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Japan will soon learn how far Takaichi can ride her luck

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

For many decades, Australia was known as the “lucky country”. Its long period of uninterrupted growth stretching back to the 1990s was a rarity among advanced economies. Yet even before the Covid-19 pandemic erupted, Australia’s luck was running out amid stagnant productivity, a housing affordability crisis and the slowdown in China’s economy. Another developed country that has had luck on its side is Japan. Having endured more than three “lost decades” in a prolonged struggle against

Free trade or fortress Europe? The battle for the...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

A 16th-century Flemish castle is the setting on Thursday as European leaders try to resolve a set of economic tensions haunting Europe that are almost as old: the pull between free trade and protection, integration and sovereignty. On the agenda are prickly items such as how to kick-start the EU economy, whether to issue joint debt and how far to go with “buy Europe” provisions aimed at unpicking reliance on China and the United States. Seven years after European Commission President Ursula

Malaysia’s Anwar defends anti-corruption chief over...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has brushed aside calls to suspend or remove Malaysia’s anti-corruption chief, asking critics to “read his explanation”, after fresh reports about his shareholdings reignited public anger against the official. Citing corporate filings, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), was a key shareholder in an investment holding company. Azam told local media on Wednesday that the report was...

Philippine senator slammed for calling Gen Z...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

Philippine Senator Robin Padilla has come under fire from the public and fellow politicians for calling Generation Z mentally “weak” and downplaying depression. “Many may be upset with me for saying this, but today’s children, sad to say, are weak,” the 56-year-old said during a Senate committee hearing on the Children’s Safety in Social Media Act on Wednesday, according to local media. “You’re not like us in our time – we didn’t cry easily. We learned from the streets; we learned not to just...

70-year-old Chow Yun-fat’s endurance, feng shui...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

We have selected five Trending in China stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. How much coffee to drink a day to get the most health benefits? Experts reveal Studies show that drinking coffee comes with a range of health benefits. We look at what they are and how much is best to drink. 2. How people like 70-year-old Chow Yun-fat keep pushing their endurance limits Hong Kong actors Chow...

Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau’s kin sell Mid-Levels...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

The son and former partner of fugitive Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung jointly sold a three-bedroom luxury home in the upscale neighbourhood of Mid-Levels for HK$100 million (US$12.8 million), clearing about HK$40 million after holding the property for nearly two decades, according to official filings. The 1,948 sq ft flat on a high floor at The Albany sold to Dragon Mind International in a deal registered on Tuesday, according to Land Registry records and information from agents. The...

China’s Middle East arms edge overshadowed by Turkey...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

With jets forming complex formations overhead and displays on the ground of the world’s most advanced fighters, manufacturers from the US, China, South Korea and Turkey gathered in Riyadh to pursue deals of financial and strategic weight. China exhibited model J-10CE and J-35A fighter jets at the World Defence Show, along with Wing Loong and Rainbow series drones which have been making inroads into the Middle East. Analysts noted that while Chinese drones were continuing to attract buyers,...

China buzzes as diving queen Quan Hongchan named...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

China’s beloved “Diving Queen” Quan Hongchan has once again amazed her fans by being named Sports Person of the Year and making her magazine debut on the cover alongside other Chinese stars. On February 9, the country’s People magazine officially announced its 2025 cover line-up. It features eight phenomenal figures who made a significant impact in their respective fields in 2025. The line-up includes Quan Hongchan, Xin Zhilei, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Shu Qi, Shan Yichun, Liu Jiakun, Zhi Huijun

Hong Kong braces for 11.38 million trips during Lunar...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

About 11.38 million residents and visitors are expected to travel in and out of Hong Kong over the Lunar New Year holiday, marking a projected 16 per cent increase from last year. The Immigration Department released the 10-day estimate following an interdepartmental working group meeting on festive arrangements chaired by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki on Thursday. It covers the period from Saturday, the 27th day of the last month of the Lunar calendar, to February 23, the seventh day

Kim Jong-un’s daughter shaping North Korean policy as...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to be taking steps to ‌consolidate his daughter’s position as successor, and there are signs she is providing input on policy matters, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday, citing a spy agency briefing. South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency (NIS) will be closely watching whether the daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju-ae, attends a coming meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party and how she is presented, including ⁠whether she takes on any

China’s Wingtech faces setback as Dutch court keeps...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

