South China Morning Post

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:00:42 +0000
Could China’s ion implanter ‘scalpel’ carve out secure hi-tech chip supply chains?
Chinese nuclear scientists have developed a world-class “microscopic scalpel” essential to various forms of chipmaking, potentially unblocking a bottleneck in the country’s efforts to fortify key supply chains. The China Institute of Atomic Ene...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:00:32 +0000
China Manchu ethnic group childbirth tradition hangs bow and arrow for boys, red strip for girls
China’s Manchu people have quirky child-rearing traditions known as Luocao and Caisheng which include hanging a wooden bow outside the front door when a boy is born, or a red cloth strip for a girl. The Manchu ethnic group, historically known for f...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:24:24 +0000
Indonesia finds 1 body, wreckage from missing surveillance plane
Indonesian authorities said on Sunday they had located the wreckage of a fisheries surveillance plane that went missing in South Sulawesi province on the slope of a fog-covered mountain, and had recovered the body of one of the 10 people on board. Th...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:21:31 +0000
Paralysed Hong Kong dancer Mo Li set to undergo ‘intense’ cutting-edge treatment
A Hong Kong dancer paralysed from the neck down in an accident during a concert by popular local boy band Mirror is set to undergo a more intense rehabilitation programme, his father has revealed, calling for more financial support. Mo Li Ka-yin, 31,...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:05:22 +0000
Hong Kong driver avoids injury after drone crashes onto Tesla roof
Hong Kong police are investigating after a drone fell out of the sky and damaged a car in Jordan. The force said it received a report from the owner of the Tesla at around 11.52am on Sunday. The driver said he was waiting at traffic lights along Cox...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:30:13 +0000
US’ Venezuela raid shows geopolitics is now a contest between economic blocs
The latest developments in Venezuela are interpreted as part of a broader US strategy to secure access to major oil resources. They are much more than that: the US raid signals a transformation in the global economy wherein a country’s power is inc...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:13:33 +0000
Hong Kong hiker, 63, dies after collapsing on Robin’s Nest trail
A 63-year-old Hong Kong man has died after collapsing during a hike on Robin’s Nest Country Trail near the border with mainland China. Police received a call at 12.42pm on Sunday from a female hiker who said her male friend had collapsed and lost c...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:39 +0000
Hong Kong to enforce new seat belt rules on January 25: what you need to know
In just over a week, passengers on various modes of public and private transport in Hong Kong will be required to wear seat belts as part of new rules to enhance safety through stricter penalties for motorists and commuters. The Post looks at the new...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:25 +0000
How can China help Uruguay battle beetles threatening to invade South America?
A tiny but destructive invader is threatening South America, and Uruguay’s iconic palm trees are on the front line. Since 2022, the National Emergency System in coordination with agricultural agencies and with operational support from the air force...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:18 +0000
China office workers run to bond with peers, clients, pressured to meet speed expectations
Chinese office workers are literally switching to working on the run as the building of bonds with customers and colleagues becomes increasingly trendy. On mainland social media, increasing numbers of people say running has become their company’s w...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 07:38:19 +0000
Seoul takes aim at North Korea’s leadership bunkers with ‘monster missile’ Hyunmoo-5
South Korea has begun deploying its most powerful conventional ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5 – dubbed the “monster missile” for its massive warhead – to frontline units, military officials said on Sunday, a move that underscores Seoul’s ...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 07:21:55 +0000
Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition debate draws comparisons with Westminster system
A peculiar gridlock has settled on Singapore’s political scene with the position of Leader of the Opposition (LO) vacant after Pritam Singh was removed from the post by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, with public discourse now centred on the constitu...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 07:02:13 +0000
Exhibition on Hong Kong crime films at old Yau Ma Tei police station remains hot ticket
An exhibition on classic Hong Kong crime films at the former Yau Ma Tei police station has attracted higher-than-expected demand, with the show’s project supervisor saying she hopes visitors will go beyond taking selfies to learn more about the loc...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 07:00:14 +0000
Chinese electric vehicle makers set to ‘crack open’ Western markets as trade barriers fall
This year is likely to be a watershed one for the global drive by Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, as more Western countries open up their markets to high-performance made-in-China models. Despite low expectations for a hefty jump in overseas sa...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:27:54 +0000
Last unregistered student union at Chinese University of Hong Kong disbands
The last unregistered student union at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has dissolved after all committee members resigned, reducing the number of such bodies from nine to two. The demise of Chung Chi College’s student union followed a me...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:18:51 +0000
