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News - South China Morning Post

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Amid OpenClaw frenzy, China’s central bank adds to...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

China’s central bank has called for heightened cybersecurity awareness and caution in the use of artificial intelligence in the financial sector, adding to a chorus of warnings over security risks amid the nationwide buzz surrounding the OpenClaw AI agent. At its annual technology conference in Beijing on Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China called for further efforts to “enhance the resilience of cybersecurity and data security”, according to a readout of the meeting posted on its

Timothée Chalamet charms fans by embracing Chinese...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

From speaking Chinese to filming square dancing in a park, Hollywood’s golden boy Timothée Chalamet gave his fans a lot to talk about during his trip to China. The 30-year-old American-French actor, affectionately called tian cha, “Sweet Tea”, by his Chinese fans due to the phonetic similarity to his name, is considered a front runner to win an Oscar. His recent trip to China is to promote Marty Supreme, a film about a shoe salesman who risks everything to pursue his dream of becoming a world...

Hong Kong’s MTR Corp net profit falls 6.9% amid...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

The net profit of Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation dropped by 6.9 per cent to HK$14.68 billion (US$1.88 billion) last year, from HK$15.77 billion in 2024, as higher depreciation costs and weaker revenue from the rail giant’s mainland China operations weighed on earnings. The company recorded a property development profit of HK$11.08 billion last year, up from HK$10.27 billion in 2024, with income generated from projects including The Southside, Lohas Park and Ho Man Tin station. But the MTR Corp...

Hong Kong poised to grant first stablecoin licences...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

HSBC and a joint venture led by Standard Chartered are expected to be among the first companies to obtain Hong Kong’s stablecoin licences within two weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. The number of licences and timetable had yet to be finalised and remained subject to change, but sources said a possible date was March 24. The two banks declined to comment. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) last month revealed that a small number of stablecoin licences would be granted...

Over 170 complaints filed after Mayday shifts Hong...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has received at least 174 complaints after Taiwanese rock band Mayday cancelled one of its coming concerts at Kai Tak Sports Park and rescheduled it for later, sparking frustration among fans. The Consumer Council said that as of 5pm on Thursday, it had received complaints from 80 residents and 94 from outside Hong Kong, involving a total sum of HK$485,333 (US$62,010). The largest local claim amounted to HK$7,900, whereas the largest non-local case concerned...

How China can win friends and influencers to help...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Tourists, international students and foreign employees of Chinese companies could serve as grass-roots ambassadors, helping China’s story to resonate with audiences worldwide, according to one of the country’s leading political advisers. Zhang Bo, a professor at Beijing Language and Culture University who is also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the suggestion on the sidelines of the annual “two sessions” meeting. Speaking to the South China Morning

Cathay Pacific, HK Express to double fuel surcharges...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget arm HK Express will double their fuel surcharges next week, following a similar move by another Hong Kong carrier amid rising oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East. The city’s flag carrier said on Thursday the increase would apply to tickets issued on March 18 or later. “The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,” Cathay said, citing the surge as the reason for the higher...

Life under fire: a Tehran resident shares her story...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

A Tehran resident in her 30s agreed to share her thoughts with Agence France-Presse about the ongoing war and daily life. Her identity has been withheld for her protection. Here is an edited transcript of the conversation. How is daily life in Tehran? People left in waves, especially those who were next to targets. The financial situation is very bad. My job has been halted and I am spending out of my savings. Going away has costs too, so this may be one of the reasons why people are leaving...

Group warns plain packs hinder Hongkongers’ efforts...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Nearly 90 per cent of Hong Kong smokers cannot distinguish smuggled cigarettes from duty-paid ones under the government’s proposed plain packaging measures, a survey by an advocacy group has found. The Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group also urged authorities on Thursday to expand the function of the tobacco stamp duty system to allow consumers to scan QR codes and verify whether a pack had been taxed. “With the current packaging, consumers can tell if a pack is taxed based on the brand...

From net worth of US$580 to US$580 million, China...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

A school dropout from eastern China who survived a violent attack and bankruptcy has built a steamed bun empire that generates 180 million yuan (US$26 million) annually. Liu Huiping, 49, hails from Anhui province, famously known as China’s “hometown of dough makers.” To ease the financial burden on his parents, Liu left secondary school early. He initially learned furniture making before shifting his focus to the craft of Chinese buns. In 1998, with a 4,000-yuan (US$580) loan, Liu ventured to...

