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News - South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong’s budget should move the city towards...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/08

At this time of year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s top priority is finalising the Hong Kong government’s budget for 2026-27, balancing requests for incentives and welfare against calls for a return to fiscal prudence. For decades, budget speeches have followed a familiar structure: a review of past performance, near- and medium-term forecasts, support measures for industries and social services, a report on the government’s fiscal position and financial estimates for the coming year....

Japan election: Takaichi’s ruling coalition wins...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/08

The ruling coalition of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looked set to sweep the lower house election, exit polls showed on Sunday night, implying a potential defence build-up as the country’s leader doubled down on her stoic stance on China. Public broadcaster NHK said the coalition of Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and the the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, won at least 310 of the 465 seats up for grabs, basing its projection on exit polls, reporting from counting

CK Hutchison set for hard fight to secure Panama port...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/08

Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison could find it hard to secure compensation from Panamanian authorities over their decision to nullify its port operations, legal experts have said, noting that the arbitral tribunal it engaged lacks enforcement power and the issuance of damages may depend on the country’s own courts. The conglomerate, led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family, said on Wednesday that its subsidiary, the Panama Ports Company (PPC), commenced arbitration against Panamanian authorities

What to eat, say, or buy during Lunar New Year to...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/08

As the Lunar New Year approaches, families across East Asia and beyond prepare not only festive meals and red decorations but also follow a series of long-standing customs believed to ward off bad luck and invite prosperity. The SCMP highlights some of the most commonly avoided taboos during the Lunar New Year and the meanings and stories behind them. Food to avoid Food plays a central role in the celebrations, but not everything is suitable for the festive table. It is important to avoid

Southeast Asian refugees cast out of Trump’s US face...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/08

The tattoo on his arm reads “buc Lao” (Laos boy) but Kham Paneboun is not a Laotian citizen. In fact, he’s not really from anywhere. In February last year, US Homeland Security detained him for a felony committed as a teenager, revoked his work permit and – after decades of legal residence – deported him to Laos, a country he had never set foot in. Kham, 43, was torn from his wife and four children, aged three to 12, who remain in Texas – a family now paying for a “bad mistake” he made in his...

Washington Post CEO steps down amid outcry over...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

The Washington Post said on Saturday its CEO and publisher Will Lewis was leaving effective immediately, just days after the storied newspaper owned by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made drastic job cuts that angered readers. Though newspapers across the United States have been facing brutal industry headwinds, Lewis’ management of the outlet was sharply criticised by subscribers and employees alike during his two-year tenure as he tried to reverse financial losses at the

How old is Chinese civilisation? It really dates back...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

A noted archaeologist is challenging conventional wisdom on one of the world’s oldest cultures, arguing that Chinese civilisation has a recorded history stretching back 8,000 years – three millennia beyond the widely accepted benchmark. An article published late last year on the official portal Chinese Social Sciences Net made the bold new claim that the emergence of astronomy should be seen as the starting point of Chinese civilisation. The author was Feng Shi, a member of the Chinese

French duo reach Shanghai, China, after walking over...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

Two French adventurers reached the end of an epic walk from their hometown to Shanghai on Saturday, after nearly a year and a half crossing 16 countries almost entirely on foot. Tired but delighted, Loic Voisot and Benjamin Humblot embraced as they stood by the river on the Bund promenade, the Chinese financial hub’s distinctive skyline glittering in the background. Voisot, 26, and Humblot, 27, set off from Annecy in southeastern France in September 2024. Yearning for a “great adventure”,

Ukraine’s Zelensky says US wants deal to end Russia’s...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says the US is proposing to finish all necessary negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in June. “The Americans are proposing that the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer,” Zelensky told reporters in a briefing late on Friday. “We understand that American internal issues have an impact and will certainly become even more relevant for them,” he said, suggesting US midterm elections in November would become the administration’s

Fatal floods strike Spain and Portugal, thousands...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

Spain and Portugal on Saturday braced for another storm heading for the Iberian Peninsula, just days after the floods caused by Storm Leonardo proved fatal in both countries.The latest depression, christened Storm Marta, has prompted the deployment of more than 26,500 rescuers in Portugal, where the foul weather has led three municipalities to postpone Sunday’s presidential vote till next week. Both countries have issued warnings over the potential fresh floods, after inundations blocked...

