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Tai Po probe: housing checking unit admits ‘blind...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The deputy director of the Home Affairs Department and the former head of the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) were the latest Hong Kong officials to testify at a public hearing on the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Their cross-examination on Friday concluded the fourth round of evidential hearings held by the government-appointed...

China marks milestone with first home-certified...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

China’s rapidly growing low-altitude economy has reached a new milestone, with the first four domestically trained commercial airship pilots receiving their licenses – a step officials believe could help address a critical talent shortage in the sector. Issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the licenses “signify a breakthrough that addresses the vacuum”, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) said in a statement this week. AVIC said the

Chinese J-35 stealth jets set to give Pakistan edge...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

A year after fending off a massive Indian air assault with the help of Chinese warplanes and missiles, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Thursday unveiled plans to upgrade its fleet through further acquisitions of Chengdu J-10C fighters and substantial upgrades to the JF-17s co-produced by the two allies. The PAF further confirmed that it has signed an “initial collaborative agreement” for the acquisition of fifth-generation Sheyang J-35 stealth fighter, without disclosing any details about the...

Asean members warm towards Myanmar, raising hopes it...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

Sentiment is warming among some Southeast Asian members towards easing Myanmar’s isolation five years after a coup, with diplomats signalling a possible opening to bring the crisis-torn nation back into the fold. Southeast Asian foreign ministers have agreed to a virtual meeting with their Myanmar counterpart, according to Asean’s secretary general on Thursday. In an interview during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit ‌in the Philippines on Thursday, Kao Kim Hourn said Myanmar

Japan’s Prince Hisahito steps into spotlight as...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

The young man on course to be Japan’s future emperor is attracting the attention of the country’s voracious media, with rumours of girlfriends and security challenges as a university student, and hints of unrest in the palace over succession. Royalists say the media should leave 19-year-old Prince Hisahito alone to concentrate on his environmental studies course at the University of Tsukuba, while a debate mounts on whether the constitution should be altered to allow his cousin to become

Hong Kong needs the people’s wisdom for its 5-year...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

For decades, Hong Kong thrived as the world’s freest economy without five-year plans, while mainland China rose to become the world’s second largest economy through them. Now Hong Kong has the rare advantage of both: market dynamism and strategic direction. Harnessed through the collective wisdom of the people, this combination can deliver more than what the market or planning alone can achieve. Hong Kong is preparing its first five-year plan to dovetail with the national 15th five-year plan,...

Humanoids, robots to drive next chapter of China’s...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

China is poised to leverage the humanoid and robotics market to consolidate its dominance over global manufacturing – a move that echoes its decade-long rise to the top of the electric vehicle (EV) sector, according to a new report. “Looking ahead, humanoids and robots will be the next key driver of China’s export machinery over the coming 5 to 10 years,” analysts from Morgan Stanley said in a note. “Indeed, we see parallels between the development of the humanoids and robots industry and

Was China’s ‘fireworks capital’ rushing its July 4...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

When a deadly blast rocked a small town in central China this week, killing dozens, hundreds of fireworks factories in the surrounding area were in peak production season for overseas orders, including for the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, industry insiders said. By noon on Friday, the death toll from the blast had reached 37, with one person still missing. Fifty-one people were still hospitalised, with five in critical condition, according to state broadcaster...

China tourist dies after cliff swing fall as safety...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

A young woman tourist in China died after falling from a “cliff swing” ride after her warning that the safety rope was not tied tightly enough was ignored. The heart-wrenching accident went viral on mainland social media and was viewed more than 200 million times. It sparked public rage and calls for safety supervision for adventure activities to be strengthened. On May 5, the municipal government of Huaying in southwestern China’s Sichuan province issued a statement that the tourist,

Hong Kong’s pinball wizards and claw fans defend...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

A Hong Kong homemaker sits alone at a pinball machine at a shopping centre in Sham Shui Po on a weekday morning, engrossed in the game for an hour before picking up her sons from school for lunch. The 47-year-old mother-of-two, who only identified herself as Mrs Cheung, said she played pinball machines at least twice a week at Dragon Centre, including once on the weekend with her family of four as entertainment. “We just have fun as a family and use the points we earn from the games to redeem...