Trump’s ‘racist hate speech’ fuelling rights...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

A UN-backed panel of independent experts focusing on racial discrimination has said that racist hate speech by US President Donald Trump and other American political leaders, along with a crackdown on immigration in the United States, have led to “grave human rights violations”. The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its decision on Wednesday and urged the US to suspend immigration enforcement operations at, and near, schools, hospitals, and faith-based...

China targets record food-security push in shadow of...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

China has pledged to raise grain output to record levels over the next five years, as part of efforts to guarantee food security for its vast population amid geopolitical shocks and supply-chain uncertainties. Under the nation’s 15th five-year plan unveiled during the “two sessions” parliamentary meetings, Beijing set a target to raise annual grain production capacity to 725 million tonnes by 2030, driven by wider use of high-end agricultural machinery and advanced breeding technologies. As

Trump’s 2026 trip to China

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Why war on Iran is not Trump’s to end: Israel may...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

The US-Israeli war on Iran could prove difficult to end in the short term, with Israel expected to continue to “fan the flames”, Chinese experts have warned. However, they still believe that the intense back-and-forth attacks and high tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are unlikely to last. They also reject the notion that a prolonged Middle East conflict involving the United States would benefit Beijing. It has been 12 days since the US and Israel launched joint air strikes on Iran on February...

‘Outdated intelligence’: US faces mounting evidence...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Outdated intelligence likely led to the United States carrying out a deadly missile strike on a junior school in Iran that killed over 165 people, many of them children, in the opening hours of the conflict, according to a US official and a second person briefed on findings of a preliminary US military investigation into the incident. The bombing of the school and its casualties involving children has become a focal point of the war, and if ultimately confirmed to be at the hands of the US,...

Preparing for the worst? US bunker maker claims big...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Since the war in the Middle East began nearly two weeks ago, the phone at Ron Hubbard’s bomb shelter company in Texas has not stopped ringing. Foreign and US clients are rushing to buy his bunkers, seeking refuge in case of air raids, nuclear fallout or apocalypse. With the United States and Israel pounding Iran, and Tehran retaliating with strikes across the region, Hubbard has seen demand for his product soar, mostly from Gulf nation clients in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab...

China’s 5-year jet goals target C919 output, a new...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

Beijing aims to accelerate the rise of China’s home-grown airliner fleet, including the C909 regional plane, C919 narrowbody and C929 widebody, through 2030. This push to challenge the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus comes as a national five-year plan calls for aircraft production, development and the roll-out of a domestically developed engine. The next five years will prove vital to the success of the three aircraft models and the continued localisation of critical parts such as engines,...

Man arrested after Hong Kong bridge crash injures 11,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

A man has been arrested after a collision involving more than 10 cars on a major bridge injured 11 people and forced the closure of most lanes leading to Hong Kong’s airport. Police said 10 vehicles were travelling in the fast lane of the Tsing Ma Bridge towards the airport when the crash occurred at 8.31am on Thursday. The chain collision was triggered by a vehicle that suddenly reduced speed, causing those behind to fail to brake in time. Another private car overturned into the middle lane

Graham A. Harris, a giant of the Hong Kong Bar

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

The Hong Kong Bar Association was founded in 1949. To properly recognise barristers who have made a lasting and very significant contribution, members are able to nominate such giants for Life Membership. It is bestowed on those who “have rendered outstanding service to the Bar … or to the administration of justice in Hong Kong”. Over the years, only a handful of our members have been elected as Life Members. Nominees must be proposed by 20 members, including no fewer than 10 senior counsel,

To make AI safe, put women and girls at the heart of...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/12

In late February, Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data co-signed, alongside 60 overseas organisations, a statement to bring attention to the rising misuse of deepfakes. With rapid technological developments, growing AI integration and lower barriers to access, swift action is needed to safeguard women and girls against growing forms of technology-facilitated violence. Technology-facilitated violence is not new; it has simply evolved. What began as pre-internet...

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