8 h. ago Indonesian plane with 11 people missing, search and rescue under way

A regional passenger aircraft carrying 11 people lost contact with ground control on Saturday while approaching a mountainous region between Indonesia’s main island of Java and Sulawesi island, officials said. A search and rescue operation is under way. The turboprop ATR 42-500 operated by Indonesia Air Transport was on the way from Yogyakarta to the capital city of South Sulawesi when it vanished from radar, said Endah Purnama Sari, a spokesperson for the transportation ministry. The plane was...

Events

12 h. ago China’s AI and EV boom drives record power demand, widening energy gap with US

China’s total electricity consumption hit a record high of 10.4 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2025, more than double that of the US, the National Energy Administration (NEA) said on Saturday. The 5 per cent jump from the previous year marked the first time in China’s history that annual electricity consumption had surpassed 10 trillion kWh – the highest in the world and more than the combined total of the European Union, Russia, India and Japan, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing NEA...

Politics

13 h. ago China hit by dual launch failures as Long March 3B and Ceres

China hit by dual launch failures as Long March 3B and Ceres-2 debut mission fail  SpaceNews

Events

20 h. ago BTS’ comeback concert sees South Korean city’s hotel prices soar by up to 10 times

BTS’ long-awaited full-group comeback concert in Busan is still months away, but hotel prices in the South Korean southeastern port city have already hit exorbitant levels, rekindling anger over “rip-off” room rates whenever mega-events come to town. Some properties have reportedly hiked prices by up to 10 times and even asked guests with existing bookings to cancel so they could resell at higher prices. The K-pop group is returning as a full act for the first time since all members completed...

Politics

34 h. ago China dumps more US debt, buys other assets as Trump targets Powell

China trimmed its holdings of US Treasuries in November to the lowest level since 2008, diverging from a global trend that saw total foreign ownership of the debt instruments hit a record high. Analysts say the prospect of a politicised Federal Reserve chairmanship under Donald Trump’s presidency has deepened Beijing’s concerns over its exposure to American debt, with more cuts expected. Beijing’s stockpile fell to US$682.6 billion in November, down from US$688.7 billion in October, according to...

Politics

35 h. ago Trump buys Netflix, Boeing, GM bonds in US$51 million spree linked to his own policy agenda

US President Donald Trump’s investments in municipal and corporate debt through December included bonds of some companies affected by his administration’s policies. In all, the issues cost at least US$51 million. The new White House disclosure posted on Thursday shows Trump’s buys included bonds from Netflix, CoreWeave, General Motors, Boeing, Occidental Petroleum and United Rentals. He also bought municipal bonds from American cities and local school districts, utilities and hospitals. The...

Economics

38 h. ago Canada, China hit reset button on relations with tariff agreement

China and Canada have agreed to remove the triple-digit tariffs imposed on each other’s imports – a major thaw in relations after years of icy diplomatic and trade ties – as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up his state visit in Beijing. Canada will remove the additional 100 per cent in tariffs it had levied on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports – imposed in 2024 following a similar move from the United States – while China will lower its tariffs on Canadian canola, Carney said on...

Events

39 h. ago Hong Kong’s finance chief warns of market volatility, pledges support for families

Hong Kong’s capital market is likely to experience significant fluctuations this year owing to intensifying geopolitical risks, the city’s finance chief has warned, stressing the need for caution in financial management. Six weeks before the government unveils its annual budget, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po pledged to consider whether there is scope to adjust child allowance to encourage more births, after a Post report revealed that Hong Kong’s registered births hit a record low last...

Events

54 h. ago Memory Shortage to Hit Nvidia China Approvals, US Lawmaker Says

Memory Shortage to Hit Nvidia China Approvals, US Lawmaker Says  Bloomberg.com

Events

59 h. ago China’s trade surplus hit record $1.19 trillion despite Trump tariffs & US trade war in 2025

China’s trade surplus hit record $1.19 trillion despite Trump tariffs & US trade war in 2025  ThePrint

Events

67 h. ago Hong Kong consumer watchdog urges better elderly services after 9,206 complaints

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has called on businesses to improve services for elderly customers after receiving more than 9,200 complaints in the past three years, including a woman who spent HK$400,000 (US$51,294) on beauty treatments. The Consumer Council said on Thursday that improving services for seniors would help boost the spending potential of the “silver economy”, a priority for the city’s government amid a rapidly ageing population. “The council urges traders to review their sales...

Politics

3 d. ago China’s 2025 Soybean Imports Hit Record, Fueled by S. American Purchases

China’s 2025 Soybean Imports Hit Record, Fueled by S. American Purchases  Successful Farming

Events

3 d. ago Silver, Gold, Copper & Tin Hit Records, China's $1.2T Trade Surplus | The Opening Trade 1/14/2026

Silver, Gold, Copper & Tin Hit Records, China's $1.2T Trade Surplus | The Opening Trade 1/14/2026  Bloomberg.com

Events

3 d. ago Indonesian comic hit with blasphemy complaints over Netflix jokes

A police complaint against one of Indonesia’s best-known comedians has reignited debate over satire, blasphemy and free expression in the world’s third-largest democracy. The case involves 46-year-old stand-up comic and actor Pandji Pragiwaksono, whose Netflix special Mens Rea – an unfiltered performance touching on politics, law and democracy – was recorded in Jakarta before an audience of around 10,000 people on December 30. Pandji’s routine pokes fun at Indonesia’s political elite, taking aim...

Events

3 d. ago Worker killed, 2 others injured by falling gas cylinders on Hong Kong building site

A worker was killed and two others injured after three gas cylinders fell from height and struck them at a construction site in Tsuen Wan on Wednesday afternoon. Police received a report at about 1.34pm that the cylinders fell as they were being hoisted by a crane and hit the three workers at the site on Po Fung Road. Two of the men, aged 29 and 40, were struck by the cylinders and rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung for emergency treatment. The younger man was knocked unconscious...

Events

3 d. ago KPop Demon Hunters leads to record exports of Korean instant noodles in 2025

South Korea’s exports of food and agriculture-related products, referred to as “K-food Plus”, hit a record annual high of US$13.62 billion in 2025. The country’s Agriculture Ministry also reported on Monday that Korean ramyeon or instant noodles posted the largest export gains, surpassing US$1.5 billion. The surge came amid the runaway success of KPop Demon Hunters, which ended 2025 as the most-watched film ever for the Netflix streaming platform.

Politics

3 d. ago China's 2025 oil imports, December inflows both hit record highs

China's 2025 oil imports, December inflows both hit record highs  Reuters

Events

3 d. ago China's 2025 soybean imports hit record, fuelled by S. American purchases

China's 2025 soybean imports hit record, fuelled by S. American purchases  Reuters

Events

3 d. ago China's 2025 rare earth exports hit highest since at least 2014 despite restrictions

China's 2025 rare earth exports hit highest since at least 2014 despite restrictions  Reuters

Events

3 d. ago China's December coal, iron ore, crude imports, steel exports hit record highs

China's December coal, iron ore, crude imports, steel exports hit record highs  Reuters

Events