Woman arrested over illegally importing 112 birds...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of illegally importing 112 birds estimated to be worth about HK$15,000 (US$1,920) into Hong Kong. The government said on Saturday that the suspect, aged 26, was allegedly found with a trolley of cages holding multiple birds each as she tried to pass through the Lo Wu border crossing. The birds were seized by customs as the woman was arrested. Authorities estimated the avians were worth HK$15,000. The case is currently under investigation by the

Public bus driver makes detour to take child to...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

A Hong Kong bus driver has earned public praise for making an urgent detour to take an ill child to hospital before resuming the route. Citybus said on Saturday that the route 79X bus was travelling along Tolo Highway at about 10pm the previous day when a passenger noticed a child was unwell and sought help from the driver. “Deeming the situation urgent, the driver arranged for the bus to stop near Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po to allow the passengers to disembark for

Black Hawk to drone: new frontier in US rivalry with...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

The US is converting Cold War-era helicopters into drones, a move defence experts say could play a “critical role” in any conflict with Beijing over the Taiwan Strait. The PLA has also been retrofitting outdated aircraft to act as uncrewed drones, with both militaries unveiling similar systems within a month of each other last year. The S-70UAS U-Hawk, a fully autonomous helicopter based on the UH-60 Black Hawk, was first showcased last October at an annual American military event, where it

China slams ‘threat’ label in Norway security report...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

Beijing has denounced Norway’s latest security assessment labelling China as a threat, dismissing the report as “sheer speculation and imagination” while accusing Oslo of holding a “misguided” view that risked damage to ties. In an online statement posted on Saturday, the Chinese embassy in Norway said the reports “once again fabricate the so-called ‘China threat’ narrative out of sheer speculation and imagination, replete with cliches and not worthy of refutation”. “The China-related content

Japan’s teen voters must improve media literacy,...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

Social media-savvy young swing voters are emerging as a key demographic for political parties, and some digital platformers are trying to curb the adverse impact of disinformation and fake news on Generation Z by sharing tips ahead of Sunday’s general election. Around 20 junior high and high school students took part in a recent workshop held in Tokyo designed to help them understand the importance of knowing where information comes from and accessing primary sources, as the emergence of...

Has the YJ-15 missile been deployed to the Chinese...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

The world’s fastest air-launched anti-ship cruise missile appears to be in service in the Chinese navy. A photo of a carrier-based J-15T fighter equipped with two YJ-15 missiles has surfaced online in what seems to be a highly operational configuration. The South China Morning Post cannot verify the authenticity of the widely circulated image but, if genuine, the photo would confirm that the missile was designed for the People’s Liberation Army’s naval and air force tactical aircraft, such as...

China sends fourth ‘Shenlong’ reusable spacecraft...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

China on Saturday launched the latest mission of its reusable experimental spacecraft – a potential rival to the US Space Force’s X-37B. It was China’s fourth launch of such a prototype spacecraft since 2020, all of them conducted at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre using the Long March-2F carrier rocket. The official name and technical specifications of the spacecraft have yet to be announced, but Chinese space fans have dubbed it the Shenlong, or “Divine Dragon”. State news agency Xinhua...

Haiti’s future uncertain amid US threats, bloody gang...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

Haiti entered political limbo on Saturday as the mandate of the Caribbean nation’s transitional governing council, a body intended to curb ‌a bloody gang conflict and bring about long-delayed elections, ended with no succession plan in ‍place. The nine-member Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) was installed in April 2024 after Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned. It has been led by a rotating roster of council presidents. However, its term has been marked by a deterioration in security,...

China ties must not be marred by ‘politics’: Israeli...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

Israel and China should avoid letting political disagreement hijack cooperation, an Israeli senior diplomat has said, amid growing signs that the two strategic partners are moving to repair ties following the Gaza war rift. “We do not let [ties] be hijacked by the political sphere and we continue our ongoing activities on the bilateral,” said Aviv Ezra, the Israeli foreign ministry’s deputy director general for Asia and the Pacific. Ezra was in China last week for a working visit, the...

Hong Kong district councillor warned after parking...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/02/07

A district councillor who illegally parked in Hong Kong has been warned to adhere to higher standards, a minister has revealed. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen told reporters on Saturday that the Kwai Tsing district officer had reminded Chau Kit-ying verbally and in writing to act in accordance with the public’s expectations. “We demand that each district councillor perform their duty responsibly, and speak and act prudently,” Mak said. “Their actions must fulfil the...

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