2 h. ago Evangelista’s wealth under fire, Singaporeans flock to Johor: 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. US call centre bill threatens Philippines’ US$30 billion outsourcing boom As dusk settles over Angeles City, Justin Cunanan prepares for another long night. While the rest of the Philippines sleeps, he joins millions of his compatriots powering a global industry that is...

Events

4 h. ago At China’s Canton Fair, exporters sense a warming trend in yuan settlements

At the ongoing autumn edition of the Canton Fair in Guangzhou – China’s oldest and largest trade exhibition – Chinese exporters are noticing a quietly spreading shift: an increasing number of overseas clients, particularly from emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Africa, are proactively proposing to settle trade orders in yuan. Wang Lilin, sales director at diesel generator manufacturer Keypower, said the company had seen a clear rise in yuan settlements over the past two...

Events

5 h. ago Trump Doubts China Will Invade Taiwan, Confident Ahead of Xi Meeting

Trump Doubts China Will Invade Taiwan, Confident Ahead of Xi Meeting  The Defense Post

Politics

5 h. ago Hong Kong court gives ‘Mr Ho’ suspended jail sentence for insecticide attack

An elderly Hong Kong man, known on the internet as “Mr Ho” after a whirlwind romance with a much younger mainland Chinese woman, has received a suspended jail sentence for an insecticide attack on a passer-by who taunted him about controversies arising from his marriage. Tuen Mun Court on Tuesday suspended Ho Huen’s two-month jail sentence for two years after rejecting the defence’s suggestion to settle the case by imposing a fine. The court also ordered the 77-year-old retiree to pay the...

Events

7 h. ago Beijing: Maintaining 'diplomatic ties' with Taiwan authorities will lead nowhere

Beijing: Maintaining 'diplomatic ties' with Taiwan authorities will lead nowhere  chinadailyasia.com

Politics

7 h. ago What Trump told Albanese about Taiwan matters more than AUKUS

What Trump told Albanese about Taiwan matters more than AUKUS  Lowy Institute

Politics

9 h. ago Apple faces new antitrust complaint in China over App Store rules

Apple faces new antitrust complaint in China over App Store rules  9to5Mac

Politics

10 h. ago US appeal court lets Trump send National Guard troops to Portland

A divided US appeal court ruled on Monday that US President Donald Trump can send National Guard troops into Portland, Oregon, despite objections by the leaders of the city and state, giving the Republican president an important legal victory as he dispatches military forces to a growing number of Democratic-led locales. A three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Department’s request to put on hold a judge’s order that had blocked the deployment while a legal...

Politics

10 h. ago US appeals court says Trump can deploy National Guard troops in Portland

A divided US appeals court ruled on Monday that Donald Trump can send National Guard troops into Portland, Oregon, despite objections by the leaders of the city and state, giving the Republican president an important legal victory as he dispatches military forces to a growing number of Democratic-led locales. A three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Department’s request to put on hold a judge’s order that had blocked the deployment while a legal challenge to...

Politics

10 h. ago What is 'Taiwan independence' and is Taiwan already independent?

What is 'Taiwan independence' and is Taiwan already independent?  Reuters

Politics

11 h. ago 'Fantastic deal or 155% tariffs': Trump sets tone ahead of Xi meet on US

'Fantastic deal or 155% tariffs': Trump sets tone ahead of Xi meet on US-China trade talks - watch  Times of India

Politics

15 h. ago Trump's rare earth pact with Australia sets the table for highly anticipated meeting with China next week

Trump's rare earth pact with Australia sets the table for highly anticipated meeting with China next week  Yahoo Finance

Politics

15 h. ago Trump downplays Beijing threat to Taiwan as Australia touts rare earths deal

After nearly a year waiting to meet US President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sought to argue his country’s strategic value Monday – only for the “America first” leader to dominate the encounter by opining that Beijing had no plans to invade Taiwan and posed no real threat in the Indo-Pacific. “China doesn’t want to do that,” he insisted on Taiwan, during a press gaggle alongside Albanese, but later stated that the island will be one of the topics of discussion when...

Politics

16 h. ago Trump says China ‘doesn’t want’ to invade Taiwan and reaffirms trust in Xi

Trump says China ‘doesn’t want’ to invade Taiwan and reaffirms trust in Xi  The Guardian

Politics

21 h. ago Taiwan sets out new rules outlining when troops can shoot down drones

Taiwan has for the first time formally outlined the circumstances under which its troops can shoot down incoming drones. The move is part of a broader effort by the island’s defence ministry to codify its rules of engagement and strengthen its ability to respond to mounting military pressure from mainland China. The new procedures, disclosed in the recently released National Defence Report 2025, set out a four-step standard operating procedure – identification and monitoring, alert and...

Events

23 h. ago What is ‘offering sacrifices to empty coffin’ ritual in Taiwan; why burn figurine

In a Taiwanese folk custom, when two family members die within the same year, straw figurines and duck blood are employed in a special ritual that involves burning an empty paper coffin, aimed at preventing a third death within the family. This traditional practice, known as “Sacrificing to an Empty Coffin”, or ji kong guan in Chinese, is usually conducted during the funeral of the second deceased. Grounded in the folk belief that “bad luck comes in threes,” the ritual seeks to ward off...

Events

24 h. ago World’s first intergovernmental mediation body launched in Hong Kong

The newly established international mediation body, headquartered in Hong Kong, can contribute to improving the world’s legal system, according to mainland China’s vice-foreign minister. Hua Chunying also highlighted the short time it took for the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) – the world’s first intergovernmental body dedicated to mediation – to become operational. She said this showed strong support from the international community for the peaceful settlement of...

Politics

26 h. ago China’s Communist Party kicks off fourth plenum amid tight security in Beijing

China’s ruling Communist Party kicked off a key four-day conclave on Monday that will determine the country’s development over the next five years. The fourth plenum of the party’s Central Committee began on Monday morning, according to state news agency Xinhua. Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, who is also the nation’s president, delivered a work report to the meeting and outlined the party’s proposals for the next five-year plan, which will be submitted for deliberation, a brief report said...

Events

27 h. ago Hong Kong, Elior Group in land talks for Asia’s first aircraft parts centre

City authorities are in talks with a leading French aeronautical services company about the allocation of land to develop Hong Kong into Asia’s first aircraft parts processing and trading centre, with the firm set to start training classes in two months. Daniel Derichebourg, chairman and CEO of France-based Elior Group, said the company was still in talks with the government about solutions that would work best to help Hong Kong grow as a centre for aircraft parts dismantling, recycling and...

Politics

27 h. ago Hong Kong set for IPO flurry next week with Sany leading the charge

The Hong Kong stock exchange is poised for a blockbuster day next week, as four stocks – including Sany Heavy Industry, China’s largest construction machinery manufacturer – are set to debut, positioning the city to reclaim its status as the world’s top fundraising venue this year. Among the four stocks launching on October 28, Sany Heavy Industry, already listed in Shanghai, aims to raise the highest amount, targeting up to HK$12.36 billion (US$1.59 billion) by offering 580.42 million shares in...

Politics