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Spain investigates ex-prime minister Zapatero over airline bailout scandal
SCMP

Spain investigates ex-prime minister Zapatero over airline bailout scandal

Spain’s former Socialist prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has been placed under investigation for influence peddling and crimes allegedly committed in connection with the bailout of a small airline, according to a court on Tuesday. The move adds to pressure on current Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, already weakened by corruption investigations involving family members and senio...

Pakistani man who killed TikTok star Sana Yousaf for rejecting him sentenced to death
SCMP

Pakistani man who killed TikTok star Sana Yousaf for rejecting him sentenced to death

A Pakistani court sentenced a man to death on Tuesday for murdering a teenage influencer last year after she had repeatedly rejected his advances. Sana Yousaf’s murder in June drew nationwide condemnation and reignited debate over women’s safety, after some online comments – alongside condolences – blamed her for her own death. A judge announced to a cramped Islamabad courtroom on Tuesday afternoo...

Hong Kong urged to prioritise hydrogen adoption to meet carbon neutrality goal
SCMP

Hong Kong urged to prioritise hydrogen adoption to meet carbon neutrality goal

Hong Kong should prioritise hydrogen adoption and related services to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a think tank report has said, including setting up refuelling stations for heavy vehicles in container terminals and industrial areas. The policy research report, released on Tuesday by Our Hong Kong Foundation, set out nine recommendations to advance hydrogen use in the city, covering vehicle ...

Despite summit pledges, don’t expect US-China trade to improve
SCMP

Despite summit pledges, don’t expect US-China trade to improve

At last week’s summit in Beijing, the presidents of China and the United States pledged to steer towards a stable and constructive relationship. The two sides announced new joint trade and investment councils. This combination of high-level commitment and institutional progress has stirred hopes that long-running bilateral economic tensions will ease substantially, if not take a turn for the bette...

From Jack Sparrow to Bride of Chucky, Iran’s video jibes at Trump are online hit in China

From Jack Sparrow to Bride of Chucky, Iran’s video jibes at Trump are online hit in China

SCMP

The Iranian embassy in Beijing has released an animated rap video featuring internet memes and pop culture to mock US leaders and celebrate Iran’s warm ties with China. The two-minute video What is the East? was published on Monday afternoon and had drawn over 370,000 views by noon the next day. It also carried a strong message of Eastern unity and leaned heavily into millennial and Gen Z nostalgi...

Philippine navy’s ‘aspirational’ middle power claim comes under scrutiny

Philippine navy’s ‘aspirational’ middle power claim comes under scrutiny

SCMP

The Philippines’ claim that it is now among the middle tier of Southeast Asian maritime powers after two decades of modernisation has come into question, with analysts saying that its navy still lacks enough firepower and reach to match regional rivals. Rear Admiral Joe Anthony C. Orbe, commander of the Philippine Fleet, told reporters on Tuesday that the country’s navy had attained the status of ...

Iran hosts mass weddings for couples volunteering for wartime sacrifice

Iran hosts mass weddings for couples volunteering for wartime sacrifice

SCMP

Iranian authorities held mass public weddings in Tehran for couples who signed up to a state-sponsored scheme declaring their readiness to sacrifice their lives in the war against the US and Israel. The ceremonies conducted late on Monday involved hundreds of couples in several major squares in the capital, including more than 100 in the vast Imam Hossein Square in central Tehran, according to rep...

China and US to hold dialogue on AI governance, Beijing confirms

China and US to hold dialogue on AI governance, Beijing confirms

SCMP

China and the United States will hold a formal dialogue on improving governance of artificial intelligence, as the two countries seek to manage the risks posed by the rapidly evolving technology. During US President Donald Trump’s state visit to China last week, he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had “constructive exchanges” on AI, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Tuesd...

AMD CEO’s meeting with China’s vice-premier raises optimism about US AI chip imports

AMD CEO’s meeting with China’s vice-premier raises optimism about US AI chip imports

SCMP

A recent meeting between Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su signals a potential loosening of US chip export policies, which could reopen high-end semiconductor sales, including artificial intelligence chips, to select Chinese firms, according to analysts. During their meeting on Monday, He reiterated that Beijing welcomed continued foreign investment, accor...

MTR Corp on track with new Tung Chung West station

MTR Corp on track with new Tung Chung West station

SCMP

Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will largely complete the main structure of a new station on the Tung Chung line by the first half of 2027, using “community-friendly” construction measures to reduce noise. The rail giant said on Tuesday that it would finish boring a 1.3km (0.8-mile) tunnel in the next three months and complete most of the main structure of Tung Chung West station by the first half of ...

