‘Outrageous’: Taiwan Mandopop band member allegedly assaulted by South Korean diver underwater
SCMP •

‘Outrageous’: Taiwan Mandopop band member allegedly assaulted by South Korean diver underwater

Palau authorities are investigating an alleged underwater attack by a South Korean divemaster on Taiwanese musician Devon Song and his Bangladeshi divemaster. Song, a member of the music group Nan Quan Mama, posted on social media that he and his divemaster, Sobuj Patwary, were attacked by a South Korean divemaster known as “Romeo”. Song said they were diving at Siaes Corner, a popular site west o...

Fatalities feared as fire erupts at Canadian military base in Alberta
SCMP •

Fatalities feared as fire erupts at Canadian military base in Alberta

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday that a “serious incident” caused a major fire at a military base in Alberta. “A serious incident creating a major fire has occurred at CFB Wainwright, in Alberta,” Carney said in a social media post. “Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” he said. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “significant and tragic...

‘Outrageous’: Taiwan Mandopop band member assaulted by South Korean diver underwater
SCMP •

‘Outrageous’: Taiwan Mandopop band member assaulted by South Korean diver underwater

Palau authorities are investigating an alleged underwater attack by a South Korean divemaster on Taiwanese musician Devon Song and his Bangladeshi divemaster. Song, a member of the music group Nan Quan Mama, posted on social media that he and his divemaster, Sobuj Patwary, were attacked by a South Korean divemaster known as “Romeo”. Song said they were diving at Siaes Corner, a popular site west o...

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards finalist bridges the gap in accessible dental care
SCMP •

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards finalist bridges the gap in accessible dental care

Hong Kong social worker Mark Cheung Kai-yuen is working to make dental care more accessible for cancer survivors, people with disabilities and children with special needs who often struggle to find suitable clinics. Through Smile Again, the social enterprise he co-founded with dentist Dr Ho Kwun-yin, Cheung has adapted both the facility and the way care is delivered, with wheelchair-friendly facil...

Dino-mite treasures: inside Singapore’s ‘Fort Knox’ storing playthings of ultra-rich

Dino-mite treasures: inside Singapore’s ‘Fort Knox’ storing playthings of ultra-rich

SCMP •

Stored in a climate-controlled environment within what is commonly known as the “Fort Knox of Singapore” rests the skull of a triceratops which once roamed the earth 66 million years ago. The jagged edges of its frill and horns are largely intact, and according to its owner, Chaw Wei Yang, 26, it is one of the most complete triceratops skull fossils ever found. Chaw, who runs Fine Art Storage Serv...

China’s ‘golden week’ holidays come at a cost

China’s ‘golden week’ holidays come at a cost

SCMP •

For iPhone users in China, the calendar has long presented a small but recurring problem. On a Sunday designated as a make-up workday, an alarm might remain silent. On a regular Friday converted into a day off, it might ring anyway. Nearly 17 years after entering the Chinese market, Apple quietly updated its operating system in September to automatically recognise China’s official schedule of adju...

Cost-of-living protests: Italian police clash with protesters in Milan, Bologna

Cost-of-living protests: Italian police clash with protesters in Milan, Bologna

Times of India •

Protests against inflation, low wages, and public service issues turned violent in multiple Italian cities. In Milan, protests erupted in Piazza Duomo where demonstrators clashed with police and vandalized property. Bologna saw similar unrest, with hooded youths attacking the central railway station and throwing projectiles at security forces. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence w...

San Diego weighs $4.2B project with 4,254 homes and $460M in public upgrades

San Diego weighs $4.2B project with 4,254 homes and $460M in public upgrades

Times of India •

San Diego is pushing forward with an ambitious redevelopment project for 48.5 acres surrounding Pechanga Arena. This initiative aims to introduce 4,254 housing units, a significant number of which will be affordable. In addition to a new 16,000-seat arena, the plan includes approximately $460 million in upgrades to local infrastructure. The goal is to foster a more walkable community with improved...

