international logistics center in Manzhouli City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on July 15, 2026. He has urged efforts to accelerate the development of the Inner […]

Dog owners have welcomed Hong Kong’s first wave of pet-friendly restaurants, but some have been disappointed by restrictive rules, confused staff and limited space, with one saying only half of her pet stroller could fit within the designated seating area. After months of anticipation, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department granted an initial 1,000 […]

New York [USA], July 18 (ANI): US President Donald Trump praised the FIFA World Cup 2026 as a tournament full of memorable moments, calling it 'a tournament like no other.'Addressing an official FIFA reception at Trump Tower, Trump, on Friday, described the tournament as one filled with fierce competition and unforgettable moments. He also recalled calling […]

(260717) -- DAR ES SALAAM, July 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Permanent Secretary in Tanzania's Ministry of Transport Godius Kahyarara delivers a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 17, 2026. The revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) gained fresh momentum on Friday with the groundbreaking of a training center and […]

New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): India extracts more growth out of every rupee it invests than China did during its fastest-growing years -- but that efficiency is not a substitute for higher investment itself, the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Ashok Kumar Lahiri, said on Friday. Speaking at the release of the Investment Friendliness Index, the Vice […]

(260717) -- PARIS, July 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Pan Jianwei delivers a video speech during the awarding ceremony for the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences in Paris, France, July 17, 2026. Chinese scientist Pan Jianwei on Friday became the first Chinese recipient of the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic […]

(260717) -- PYONGYANG, July 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea […]

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China urges the U.S. to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese journalists in the U.S., a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks during a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the Trump administration's decision to cut visa duration for journalists, which […]

(260717) -- LANZHOU, July 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visits an exhibition themed on the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March by the Red Army in Huining […]

New Delhi has worries about similar punitive levies as Washingtons global tariffs of 10% are set to lapse next weekIndia's concerns on finalizing a trade deal with the US have been underscored by Washington's move to slap 25% tariffs on Brazil.The US announced the 25% tariffs on Thursday following a Section 301 investigation into Brazil's trade practices. […]

SHANGHAI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance opened in east China's Shanghai on Friday.Themed "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future," the event features six sections: Conferences Forums, Exhibitions Showcases, Awards Competitions, Application Experiences, Innovation Incubation, and Talent […]

(260717) -- SUIFENHE, July 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tourists taking a cross-border tourist train pose for a group photo at Suifenhe Railway Station in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 17, 2026. A cross-border tourist train linking Vladivostok of Russia and China's Suifenhe officially entered trial operation on Friday. The route, […]