3 h. ago Do Singapore’s insurers and private hospitals need a rethink as costs surge?

A major insurer in Singapore has suspended pre-treatment approval for policyholders seeking treatment in two private hospitals due to high costs, in a case that has prompted scrutiny of the city state’s reputable healthcare industry. Great Eastern’s move has spurred industry experts to call for calibrated adjustments to the healthcare insurance system involving the key stakeholders instead of an overhaul, and greater data transparency to help policyholders make informed decisions as expenses...

Economics

4 h. ago Hong Kong’s insurance market may balloon 55% as Greater Bay Area ages

Hong Kong’s insurance business may expand by a compounded 55 per cent over the next eight years, driven by the so-called silver economy serving senior citizens and growth in the Greater Bay Area, industry experts said on Tuesday. Gross insurance premium in the city may jump to US$127 billion by 2032 from last year’s US$82 billion, said Steve Finch, Manulife Financial’s Asia president, citing industry forecasts. That growth is enabled by the “depth and sophistication of Hong Kong’s insurance...

Politics

5 h. ago Need a grandma? In Japan, you can rent one and help an old lady out

“Grandma rental” services have caught on in Japan, providing an alternative source of income for the country’s ageing population seeking to alleviate the cost of living pressures amid rising inflation. For 3,000 yen (US$20) per hour, clients are set up with a woman aged 60 to 94 who will help with requests ranging from teaching cooking skills to breaking up with partners on her client’s behalf, according to local news site SoraNews24. The elderly women can also babysit and mediate family...

Politics

6 h. ago As Delhi scraps vehicle ban plan, what next for clean air in India’s capital?

India’s capital has put the brakes on a contentious vehicle scrappage policy aimed at curbing deadly air pollution after fierce resistance from residents, highlighting the city’s struggle to balance environmental urgency with economic realities and the need to find alternative solutions. The rule, which took effect on July 1 in New Delhi but is now suspended, barred refuelling and permitted impounding of private petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10. Officials had...

Politics

6 h. ago Business leaders call for efforts to combat ‘Hong Kong equals China’ perception

Hong Kong must work harder to be as international as possible under the “one country, two systems” framework to combat a growing perception in Western capitals that it is no different from any other mainland Chinese city, business leaders have urged. The city also maintains a significant lead over regional rival Singapore in key financial metrics, panellists at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference said on Tuesday. “The problem is that many of them feel that Hong Kong equals China,”...

Politics

6 h. ago Efforts needed to combat view ‘Hong Kong equals mainland China’: business leaders

Hong Kong must work harder to be as international as possible under the “one country, two systems” framework to combat a growing perception in Western capitals that it is no different from mainland Chinese cities, business leaders have urged. The city also maintains a significant lead over regional rival Singapore in key financial metrics, panellists at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference 2025 said on Tuesday. “The problem is that many of them feel that Hong Kong equals China,” said...

Politics

7 h. ago Hong Kong developer Grand Ming’s crisis deepens with US$611 million loan default

Hong Kong developer Grand Ming Group warned investors that it has yet to repay a HK$4.8 billion (US$611.4 million) loan, with its gearing ratio surging past 200 per cent – another sign of the growing debt crisis among the city’s small and medium developers. In a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, the company said that it had breached financial covenants under its loan facilities, according to its audited annual results for the year ended March 31. “The group has obtained...

Economics

10 h. ago Tuition and music: how Hong Kong’s pupils got into their first choice schools

Attending private tuition and relaxing by playing chess and listening to music were among the strategies used by Hong Kong’s Primary Six students to achieve good grades and be part of the record 74 per cent of pupils who got into their most preferred secondary schools through the central allocation system. A primary school principal also said on Tuesday that students had benefited from less competition for entering their first choice institution, helped by the “zero-quota” policy that bans...

Culture

10 h. ago China EV insurance registrations for week ending Jul 6: Nio 2,500, Tesla 5,010, Xiaomi 4,890

China EV insurance registrations for week ending Jul 6: Nio 2,500, Tesla 5,010, Xiaomi 4,890  CnEVPost

Politics

11 h. ago Thai PM’s suspension reignites debate, Malaysia’s new tax: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Malaysia’s new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts 2. PM’s suspension reignites debate on ‘judicial activism’ of Thailand’s courts 3. Philippines’ Duterte ends womanising era, leaving ‘13 to 27’ lovers behind 4. Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’...

