South China Morning Post
Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:30 +0000Trump flies to Beijing, Nvidia’s Huang joins trip at last minute
US President Donald Trump said he would urge China’s Xi Jinping to “open up” to American business, and belatedly added Nvidia’s Jensen Huang to the list of executives accompanying him on a trip to Beijing.
“I will be asking President Xi, a ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 08:40:11 +0000‘New historical juncture’: Beijing frames Trump visit as ‘milestone’ for stable ties
Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s state visit, China’s state-controlled media has framed the summit with President Xi Jinping as an opportunity to steer relations towards greater stability and mutual respect, despite grievances and tensions.
X...
Wed, 13 May 2026 08:30:08 +0000Why the world needs China to save more, not less
The G7 economists’ memo from March and the IMF’s April report on global imbalances arrived at the same prescription: China’s current account surplus is excessive and should be cut by boosting consumption.
The diagnosis is wrong. The world econo...
Wed, 13 May 2026 08:10:19 +0000Woman dies, another unconscious as taxi driven by man in 70s crashes into planter
A woman was killed and another left unconscious after a Hong Kong taxi driver in his seventies lost control of his vehicle and drove onto a pavement in Ngau Tau Kok on Wednesday, police said. The driver and his two passengers were also hurt.
Police s...
Wed, 13 May 2026 07:46:53 +0000Who could replace Starmer as UK prime minister?
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to resign after more than 80 lawmakers in his Labour Party said he was not the right person to lead the country and win the next national election. He has vowed to stay on as no formal leade...
Wed, 13 May 2026 07:30:05 +0000Chinese brands eye Europe; Geely joins Chery and BYD in profit slide: 7 EV reads
We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 07:17:20 +0000South Korea adds ‘extreme heat emergency’ to first major alert update in 18 years
For decades, the arrival of summer in South Korea was heralded by the rhythmic hum of cicadas and the predictable onset of monsoon season. But as climate change rewrites the country’s seasonal script, the government is bracing for a new reality.
On...
Wed, 13 May 2026 07:06:19 +00003 arrested after HK$11.3 million in suspected illicit proceeds and cigarettes seized
Hong Kong customs has arrested three members of a local syndicate suspected of selling illicit cigarettes and laundering money, seizing about 2.2 million untaxed products and alleged criminal proceeds of HK$11.3 million (US$1.4 million).
The Customs ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:11 +0000US and China in ‘unprecedented’ cooperation against scam centres in Dubai
The FBI and Chinese police have taken part in a joint operation targeting scam networks in Dubai, in a rare show of cooperation ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to China.
Dubai Police – which led the operation dubbed Tri-Force Sentinel ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 06:40:41 +0000Singapore’s Lawrence Wong urges global push for upholding international sea laws
Singapore will be directly hit by weakened principles in international sea laws as the city state depends on open and secure waterways to maintain its status as a trade hub, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has warned.
He urged cooperation among like-min...
Wed, 13 May 2026 06:40:15 +0000South Korea signals ‘phased’ support for US-led Hormuz mission after ship attack
South Korea was reviewing a phased contribution to efforts to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Wednesday, signalling support steps short of military participation.
Ahn told a press conference ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 06:28:51 +0000Philippines’ Asean maritime hub pitch meets ‘big red elephant’ South China Sea realities
A proposal unveiled by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr for a new Southeast Asian maritime centre has raised questions about its most glaring obstacle: Manila’s long-standing South China Sea dispute with Beijing.
Analysts warn such a centr...
Wed, 13 May 2026 06:07:12 +0000Delivery pains hamper Bangladesh’s family planning efforts
Bangladesh’s once-praised family planning system is buckling under severe contraceptive shortages, raising fears of a rise in unplanned pregnancies in one of the world’s most densely populated countries.
For decades, the South Asian nation was ha...
Wed, 13 May 2026 06:00:09 +0000China sends embryos into orbit to find out if humans can have babies in space
China has sent artificial embryos to its space station to study whether humans could reproduce in zero gravity.
The experiment was reported on Tuesday by state broadcaster CCTV.
Project leader Yu Leqian said the main goal was to study the impact of g...
Wed, 13 May 2026 06:00:06 +0000China farmer suffers stroke while selling 4,000kg of apples; hospital staff clear stock in 19 hours
Two small counties in China have put in place reciprocal arrangements for their residents to visit tourist spots following a moving story involving people in one place buying the apples of a sick farmer from the other.
The story began on May 2 when J...
Wed, 13 May 2026 05:51:21 +0000French president’s onstage outburst in Kenya overshadows Africa bid
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing backlash after he interrupted a panel at the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya to demand silence from the audience.
Macron stormed the stage to rebuke audience members for what he called a “total lack of resp...
Wed, 13 May 2026 05:33:13 +0000Guy Bradley takes helm as Cathay chairman, Patrick Healy retires after 3 decades
Guy Bradley has assumed the role of chairman of Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and Swire Coca-Cola, succeeding Patrick Healy, who will retire from the group after more than three decades of service.
Bradley, 60, is also chairman of Swi...