MTR Corp on track to finish most of new Tung Chung West station by first half of 2027

MTR Corp on track to finish most of new Tung Chung West station by first half of 2027

SCMP

Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will largely complete the main structure of a new station on the Tung Chung line by the first half of 2027, using “community-friendly” construction measures to reduce noise. The rail giant said on Tuesday that it would finish boring a 1.3km (0.8-mile) tunnel by the third quarter of this year and complete most of Tung Chung West station by the first half of next year. Th...

MTR Corp on track to complete new Tung Chung West station by first half of 2027

MTR Corp on track to complete new Tung Chung West station by first half of 2027

SCMP

Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will largely complete a new station on the Tung Chung line by the first half of 2027, using “community-friendly” construction measures to reduce noise. The rail giant said on Tuesday that it would finish boring a 1.3-kilometre (0.8-mile) tunnel by the third quarter of this year and complete most of Tung Chung West station by the first half of next year. The new station ...

China confirms death of hypersonic weapon expert Fang Daining, 68, in South Africa

China confirms death of hypersonic weapon expert Fang Daining, 68, in South Africa

SCMP

Fang Daining, a leading and at times controversial figure in China’s hypersonic weapons research, died earlier this year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) confirmed in an obituary released on Tuesday. Fang, who held China’s highest academic title in science and technology as a CAS member, died of an illness on February 27, the premier national research institution said. He was 68. Fang was sc...

Non-traditional bidder tops titans’ bids in Hong Kong land sale with ‘aggressive pricing’

Non-traditional bidder tops titans’ bids in Hong Kong land sale with ‘aggressive pricing’

SCMP

Hong Kong construction and engineering company Able Engineering has secured a residential site in Tung Chung for a higher-than-expected HK$1.627 billion (US$207 million) premium, outbidding five groups of major developers in the city. Able Best, a construction and private development unit of Able Engineering, secured a 50-year land grant for the 152,332 sq ft plot, according to a statement from th...

Non-traditional Hong Kong bidder tops property giants in Tung Chung HK$1.6b land auction

Non-traditional Hong Kong bidder tops property giants in Tung Chung HK$1.6b land auction

SCMP

Hong Kong construction and engineering company Able Engineering has secured a residential site in Tung Chung for a higher-than-expected HK$1.627 billion (US$207 million) premium, outbidding five groups of major developers in the city. Able Best, a construction and private development unit of Able Engineering, secured a 50-year land grant for the 152,332 sq ft plot, according to a statement from th...

South Korea’s Lee hails ‘deep friendship’ as he hosts Japan’s Takaichi in hometown

South Korea’s Lee hails ‘deep friendship’ as he hosts Japan’s Takaichi in hometown

SCMP

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their fourth meeting in about six months on Tuesday, underscoring the need for greater cooperation between the historical Asian rivals amid global challenges, including the Iran war. Lee hosted Takaichi in his hometown of Andong, a southeastern South Korean city famous for its centuries-old traditional folk villag...

DeepSeek recruits former Jane Street engineer to catch up on AI agents, revenue race

DeepSeek recruits former Jane Street engineer to catch up on AI agents, revenue race

SCMP

Chinese artificial intelligence heavyweight DeepSeek has recruited a former Jane Street star engineer to its new AI “harness” team, as it looks to ensure it does not fall behind in the agentic AI era. Cui Tianyi joined the Hangzhou start-up in March, according to a post on his LinkedIn profile on Tuesday, after four years at Hong Kong-based quantitative trading firm TSY Capital, which he co-founde...

Indonesia’s rupiah sinks to record low as Prabowo shrugs off rout fears

Indonesia’s rupiah sinks to record low as Prabowo shrugs off rout fears

SCMP

Indonesian officials have moved to reassure markets that the country’s economic fundamentals remain sound after the rupiah sank to a record low, but President Prabowo Subianto’s attempts to play down the currency’s slide has attracted criticism from economists and social media users alike. The rupiah fell to 17,720 per US dollar on Tuesday, cementing its status as one of Asia’s worst-performing cu...

Chinese aircraft carrier kicks off drills in western Pacific amid tense Japan ties

Chinese aircraft carrier kicks off drills in western Pacific amid tense Japan ties

SCMP

China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier on Tuesday kicked off training that will include live-fire drills in the western Pacific, a move poised to draw attention from Japan amid tense bilateral ties. The Liaoning-led carrier task group’s training will include far-sea tactical flight, live-fire exercises, and providing support and cover, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The Chinese navy did not speci...

