7 d. ago Russia, Iran and China join naval drill in South Africa, as tensions with US rise: 'A pawn in the power games'

Russia, Iran and China join naval drill in South Africa, as tensions with US rise: 'A pawn in the power games'  New York Post

Events

2 w. ago Cable fire cuts power to tens of thousands of Berlin homes and businesses

Tens of thousands of homes in Berlin will be without electricity until Thursday as authorities struggle to repair power cables seriously damaged in a suspected arson attack, officials said. Some may also be without heating as the outage has affected local systems, at a time when the German capital is blanketed in snow and temperatures are hovering around freezing. Emergency services were alerted early Saturday that several high-voltage cables on a bridge near a power plant had gone up in...

Events

2 w. ago China’s Gen Z consumers drive rise in homestay bookings to ring in the new year

More young Chinese consumers are opting for bed-and-breakfast stays at private villas to ring in the New Year, drawn to the larger space, set-up options and enhanced privacy offered by these properties, leading to a fresh round of competition for hoteliers. That has prompted B&B operators to step up efforts in creating distinct ritualistic experiences – such as group countdown events, fireworks displays and complimentary bottles of wine – to attract more guests while standing out in a crowded...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong primary home sales poised for decade high in 2026 as small flats energise market

Hong Kong’s primary residential home sales in 2026 are forecast to again reach decade-high numbers, as developers continue to clear inventory and homebuyers focus more on small, low-cost flats. Transactions next year were projected to reach about 21,000, while total home sales were expected to climb to around 71,000, up 8 per cent from this year’s forecast, according to Midland Realty. A total of 26,479 new flats were expected to be rolled out next year, spread across Kai Tak, the North...

Economics

3 w. ago Pentagon warns China military buildup puts US homeland at growing risk

Pentagon warns China military buildup puts US homeland at growing risk  Fox Business

Events

3 w. ago Deceiving US experts; proving Einstein wrong: 10 China science breakthroughs in 2025

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China science stories of the year. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China unveils a powerful deep-sea cable cutter that could reset the world order A compact, deep-sea, cable-cutting device, capable of severing the world’s most fortified underwater communication or power lines, has been unveiled by China – and it could shake up global maritime power dynamics. 2. China tests non-nuclear hydrogen bomb, science paper...

Politics

3 w. ago Swire Properties sells 2 Deep Water Bay homes for US$283 million in biggest deal in years

Activity in Hong Kong’s ultra-luxury residential market is picking up, with Swire Properties selling two homes in Deep Water Bay for a whopping HK$2.2 billion (US$283 million). The two three-storey units at 6 Deep Water Bay Road had saleable areas of about 9,600 sq ft and 5,300 sq ft, with the transactions set to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, the developer said. Both units were acquired by the same buyer. On a per square foot basis, the deal works out to HK$147,010, “one of the...

Economics