Wed, 13 May 2026 05:11:43 +0000Headwinds ahead for India’s travel sector after Modi calls for foreign holiday restraint
India’s travel industry fears that an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid unnecessary foreign travel will squeeze new bookings after inflationary pressure knocked down summer overseas inquiries by as much as 15 per cent, industry and an...
Wed, 13 May 2026 04:57:05 +0000Canvas reaches deal with hackers to return data, including Hong Kong users
Canvas, the education platform hit by a global data breach affecting 72,571 Hongkongers, has reached an agreement with the hackers to return all compromised data.
Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, has said it would hold a webinar for its lea...
Wed, 13 May 2026 04:48:40 +0000Argentine city tries to shrug off hantavirus ship ‘patient zero’ suspicions
Argentina’s city “at the end of the world” Ushuaia, the jump-off point for expeditions to the Antarctic, has been labouring under suspicion of being the source of the deadly hantavirus outbreak that killed three cruise ship passengers.
The MV H...
Wed, 13 May 2026 04:30:25 +0000Who is Abdul Halim Aman, Malaysia’s new anti-corruption enforcer?
Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency got a new chief on Wednesday with the arrival of Abdul Halim Aman, a former High Court judge handed the task of steadying an institution that has spent years chasing political heavyweights while struggling to shake...
Wed, 13 May 2026 04:23:56 +0000‘Heavy’ hearts as residents of Wang Fuk Court’s only spared block return again
Residents of the only block left largely unscathed in Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire have brought large suitcases, trolleys and cardboard boxes as they return home for a second time to collect their belongings.
Homeowners on Wednesday also said they felt ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:05 +0000Chinese company that tracked US bombers over Iran wears sanctions with pride
Chinese satellite imagery firm MizarVision, which rose to fame with its analysis of American military deployments in the US-Israel war on Iran, is treating its addition to the US sanctions list as a badge of honour in its hiring campaign.
The open-so...
Wed, 13 May 2026 03:53:33 +0000Hong Kong halves tunnel tolls for commercial vehicles amid surging fuel prices
Hong Kong will halve tolls for all commercial vehicles using public tunnels for two months from Sunday, in the government’s latest effort to ease business costs amid surging fuel prices driven by the war in the Middle East.
Buses, goods vehicles, l...
Wed, 13 May 2026 03:45:16 +0000Cosmic order, political authority: the messaging in temple setting for Trump’s China visit
From Obama’s evening chats on Yingtai island in the grounds of Zhongnanhai to Trump’s tea reception in the Forbidden City, historic settings have long formed a symbolic backdrop to key moments in US-China diplomacy.
As Trump prepares for his visi...
Wed, 13 May 2026 03:38:22 +0000Israel strikes Lebanon as 380 reported killed since April 17 ceasefire
Israel hammered south Lebanon with strikes on Tuesday ahead of talks between the two countries in Washington, as Beirut reported 380 people killed in Israeli attacks since an April 17 ceasefire took effect.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem vowed to turn t...
Wed, 13 May 2026 03:34:15 +0000China-US trade talks kick off in Seoul ahead of high-profile leaders’ summit
Senior officials from China and the United States have started a new round of trade talks in Seoul, South Korea, hours ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled arrival in Beijing.
The delegations – led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 03:04:35 +0000Vietnam asks US to allow ‘extremely important’ oil tanker to slip past Hormuz blockade
Vietnam’s state oil company urged the US to let a supertanker pass through an American naval blockade outside the Persian Gulf, saying the shipment is critical to the Asian country’s economy.
The very large crude carrier Agios Fanourios I, manage...
Wed, 13 May 2026 03:04:01 +0000What Hong Kong’s planned ride-hailing regime could mean for your next Uber trip
Hong Kong authorities have finally begun laying out details on how they plan to regulate ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Tada and Didi Chuxing, months after lawmakers passed the city’s first legal framework for the sector in October.
Officials...
Wed, 13 May 2026 03:00:11 +0000Japan’s Takaichi backs aide over smear claims against LDP rivals
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appears to have sidestepped a potentially embarrassing political landmine by publicly backing a close aide accused in media reports of running a smear campaign against her rivals, while stopping short of flatly...
Wed, 13 May 2026 02:06:44 +0000Nvidia’s Jensen Huang joins Trump’s trip to China at last minute
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has joined US President Donald Trump on his trip to China this week – boarding Air Force One during a stop en route to Beijing – with Trump dismissing earlier reports that the tech leader had been snubbed as “incorrect...
Wed, 13 May 2026 02:00:05 +0000How ByteDance plans to turn OpenClaw craze into a profitable AI business
ByteDance’s Volcano Engine, the cloud unit that released an OpenClaw-based cloud agent tool ArkClaw, is betting that the next phase of artificial intelligence will hinge on cheaper tokens, higher inference efficiency and longer context windows.
“...
Wed, 13 May 2026 01:30:13 +0000Hong Kong-listed biotech firm uses AI to produce nano-rockets to deliver life-saving drugs
Shares of METiS TechBio surged 173 per cent on their Hong Kong debut on Wednesday as the AI-driven drug design start-up’s initial public offering drew strong demand from investors amid buoyant sentiment for AI-related stocks in the city.
