3 h. ago Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority eyes Middle East, Europe investors for bonds

Hong Kong’s cash-strapped Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will issue another round of bonds this year and has reached out to investors in the Middle East and Europe, the body’s outgoing chief has revealed. Authority managing director Wai Chi-sing also said that two sites the government gave to the URA this month had strengthened its bargaining power in talks with investors, and that he believed there would be more similar land grants in the future. Wai, who leaves the statutory body on Saturday...

Economics

4 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

6 h. ago China calls on Niger to tackle disputes with energy firms through dialogue

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Niger’s junta government to resolve disputes with Chinese energy companies operating in the West African nation through dialogue. Wang made the remarks during talks with his Nigerien counterpart Bakary Yaou Sangaré in the central Chinese city of Changsha on Wednesday. “The two sides should properly handle the differences and problems encountered in cooperation through dialogue,” Wang said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout of the meeting, which...

Politics

6 h. ago Japan monk adopts ‘noisy’ abandoned dog, later saved by canine from fierce bear

A Japanese Buddhist monk who adopted an abandoned dog was saved by the canine during a fierce bear attack. Tougen Yoshihara, the abbot of Youkoku Temple, a historic temple in Niigata in central Japan, was taking his one-year-old Beagle, Chico, for a walk in the woods near the temple on May 29 when an unexpected encounter occurred. Suddenly, a 1.6-metre-tall bear appeared before them, leaving Yoshihara in shock, as he had never before faced such a beast. In a panic, he stumbled and fell while...

Politics

9 h. ago ‘I am numb’: Blackpink fans left devastated as Hong Kong concerts sell out fast

Tickets for K-pop sensation Blackpink’s concerts in Hong Kong sold out in a little more than an hour and a half of going on general sale, leaving many fans disappointed. A Post reporter visited the ticket booking platform Cityline when sales opened on Friday at 11am. However, by noon, the wait time on the loading page, of more than an hour, had not shortened, while only limited tickets remained. By around 12.40pm all tickets for the two scheduled shows at Kai Tak Stadium on January 24 and 25...

Politics

10 h. ago Cheerleaders to critics: German machinery makers call for EU action on China

Germany’s iconic machine makers used to be among the loudest cheerleaders for ever-closer economic ties between China and Europe. Now, as exports dwindle and facing “increasingly strong [Chinese] competitors” beefed up by “unfair state subsidies”, the industry is demanding that Brussels put in place trade barriers to protect it. A new position paper published on Thursday by the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), representing medium-sized manufacturers that help constitute...

Politics

12 h. ago China cautions citizens in Iran, warns those in Israel of potential attacks

China cautions citizens in Iran, warns those in Israel of potential attacks  Reuters

Events

13 h. ago Will Air India’s crash in Ahmedabad derail its revival plans?

Air India’s crash of a Boeing 787 jet that killed more than 200 people will be a huge setback to the former state-run carrier’s comeback plans after a change in its ownership to the Tata Group three years ago, according to analysts. The London-bound plane, carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down shortly after taking off from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Only one person survived. The deadly accident has raised questions about what possibly went wrong for the Boeing Dreamliner, one of...

Events

13 h. ago Embassy urges Chinese in Iran to stay alert after Israeli airstrikes, explosions

The Chinese embassy in Tehran called Iran’s latest security situation “severe and complicated” following Israel’s military strikes early on Friday, while also warning its citizens and businesses to monitor the situation and take precautions. “The embassy in Iran reminds Chinese citizens and businesses in the country to closely monitor the situation, enhance their safety awareness, and strengthen security measures,” it said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed...

Events

13 h. ago Chinese citizens in Iran, Israel need to prepare for attacks, embassies warn

The Chinese embassy in Israel warned its citizens on Friday morning to take safety precautions for potential attacks as Tehran considers a retaliation against Israeli strikes targeting its nuclear sites. The Israeli strikes were “significantly escalating the tensions” in the Middle East, the embassy said in a statement that urged Chinese citizens in Israel to closely monitor the evolving situation, remain calm, and stay vigilant. “Citizens are advised to prepare for potential attacks involving...