In 1961, Typhoon Alice claims 4 lives in Hong Kong – SCMP archive

In 1961, Typhoon Alice claims 4 lives in Hong Kong – SCMP archive

SCMP

TYPHOON TOOK FOUR LIVES Alice created two new records By SCMP Staff This article was first published on May 21, 1961 The typhoon which struck Hongkong on Friday took four lives, but the damage done was negligible compared to the havoc wrought by the severe storm which pounded the Colony in June last year. The number of people injured during Typhoon Alice was around 20, but the majority of them wer...

Calls grow for US-China energy trade expansion after Trump’s visit – but is it feasible?

Calls grow for US-China energy trade expansion after Trump’s visit – but is it feasible?

SCMP

A prominent American business group in China has called for expanded energy trade between the world’s two largest economies – a move first floated by US President Donald Trump during his state visit to Beijing last week. Analysts, however, warn that uncompetitive pricing could limit Chinese demand. “Energy remains a centrepiece of the bilateral relationship,” said Markel Hubinette, who sits on the...

Legacy in ink: how calligraphy links China’s political heritage to academic institutions

Legacy in ink: how calligraphy links China’s political heritage to academic institutions

SCMP

Prestigious universities in China carry a rich tradition of showcasing their names on entrance gates, inscribed in calligraphy by renowned political leaders, reflecting both political history and academic prestige. Calligraphy, the art of writing, is a revered traditional Chinese art form that was historically valued above all others. In ancient China, calligraphy was an elite art, its aesthetics ...

Mango founder’s son arrested over father’s mountain death plunge in Spain

Mango founder’s son arrested over father’s mountain death plunge in Spain

SCMP

Spanish police said on Tuesday they had arrested the eldest son of Mango clothing empire founder Isak Andic over his father’s death during a hiking trip in December 2024. Jonathan Andic, who was alone with his 71-year-old father when the retail magnate plunged to his death in the Montserrat mountains near Barcelona, was taken into custody, Catalan regional police said, confirming a report in the d...

WHO warns of ‘scale and speed’ of deadly Ebola outbreak

WHO warns of ‘scale and speed’ of deadly Ebola outbreak

SCMP

The World Health Organization chief voiced concern on Tuesday about the “scale and speed” of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has killed an estimated 131 people. The WHO has declared the surge of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever an international health emergency and was expected to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis on Tuesday. No vaccine or therapeutic trea...

Bodies of 2 Italian divers recovered from ‘well inside’ underwater cave in Maldives

Bodies of 2 Italian divers recovered from ‘well inside’ underwater cave in Maldives

SCMP

Finnish divers on Tuesday recovered the bodies of two of the four remaining Italians who died deep inside an underwater cave in an atoll in the Maldives, an official said. The bodies were located on Monday, when searches resumed after being suspended following the death of a local military diver during a perilous mission to try to reach them. Five Italian divers went missing on Thursday, with one ...

China’s rapid chipmaking expansion threatens AI memory chip boom, Samsung adviser warns

China’s rapid chipmaking expansion threatens AI memory chip boom, Samsung adviser warns

SCMP

The AI-driven “super cycle” in memory chips may lose momentum by 2028 as Chinese chipmakers aggressively expand production and global tech firms curb spending, a Samsung Electronics executive adviser said. “South Korea’s memory chip industry is performing very strongly this year and some forecasts suggest conditions could improve further next year,” adviser Kyung Kye-hyun said at a forum hosted by...

Why the Philippines wants Japan’s old Type 88 missiles

Why the Philippines wants Japan’s old Type 88 missiles

SCMP

Japan’s Type 88 surface-to-ship missile entered service decades ago and is already being retired in favour of a more capable successor, yet the prospect of Tokyo transferring the ageing system to the Philippines has stirred a debate that reaches far beyond its modest specifications. Manila expressed interest in acquiring the Type 88 around the same time as Japanese forces were demonstrating the mi...

Why Elon Musk’s post spotlighting Chinese infrastructure has reignited a debate

Why Elon Musk’s post spotlighting Chinese infrastructure has reignited a debate

SCMP

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is once again using his massive social media megaphone to trumpet Chinese infrastructure to an international audience. On Monday, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla reposted on X, which he owns, a nearly six-minute video of Chongqing East Railway Station in southwestern China, drawing millions of views within hours. It is unclear whether Musk is currently in Chongqing, China’s ...

Indonesian authorities used fake news to brand critics as ‘foreign agents’: Amnesty

Indonesian authorities used fake news to brand critics as ‘foreign agents’: Amnesty

SCMP

Indonesian authorities, including the military, used online disinformation campaigns to brand activists and ⁠journalists as “foreign agents” and silence dissent, ⁠sometimes leading to physical threats, Amnesty International said ⁠in a report released on Tuesday. Amnesty’s findings reflect growing concerns that Indonesia, the world’s third largest democracy, is backsliding towards army rule under P...