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Crypto billionaire Justin Sun settles US fraud case...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun reached a US$10 million settlement to resolve a US Securities and Exchange Commission civil fraud case over his trading activity. Thursday’s settlement requires court approval, with the payment ‌made by one of Sun’s companies. It came as President Donald Trump, a Republican, pushes to make the US a global hub for the cryptocurrency industry. Sun and his companies did not admit or deny wrongdoing, the SEC said in a letter to US District Judge

Insilico Medicine advances Middle East push with UAE...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

Hong Kong-listed Insilico Medicine has signed a cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ drug regulator to advance the use of its artificial intelligence tools in drug discovery across the region, even as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East. Shares of Insilico rose as much as 12.8 per cent in morning trading on Thursday before paring gains to close 8.6 per cent higher at HK$56.10. The advance outpaced the benchmark Hang Seng Index, which edged up 0.3 per cent. The...

24 US states sue to stop Trump’s latest global...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

A group of 24 US states sued President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday in the first legal challenge to his newly imposed 10 per cent global tariffs, alleging that the president cannot sidestep a recent US Supreme Court ruling that invalidated most of his previous tariffs on imported goods by citing new legal authority, according to ‌the states. The Democratic-led states, including New York, California and Oregon, argued that the new tariffs, which Trump announced immediately after

Trump fires Kristi Noem as Homeland Security chief

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

US President Donald Trump ⁠fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday after months of controversy, including the fatal ⁠shootings of two US citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis and lawmakers’ questions over a US$220 million advertising contract. The Republican president will tap Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her by the end of the month, he said on his Truth Social platform on Thursday. The appointment would require US Senate confirmation. “Kristi Noem, who...

US asking Ukraine for help against Iran’s drones in...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

The US has asked Ukraine for help fending off Iranian drone attacks in the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, adding that he had ordered expert support to be given. During Russia’s four-year invasion, Kyiv has developed a range of cheap and effective drone interceptors – aerial craft designed to hit incoming attack drones mid-air – that it says are world-leading. Zelensky on Tuesday offered US allies in the Middle East a swap of some of their air defence...

Trump demands Iran forces surrender or die, wants say...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

US President Donald Trump called on Iran’s armed forces on Thursday to surrender or face the consequences and urged the nation’s diplomats to request asylum at their postings around the world. “I’m once again calling on all members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military and the police, to lay down their arms,” Trump said. “So you’ll be perfectly safe with total immunity, or you’ll face absolutely guaranteed death, and I don’t want to see that.” Speaking at the White House at a

Hong Kong strengthens its role as an international...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong takes decisive initiative amid a shifting global higher education landscape as student mobility diversifies beyond traditional destinations and universities forge practice-oriented partnerships and programmes that build cross-border competencies for a fluid global talent market. The city has amplified the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, expanded institutional collaboration, and aligned policy with institutional...

China’s annual ‘two sessions’ kick off amid planning...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app.Premier Li Qiang is presenting the government’s annual work report at the opening ceremony of China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC). This year’s annual meetings of the top legislature and the top advisory body – together known as the “two sessions” – are

Smart meters available to Hong Kong subdivided flats...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

Landlords or operators of subdivided flats in Hong Kong that meet new government living standards can apply to CLP Power for smart meter installation. The smart meters, which now cover 90 per cent of residential households supplied by CLP Power, are open for application following the Basic Housing Units Ordinance taking effect on March 1. Equipped with advanced communication systems, the meters can automatically send usage data to help customers monitor their electricity consumption. This...

How Southeast Asia’s coffee chains are brewing...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/05

In Singapore’s famous Takashimaya shopping centre, those looking for a quick caffeine fix are spoiled for choice. There is, of course, the ubiquitous Starbucks, as well as an outlet of China’s rapidly expanding Luckin Coffee franchise. But it’s a third option, Kenangan Coffee – an upstart brand from Indonesia that opened its first branch in Singapore in 2023 – that most appeals to 27-year-old shopper Sarah Shah. “I really like Kenangan’s range of drinks, especially how they balance classic...

US Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s Iran war powers...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

A bipartisan resolution that would block US President Donald Trump from launching further strikes on Iran failed to pass the Senate floor on Wednesday, as the Pentagon pledged to “accelerate” its actions in a war that’s “just getting started”. In a 52-47 procedural vote on Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Senate blocked a war powers resolution aimed at curbing Trump’s ability to escalate military action against Iran, preventing the measure from reaching the floor for debate. The

US lawmakers vote to subpoena Pam Bondi over Epstein...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

The House Oversight Committee voted on Wednesday to subpoena US Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions over the Justice Department’s handling of files regarding the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation. Five Republicans joined Democrats to support the subpoena proposed by Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace in a sign of continued frustration among conservatives with the department’s review and release of a tranche of documents related to the disgraced financier. The move...

Panama out, but study says China investing US$23.9...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

A Hong Kong operator has lost control of the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most pivotal waterways for merchant ships, but university researchers said this week that Chinese state institutions have funded hundreds of other seaports around the world. Specifically, they have invested a total of US$23.9 billion over the past quarter century in 363 ports and related activities abroad, according to AidData, a research lab at William & Mary University in the United States. AidData called the...

US agency proposes English proficiency requirement...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

The head of the Federal Communications Commission is taking aim at foreign-based call centres with a proposed English proficiency requirement for overseas employees and limits on the volume of calls they can handle. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said on Wednesday the proposed rules will encourage communications providers regulated by the agency to bring call centre jobs back to the US and place guard rails on the operations that remain abroad. “Americans get frustrated when they call a US

Why China’s anti-corruption drive in academia is...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

In the run-up to this year’s ‘two sessions’ – the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body – high-level policymakers have stressed the need to defuse financial risks and root out political corruption, two of President Xi Jinping’s long-term priorities. As part of a series, Dannie Peng looks at the fight against corruption in academia. As science and technology become national priorities in China, Beijing has turned its sweeping corruption crackdown on academia,...

Merz’s China visit shows pragmatic diplomacy still...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

When German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Beijing for his first visit to China last week, it came at a moment of heightened geopolitical attention. With US President Donald Trump expected to visit Beijing in late March or early April, European leaders are watching closely for possible shifts in transatlantic relations and trade policy. Against this anxious backdrop, Merz’s meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing offered something the global stage has been

Russia may halt gas supplies to Europe amid Iran...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

Russia could halt gas supplies to Europe right now amid a spike in energy prices triggered by the Iran crisis, President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday, linking the possible decision to the European Union wanting to ban purchases of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas. Oil and gas prices have soared following the ‌US and Israeli attack on Iran and Tehran’s strikes on Gulf Arab neighbours. The conflict has paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and forced the shutdown of Qatar’s...

Africa emerges as new arena in US-China competition...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

As China and the United States compete to shape the future of artificial intelligence, Africa’s rapidly expanding digital landscape is emerging as a new arena for their rivalry, far from the technology hubs of Silicon Valley or Shenzhen. With a growing population, expanding internet access and linguistic diversity, Africa is increasingly seen as a critical region for AI development, according to analysts. Early infrastructure and platform decisions can shape the future of emerging technology...

Google’s Gemini AI chatbot accused of coaching US man...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

Google is facing a lawsuit from the family of a 36-year-old Florida man who allegedly considered carrying out a “mass casualty attack” and ultimately killed himself under the influence of the company’s Gemini chatbot. According to a suit filed on Wednesday in federal court in San Jose, California, Jonathan Gavalas began using Gemini for ordinary purposes like help with his writing. But two months of interactions sent him into a dangerous spiral, during which he scoped out a possible violent...

Trump’s 15% global tariffs likely to start this week,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/03/04

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that President Donald Trump’s plan to increase a broad 10 per cent tariff rate to 15 per cent is likely to be implemented this week. “That’s likely sometime this week,” Bessent said on Wednesday on CNBC in response to a question about when the increase to 15 per cent would be made. Bessent’s comments offer the clearest indication yet regarding when the US will follow through on Trump’s pledge to raise tariffs. The president last month imposed a 10 per...

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