Hong Kong cyclist, 55, killed after being hit by van in Sheung Shui, driver arrested
A female cyclist died after being struck by a van in Hong Kong’s North district on Sunday. The driver of the vehicle was later arrested. Police said they received a report about the collision at the junction of Ma Sik Road and Tin Ping Road, at 8.4...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:00:17 +0000
Tencent seeks collaboration with other major AI developers to improve tech for vulnerable users
Researchers at Tencent Holdings are looking to collaborate with other major artificial intelligence developers to improve how most generative AI services, such as chatbots, interact with the elderly, left-behind children and other vulnerable users in...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:00:13 +0000
China actress loses brand partners for saying ‘hundreds of thousands’ a month is not enough
A Chinese actress has apologised for making comments in which she flaunted her wealth, sparking a public backlash. Yan Xuejing made the controversial comments during a live-streaming session at the end of December when she said a couple should earn a...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 05:30:10 +0000
Feathered fortunes: inside Asia’s richest pigeon race
Somewhere on the cavernous loft floor, cooing softly from inside a stack of crates, a feathered fortune waits for its moment to shine. It’s “basketing day” for Asia’s richest pigeon race, held in Pattaya, eastern Thailand. In 24 hours’ time...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 05:22:53 +0000
PLA sends drone into airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island in South China Sea
The People’s Liberation Army said it sent a drone into airspace near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Island on Saturday, as Beijing ramps up military pressure amid soaring cross-strait tensions. The deployment was “a routine flight training in the a...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 05:15:08 +0000
Smart money: how Hong Kong charity makes finance lessons fun for pupils
How do you get youngsters interested in lessons about saving, budgeting and investing? Definitely not with lectures, said the founders of Talents Foundation, a Hong Kong charity that aims to teach young people how to manage their finances and achieve...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 05:00:16 +0000
As Trump’s threat grows, Greenlanders plot exit plan: ‘I’m thinking about where to hide’
Ulrikke Andersen has already made a plan. If the United States invades Greenland, she will flee her home with her daughter. “Before, I was ready to die for my country but when I had a kid that changed everything,” she said. The 40-year-old is one...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 04:24:44 +0000
Hong Kong steps up bid to become global gold trading hub with Shanghai agreement
Hong Kong will sign an accord with Shanghai next week to establish a cross-border gold trade clearing system, a move the finance chief has said will bolster the city’s push to become an international trading hub for the precious metal. Financial Se...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 04:00:14 +0000
Could flying wind farms be the future of energy generation in China?
A giant airship launched in a densely populated area of southwestern China earlier this month has set social media on fire. Footage of the S2000, the world’s most powerful flying wind farm, in the skies above Yibin, Sichuan province, prompted compa...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 04:00:11 +0000
‘False pride’: Indonesia’s UN rights role clashes with its domestic record
Indonesia begins its tenure as president of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) this month under a cloud of contradiction, with officials hailing the prestige of the largely ceremonial role even as activists raise uncomfortable questions about the co...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:38:43 +0000
Missing Malaysian actress Nadia Kesuma dies of heart attack in Saudi Arabia
Malaysian actress Nadia Kesuma, who went missing upon arrival at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, was confirmed to have died of a heart attack. The news was announced by her daughter via social media, according to Astro Awani. “Assa...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:30:16 +0000
US blows past another deadline to field its first hypersonic missile
The army has once again missed its own deadline for fielding the first US hypersonic weapon, in a sign that one of the Pentagon’s top priorities is still running late. The unit responsible for using the advanced weapon is trained and ready, but the...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:00:10 +0000
Hotel conversions gain traction in China’s office market amid high vacancies
More economy and mid-range hotel operators in China are leasing office buildings for conversion to guest accommodation, and such flexible, mixed-use approaches are expected to increase amid a continued weakening of the office market. In some Chinese ...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 02:30:13 +0000
Mainland Chinese buyers pour US$2 billion into Hong Kong super-luxury homes
After several subdued years, 2025 marked a turning point for demand in Hong Kong’s most prestigious housing enclaves, as mainland buyers streamed back into scarce ultra-luxury homes once prices stabilised and transaction momentum rolled into the ne...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 02:03:20 +0000
Trump’s Greenland bid might force EU to stop placating him and fight back
US President Donald Trump’s fixation on Greenland offers an ice-cold reminder to leaders in Europe and abroad: no deal is ever final. Trump announced a 10 per cent tariff, rising to 25 per cent in June, on eight European nations, including Denmark,...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 02:00:13 +0000
Did China, Russia, Iran joint naval drills in South Africa signal a Brics shift?
