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US trade deficit widens sharply, reversing big...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

The US trade deficit sharply widened in November as imports picked up, according to government data released Thursday, reversing an unexpectedly big pullback in the prior month lauded by US President Donald Trump. The trade gap surged by 94.6 per cent in November to US$56.8 billion, Commerce Department data showed, bringing it close to levels seen in June and August last year. The shift reflected fluctuations in goods like gold and pharmaceuticals, in a year already marked by major swings in...

NWD says parent approached by investors after report...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

New World Development (NWD), the embattled Hong Kong property developer, said late on Thursday that its parent, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), has been approached by potential investors after reports that CTFE may sell part of its stake to Blackstone. Bloomberg reported early that Blackstone – the world’s biggest asset manager – was in discussion to become the single largest shareholder of NWD, citing people familiar with the matter. Under the proposed arrangement, the US alternative asset...

EU designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorist...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

The European Union has listed Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests, the bloc’s top diplomat said in a post on social media on Thursday. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said that foreign ministers unanimously agreed on the designation. “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working towards its own demise,” she said. “This will put them on the same footing with al-Qaeda, Hamas,

Discovery of badly decomposed whale carcass on Sai...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Hong Kong authorities are investigating the discovery of a severely decomposed whale carcass discovered on a beach in Sai Kung. Authorities were alerted to the decomposed carcass, measuring 11 metres (36.1 feet) in length, on Thursday after villagers found it on the beach at Ham Tin Wan, in Sai Kung East Country Park. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) deployed officers to the scene, with preliminary findings suggesting that the animal was a baleen whale. Based on

Trump border tsar suggests Minnesota ICE drawdown if...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

The number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota could be reduced, but only if state and local officials cooperate, US President Donald Trump’s border tsar said on Thursday, noting he had “zero tolerance” for protesters who assault federal officers or impede the ongoing operation in the Twin Cities. Tom Homan addressed reporters for the first time since the president sent him to Minneapolis following last weekend’s fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti. The news conference comes...

China’s leaders pay tribute to Liao Xilong, late...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

China’s leadership has paid tribute to Liao Xilong, praising the late general for his loyalty to the Communist Party and military service. Liao, 85, who was in charge of overhauling military logistics, died on January 23, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, the day of his funeral. “[Liao was] a time-tested and loyal communist warrior, an outstanding military commander, and an exemplary leader in advancing the comprehensive modernisation of military logistics,” the report said. The...

US ambassador warns against China’s manufacturing...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

The top US envoy to China called on Thursday for fair and reciprocal trade between the world’s two largest economies and expressed concern about projections that China’s dominance of global manufacturing will grow even further in the years to come. US Ambassador David Perdue told business and government leaders in Beijing that China should be congratulated on becoming a manufacturing powerhouse, but echoed fears in Europe and elsewhere that China’s exports pose a threat to factories and jobs

With China’s Xi, Britain’s Starmer hopes gift of...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Chinese President Xi Jinping received a unique gift from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday: the official match ball from Sunday’s fixture between Manchester United and Arsenal, according to media reports. Starmer is on an official visit to China, the first by a British leader since 2018. While Starmer is an ardent Arsenal fan, Xi is reportedly a supporter of Manchester United. Manchester United secured a 3-2 victory in a tightly contested match. By offering the gift...

Do Americans think China will overtake the US? The...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Nearly three-quarters of Americans expect China to overtake the US in power and global influence at some point – if it has not done so already, according to a survey by a US foreign policy institute. Releasing the results of a national poll earlier this month, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said 47 per cent of the 1,500 adults surveyed agreed that China had already surpassed the United States or would do so within the next five years. A further 27 per cent said the shift would...

Morgan Stanley expects China’s humanoid robot sales...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Morgan Stanley expects China’s humanoid robot sales to grow 133 per cent to 28,000 units this year, while noting that falling production costs will gradually make owning robots more accessible. The US investment bank revised its forecast from the 14,000 units previously on the back of the rapid growth of the industry in the world’s second largest economy. The cost of materials to produce robots in China, home to most of the industry’s supply chain, was set to drop 16 per cent this year, the

Hong Kong travellers continue to favour Japan despite...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Hong Kong travellers continue to favour Japan as a holiday destination despite ongoing geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, thanks to unaffected flight routes and a weaker yen, local industry operators have said. Travel agencies also identified mainland China as the top destination for Hong Kong travel groups, as they gathered at an exhibition on Thursday to promote packages for the coming spring season. Beijing recently issued a warning to its citizens, cautioning them against...