Events

13 h. ago China warns of fallout from Israel’s strikes on Iran, eyes role in easing crisis

Beijing has voiced “grave concern” over the potential fallout from Israeli strikes on Iran and urged all sides to prevent further escalation, while diplomatic observers highlighted China’s potential in coordinating with stakeholders and brokering a ceasefire. At a regular press briefing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that China firmly opposed any violations of Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, as well as actions that “escalate the tension”. “The sudden...

Events

15 h. ago Severe Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T1 to remain in force for most of Friday

The Hong Kong Observatory has said the No 1 typhoon warning signal will remain in force for most of Friday, as the storm edges slightly away from the city. The forecaster said in a special weather warning at 8am on Friday that Severe Tropical Storm Wutip intensified on Thursday night but had taken a slightly westward path away from Hong Kong. “The standby signal No 1 will remain in force for most of the time [on Friday],” it said. “The Observatory will assess [between Friday night and Saturday...

Events

15 h. ago Severe Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T1 alert to remain in force for Friday

The Hong Kong Observatory has said the No 1 typhoon warning signal will remain in force on Friday as it considers whether to raise the signal on Saturday. The forecaster said on Friday afternoon that Severe Tropical Storm Wutip, which brought squally showers to the coast of Guangdong, will turn northeastwards gradually. “The standby signal No 1 will remain in force [on Friday],” the forecaster said. Wutip, which is the Cantonese word for “butterfly”, will move across Beibu Wan on Friday,...

Events

16 h. ago Japan warns of collision risks after Chinese fighter jet manoeuvres

Japan has expressed serious concerns to Beijing through diplomatic and defence channels after a Chinese fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong made “abnormal approaches” to a Japanese patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. In a statement, Tokyo’s defence ministry said a J-15 fighter shadowed its P-3C patrol aircraft operating over the Pacific for about 40 minutes from 10.30am on Saturday and again for around 80 minutes from 2pm on Sunday. The ministry said the Chinese fighter approached...

Events

17 h. ago New Zealand PM Luxon to meet President Xi in China, then head to Europe

New Zealand PM Luxon to meet President Xi in China, then head to Europe  Reuters

Politics

26 h. ago Nvidia CEO says Huawei has everyone ‘covered’ if US chip ban on China stays

Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said his company’s technology remained a generation ahead of those developed by China, but warned that Huawei Technologies was in a position to expand its semiconductor business should US chip export curbs stay in place. In an interview with US broadcaster CNBC on Thursday, Huang appeared to echo recent published remarks made by Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, who said the Chinese company’s Ascend artificial intelligence (AI) processors lagged behind...

Politics

28 h. ago China’s PLA Daily slams US Golden Dome plan, warns of space arms race

China’s military newspaper has condemned America’s planned “Golden Dome” space-based missile defence system, warning that it may threaten global strategic stability and trigger an arms race in space. “The development of the Golden Dome system and the US Space Force’s rapid expansion have further militarised outer space,” a commentary in the PLA Daily warned on Thursday, adding that such moves could potentially intensify great power rivalry and challenge international arms control norms. The...

Events

30 h. ago Pentagon chief warns China preparing for war, calls Beijing top US threat

Pentagon chief warns China preparing for war, calls Beijing top US threat  Business Standard

Events

32 h. ago Nvidia bets on European AI push amid shrinking China revenue

Nvidia is trying to woo European markets with new partnerships and a pledge to build 20 new artificial intelligence (AI) factories across the continent, as the US chip giant grapples with declining sales in China amid Washington’s tightening export controls. CEO Jensen Huang, speaking at the annual VivaTech conference in Paris on Wednesday, said the company was building the world’s first “industrial artificial intelligence cloud” for European manufacturers. The Germany-based facility, a key part...

Politics

39 h. ago Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T1 alert to stay in effect most of day

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 said that the No 1 typhoon warning signal will stay in force for most of Thursday, as squally showers associated with a tropical storm near the coast of Guangdong continue to affect the city. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the signal at 12.40am on Wednesday...

Events