20 h. ago 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 then, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The officials warned Cabello, 62, against using the security services or militant ruling-party supporters overseen by him to target the country’s opposition, four sources said. That security...

Politics

51 h. ago China warns of ‘honey trap’ risks in defence sector after official jailed for espionage

Chinese state security authorities recently warned of “honey trap” risks in the defence and technology sectors, citing a case in which a public official was blackmailed into surrendering state secrets following a trip abroad. A social media account affiliated with the National Administration of State Secrets Protection published an article on Wednesday stating that personnel in the military industry were becoming targets of honey traps by foreign intelligence agencies and provided details of a...

Events

51 h. ago China warns of ‘honey trap’ risks after defence official jailed for espionage

China warns of ‘honey trap’ risks after defence official jailed for espionage  South China Morning Post

Events

67 h. ago Gov. Whitmer warns China poses threat to Michigan auto industry

Gov. Whitmer warns China poses threat to Michigan auto industry  MLive.com

Events

69 h. ago The dragon in the grid: Limiting China’s influence in Europe’s energy system

The dragon in the grid: Limiting China’s influence in Europe’s energy system  European Union Institute for Security Studies |

Science

8 d. ago China cautions against ‘compound errors’ from clashing policies

A mouthpiece for China’s ruling Communist Party has warned against conflicting economic measures, urging officials to better guide market expectations in a front-page commentary highlighting Beijing’s growing focus on policy coordination. “The more policies there are, the greater the risk they will be working at odds,” the People’s Daily editorial said on Friday, pointing to China’s increasingly complex economic environment, “with more and more policy dilemmas emerging and greater demands on...

Events

9 d. ago Texas officials warn of mystery seed packages from China arriving in mail

Texas officials warn of mystery seed packages from China arriving in mail  Tyler Morning Telegraph

Events

1 week ago Officials warn after more than 1,100 mystery seed packages arrive from China

Officials warn after more than 1,100 mystery seed packages arrive from China  NBC New York

Events

1 week ago Will Donald Trump’s threats to Greenland help bring China and Europe closer together?

Donald Trump’s renewed threats to take over Greenland could pose a direct challenge to China’s ambitions in the Arctic, but some observers say it may also open the door to increased cooperation with Europe. Following the abduction of Venezuela’s former leader Nicolas Maduro, the White House swiftly turned its attention towards the self-governing Danish territory, adding that “of course, utilising the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal”. On Sunday, the US...

Politics

1 week ago Texas officials sound warning over mystery seed packages arriving from China by mail

Texas officials sound warning over mystery seed packages arriving from China by mail  Dallas News

Events

1 week ago China’s semiconductor push poses dire threat to US military, expert says

China’s semiconductor push poses dire threat to US military, expert says  Fox Business

Events

1 week ago It’s HAL out there: Tencent AI chatbot tells user to ‘get lost’ in rare angry outburst

Chinese social media and gaming giant Tencent Holdings apologised after its artificial intelligence chatbot Yuanbao was accused of “verbally insulting” a user, fuelling online debate about the risks posed by fast-evolving generative AI tools. Yuanbao is among China’s most popular AI chatbots. Embedded in Tencent’s WeChat and used by tens of millions of people each day, there have been no previous reports of the assistant generating insulting replies in user conversations. The complaint surfaced...

Politics

2 w. ago Video of Chinese uncle joining dancers on walkway with funny pose gains 10 million views

A middle-aged man in eastern China stole the spotlight on a moving airport walkway by joining a group of dancers and striking a funny pose that left netizens in stitches. Recently, several dancers from Yunnan province in southwestern China filmed a video at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Positioned on the automated walkway, they sequentially struck classic poses from Dunhuang dance, one of China’s traditional dance styles. Known for its intricate hand gestures, flowing movements and...

Economics

2 w. ago New Hong Kong lawmaker Julia Lau vows to strengthen risk oversight after Tai Po fire

Strengthening risk oversight in major maintenance projects in the wake of the deadly Tai Po fire is a top priority for Hong Kong lawmaker Julia Lau Man-kwan, who represents the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape sector. In an interview with the Post, Lau, who is also president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, pledged to ensure proper use of public funds in government works amid a deficit, and to remove development barriers to boost tourism in rural areas under the Northern...

Events

2 w. ago Why Filipinos risk injury and death to ring in the new year with dangerous fireworks

As the Philippines counts down to the new year, authorities are bracing themselves for another familiar increase in injuries and deaths linked to fireworks, despite decades of regulation, annual warnings and stepped-up police raids. Health officials say dozens of people have already been hurt in the run-up to December 31, with more casualties expected as Filipinos usher in the new year with explosive celebrations that light up streets, backyards and skylines across the country. The Department of...

Events

2 w. ago Nepal probes illegal matchmaking as China cautions citizens over ‘bride buying’

Nepal is stepping up scrutiny of illegal cross-border matchmaking after authorities uncovered cases in which brokers and online intermediaries were marketing Nepali women as prospective brides for Chinese nationals, prompting increased enforcement and official warnings. The Chinese Embassy in Nepal issued a New Year’s travel advisory cautioning its citizens against what it described as “bride buying” in the country, urging them not to trust matchmaking agencies and brokers blindly and stressing...

Events

3 w. ago Hong Kong records 10% rise in festive period visitors as outbound trips surge 22%

Hong Kong received 10 per cent more visitors during the Christmas period compared with last year, while Hongkongers made almost 1.7 million outbound trips, up 22 per cent over the same period, according to official statistics. However, the retail sector warned that the absence of New Year fireworks could affect the number of visitors in the coming days, further dampening local consumption sentiment following the deadly fire in Tai Po. “Because of the Tai Po fire, consumer sentiment weakened over...

Politics

3 w. ago How Trump ‘stunned’ China; why Western hegemony has ended: 12 key interviews from 2025

Catch up on some 2025 entries in Open Questions, SCMP’s series of in-depth interviews with global opinion leaders. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended American economist sees China as key to the global energy transition to zero-carbon energy, especially in markets outside US and Europe. 2. Ex-diplomat Kerry Brown on how Trump ‘stunned’ China with his ‘lack of caution’ King’s College, London...

Politics

3 w. ago China strongly warned Japan not to send official to Taiwan in 1994: archive

China strongly warned Japan not to send official to Taiwan in 1994: archive  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Events

4 w. ago Why India to Europe trade corridor is stalling even as talks continue

Discussions on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) are being revived by some of its founders even as questions persist over the political will to implement the ambitious project, with analysts saying the Gaza situation is a key hurdle in hampering progress. Unveiled in 2023, IMEC is positioned as a single economic artery connecting South Asia, the Middle East and Europe through shipping lanes, railways, energy pipelines and high-speed data cables running via the Gulf. Planners...

Politics