Trump critic Klobuchar enters Minnesota governor race...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

US Senator Amy Klobuchar said on Thursday she is running for governor of Minnesota, promising to take on US President Donald Trump while unifying a state that has endured a series of challenges even before the federal government’s immigration crackdown. Klobuchar’s decision gives Democrats a high-profile candidate and proven statewide winner as their party tries to hold onto the office occupied by Governor Tim Walz. The 2024 Democratic vice-presidential nominee, Walz abandoned his campaign for

Hong Kong firm, Elior Group sign deal to set up...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

A French aeronautics services company and a Hong Kong aviation engineering company signed a joint venture deal on Thursday to establish an aircraft dismantling and parts trading facility in the city, with operations targeted to begin within the year. But the project’s launch will hinge on the availability of a separate plot of land with barge and truck access. This site is required for recycling fuselages once the parts that can be traded have been removed, to avoid a bottleneck in the entire...

AstraZeneca unveils US$15 billion China investment...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said on Thursday it plans to invest US$15 billion in China through 2030, signalling renewed momentum in Sino-UK commercial ties. The investment – the biggest deal announced so far during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s trip to Beijing aimed at strengthening trade ties – will support expanded medicines manufacturing as well as research and development (R&D), the company said in a statement. “Unlocking opportunities for British businesses across...

China executes 11 core members of Myanmar-based...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

A Chinese court has executed 11 people, including several citizens of Myanmar, linked to a notorious telecoms fraud group based in the Southeast Asian country for crimes including fraud, drug trafficking and murder. The Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in eastern Zhejiang province carried out the executions of people who formed the core leadership of the Ming family crime syndicate and associated telecoms fraud groups, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday. According to China’s

Hong Kong supervisor held over cruelty after botched...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Hong Kong police have arrested a supervisor from a cleaning company for suspected animal cruelty after more than 110 fish died while a pond was being cleaned at a public housing estate in Tseung Kwan O. The woman, a 51-year-old supervisor from Fai Kee Environmental Cleaning, was taken into custody on Wednesday. She was later released on bail and was required to report back to police next month. Six workers from the contractor removed about 200 fish and several turtles from the pond near King

Spirits rise as baijiu shares rally on Lunar New Year...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Chinese liquor stocks jumped on Thursday ahead of Lunar New Year, with retailers reportedly building inventories of spirits typically consumed at family reunions and corporate banquets. Shares of Kweichow Moutai – China’s best-known baijiu maker and the most valuable stock on the mainland market – climbed more than 9 per cent in afternoon trading to 1,445 yuan, their highest level in over a month. The stock closed the session 8.6 per cent higher at 1,437.72 yuan. Smaller peers also rallied,

Town planning body slammed for neglecting disabled...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Disabled residents and a former lawmaker have slammed Hong Kong’s town planning authorities for failing to consider accessibility needs and overlooking potential fire safety risks in an approved development plan for Wan Chai, calling for a review to make the area more barrier-free. Former social welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen said on Thursday that the Town Planning Board-approved, high-density development plan covering Sau Wa Fong and Nam Koo Terrace failed to take into account its

With AI in the driving seat, China moves to rein in...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

After testing Tesla’s driver assistance system FSD earlier this month, Chinese economist Ren Zeping exclaimed that autonomous driving’s large-scale real-world implementation was progressing much faster than he thought. Though driverless taxis are so far only being tested in designated areas in Chinese cities, he prophesied that autonomous driving would soon become widespread. “Autonomous driving will erupt in the next couple of years. Large models enable a unified driving paradigm, letting

Pawsitively posh: Hong Kong Pet Show takes luxury to...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/01/29

Private jet holidays, cat litter boxes powered by artificial intelligence and human-grade fresh dog food inspired by char siu rice are all the rage at this year’s Hong Kong Pet Show, as exhibitors express confidence in the purchasing power of the city’s pet owners. Humans, dogs and cats jostled alongside each other on Thursday, the opening day of the expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, as furry friends decked out in outfits sampled treats like dried alligator and bully...

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