US-Russia deal, Trump-Zelensky clash could leave Ukraine out in the cold

US-Russia deal, Trump-Zelensky clash could leave Ukraine out in the cold

SCMP •

From US threats to cut off intelligence support for Ukraine to a waiver of tariffs on Russian ⁠exports and a diesel deal that could help Russia fund its war, it has been a damaging week for ties between Kyiv and its most important ally, Washington. US President Donald Trump, frustrated by high energy costs he blames partly on Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, has repeatedly criticised Ukrai...

How land power could help US forces counter China in the Indo-Pacific

How land power could help US forces counter China in the Indo-Pacific

SCMP •

Senior US commanders have highlighted the importance of land-based troops and equipment stationed in the Asia-Pacific in any conflict with China, countering assumptions that such a war would be fought mainly at sea and in the air. General Ron Clark, commander of US Army Pacific, said the “tyranny of distance” made it difficult to rely on air and naval forces during a panel discussion at the Associ...

Why is Hong Kong hosting the Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting? There is another agenda

Why is Hong Kong hosting the Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting? There is another agenda

SCMP •

As Hong Kong hosts the Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday, this two-part series examines the summit’s significance and its implications for Beijing on the global stage. In part one, Simpson Cheung and Alfred Lam explore how the event could elevate the city’s status as an international financial centre at a pivotal moment. Beijing’s decision to have Hong Kong host the Apec Finance Ministers...

Buildings set ablaze and more than 1,800 arrested as police clash with protesters across France

Buildings set ablaze and more than 1,800 arrested as police clash with protesters across France

The Guardian •

Police fire teargas in Paris and Limoges town hall ‘largely lost’ to fire – with officials blaming violence on ‘ultra-left’More than 1,800 people were arrested in France on Saturday after protesters supporting high school students clashed with police, with some demonstrations later spiralling out of control as buildings were set ablaze and shops looted.Police fired teargas in confrontations with p...

Buildings set ablaze and more than 1,200 arrested as police clash with protesters across France

Buildings set ablaze and more than 1,200 arrested as police clash with protesters across France

The Guardian •

Police fire teargas in Paris and Limoges town hall ‘largely lost’ to fire – with officials blaming violence on ‘ultra-left’More than 1,200 people were arrested in France on Saturday after protesters supporting high school students clashed with police, with some demonstrations later spiralling out of control as buildings were set ablaze and shops looted.Police fired teargas in confrontations with p...

Building set ablaze and more than 1,200 arrested as police clash with protesters across France

Building set ablaze and more than 1,200 arrested as police clash with protesters across France

The Guardian •

Police fire teargas in Paris and Limoges town hall ‘largely lost’ to fire – with officials blaming violence on ‘ultra-left’More than 1,200 people were arrested in France on Saturday after protesters supporting high school students clashed with police, with some demonstrations later spiralling out of control as buildings were set ablaze and shops looted.Police fired teargas in confrontations with p...

Trump’s second Asean summit presence comes at a price for region

Trump’s second Asean summit presence comes at a price for region

SCMP •

US President Donald Trump is expected to drive hard bargains on tariffs and critical minerals in his return to the Asean summit in Manila next month, with Washington seeking greater economic and strategic concessions while remaining hawkish on China. The Philippines confirmed on Wednesday that Trump would fly in for the summit from November 16 to 18, before attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Coop...

Across US, ‘No Kings’ events seek to boost early voting and thwart Trump

Across US, ‘No Kings’ events seek to boost early voting and thwart Trump

SCMP •

Carrying an umbrella painted with the words “vote, power, people”, retired teacher Sabine Carlson said the lesson plan for Saturday’s “No King” marches was clear. “It’s great to voice your anger, and we have long lists of complaints, but the most important thing of all is to go and vote,” the 66-year-old Democrat from Washington’s suburbs said. At the demonstration near the country’s Capitol, Carl...