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The website of The Trump Organization’s mobile phone service and a Trump-branded smartphone on display on an iPhone on June 16, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Photo: AFP

Where is Trump’s ‘all-American’ phone made? Analysts point to Asia

China, the world’s largest smartphone market since 2011, is also the hub of global manufacturing, accounting for anything from 60 to 80 per cent of production.

4 hours ago

How supply chain politics could mean misery for thousands of Chinese workers

Smartphones

LIVE

Trump says US ‘may’ or ‘may not’ join Israel against Iran

‘Nobody knows what I’m going to do,’ the US president says at an event at the White House.

1 hour ago

Diplomacy

China weighs strategic impact as US mulls military response in Iran

With limited leverage, Beijing may choose a muted response but will protect its economic interests in region, analysts say.

18 Jun 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

Politics

Top Beijing official confident ‘masters of Hong Kong’ will be bold on reforms

Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong met city leader John Lee and senior officials on Wednesday evening.

4 hours agovideocam

Tech

TikTok has been expanding overseas amid turmoil in the US, its largest market, where it has about 170 million users. Photo: Reuters

TikTok’s fate still in limbo as Trump extends deadline to sell its US operations

Diplomacy

Hundreds of Chinese citizens leave Iran as fighting with Israel continues

The foreign ministry in Beijing said efforts were continuing to get Chinese nationals out of the two countries.

18 Jun 2025 - 8:46PMvideocam

China said so far there had been no reports that Chinese nationals had been killed or injured in the fighting. Photo: TNS

Lifestyle & Culture

Singapore’s Gen Z sobers up for daytime low-cost parties

Amid challenges in nightlife revival post-pandemic, young people in Singapore and across Asia are opting for affordable alternatives to intoxication and all-nighters.

6 hours ago

Economics

Air India crash: safety focus at all-time high as competition takes backseat

The stakes are high for Boeing and India as both sides seek to address safety perceptions following the 787 Dreamliner’s crash in Ahmedabad.

18 Jun 2025 - 7:00PMvideocam

Lifestyle

Acclaimed photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s dynamic pictures inspire change

Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative supports the conservationist’s work which sparks discussions and action needed to protect the oceans.

In partnership with

Rolex

China Economy

China records bumper capital inflow as Gulf investors hedge against US

China saw a US$33 billion capital inflow in May, as investors seek a safe haven and reduce their US exposure amid rising global instability.

18 Jun 2025 - 7:00PM

China has recorded a strong inflow of foreign capital into its bond and equities markets in recent months, as investors look to hedge against the United States. Photo: EPA-EFE

Transport

Cathay budget carrier HK Express upbeat on growth despite Japan flight cuts

HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao says she expects passenger growth of around 30 to 40 per cent in 2025.

6 hours ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong singer Tommy Yuen arrested for allegedly stealing snacks worth HK$140

Police say Cantopop singer arrested after officers on patrol spotted him acting suspiciously in To Kwa Wan.

4 hours ago

United States & Canada

Karen Read found not guilty of murder in retrial over boyfriend’s death

The same US jury found her guilty of drunken driving, in a case that has attracted legions of true crime followers.

8 minutes ago

Karen Read hugs lawyer Alan Jackson after a not guilty verdict of was read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, on Wednesday. Photo: The Patriot Ledger via AP

Middle East

Explainer | Hypersonic missiles are stirring fears in the Iran-Israel conflict. Here’s why

Iran says it has unleashed its ‘Fattah 1’ missiles – could the fast-moving weapons test Israel’s vaunted air defences?

1 hour agovideocam

A Fattah missile is displayed at a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, in June 2023. Photo: Tasnim News Agency via AP

South Asia

Dalai Lama to issue July 2 message, expected to address succession

The video message will be shown just days before the Nobel Peace Prize-winning monk is expected to celebrate his 90th birthday.

4 hours agovideocam

China

China’s possible peace role, firms flock to air show: SCMP daily highlights

From Beijing’s potential role in an Israel-Iran ceasefire to aviation firms flocking to Paris Air Show, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

18 Jun 2025 - 9:15PM

Russia & Central Asia

Russia urges US not to attack Iran, warns world ‘millimetres’ from calamity

Moscow said Washington’s direct involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict would ‘radically destabilise’ the Middle East.

