16 m. ago 8 arrested for road races in Hong Kong, including 1 who allegedly used police car

Hong Kong police have arrested a 29-year-old man who used a vehicle believed to be a retired squad car in illegal road races, alongside seven other men caught in the same operation. Chief Inspector So Chi-bing of the regional crime unit in Kowloon East said officers had arrested eight men on Thursday after the force investigated media reports and online footage depicting several cars chasing after one another and switching lanes at high speed last month. “In the footage, the force noticed that...

Events

44 m. 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

2 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

3 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

3 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

4 h. ago China steps up global aviation expansion as Comac bids for Laos carrier

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has reportedly bid to take a majority stake in the flag carrier of Laos, as the state-owned Chinese aviation firm continues its push to expand its market in Southeast Asia. The deal – which is pending approval by the Lao authorities – would see Comac help Lao Airlines overhaul its operations and stem its losses in exchange for the carrier agreeing to use the Chinese company’s passenger jets, Vientiane Times quoted Prime Minister Sonexay...

Politics

7 h. ago Hong Kong police launch first known joint operation with Beijing’s national security office

Hong Kong police launch first known joint operation with Beijing’s national security office  Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

Events

8 h. ago Beijing, Hong Kong national security authorities launch first publicly known joint operation

Beijing, Hong Kong national security authorities launch first publicly known joint operation  CNA

Events

11 h. ago Taking lessons from Ukraine, Taiwan eyes sea drones to counter China

Taking lessons from Ukraine, Taiwan eyes sea drones to counter China  Reuters

Events

12 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

14 h. ago Trump seems to reverse course on Chinese students in US, saying he supports them

US President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Chinese students in America on Thursday and pledged to help them remain in the country after graduation, distancing himself from initiatives that his administration has announced to limit or block international students because of national security concerns. “I’ve always been strongly in favour of it. I think it’s a great thing,” Trump said on Thursday, referring to Chinese nationals seeking to study in the US. “It’s also good for our schools....

Politics

21 h. ago Beijing national security authorities carry out operation with police in Hong Kong

Beijing’s national security authorities in Hong Kong launched a joint operation with local counterparts on Thursday over a case of suspected collusion with foreign forces. The investigation is the first publicly known joint operation by Beijing’s national security arm in the city and the local police force. According to authorities, six people and an organisation were suspected of having committed the offence of “collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national...

Events

21 h. ago Breaking | Beijing national security authorities carry out operation with police in Hong Kong

Breaking | Beijing national security authorities carry out operation with police in Hong Kong  South China Morning Post

Events

23 h. ago Taiwan ramps up coast guard and military readiness in face of Beijing’s ‘gray zone’ warfare

Taiwan ramps up coast guard and military readiness in face of Beijing’s ‘gray zone’ warfare  wwbl.com

Events

27 h. ago Ant International and Ant Digital to seek stablecoin licences in Hong Kong

Singapore-based Ant International and the Hangzhou-based Ant Digital, two affiliates of Chinese tech giant Ant Group, have announced plans to apply for stablecoin issuer licences in Hong Kong once the new ordinance governing fiat-backed cryptocurrencies takes effect in August. “We welcome the passage of the Stablecoins Bill and hope to contribute more to the city’s vision as a global hub for next-gen finance,” Ant International, a spin-off of Ant’s global operations, said in a statement on...

Politics

29 h. ago Massed drone deployments part of military modernisation: China’s PLA Daily

China’s military mouthpiece has called for the large-scale and centralised deployment of unmanned combat forces at key locations to fully realise their potential in any future intelligent warfare, amid rising tensions with the US in the Indo-Pacific. In an article published on Tuesday, the PLA Daily urged “innovative” organisation and applications of unmanned systems, highlighting their “decisive and dominant” role in future conflicts, including the capability to conduct close-range precision...

Events

31 h. ago Pianist Aristo Sham ‘overwhelmed’ by Hong Kong response to his contest win

Aristo Sham Ching-tao, the first pianist from Hong Kong to win the gold medal in the Van Cliburn Piano Competition, has expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the city following his victory in one of the world’s toughest and most prestigious music competitions. Speaking from New York, Sham said: “I am overwhelmed by the support in Hong Kong since the news of my win. I really did not expect that.” Born in Hong Kong, he left to study overseas at the age of 14, but...

Culture

32 h. ago Chinese vessel grounding: concern in Philippines over new grey

A recent case of a Chinese militia vessel running aground on a strategic island in the disputed South China Sea has raised concerns from the Philippine side of another wave of so-called grey-zone activities by Beijing, even as Manila’s officials acknowledge the incident could be down to inclement weather. Observers point to the Philippines having adopted the same strategy to stake claim over the Second Thomas Shoal when it permanently grounded the war vessel BRP Sierra Madre in 1999. The recent...

Politics

33 h. ago U.S. defense chief: Beijing undecided on Taiwan invasion, drills suggest intent

U.S. defense chief: Beijing undecided on Taiwan invasion, drills suggest intent  Focus Taiwan

Events

34 h. ago Japan weighs tightening rules on visa popular among Chinese nationals

Japan is considering increasing the minimum investment threshold for its business manager visa in a bid to make it harder for foreigners to obtain residence status and launch commercial operations in the country, as the scheme becomes increasingly popular with Chinese nationals. The visa, which offers relatively accessible entry for foreign entrepreneurs, permits stays of up to five years for those who either invest 5 million yen (US$34,711) or hire two full-time employees while maintaining an...

Politics