Its stocks...
Wed, 13 May 2026 01:30:10 +0000Singaporeans refute lack of hunger stereotype, warn of ‘self-fulfilling bias’ over jobs
Azizul Kamal has spent a decade building his legal career in Singapore, but half of the time, he was hopping from one contract role to another in the industry.
“Every company seems to only want to hire contractors, because we’re cheaper for balan...
Wed, 13 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000US’ scientific self-harm will only help China
After the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, which almost doubled the size of the United States’ territory, US president Thomas Jefferson commissioned the legendary Lewis and Clark expedition, which surveyed new routes from the Missouri river ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 01:17:06 +0000Thailand to review visa rules after spate of tourist crimes trigger public anger
Thailand is poised to overhaul its liberal visa rules as the government ramps up a crackdown on foreigners who illegally run businesses or commit transnational crimes.
Possible measures include reducing the 60-day visa-free stay for tourists to 30 da...
Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:20 +0000Privacy screens and police dogs: how Beijing is preparing for Trump’s visit
Beijing intensified security and prepared key venues on Tuesday as the Chinese capital awaited the arrival of US President Donald Trump and his high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
Trump is expected to stay at the five...
Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:14 +0000How Australia’s mining giants are helping China to globalise the yuan
Australia’s mining giants are aiding China’s push to internationalise its currency and reduce the dominance of the US dollar, as they gradually shift towards using the yuan for financing and settlements, analysts said.
China has been using its he...
Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:11 +0000China actor who stopped growing at 9 faces mockery over wedding photos called ‘mother and son’
An actor in China nicknamed the “ageless man” because of a childhood condition which halted his growth has silenced detractors with his nuanced performances.
According to Beiqing.com, Hou Xiang, 40, from Beijing, was born prematurely after his mo...
Wed, 13 May 2026 00:36:18 +0000Hong Kong teens dive deep to safeguard global shipping lanes
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A group of Grade 8 students from Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) has made waves on the global innovation stage, returning from the Conrad Challenge Global ...
Wed, 13 May 2026 00:30:05 +0000Hong Kong to launch public consultation on 5-year blueprint ‘by early June’
Hong Kong is expected to launch a public consultation in early June for its inaugural five-year plan to align with the national blueprint, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set to present a preliminary framework and gather feedback from various i...
Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:09 +0000Southeast Asia warned of ‘Godzilla El Nino’ whiplash threatening drought, floods, haze
Southeast Asia must brace itself for a punishing spell of climate whiplash, with an expected El Nino threatening drought-like conditions, flash floods, crop losses and haze across the region, experts have warned.
The threat is also landing at a fragi...
Tue, 12 May 2026 23:38:02 +0000Malaysia’s Jho Low seeking Trump pardon for 1MDB fraud
Jho Low, the fugitive Malaysian financier accused by the United States of being the mastermind of one of the largest financial frauds in history, has asked US President Donald Trump for a pardon.
Low, who was charged in 2018 but has evaded arrest, su...
Tue, 12 May 2026 23:22:51 +0000US confirms delegation to Apec meeting in China, hours after Trump sets off for Beijing
The United States announced on Tuesday that it would send a delegation to the second Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) 2026 Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2) and related meetings in China this month, just hours after US President Donald Trump...
Tue, 12 May 2026 23:00:08 +0000Takeover of Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy’s Central club postponed by 2 months
The takeover of a prime venue at an exclusive Hong Kong sports club in Central has been postponed following opposition from some members, who have also called on management to scrap the plan entirely, the South China Morning Post has learned.
A sourc...
Tue, 12 May 2026 22:46:22 +0000FBI Director Kash Patel denies drinking allegations in testy Senate hearing
FBI Director Kash Patel angrily lashed out at a Democratic lawmaker at a budget hearing Tuesday, calling allegations that he drinks excessively on the job and has been unreachable to his staff at times “unequivocally, categorically false”.
“I w...
Tue, 12 May 2026 22:00:13 +0000After nearly 9 years, Trump is landing in a totally different China. Is he ready?
US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the US-Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In this story, part of a series examining how rivalry, interd...
Tue, 12 May 2026 21:30:05 +0000Trump’s ‘art of the deal’ playbook is failing as Beijing asserts itself
Against the backdrop of a shifting diplomatic landscape, US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing this week for a high-stakes summit. While Washington frames the visit, delayed by the war in Iran, as a pivotal effort to rebalance ties, t...
Tue, 12 May 2026 21:21:47 +0000French hantavirus patient ‘critical on artificial lung’ as ship cases grow
A French woman infected in the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship is critically ill and being treated with an artificial lung, a doctor at the Paris hospital caring for the sickened passenger said on Tuesday.
The outbreak has now reached 11 ...
Tue, 12 May 2026 20:54:22 +0000US defence secretary joins Trump on China trip in rare diplomatic move
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has become the first American defence chief in decades to accompany a sitting president on a state visit to China, in a rare departure from long-established diplomatic practice.
Hegseth boarded Air Force One bound fo...