A Netherlands court has upheld the suspension of Zhang Xuezheng, former CEO of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, and ordered an investigation into the company’s governance – another setback for Chinese parent company Wingtech. “The Enterprise Chamber … acknowledges that Nexperia faced complex dilemmas due to geopolitical developments. However, this does not mean that an investigation should be omitted in this case,” the court said in its ruling, published on Wednesday. The court found there were

Russian losses in Ukraine now exceed recruitment,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

Russia sustained around 9,000 more battlefield losses in Ukraine than it was able to replace last month, according to assessments from Western officials, signalling progress for Ukraine’s ambition to inflict heavier damage on the front line. Russian forces were unable to achieve significant gains on the ground in January even as they sustained heavy losses, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The assessment, which could not be independently verified, could bolster

Philippines to expand civilian population in disputed...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

Officials from the Philippines-claimed Kalayaan group of islands within the disputed Spratly Islands archipelago plan to expand its civilian population amid a war of words with the Chinese embassy in the country. Local authorities in Kalayaan, which falls under the jurisdiction of Palawan province, were working on plans to grow the population beyond its current outpost on Thitu Island, known locally as Pagasa, and to the six other land masses under its administration, Vice-Mayor Maurice

Malaysia enforces stricter controls on China...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

A stricter control measure is being enforced on Chinese nationals to curb any abuse of the visa-free facility under the Malaysia-China mutual visa exemption agreement, according to Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Saifuddin explained that while Chinese nationals are permitted visa-free entry for up to 30 days per visit, they are subject to a cumulative stay limit of 90 days within any 180-day window. “The provisions under this agreement do not grant continuous 90-day visa-free...

Rat in Don Don Donki sushi chiller sparks outcry over...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

A video of a live rodent in a sushi display chiller at a branch of the Japanese supermarket chain Don Don Donki in Hong Kong has sparked concerns over food safety and hygiene standards in the city. The footage, posted on social media on Thursday, captured a rat scurrying across pre-packed boxes of sushi in a chiller at the Don Don Donki outlet in the Tuen Mun Town Plaza shopping centre. In the 20-second clip, a male shopper carrying a tote bag is seen flinching and backing away from the

US, Iran eye tentative nuclear talks as regional...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

The United States and Iran may be inching towards a renewed nuclear accord, following intensive behind-the-scenes diplomacy by Gulf monarchies and Turkey aimed at averting a new regional war. With US President Donald Trump indicating a clear preference for negotiation over confrontation, Washington appears to have quietly abandoned earlier talk of regime change in Tehran and efforts to assist Iranians caught in last month’s bloody protests. “If the Iranian people want to overthrow the regime,...

The US Army’s new presence in the Philippines and the...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

The US has established a new army foothold in the Philippines with a rotational deployment designed to sustain the Typhon missile system and contain China, according to military analysts. The US Army has commenced rotational deployments in the Philippines, according to a post published on January 29 on the Defence Visual Information Distribution Service, the US military’s image and video hosting website. The photographs showed exchanges on January 12 between the Army Rotational

MTR Corp urged to probe possible human error after...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

Hong Kong’s rail operator has been urged to investigate whether human error was behind the recent 1½-hour partial shutdown of the Island line and to strengthen staff training to prevent similar incidents in the future. Ex-lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu, also formerly an MTR Corporation engineer, said on Thursday that the previous day’s disruption was very likely caused by noncompliance with maintenance protocols. “The coming investigation should focus on whether maintenance protocols were strictly...

China’s Baidu unveils AI-driven Wikipedia challenger...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

Chinese tech giant Baidu launched a Wikipedia challenger this week, banking on artificial intelligence to bridge information gaps for local and worldwide audiences in a move analysts said was aimed at seizing global opportunities. BaiduWiki, a Wikipedia-style service available in English, Spanish, French, Russian and Japanese, quietly went live on Monday, according to records from the Wayback Machine, a digital archive platform. A now deleted post on Baidu’s official account on social-media

AmCham chairman’s 2026 wishes? More US-China talks,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/12

In January, James Zimmerman returned to the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) as its chairman. He previously served in that role for four one-year terms in 2007, 2008, 2015 and 2016. A lawyer by training and a resident of China for 28 years, Zimmerman has witnessed the rise of the world’s second-largest economy, the challenges it has faced and the attendant changes to how American businesses operate in the country. In this interview, Zimmerman assesses the potential of US...

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