4 d. ago Why Silicon Valley signing up to nationalism puts Asia on edge

A day before the controversial military parade in Washington celebrating the US Army’s 250th anniversary (which, coincidentally, fell on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday), a more discreet yet significant event took place. On June 13, the US Army swore four C-suite technologists into its reserve ranks with the launch of Detachment 201, its executive innovation corps. The newly commissioned lieutenant colonels are Shyam Sankar, Palantir Technologies’ chief technology officer; Andrew...

Politics

1 week ago China to mark 80th WWII anniversary with military parade in September

China will stage a military parade to commemorate the end of World War II – the second time it has held the event – as conflicts rage around the world, including the latest between Iran and Israel. It will be held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3, a decade after the People’s Liberation Army first staged a Victory Day parade. It is part of a ceremony marking 80 years since China defeated Japan and the global victory against fascism, Hu Heping, deputy head of the Communist Party’s...

Events

2 w. ago PLA jets training for Victory Day parade, Chinese social media videos suggest

Videos circulating on Chinese social media that appear to show rehearsals for a major military parade are providing an early glimpse of the scale and symbolism expected when China marks the 80th anniversary of its Victory Day in September. On Wednesday, a clip posted to the Instagram-like platform RedNote – also known as Xiaohongshu – showed at least 45 People’s Liberation Army helicopters flying in formation. The aircraft formed ceremonial patterns, including a heart, the numbers “8” and “0”,...

Politics

2 w. ago China’s Victory Day rehearsal leaks show stealth jets, massive air formations

Videos circulating on Chinese social media that appear to show rehearsals for a major military parade are providing an early glimpse of the scale and symbolism expected when China marks the 80th anniversary of its Victory Day in September. On Wednesday, a clip posted to the Instagram-like platform RedNote – also known as Xiaohongshu – showed at least 45 People’s Liberation Army helicopters flying in formation. The aircraft formed ceremonial patterns, including a heart, the numbers “8” and “0”,...

Events

2 w. ago ‘Uncertain future’ for US, Hong Kong MTR’s allure: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Setting sun’: on Trump’s parade day, Chinese media see a US in decline 2. Why are mainland Chinese tourists posing in front of MTR stations in Hong Kong? 3. China’s extreme heat shield breaks thermal limit on hypersonic flight 4. After the ceasefire, leaders of India and Pakistan seek cover...

Politics

3 w. ago Chinese media contrasts US pageantry and violence on Trump’s parade day

Donald Trump’s first large-scale military parade in decades has prompted Chinese commentators to compare and mock the contrast between the US president’s pageantry and the nationwide unrest sparked by his immigration policies. The festivities in Washington on Saturday occurred on a day marked by protests around the nation that underscored the country’s deep divisions. In China, some state media and online commentators declared Trump’s “America First” policy a failure in light of the mass...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Setting sun’: on Trump’s parade day, Chinese media see a US in decline

Chinese state media were quick to declare the decline of the United States as protests throughout the country highlighted social divisions and overshadowed the pageantry of a large military parade in Washington on the weekend. The three-hour parade on Saturday was the first in the US in decades and staged to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army. The event also coincided with the birthday of US President Donald Trump. But as soldiers and tanks were rolling past Trump in Washington,...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s military parade to start on day marked by assassination, ‘No Kings’ protests

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. For the first time in more than three decades, the United States is holding a major military parade in the nation’s capital on Saturday – fulfilling a long-standing desire of US President Donald Trump on a day that was marred by a political assassination. Echoing displays more...

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s military parade starts on day marked by assassination, ‘No Kings’ protests

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. For the first time in more than three decades, the United States is holding a major military parade in the nation’s capital on Saturday – fulfilling a long-standing desire of US President Donald Trump on a day that was marred by a political assassination. Echoing displays more...

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s military parade under way on day marked by assassination, ‘No Kings’ protests

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. For the first time in more than three decades, the United States is holding a major military parade in the nation’s capital on Saturday – fulfilling a long-standing desire of US President Donald Trump on a day that was marred by a political assassination. Echoing displays more...

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s military parade ends, US president takes stage to close out festivities

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. For the first time in more than three decades, the United States is holding a major military parade in the nation’s capital on Saturday – fulfilling a long-standing desire of US President Donald Trump on a day that was marred by a political assassination. Echoing displays more...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s military parade ends, protest tensions in downtown Los Angeles

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. For the first time in more than three decades, the United States has held a major military parade in the nation’s capital – fulfilling a long-standing desire of US President Donald Trump on a day that was marred by a political assassination. Echoing displays more typically seen in...

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s military parade ends, protest tensions in Los Angeles – as it happened

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. For the first time in more than three decades, the United States has held a major military parade in the nation’s capital – fulfilling a long-standing desire of US President Donald Trump on a day that was marred by a political assassination. Echoing displays more typically seen in...

Events

3 w. ago Political assassination shocks US ahead of Trump military parade set for Washington

A politically motivated assassination in Minnesota on Saturday sent shockwaves across the US just hours before the start of a major military parade in the nation’s capital. The killing of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the wounding of a second state lawmaker, took place in the early hours of a day that was expected to highlight America’s political divisions. The parade fulfills a long-standing desire of US President Donald Trump, echoing displays more typically...

Events