Last week’s naval drills involving China, Russia, Iran and host country South Africa signalled a shift for Brics beyond its traditional focus on economic cooperation, analysts said, as the US noted it had closely monitored the exercise. However, ob...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:30:15 +0000
Hong Kong authorities to review medium of instruction in schools after major study
Hong Kong education authorities will review the policy on the medium of instruction in public secondary schools for the 2028-34 cycle after looking at the results of a three-year evaluation study and consulting the sector, the Post has learned. The r...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:30:13 +0000
Viral bullying clips, mass murder threat sound alarm in Japan over school violence
Recent viral clips in Japan of bullying, including one which later led to a mass murder revenge threat, have sparked concerns in the country about school violence. The latest case centres on an email message sent to the board of education in Oita cit...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:30:10 +0000
This year, Hong Kong must resolve to rewrite the script for retirement
Looking back at 2025, the city made meaningful strides in supporting its retirees. The government expanded the Elderly Health Care Voucher and Community Care Service Voucher schemes, and invested HK$2 billion (US$256.47 million) in an elderly and reh...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000
How Chinese ritual uses unboiled egg balancing on mirror or knife to detect spirit possession
Traditional Chinese folk superstition sees some families seek help from “egg-standing exorcists” who try to balance raw eggs on mirrors or kitchen knives to detect spirit possession. If the egg manages to stand upright, legend has it that a wande...

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:12 +0000
Impulse control: Malaysia’s social media ban targets teen minds
Eric Wong is only 20, but his life online is so consuming that he struggles to draw a line between his digital presence and the physical world. A member of Malaysia’s Gen Z – those aged 13 to 29 this year – Wong belongs to the first generation ...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 23:45:11 +0000
Trump wants nations to pay US$1 billion to stay on his Board of Peace
The Trump administration is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least US$1 billion. According to a draft charter for the proposed group seen by Bloomberg, US President Donald Trump would serve as its...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 22:00:16 +0000
China’s cosmetics brands, stepping out of K-beauty’s shadow, set sights on global markets
Like many of her classmates, Xie Roumei, a 28-year-old accountant from China’s Fujian province, started using South Korean cosmetics in high school – a preference she carried into her twenties. Most of the eye make-up and beauty products she uses...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 21:48:45 +0000
US strike in Syria kills leader tied to Isis ambush that left 3 Americans dead
A third round of retaliatory strikes by the US in Syria resulted in the death of an al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, who officials say had a direct tie to the Islamic State member responsible for last month’s ambush that killed two US soldiers and one A...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 21:30:10 +0000
Europe’s tech strength lies in deployment, not rivalry
Europe’s debate over its technological future is both timely and necessary. The centre of gravity for platform technologies, advanced semiconductors, hyperscale cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) has undeniably shifted towards th...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 18:05:11 +0000
Israel objects to composition of Trump-led Gaza ‘board of peace’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on ‍Saturday that this week’s Trump administration announcement on the composition of a Gaza executive board was not coordinated with Israel and ran counter to ⁠government policy. It said Foreig...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:39:58 +0000
Trump hits Denmark and 7 other Nato allies with tariffs for opposing US on Greenland
Opening a new front in his worldwide tariff onslaught, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would impose a 10 per cent import tax on the United Kingdom and six European countries for opposing his plan to purchase Greenland and that the rate ...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:48:56 +0000
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni wins seventh term in election marred by fraud claims
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won his seventh term with 71.65 per cent of votes, according to official results Saturday, in an election marred by an internet shutdown and fraud claims by his youthful challenger, who rejected the outcome and calle...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:21:31 +0000
2 Hong Kong pupils take top prizes in first global youth storytelling competition
Two Hong Kong students secured championship titles on Saturday in the first storytelling competition for global youth, delivering impassioned speeches on education and AI before an audience of about 100 people. Vanessa Jane Wong, a Form Four pupil fr...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:12:41 +0000
Indonesian plane with 11 people missing, search and rescue under way
A regional passenger aircraft carrying 11 people lost contact with ground control on Saturday while approaching a mountainous region between Indonesia’s main island of Java and Sulawesi island, officials said. A search and rescue operation is under...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:09:18 +0000
Beijing slams US senators for ‘malicious’ bill targeting Hong Kong trade offices
Beijing’s foreign affairs arm in Hong Kong has “strongly condemned” a group of US senators for pushing what it calls “malicious legislation” that seeks to strip the city’s trade offices in the United States of their special privileges and...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:39:46 +0000
Before Maduro’s capture in Venezuela, US spoke with minister who is his loyal ally
Trump administration officials had been in discussions with Venezuela’s hardline Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello months before the US operation to seize the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, and have been in communication ‌with him since the...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000
How US actions in Venezuela and beyond could spell opportunity for China
America’s military action in Venezuela and President Donald Trump’s talk of owning Greenland are stoking concerns that the United States is dismantling the rules-based global order. But this could also be a diplomatic opening for China as it trie...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 13:59:31 +0000
Hong Kong flags 1,600 at-risk elderly households, but experts say figure tip of iceberg
Hong Kong authorities have identified 1,600 at-risk elderly households in public housing, but analysts have said the figure fails to reflect the scale of this group of vulnerable residents and urged the government to speed up search efforts. Secretar...

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 13:09:06 +0000
Thousands in Denmark join anti-Trump ‘Hands off Greenland’ protests
Thousands of people took to the streets of Denmark’s capital on Saturday to protest at US President Donald Trump’s push to take over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. The protest followed Trump’s warning on Friday that he “may put a ...

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