2 d. ago Chinese sprinter gets leading gaokao marks, earning shot at top universities

A Chinese track and field sprinter has scored a staggering 462 in the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, earning her a place in the country’s top universities. Liu Xiajun, 19, took the gaokao for the second time earlier this month after her score last summer fell short of admission to the country’s best school, Tsinghua University in Beijing. Liu, who is from the city of Ziyang in southwest China’s Sichuan province, rejected an offer from the prestigious Fudan University in Shanghai in...

Politics

5 d. ago Interstate mediation in a multipolar world: how can Hong Kong best play a role?

If there is any consistent theme at all in international relations and global affairs throughout these past years, it is that we are now living in a multipolar world. With the end of the Cold War, the world entered a period of Western dominance that is now giving way to a more complex and fragmented world order. Disputes and differences between states will only continue to proliferate, but with a multipolar world comes an increasing number of them questioning the role of international law in...

Economics

6 d. ago Pakistan’s embrace of Trump stirs India concerns of US tilt to Islamabad

Pakistan’s decision to nominate US President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize – just days after a rare White House meeting between Trump and Pakistan’s army chief – has raised concerns in India, where analysts say the move could signal Islamabad is regaining strategic favour in Washington at New Delhi’s expense. The nomination was formally filed on Saturday by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who praised Trump’s role in helping mediate a ceasefire during last month’s cross-border...

Politics

7 d. ago Alibaba Cloud to bring AI capabilities to global data centres this year

Alibaba Group Holding’s cloud computing unit is set to extend its artificial intelligence (AI) services, including its Qwen family of models, to its overseas data centres this year, according to an executive, as the company seeks to enhance its infrastructure to meet growing demand from foreign companies and domestic clients looking for global opportunities. The company, owner of the South China Morning Post, planned to offer its flagship Qwen large language models, as well as Model Studio –...

Politics

1 week ago China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin discuss Middle East situation

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have spoken by phone about the Middle East situation, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The phone conversation on Thursday afternoon came days after Israel initiated a large-scale military attack on Iran, which led to retaliation by Iran. On Tuesday, Xi called for de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict to avoid further tensions, while emphasising that Beijing was prepared to “play a constructive role” in restoring...

Politics

1 week ago China’s possible peace role, firms flock to air show: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China may offer to play ‘constructive’ role in mediating Iran-Israel conflict China is expected to play an “active” role in trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but analysts warned there may be limits to what it could achieve. 2. After tight-lipped talks in London, the US-China silence speaks volumes A week after the second round of...

Politics

1 week ago China may offer to play ‘constructive’ role in mediating Iran

China is expected to play an “active” role in trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but analysts warned there may be limits to what it could achieve. The two countries traded strikes for a fifth straight day on Tuesday, as China warned its citizens to leave both countries as “soon as possible” because of the “severe” security situation. President Xi Jinping, speaking during a visit to Kazakhstan for a summit with Central Asian countries, called on all parties to work to...

Politics

2 w. ago China’s Wang Yi decries ‘unacceptable’ Israeli attack on Iran, urges diplomacy

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Israel’s attack on Iran an “unacceptable” breach of international law and urged measures to de-escalate tensions in phone calls with his Israeli and Iranian counterparts on Saturday. He told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that China could play a “constructive role” in the peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue, saying diplomatic solutions remained viable and a peaceful resolution was still achievable, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign...

Politics

2 w. ago Beijing ready to play a 'constructive role': Chinese FM talks to Israel, Iran counterparts; affirms suppo

Beijing ready to play a 'constructive role': Chinese FM talks to Israel, Iran counterparts; affirms suppo  Times of India

Politics

2 w. ago Exclusive: French cognac makers offer China minimum import prices to fend off tariffs

Exclusive: French cognac makers offer China minimum import prices to fend off tariffs  Reuters

Economics

3 w. ago China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivize childbirth

China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivize childbirth  CNN

Politics

3 w. ago China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivise childbirth

China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivise childbirth  Reuters

Politics

3 w. ago China as a global conflict mediator: from ambition to action

China has increasingly taken on the role of conflict mediator on the world stage – hosting negotiations, proposing peace plans and even deploying personnel to oversee ceasefires. Once reluctant to engage in United Nations peacekeeping activities, it now provides more troops than any other permanent member of the Security Council. These are dramatic shifts for a country that was once a staunch advocate of non-interference. As its economic and security interests now reach far beyond its borders,...

Events

3 w. ago New PLA force university to offer training in AI, unmanned operations

A new university under the Chinese military’s mysterious Information Support Force plans to offer training in artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned operations and other key technology, according to its first public enrolment notice. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Information Support Force Engineering University in the central city of Wuhan will offer 10 undergraduate majors in information and intelligent technology, according to a Thursday report by state broadcaster CCTV. It added that...

Culture

3 w. ago China's Sichuan province to offer extended marriage and maternity leave

China's Sichuan province to offer extended marriage and maternity leave  Reuters

Politics

last month ‘Credible’ new global mediation body will draw investors to Hong Kong: Paul Chan

The new International Organisation for Mediation launched in Hong Kong will be an efficient, fair and credible mechanism for dispute resolution and attract investors from the Global South as the economy shifts towards these developing countries, the city’s finance minister has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday the inauguration of the China-led body on Friday established Hong Kong’s role as the global legal and mediation centre for the Asia-Pacific region. “An efficient,...

Economics