4 h. ago Should Hong Kong hit luxury homeowners with heavier fines for illegal works?

Hong Kong authorities should appeal against the “light” penalties imposed on two property owners for erecting illegal structures at their luxury Redhill Peninsula homes, experts have said, warning that the fines are not hefty enough to deter offenders. The specialists weighed in after the two property owners were told to pay more than HK$110,000 (US$14,015) in total after admitting to carrying out unauthorised building works. Their convictions are the first among 30 prosecutions made against...

Events

8 h. ago In human rights talks, EU warns of ‘deterioration’ of basic freedoms in China

During thorny human rights talks with China on Friday, the European Union voiced concerns about what it called a “deterioration of fundamental freedoms” in the country. The EU cited “government interference” in the succession plan for the Dalai Lama, an ongoing crackdown in Hong Kong, and jailed Uygur and Tibetan activists as examples in its statement on the 40th edition of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels. The bloc accused China of “persistent restrictions on freedom of...

Events

13 h. ago Chinese aircraft carriers’ Pacific presence sparks warnings for Philippines

The crossing of a US-designated island chain in the Western Pacific by a Chinese carrier group marks an increase in Beijing’s “operational tempo” that the Philippines should pay heed to, observers say. They warn, however, that a “delicate balance” should still be maintained to avoid any escalation amid calls for vigilance. Regional governments such as Japan and Taiwan have advised increased caution, and a former official in the Joe Biden administration has suggested formalising the so-called...

Events

13 h. ago Taiwan war game triggers US questions over island’s ‘will to fight’

A high-level civilian war game held in Taipei this week has exposed serious vulnerabilities in Taiwan’s defences of its outer perimeter and eastern regions, prompting a retired US admiral to warn that Washington’s involvement depended on “Taiwan’s will to fight”. In the exercise simulating a 2030 cross-strait conflict, Taiwan lost control of key outlying territories – most notably Penghu, a group of islands 50km (30 miles) east of the main island – as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched...

Sport

13 h. ago Taiwan war game triggers US questions over its ‘will to fight’ if PLA attacks

A high-level civilian war game held in Taipei this week has exposed serious vulnerabilities in Taiwan’s defences of its outer perimeter and eastern regions, prompting a retired US admiral to warn that Washington’s involvement depended on “Taiwan’s will to fight”. In the exercise simulating a 2030 cross-strait conflict, Taiwan lost control of key outlying territories – most notably Penghu, a group of islands 50km (30 miles) east of the main island – as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched...

Events

14 h. ago China condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, warns of 'red line' breach

China condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, warns of 'red line' breach  Tehran Times

Events

15 h. ago Chinese envoy urges Israel to halt ‘risky’ Iran attacks, warns of consequences

A senior Chinese diplomat has urged Israel to halt its military actions against Iran as tensions between the two Middle Eastern rivals mount, warning the escalating conflict could have “serious consequences”. Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN, told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday that the surging tensions in the region did not serve the interests of any party. “China urges Israel to immediately stop all risky military actions to avoid further escalation of...

Events

18 h. ago Severe Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong to issue T3 signal between 12pm and 2pm

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will issue the No 3 typhoon warning signal between 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, as strong winds from a severe tropical storm are expected to intensify later. Severe Tropical Storm Wutip, the Cantonese word for “butterfly”, has entered within 800km (497 miles) of...

Events

18 h. ago Severe Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong to issue T3 signal at 12.20pm

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will issue the No 3 typhoon warning signal at 12.20pm on Saturday, as strong winds from a severe tropical storm are expected to intensify later. Severe Tropical Storm Wutip, the Cantonese word for “butterfly”, has entered within 800km (497 miles) of Hong Kong,...

Events

18 h. ago Severe Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong issues T3 signal as winds intensify

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster has issued the No 3 typhoon warning signal, as strong winds from a severe tropical storm are intensifying. The Hong Kong Observatory raised the alert at 12.20pm on Saturday as Severe Tropical Storm Wutip entered within 800km (497 miles) of the city. It is...

Events

22 h. ago Japan Calls Out China Over Unusual Maneuvers, Warns It Could Lead to Accidental Collision

Japan Calls Out China Over Unusual Maneuvers, Warns It Could Lead to Accidental Collision  USNI News

Events

25 h. ago China criticizes Israeli strikes on Iran, warns of ‘potential grave consequences’

China criticizes Israeli strikes on Iran, warns of ‘potential grave consequences’  Washington Times

Events

26 h. ago Nvidia is nixing China from its financial forecasts because U.S. restrictions on chip sales have tightened so much, Jensen Huang says

Nvidia is nixing China from its financial forecasts because U.S. restrictions on chip sales have tightened so much, Jensen Huang says  Fortune

Economics

32 h. ago ‘Any time, any place’: Philippine army to be deployed to South China Sea islands

A senior Philippine military official has revealed a soon-to-be-deployed strategy that would involve an army contingent to support law enforcement units on occupied islands in the South China Sea. Observers said the strategy would align with Manila’s policy shift from an internal to external defence posture aimed at protecting the country’s territorial waters. One expert, however, warned that it could lead to more aggressive moves by the Chinese navy and coastguard if Beijing were to view...

Politics

34 h. ago Huawei’s HarmonyOS gains traction in China with 103 million smartphones shipped

Huawei Technologies has shipped more than 103 million smartphones and 21 million tablets running its proprietary HarmonyOS operating system, with nearly half delivered in 2024, according to consultancy Canalys. The Shenzhen-based technology giant shipped 46 million smartphones and 10.5 million tablets last year, signalling an accelerating pivot to its in-house operating system, serving as an alternative to Google’s Android amid US sanctions. Huawei has been transitioning its devices to its own...

Economics

34 h. ago ‘Watershed moment’: how Huawei’s HarmonyOS flourished in China amid US sanctions

Huawei Technologies has shipped more than 103 million smartphones and 21 million tablets running its proprietary HarmonyOS operating system, with nearly half delivered in 2024, according to consultancy Canalys. The Shenzhen-based technology giant shipped 46 million smartphones and 10.5 million tablets last year, signalling an accelerating pivot to its in-house operating system, serving as an alternative to Google’s Android amid US sanctions. Huawei has been transitioning its devices to its own...

Politics

35 h. ago China warns of ‘serious consequences’ after Israeli strikes on Iran, urges de

China warns of ‘serious consequences’ after Israeli strikes on Iran, urges de-escalation  Anadolu Ajansı

Events

37 h. ago As Chinese exporters explore home market, how are letters of credit helping?

After the United States imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs on imports from China in April, Beijing took steps to help Chinese exporters sell their products domestically. In addition to the staging of product promotion events across the country and the offering of fiscal and financial incentives, Beijing also encouraged the increased use of letters of credit (L/Cs) to help such businesses switch focus to the domestic market. What is a domestic letter of credit? A letter of credit, also known as...

Politics

39 h. ago China’s car industry runs on empty as supply chain bills go unpaid

China’s car industry runs on empty as supply chain bills go unpaid  Financial Times

Politics

39 h. ago China delays approval of $35bn US chip merger amid Donald Trump’s trade war

China delays approval of $35bn US chip merger amid Donald Trump’s trade war  Financial Times

Politics