54 m. ago As Delhi scraps vehicle ban plan, what next for clean air in India’s capital?

India’s capital has put the brakes on a contentious vehicle scrappage policy aimed at curbing deadly air pollution after fierce resistance from residents, highlighting the city’s struggle to balance environmental urgency with economic realities and the need to find alternative solutions. The rule, which took effect on July 1 in New Delhi but is now suspended, barred refuelling and permitted impounding of private petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10. Officials had...

Politics

3 h. ago Rare earth dominance: why China still holds the cards despite global pushback

Beijing’s recent export controls on rare earths have spurred a flurry of international efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce China’s long-standing dominance in critical minerals. In June, the Ministry of Commerce announced that it would approve qualified export applications and was open to discussions with other countries regarding the restrictions. But as rare earths emerge as a new front in the US-China rivalry, companies worldwide have announced plans for a string of projects designed...

Politics

4 h. ago Tuition and music: how Hong Kong’s pupils got into their first choice schools

Attending private tuition and relaxing by playing chess and listening to music were among the strategies used by Hong Kong’s Primary Six students to achieve good grades and be part of the record 74 per cent of pupils who got into their most preferred secondary schools through the central allocation system. A primary school principal also said on Tuesday that students had benefited from less competition for entering their first choice institution, helped by the “zero-quota” policy that bans...

Culture

5 h. ago Will Myanmar block East Timor’s Asean entry? The junta draws a red line

As East Timor edges closer to joining Asean, Myanmar’s military rulers are seeking to block its entry, in a warning to it – and governments everywhere – against engaging with the war-torn country’s opposition forces. Last week, sources cited by public broadcaster Thai PBS revealed that Myanmar’s military regime had formally notified Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of its intent to withhold support for East Timor’s membership when the bloc convenes in...

Politics

5 h. ago Hong Kong’s Metropol Restaurant to close in September as HKUST buys venue

A restaurant known for serving dim sum from traditional trolleys will close at the end of September after the venue was acquired by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for HK$354.4 million (US$45 million), the Post has learned. Sources said on Tuesday that the university had bought the fourth floor of United Centre in Admiralty and planned to use the space, which has been occupied by Metropol Restaurant for more than three decades, for its business and management school. The Post...

Politics

6 h. ago Status, culture, cost: more Chinese students choosing Singapore as US declines

Miya Zheng once aimed to earn a master’s degree when she first arrived in the United States for her undergraduate studies. But now, three years later, the Chinese national has shifted her sights halfway across the world – to Singapore. “After staying here for some time, I realised that this isn’t quite the right place for me in the long run,” said Zheng, who is majoring in economics and statistics in the US and aspires to work outside China after graduating. She has faced increasing hurdles as...

Politics

9 h. ago Does Hong Kong’s loan shark law proposal lack bite needed to tame debt collectors?

A proposal to tighten regulations over Hong Kong’s notorious loan sharks is too narrowly focused and will not tackle the root problem of unruly debt collectors, according to lawmakers and legal experts. The legislators and specialists criticised the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau’s plan to set a cap on borrowing activity for low-income earners and impose stricter rules for loan “referees”, saying it failed to tackle the shadowy network of intermediaries who enabled predatory...

Politics

9 h. ago Does Hong Kong loan shark law proposal lack bite needed to tame debt collectors?

A proposal to tighten regulations covering Hong Kong’s notorious loan sharks is too narrowly focused and will not tackle the root of the problem of unruly debt collectors, according to lawmakers and legal experts. The legislators and specialists criticised the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau’s plan to set a cap on borrowing activity for low-income earners and impose stricter rules for loan “referees”, saying it failed to tackle the shadowy network of intermediaries who enabled...

Politics

11 h. ago “Historic opportunity”: why China is betting on a poor province in trade war

The 2025 trade war launched by the United States is shaping up to become a watershed moment for Chinese policymakers. While the country’s economic resilience and role at the centre of global supply chains helped secure a 90-day truce with Washington, Beijing is digging deep to fight a protracted conflict. The forthcoming Five-Year Plan – China’s signature development blueprint – is expected to fortify the domestic economy in the pursuit of global leadership. Provincial leaders are seizing...

Events

13 h. ago The Xi Jinping question: Is China’s 'leader for life' planning his exit? Or just delegating power?

The Xi Jinping question: Is China’s 'leader for life' planning his exit? Or just delegating power?  Times of India

Politics

14 h. ago ESCP’s New Strategic Plan: A ‘Third Way’ Between U.S. & China In Business Education

ESCP’s New Strategic Plan: A ‘Third Way’ Between U.S. & China In Business Education  Yahoo Finance

Politics

17 h. ago Tensions rise between US and China as Washington activates its most aggressive plan to prevent Beijing from knowing its technological advances

Tensions rise between US and China as Washington activates its most aggressive plan to prevent Beijing from knowing its technological advances  MARCA

Events

19 h. ago University of Hong Kong plans to cut size of development site after backlash

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) plans to reduce the size of a development project by 15 per cent following a public backlash, leaving most of a Pok Fu Lam green belt untouched, the Post has learned. A source said on Monday that the university was considering building on a residential plot nearby. The revised proposal for HKU’s Global Innovation Centre will be discussed at a town planning board meeting on Friday, after the university gathers feedback from the community. HKU originally planned...

Politics

19 h. ago China is making rapid gains in space tech. Here’s how the military could use it

The new space race is heating up, with the United States warning that its major rival China is narrowing the gap as it makes rapid technology gains. While China says its ambitious plans remain peaceful and that it rejects the weaponisation of space, some of the technologies it has developed in recent years also have military uses. Here are some of them. BeiDou network The Chinese navigation satellite system provides positioning, navigation and timing services worldwide. Its network of 60...

Events

19 h. ago China is making rapid space tech gains. Here’s how the military could use them

The new space race is heating up, with the United States warning that its major rival, China, is narrowing the gap as it makes rapid technological gains. While China says its ambitious plans remain peaceful and that it rejects the weaponisation of space, some of the technologies it has developed in recent years also have military uses. Here are some of them. BeiDou network The Chinese navigation satellite system provides positioning, navigation and timing services worldwide. Its network of 60...

Events

20 h. ago US Ally Plans Naval Power Increase Amid China Threat on Disputed Territory

US Ally Plans Naval Power Increase Amid China Threat on Disputed Territory  Newsweek

Events

20 h. ago How the Dalai Lama’s succession plans could clash with China

How the Dalai Lama’s succession plans could clash with China  NBC News

Politics

22 h. ago Eating plastic: the hidden cost of convenience in Southeast Asia

More people in Southeast Asian countries could face health risks ranging from liver damage to poor brain development due to rising consumption of microplastics in their food, medical and regulatory experts have warned. Microplastics are formed when larger plastic items break down. As more animals, such as fish, eat microplastics due to plastic pollution, the near-invisible particles measuring less than 5mm (0.19 inch) can go up the food chain. “If the microplastics are absorbed by fish and then...

Politics

22 h. ago Concreting of Containment Dome Complete At China’s Changjiang

Concreting of Containment Dome Complete At China’s Changjiang-3 Nuclear Plant  NucNet

Politics

23 h. ago Students shelter in libraries as heatwave hits eastern China

Students shelter in libraries as heatwave hits eastern China  Reuters

Society