Vietnam burns red tape but growth may be harder to...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/08

A bonfire of red tape to unleash investment and complete stalled projects across Vietnam may drive economic expansion but is unlikely to offset the damage caused by US tariffs and the fuel crisis which have threatened the country’s growth ambitions. Vietnam’s Communist Party General-Secretary and President To Lam, the most powerful leader in a generation, has set an annual growth target of 10 per cent until 2030 to galvanise a nation whose ponderous bureaucracy has snarled private investment

Islamic State-linked Australian women charged with...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

Two Australian women “kept a female slave” after travelling to Syria in 2014 to support Islamic State, police said on Friday after the pair were charged in Melbourne. The women returned to Australia on Thursday evening for the first time in almost a decade, travelling from a Syrian detention camp where they were stranded after the group’s collapse. They were immediately arrested after their Qatar Airways flight landed at Melbourne International Airport. Police accused the women – a mother and...

Lula won’t sideline China or anyone in rare earths,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told US President Donald Trump on Thursday that his country’s rare earth reserves are open to investment from China and any other nation willing to process the minerals on Brazilian soil, resisting pressure to side with Washington in its contest with Beijing over critical mineral supply chains. “We have no preference. What we want is to share with whoever wants to invest in Brazil,” Lula said at a press conference at the Brazilian embassy in...

China’s move to cut EV payment cycles may push weaker...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

Beijing’s tighter oversight of vicious price competition in the automotive sector is expected to increase borrowing pressure on mainland carmakers and accelerate the exit of weaker, debt-laden players amid softening consumer demand, according to S&P Global Ratings. The warning is likely to deepen bearish sentiment surrounding mainland China’s more than 100 car assemblers, many of which have been at the forefront of global electric vehicle (EV) technology and production. “Financially fragile...

US and Iran exchange attacks around Strait of Hormuz,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

The United States and Iran exchanged fire on Thursday in the most serious test yet of their month-long ceasefire, but Iran said the situation returned to normal while the US said it did not want to escalate. The renewed hostilities broke out as Washington was awaiting Iran’s response to a US proposal that would stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now. Iran’s military ‌said the US targeted two ships entering the Strait of...

Wrapped in a Boeing: will Trump’s China visit include...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the US-Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In the second instalment of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we weigh the odds of a major deal for Boeing aircraft after nearly a decade without a significant order from Chinese airlines. Shanghai Airlines was flying...

Zelensky warns Russia’s allies against attending WWII...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday warned Russia’s allies against attending its May 9 World War II victory parade, as Moscow doubled down on its threat to strike Kyiv on the day. Moscow has unilaterally declared a ceasefire from May 8 to 10 in its war on Ukraine but the Russian army has urged residents to leave Kyiv in case of a potential retaliatory strike on the day. “We have also received messages from some states close to Russia, saying that their representatives plan to

White House inviting Nvidia, Apple, Boeing CEOs on...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

The Trump ⁠administration is inviting CEOs from ⁠Nvidia, Apple, Exxon, Boeing and other big companies to accompany the president on his trip to China next week, Semafor reported on Thursday. Executives from Qualcomm, Blackstone, Citigroup ‌and Visa are also on the invitation list, according to the report. A person familiar with the matter confirmed that Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser was invited. Qualcomm confirmed the invitation but declined to comment further. Reuters was not able to confirm

Trump gives EU until July 4 to ratify deal or face...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the European Union must ratify its trade deal with the United States by July 4 or face “much higher” tariffs, after European officials fell short of agreement on the pact. The US president said he spoke to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen about the issue and “agreed to give her until our Country’s 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels”. The Fourth of July holiday this year marks 250 years since the...

White House calls actor Mark Hamill ‘sick’ over Trump...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/05/07

The White House called Star Wars ⁠star Mark Hamill “one ⁠sick individual” on Thursday after ⁠an AI-generated image of US President Donald Trump in a shallow grave was posted on one of the actor’s social media accounts. “If Only” was inscribed on the image of ‌Trump lying with his eyes closed next to a gravestone, surrounded by daisies, with the inscription “Donald J Trump 1946-2024”. The image was posted on Hamill’s verified Bluesky account. Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the classic

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