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Beijing has issued a lengthy critique of the Philippines’ territorial claims in the South China Sea, condemning its actions as “unlawful” expansions that posed a “grave threat” to the post-war global order. Wednesday’s report by a Ministry of Natural Resources think tank – its third within days – marks the latest move in China’s campaign to reinforce its position in the disputed waters. It also re...
China and Russia launched joint naval exercises focused on submarine rescue, a matter in which Beijing said it hoped to learn operational experience from its strategic partner amid intensified competition beneath the seas. The Joint Sea-2026 exercise between the two navies began in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao on Monday, underscoring deepening military cooperation between Beijing and M...
China and Russia launched joint naval exercises focused on submarine rescue, a matter in which Beijing said it hoped to learn operational experience from its strategic partner amid intensified competition beneath the seas. The Joint Sea-2026 exercise between the two navies began in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao on Monday, underscoring deepening military cooperation between Beijing and M...
Hong Kong women’s rights advocates and sexual assault survivors have urged authorities to close a loophole that allows defendants to claim an honest but mistaken belief in consent before a sexual act, warning that it could undermine proposed reforms. The Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women and survivor group We Are X on Wednesday said the government’s updated stricter definitions ...
Chinese investors pulled a record US$2.91 billion out of domestic gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in June, taking profits as a stock-market surge and a strong yuan dimmed the appeal of the safe-heaven metal, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). Mainland Chinese funds were the biggest drag on Asia’s gold ETFs in June, “as local investor risk appetite continued to improve”, prompting them to...
A year since the dust settled on the Singapore general election, leadership resignations in two small opposition parties signal a period of post-poll recalibration after disappointing results. The once-promising Progress Singapore Party (PSP), led by ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) defector Tan Cheng Bock, was dealt an “existential blow” on Monday, analysts say, following the resignations of tw...
Norwegian police said on Wednesday that 28 men across seven countries had been arrested in an operation targeting buyers of material depicting sexual abuse of children. Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), said the men had used the cryptocurrency Monero to pay for access to several forums on the dark web. “We have worked closely with six countries to coordinate the arrests of...
Videos of flash-flooded rivers and overflowing pavements went viral on social media on Wednesday as residents in parts of Hong Kong grappled with more than 70 mm of rainfall in 24 hours. The intensity of the floods prompted some users online to claim a picture of the extreme was outdated or even AI-generated, only to be proved wrong when a clip was shared by another person. “I actually live in the...
Hong Kong welcomed 13 per cent more visitors in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2025, as it hosted more mega-events and the Airport Authority stepped up efforts to add destinations to boost tourism. Tourism minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui revealed on Wednesday that visitor arrivals reached about 26.71 million in the first six months of 2026, representing an annual increas...
The number of disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors at Hong Kong’s public hospitals has nearly tripled over four years, the health chief has revealed, as lawmakers called for stronger safeguards to uphold professional standards. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau told a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday that the Hospital Authority recorded 35 disciplinary cases involving i...
The number of disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors in Hong Kong’s public hospitals has nearly tripled over four years, with lawmakers calling for stronger safeguards to uphold professional standards. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau revealed on Wednesday that the Hospital Authority recorded 35 disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors for poor performance or bre...
Nato and its Indo-Pacific partners have pledged to expand cooperation in defence industry and advanced technology as the transatlantic security alliance boosts its military build-up in the face of deepening Russia-China ties. Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday met with top officials from the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) partner nations – Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea – on the sidel...
After a Chinese milk tea brand was ordered by a Suzhou court to pay Louis Vuitton 10.3 million yuan (US$1.5 million) for trademark infringement, many internet users expressed their support for the mainland company, with some claiming they have lost their positive impression of the luxury brand following the case. The news of the verdict, announced in early July, has been viewed 400 million times o...
Russian forces are trying to counter Ukrainian “mid-strike” drone attacks by camouflaging cargoes and installing powerful jamming systems to disrupt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system, Ukrainian drone commanders and pilots have said. Kyiv’s development of “mid-strike” drones that can hit targets dozens of kilometres behind front lines accurately and cheaply, and are often flown via St...
Apple lost its challenge on Wednesday against landmark EU rules that designate its app stores and operating system iOS as gatekeepers subject to obligations aimed at giving rivals more room to compete. The EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), which sets out a list of dos and don’ts for Big Tech with the threat of fines of as much as 10 per cent of a company’s global annual turnover, has triggered legal ...
