World News Hub

Hong Kong police officer left paralysed in 2005 knife attack dies

A former police constable who was left paralysed and bedridden for 21 years after a knife attack during a stop-and-search has died, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said Jacky Chu Chun-kwok died on Wednesday. He was in his fifties. Frankie Leung Chun-kit, chairman of the Junior Police Officers’ Association, said on Thursday that the force’s management supported burying Chu in Gal...

Watch this: The winning timepieces you couldn't miss at this year's US Open

The US Open has become a must-see event for luxury watch fans eager to spot who's wearing what. Quaid Walker, CEO of the watch marketplace Bezel, picks out this year's standout models — from Zverev's Jacob & Co to Alcaraz's Daytona, not forgetting the Patek on Brad Pitt's wrist.

Abducted South African journalist found dead with gunshot wounds

The body of veteran broadcaster Owen Ndlovu was found hours after armed men kidnapped him near Johannesburg.

Australia Post worker stole dozens of bank cards to fund ‘debilitating’ gambling addiction

Court hears Mauro Paul Coluzzi and two associates defrauded customers and banks of more than $130,000An Australia Post worker’s crippling gambling addiction spiralled into purchases of gold jewellery, phones and even online gaming gift cards with stolen bank cards.Mauro Paul Coluzzi’s family members broke down in court as he was jailed until December 2027 for leading two criminal syndicates funded...

22 months’ jail for Hong Kong driver who fatally struck student at traffic junction

A Hong Kong man has been sentenced to 22 months behind bars for driving his Tesla car dangerously and causing a 19-year-old student’s death at a pedestrian crossing two years ago. The District Court on Thursday also disqualified Ernest Au Yeung Shiu-hong from driving for five years and criticised his “extremely dangerous and irresponsible” attitude that led to Lisa Pun’s death on November 7, 2024....

Heat and drought: Why beer at Oktoberfest could soon be in short supply

No hops, no beer: heat and drought are hitting hop fields in Austria and Germany, as well as spring barley for malt. Is a beer shortage looming? Farmers and brewers are testing irrigation and switching to winter barley.

Russia employs North Koreans to build drones for Ukraine war: report

Russia is increasingly mobilising North Korean workers to build military drones for use against Ukraine in defiance of international sanctions, giving Pyongyang a key source of revenue to fund its unlawful weapons programmes, according to a report by the US and its allies. Up to 25,000 North Koreans were believed to be working in Russia’s drone industry, including at facilities in Alabuga, Tatarst...

One wallet, 27 systems: can the EU build an untraceable Digital ID?

The EU wants every citizen to have a digital identity wallet by the end of 2026. Digital rights groups warn that the safeguards aren’t ready and that a system designed to protect privacy could instead make Europeans easier to track.

EU plan to make Canada an 'associate member' draws Trump’s ire

Good morning. This is Vincenzo Genovese writing from the corridors of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, which are slowly filling up ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s highly-anticipated speech at 11.30.

12-year-old finds 14,000 Kirstys across 50 countries, raises £100,000

Israel weaponises AI for West Bank demolitions

AI tools push forced evictions of Palestinians, automating demolitions in occupied territories under Israeli control.

Sydney duo finishes 9 gigs in 12 hours after helicopter, plane delays, with 15 seconds left

Sydney dream pop duo Fathom attempted a Guinness World Records title by performing nine 15-minute gigs across NSW and Canberra within 12 hours. Their journey faced delays after a firefighting helicopter was unavailable and a plane’s propeller failed. Despite falling an hour behind schedule, Cate Guirguis and Jaxon Italiano completed their final Canberra show with just 15 seconds to spare.

Las Vegas company gives nearly 10,000 workers $70M in stock; $1,000 for each year worked

In a grand celebration of its 50th anniversary, Station Casinos rewarded nearly ten thousand employees with over seventy million dollars in stock. Employees received shares calculated at one thousand dollars for each year they served, showcasing the company’s commitment to recognizing the loyalty and hard work of its long-serving staff. This milestone event not only honors their contributions but ...

Australian politics live: Chalmers says Liberal migration policy ‘determined by One Nation’; Queensland to create outback boot camps for youth offenders

Follow the day’s news liveLabor unveils long-awaited immigration plans, targeting backpackers, students’ families and visa overstayersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBarnaby Joyce says Labor is copying and pasting One Nation’s homework because the measures we know so far around blocking the families of international students and preventing visa hopping have some similari...

Gold mine collapse kills 82 people in Sudan

At least 82 people have died after an informal gold mine collapsed in war-torn Sudan, officials have said.

At least 82 people killed after gold mine collapses in Sudan

At least 82 people have died after an informal gold mine collapsed in war-torn Sudan, officials have said.

Hong Kong targets 240 air destinations by 2030, eyeing new Uzbekistan routes

Hong Kong aims to expand the number of global destinations connected to its airport from 220 to 240 by 2030, with authorities exploring the launch of routes to Uzbekistan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the goal in the city’s first five-year plan, stating authorities would explore aviation partnerships with 10 more countries each year between 2026 and 2030, with at least 40 per cent inv...

Hong Kong airport records 10% passenger growth as cargo falls for second month

Hong Kong International Airport recorded a roughly 10 per cent increase in passenger traffic in the first eight months of the year, compared with the same period in 2025, while cargo volume declined for a second consecutive month in August amid weak exports. The airport said passenger numbers rose by 10.1 per cent to 44.3 million between January and August, year on year, while flight movements inc...

Hong Kong airport records 10% passenger growth as cargo falls for a second month

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) recorded a roughly 10 per cent increase in passenger traffic in the first eight months of the year, while cargo volume declined for a second consecutive month in August amid weak exports. The airport said passenger numbers rose 10.1 per cent year on year to 44.3 million between January and August, while flight movements increased 3.5 per cent to 269,900. Pass...

US businessman Adam Castillo deported from Myanmar after months in jail, state media says

Myanmar’s military-backed government has deported Adam Castillo, a U.S. businessman, after three months in jail on charges his supporters say were trumped-up

Houthi attacks are driving up oil prices. For Yemenis in the crossfire, the toll is far greater

The lightning advance of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in Yemen

Hong Kong’s ‘AI city brain’ to cost initial HK$200m, but ‘won’t catch thieves’

Hong Kong’s proposed “AI city brain” will cost HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) for the first phase and will connect to the police’s citywide security camera network, authorities have revealed, while stressing that the new system would not be used for crime detection or the surveillance of residents. Speaking at a Legislative Council question and answer session on Thursday following his annual pol...

Hong Kong’s ‘AI city brain’ will not tap personal data, breach privacy: John Lee

Hong Kong’s new “AI city brain” will not involve personal data and poses no privacy concerns, the city leader has said, adding that the system will also help improve visitor management during “golden week” holidays. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also stressed on Thursday the importance of AI education and the need to nurture young people’s AI literacy, citing overseas examples of adolescents wh...

OpenAI reports more incidents of models acting deceptively

The ChatGPT creator says it is introducing a public reporting framework to share unexpected AI behaviour.

Middle East live: Paris talks aim to bolster Lebanese army as end of UN mission looms

European and Arab military chiefs meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss steps to bolster Lebanon's struggling armed forces as the mandate of a United Nations peacekeeping mission expires at the end of the year, amid fears of a renewed Israeli military campaign in southern Lebanon. Follow our live coverage for updates from the Middle East.