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Palestinian Authority plans for major role in...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

The Palestinian Authority (PA) expects a significant role in post-war Gaza, even though President Donald Trump’s plan sidelines it for now, and is banking on Arab support to secure its position despite Israeli objections, Palestinian officials say. Gaza’s future governance has moved into focus with a ceasefire due to begin on Thursday, the first step in Trump’s bid to end two years of war. The next phase of the deal must tackle thorny issues, including demands that the Islamist militant group...

US-India relations at risk: Democrats sound alarm...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

More than two dozen Democrats warned US President Donald Trump in a letter this week that his “America First” tariffs are pushing India towards China. Republicans refused to join them, underscoring deep political divisions and testing Washington’s long-held bipartisan support for New Delhi. The letter, which squarely blamed Trump’s policies for “creating negative consequences for both countries”, was signed by Ro Khanna, an Indian-American from California, Deborah Ross of North Carolina, and

Action plan to develop Hong Kong’s low-altitude...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Hong Kong will roll out an action plan next year to develop its low-altitude economy, and passenger drone trials could begin once approved by the civil aviation chief, the deputy financial secretary has said. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun announced the plan at the International Low-Altitude Economy Summit on Thursday, while lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan said after the event that a key challenge for the sector was turning projects from the government’s regulatory sandbox

Japanese-themed race days a winner for Hong Kong...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has expanded its popular Japanese-themed race days from two to four this year, a move aimed at drawing more spectators, including mainland Chinese and overseas visitors, by adding cultural elements from one of residents’ favourite travel destinations. The expansion of the “Japan Nights” event series was highlighted on Thursday in conjunction with the opening of the 2025 “Japan Autumn Festival in Hong Kong”, a two-month programme marking its 10th anniversary. Hanane...

Israel and Hamas sign ceasefire and hostage deal,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the war in Gaza.Israelis and Palestinians alike rejoiced after the deal was announced, the biggest step yet taken to end two years of war in which over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, and return the last hostages seized by Hamas in the attacks that unleashed...

Why new EU steel tariffs to curb Chinese imports are...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

A proposed increase to EU steel tariffs has already sown alarm among the continent’s car manufacturers, with stocks of major players plunging in the immediate aftermath of the announcement and industry insiders warning the measures could worsen cost pressures already weighing down growth in the sector. Following a Tuesday statement from the European Commission that it would cut tariff-free quotas for imported steel products by nearly half and double duties on excess shipments to 50 per cent –

Hong Kong Science Park aims to double number of...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

The Hong Kong Science and Technology Park aims to double the number of start-ups joining its upgraded incubation programme, with some companies saying the scheme will help to speed up the commercialisation of their products. The park on Thursday launched its new life and health tech-focused incubation programme Incu-Bio, which is designed to offer start-ups support, such as assistance with laboratory research, regulatory activities and the advancement of research to a preclinical stage over a...

China sanctions US firms; ‘super golden week’...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China sanctions US defence firms, chip data provider in latest curbs Beijing has announced sanctions on a slew of Western companies and institutions in the defence sector and a leading semiconductor data analysis provider, marking its latest salvo amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. 2. China says foreigners are using its rare earth

Putin admits Russian missiles downed Azerbaijan jet...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Azerbaijan’s leader that two Russian missiles had detonated beside an Azerbaijan Airlines plane last year after Ukrainian drones entered Russian airspace, and promised compensation to those affected. Flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to the Chechen capital Grozny, crash-landed on December 25, near Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia, where Ukrainian drones were reported to be attacking several targets. At least 38 people were...

‘They’re coming back’: Israelis await return of Gaza...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Thousands of jubilant Israelis gathered in a Tel Aviv square on Thursday, hopeful for the return of hostages held in Gaza, after two years of fear and worry. Many wore stickers reading “They’re coming back”, waving Israeli and US flags and clutching photos of the hostages after Israel and Hamas reached a hostage release and truce deal in a major step towards ending the war. A group of beaming Israelis sang, clapped and jumped in a circle in Hostages Square, which has been the scene of weekly...