A Singapore minister’s quip in parliament that top officials had no time to go to the cinema has drawn heated public discussion, with some in the local arts scene saying the comment risked downplaying the importance of the cultural sector. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo was responding to questions in parliament on Tuesday about the administration’s stance on Chinese dia...
Days before Johor state heads to the polls, gamblers on the crypto-powered betting exchange that emerged as a barometer of political sentiment during the last US election have already called it. On Polymarket, bettors have priced Barisan Nasional (BN) as an overwhelming favourite to retain control of Malaysia’s southern gateway to Singapore. As of Wednesday afternoon, the coalition stood at a 92.8...
Indonesia has become the third Southeast Asian nation – after Vietnam and the Philippines – to buy the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system jointly developed by India and Russia. Analysts say the missiles will play a vital role in protecting Indonesia’s strategic waterways from becoming collateral damage in the event of a future great-power conflict. The deal was signed on Tuesday during India...
Members of Hong Kong’s Generation Z tend to underestimate the negative impact of social media on their mental health and those who frequently use the online platforms are lonelier than those who do not, a survey has found. The Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS) polled 572 young people aged 11 to 24 between September to December last year to better understanding the relationship between their use o...
A rare mix-up involving embryo biopsy specimens at Heal Fertility, a privately-run reproduction clinic in Hong Kong linked to former financial secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung, has prompted investigations by health authorities and police The South China Morning Post looks into fertility treatments in the city and how they are regulated. 1. What is in vitro fertilisation? In vitro fertilisation (IV...
US President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran was “over”, hours after American forces launched fresh strikes on the Islamic Republic and as Beijing called for both nations to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table. “I think it’s over,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara when asked whether the ceasefire was “done”. “I don’t wan...
US President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran was “over”, delivering a blow to Tehran just hours after the US launched fresh military strikes on the Islamic Republic. “I think it’s over,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara when asked whether the ceasefire was “done”. “I don’t want to deal with them any more.” Trump dismissed further engag...
US President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran was “over”, delivering a blistering attack on Tehran just hours after the US launched fresh military strikes on the Islamic Republic. “I think it’s over,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara when asked whether the ceasefire was “done”. “I don’t want to deal with them any more.” More to follow …
As another heatwave rolled across Europe, the warehouses emptied before the politics could catch up. Air conditioners and fans sold out across Spain, Italy and Germany, most of them Chinese. Fan sales in Spain alone on the retail platform of Alibaba Group Holding (which owns the South China Morning Post) nearly doubled last month while Midea Group’s air-conditioner sales in western Europe surged b...
Hong Kong Cantopop star Keung To has been disqualified from driving for three months after he accumulated 15 demerit points for various traffic offences last year. Eastern Court on Wednesday revoked Keung’s probationary driving licence and ordered him to surrender the document within 14 days. But a lawyer representing the 27-year-old artist, who was absent from the hearing for work-related reasons...
Hong Kong’s aviation watchdog has expressed “serious concern” and demanded a report from Cathay Pacific Airways after a passenger plane bound for London lost communication with air traffic controllers over Romanian airspace, triggering an intercept by Nato fighter jets. The city’s flag carrier said on Wednesday that at no time were the aircraft or people on board in danger. Flight CX257 departed H...
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways is investigating an incident involving a London-bound plane that was intercepted by Hungarian fighter jets when it briefly lost contact over Romanian airspace and triggered a Nato alert on Saturday. The city’s flag carrier also said on Wednesday that the safety of the aircraft or people on board was not compromised at any point. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisa...
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways is investigating an incident involving a London-bound plane that was intercepted by Hungarian fighter jets when it briefly lost contact over Romanian airspace and triggered a Nato alert on Saturday. The city’s flag carrier also said on Wednesday that the safety of the aircraft or people on board was not compromised at any point. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisa...
A London-bound Cathay Pacific Airways flight failed to establish contact over Romanian airspace at one stage on Saturday, prompting Hungarian fighter jets to respond to a Nato alert and intercept the flight. Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday that the incident was under investigation. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation activated a “quick reaction alert” after the Airbus A350-1000 temporarily fai...
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) assembler BYD has set its sights on Porsche’s supercars with plans to sell its Denza-branded new models in developed markets, the latest sign of its increasing heft in designing and manufacturing premium vehicles. The Shenzhen-based carmaker planned to unveil the Denza Z sports car featuring BYD’s self-developed intelligent DiSus body control system at the UK’s Goodw...
