Indonesian earthquake : Aid reaches Flores as death toll climbs
France 24

Indonesian earthquake : Aid reaches Flores as death toll climbs

At least 47 people have been killed after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, triggering hundreds of aftershocks, widespread destruction and landslides. Rescue operations are underway as remote villages remain difficult to reach and the death toll is expected to rise.

Death knell? Hong Kong’s five-year plan is a starting gun

Death knell? Hong Kong’s five-year plan is a starting gun

SCMP

I’m a little perplexed and bemused by the brouhaha surrounding Hong Kong’s decision to draft its first five-year plan, as if the sky is falling in around the city’s famed laissez-faire economy. Predictably, Yale University’s Stephen Roach (he of “Hong Kong is over” fame) warned in a commentary last month that “Chinese-style central planning” could “over-promise and under-deliver”. In a 2024 commen...

Beijing and Manila clash over arrests of ‘illegal’ workers as tensions worsen

Beijing and Manila clash over arrests of ‘illegal’ workers as tensions worsen

SCMP

Tensions between Beijing and Manila appear to have spilled over from the South China Sea to immigration, just as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr indicated he wanted to “reset” ties. Manila on Sunday dismissed Beijing’s criticism of Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr over his role in the arrests of Chinese workers at a steel plant in Misamis Oriental in May. A Chinese embassy official...

I gave Tencent’s WeChat AI agent control for 24 hours: where it excelled – and stumbled

I gave Tencent’s WeChat AI agent control for 24 hours: where it excelled – and stumbled

SCMP

Tencent Holdings’ WeChat is already the undisputed super-app for over a billion people in China, handling everything from splitting dinner bills to hailing taxis. Now, Tencent is embedding an artificial intelligence agent named Xiaowei into the platform, adding a hands-free, automated assistant to its vast digital ecosystem. In its latest earnings results announced on Wednesday, Tencent highlighte...

UK PM Andy Burnham shifts focus to TikTok and podcasts in social media push

UK PM Andy Burnham shifts focus to TikTok and podcasts in social media push

SCMP

Whether he is pulling a pint, tossing a builder’s helmet in the air or running with Olympic medallist Mo Farah, the UK’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has embraced social media with a deft touch. As well as putting out videos on his own accounts on X and TikTok, he has sought to broaden his audience by appearing on entertainment channels run by creators with large followings. Compared with prede...

Spanish fighter jet downs drone breaching Romania's airspace

Spanish fighter jet downs drone breaching Romania's airspace

France 24

A Spanish fighter jet on Sunday shot down a drone that breached Romania's airspace near the border with Ukraine and Moldova, Romania's defence ministry said, in the latest incident to highlight the challenges facing NATO states bordering Ukraine. 

Mississippi’s termite swarms are here: A single treatment can cost up to $1,750

Mississippi’s termite swarms are here: A single treatment can cost up to $1,750

Times of India

Termite swarms in Mississippi signal developing colonies that require prompt homeowner attention and professional inspection. Eastern subterranean termites swarm from winter into early summer, while Formosan termites appear later. Spotting swarmers indoors strongly indicates an active infestation needing immediate professional treatment. Preventive measures and early intervention significantly ...