Kazakhstan seeks investment to become ‘transit hub’...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

While Kazakhstan is cooperating closely with China on the digitalisation of trade, a government official from the Central Asian country said this week that more infrastructure investment is needed – including along the Middle Corridor trade route – for it to realise its aim of becoming a bridge between Asia and Europe. Exporters turned to the Middle Corridor – which connects China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey – as an alternative to the northern route of the...

Chinese scientists find gene that determines central...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

In arid parts of central Australia, temperature plays a big part in determining whether central bearded dragon embryos emerge from their eggs as male or female. While the sex of mammals and birds is determined solely by genetics, the dragons are like turtles and crocodiles in that incubation temperature plays a part in the process. If incubated at 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher, some male embryos will emerge as female. If the temperature is cooler, genetics will

China’s rare earth clampdown deepens EU anxiety on...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

The European Union is “worried” by China’s move to tighten restrictions on rare earth minerals, with senior figures saying the controls will compound the deterioration in trade relations that have only “worsened” since a summit in July. On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a sweeping “upgrade” of rare earth licensing requirements that have been in place since April, expanding them to cover the export of technologies used to process the minerals. The move also tightens licensing...

EU’s von der Leyen survives 2 no confidence challenges

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen survived two confidence votes Thursday in the European Parliament, touting “strong support” from the assembly despite the tensions laid bare by the challenge. The motions of censure against the European Commission president were brought by the hard left and far-right, which accuse her of a lack of transparency and reject her trade policies. Neither motion secured the minimum 361 out of 720 votes. The challenge brought by the far-right Patriots won support from

Hong Kong police hunt for hoaxer who claimed 25...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Hong Kong police are searching for a hoaxer who sounded like a scared boy and made several fake emergency phone calls claiming that 25 teachers and students were trapped by a hill fire in Pat Sin Leng, Tai Po. Police received four separate calls at about 1.45pm on Thursday from a person who reported a blaze on the 511-metre Hsien Ku Fung, one of eight peaks in the Pat Sin Leng range in the northeastern New Territories. The caller claimed that four teachers and 21 pupils were stranded on the...

Chinese premier begins North Korea trip with friendly...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Chinese Premier Li Qiang promised closer cooperation with North Korea as he began a three-day visit to the country on Thursday following a recent flurry of diplomatic exchanges that signalled a thaw in relations. Li is the most senior Chinese official to visit the country since 2019. During his visit he will attend a series of events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party. Li said Beijing was ready to work with Pyongyang to “strengthen strategic communication,

How Donald Trump pulled off his Gaza deal

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

It was a typically theatrical moment for the man who loves to publicly boast of being the “peacemaker-in-chief”. Donald Trump’s top diplomat interrupted a televised meeting at the White House to hand the US president a note and whisper in his ear that a Gaza deal was imminent. Shortly afterwards, he announced the agreement on social media. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” he posted. But while the climax played out in front of reporters, most of Trump’s efforts had been behind the scenes, as he...

Axe ‘invisible barriers’ affecting people with...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has urged service providers and property managers to eliminate “invisible barriers” that impact residents with disabilities after conducting its first review of reported cases of discrimination. In addition to laying out eight recommendations for such organisations in a new guide, the Equal Opportunities Commission highlighted on Thursday some of the cases that had prompted the review. They included the case of a bus driver who refused to allow a wheelchair user

Hong Kong to offer Kowloon site for tender amid focus...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

The Hong Kong government will launch a single residential site in Kowloon for tender in its third financial quarter, as authorities focus on the Northern Metropolis to launch new land sales as soon as the end of this year. A plot measuring 40,902 sq ft at Choi Hing Road, Jordan Valley, will be made available via tender in the December quarter, enough to provide about 570 average-sized flats, according to the Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho. That launch would come after the...

Beijing’s liaison office chief in Hong Kong lays out...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2025/10/09

Beijing’s liaison office chief in Hong Kong has expressed hope that the local media will report more on the nation’s development for a global audience and support the administration’s efforts to boost the economy and improve people’s livelihoods. Office Director Zhou Ji also encouraged media professionals on Thursday to convey the public’s views while helping to build a consensus in society. He was speaking at a reception held by local media outlets to mark the 76th anniversary of the

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