Economics

11 h. ago Australia gets ‘unsolicited advice’; Indonesian mine concern: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Malaysia’s new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts 2. PM’s suspension reignites debate on ‘judicial activism’ of Thailand’s courts 3. Philippines’ Duterte ends womanising era, leaving ‘13 to 27’ lovers behind 4. Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’...

Politics

12 h. ago As US drops among Chinese study preferences, Singapore beckons

Miya Zheng once aimed to earn a master’s degree when she first arrived in the United States for her undergraduate studies. But now, three years later, the Chinese national has shifted her sights halfway across the world – to Singapore. “After staying here for some time, I realised that this isn’t quite the right place for me in the long run,” said Zheng, who is majoring in economics and statistics in the US and aspires to work outside China after graduating. She has faced increasing hurdles as...

Politics

12 h. ago Status, culture, cost: more Chinese students choosing Singapore as US declines

Miya Zheng once aimed to earn a master’s degree when she first arrived in the United States for her undergraduate studies. But now, three years later, the Chinese national has shifted her sights halfway across the world – to Singapore. “After staying here for some time, I realised that this isn’t quite the right place for me in the long run,” said Zheng, who is majoring in economics and statistics in the US and aspires to work outside China after graduating. She has faced increasing hurdles as...

Politics

17 h. ago Hong Kong economy’s ‘mixed signals’ portend retail ‘turbulence’, analysts say

Hong Kong’s retail industry will experience mixed fortunes in coming months, as rising unemployment threatens to dent consumer spending even as the economy and household incomes improve and tourist numbers surge, according to CBRE. “Right now, there is positive news and negative news in the market,” said Lawrence Wan, senior director and head of advisory and transaction services for retail at property consultancy CBRE Hong Kong. “Shops keep on closing down, but at the same time we see there is a...

Politics

24 h. ago Surge in Hongkongers visiting Japan expected after manga ‘megaquake’ fears fade

Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for visiting Japan is expected to rebound “explosively” in the coming days and months after fears of a “megaquake” predicted in a manga proved unfounded, an industry leader has said. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said on Monday that rumours of a July 5 earthquake had earlier caused significant concern among some Hongkongers. Many residents had shelved trips to Japan, leading to a sharp decline in tour group bookings. He said his agency normally...

Politics

28 h. ago Eating plastic: the hidden cost of convenience in Southeast Asia

More people in Southeast Asian countries could face health risks ranging from liver damage to poor brain development due to rising consumption of microplastics in their food, medical and regulatory experts have warned. Microplastics are formed when larger plastic items break down. As more animals, such as fish, eat microplastics due to plastic pollution, the near-invisible particles measuring less than 5mm (0.19 inch) can go up the food chain. “If the microplastics are absorbed by fish and then...

Politics

31 h. ago ‘Scripting error’ at Hong Kong’s HK Express allowed customer to access private data

HK Express, the budget carrier of Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways, mistakenly directed a customer to log into another’s account due to a “scripting error”, enabling him to access the other person’s personal information including birth date, according to investigations by the privacy watchdog. That case and seven others revealed on Monday by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data included one involving CJ Plus Insurance, which sent documents printed on recycled paper that...

Economics

32 h. ago Digital Finance Forum of Global Digital Economy Conference 2025 Grandly Convened at Beijing Banking & Insurance Business Park

Digital Finance Forum of Global Digital Economy Conference 2025 Grandly Convened at Beijing Banking & Insurance Business Park  PR Newswire

Economics

32 h. ago California Cherry Season Down and U.S. China Tensions Cost Exports

California Cherry Season Down and U.S. China Tensions Cost Exports  AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST

Events

32 h. ago This Chinese jeweler is using traditional techniques to challenge Cartier — and it's starting in Singapore

This Chinese jeweler is using traditional techniques to challenge Cartier — and it's starting in Singapore  CNBC

Politics