6 hours agovideocam

Smoke billows from an Iranian oil refinery following an Israeli strike on Tehran on June 17. Photo: AFP

Politics

TikTok fuelling rise of fascist youth movement in the Philippines, experts warn

The far-right Philippine Falangist Front seeks to evoke nostalgia for Spanish rule while calling for Catholic authoritarianism.

18 Jun 2025 - 6:36PMvideocam

A hooded figure types on a laptop in a dark room, symbolising the anonymous spread of extremist content online. Photo: Shutterstock

China Economy

China to reduce pig count by 1 million amid low prices, deflation risk: report

Measures reportedly in the works by agriculture authorities are not just aimed at restoring balance to pork sector, but also at shoring up economy amid deflation risks.

18 Jun 2025 - 9:00PM

United States & Canada

Trump muses about appointing himself to lead US Fed in new attack on Powell

The US president’s remarks came just before the central bank revealed its decision to hold interest rates steady for a fourth consecutive time.

2 hours agovideocam

LATEST

8 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Karen Read found not guilty of murder in retrial over boyfriend’s death

33 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Trump shows off giant new flagpoles: ‘best in the world’

2 hours ago

Middle East

Explainer | Hypersonic missiles are stirring fears in the Iran-Israel conflict. Here’s why

3 hours ago

United States & Canada

Trump muses about appointing himself to lead US Fed in new attack on Powell

4 hours ago

South Asia

Dalai Lama to issue July 2 message, expected to address succession

5 hours ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong singer Tommy Yuen arrested for allegedly stealing snacks worth HK$140

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US tariff war

As US urges foreign investment, Chinese firms see Trump policy and balk

Mixed messaging from American leader adds to complicated terrain for companies, especially at state level where suspicion can run high.

17 Jun 2025 - 3:53AMvideocam

China’s economy weathers US tariff storm in May as consumption picks up

16 Jun 2025 - 4:30PM

Why Chinese firms building foreign factories are no longer focused on US market

15 Jun 2025 - 11:00AM

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Trump and Xi to act tough but won’t allow free fall in US-China ties: Ryan Hass

Think tank expert and former diplomat discusses Donald Trump’s approach to China and why his ‘bromance’ with Xi Jinping might be one-sided.

16 Jun 2025 - 10:13AMvideocam

Global Economy

Open Dialogue | Is the US dollar’s decline inevitable? Kenneth Rogoff and Yu Yongding weigh in

The two economists reflect on how the Trump administration’s recent actions have harmed the US dollar – and handed China a golden opportunity.

9 Jun 2025 - 11:20AMvideocam

Politics

Open Questions | How US tech curbs pushed China to innovate, and where a ‘super AI’ could emerge

Law professor says regulating AI is ‘like buying insurance’ and precautions must be taken, especially by pioneers in the field.

5 Jun 2025 - 2:27PMvideocam

Global Economy

Open Questions | Truth in the truce: Wendy Cutler mulls if US-China trade can find lasting peace

With three decades spent shaping US trade policy from behind the scenes, Cutler touches on hot-button issues, from Trump’s executive orders to the likelihood of a lasting agreement with China.

26 May 2025 - 10:00AM

Key Industries:

Tech Trends

DeepSeek rival MiniMax says its first AI reasoning model halves compute of R1

The Shanghai-based firm said its open-source M1 model is more efficient in tasks including maths and coding than the popular DeepSeek-R1.

17 Jun 2025 - 9:30PM

MiniMax-M1 consumes half the resources and has a context window 10 times the size of DeepSeek-R1, according to the start-up. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

DeepSeek’s updated R1 AI model matches Google, Anthropic in coding benchmark

The updated reasoning model, released in May, performed well against leading US models in the real-time WebDev Arena tests.

18 Jun 2025 - 6:03PM

Big Tech

Alibaba recruits top Chinese AI scientist to lead speech-recognition push

Li, who holds a PhD in Computer and Information Sciences, has taken a pivotal role leading speech AI research at the e-commerce giant.

18 Jun 2025 - 5:03PM

China Economy

At Paris Air Show, China’s aviation suppliers circle for a landing

The number of Chinese exhibitors has more than doubled at this year’s show, as producers across the supply chain eye European market.

18 Jun 2025 - 5:00PMvideocam

The number of Chinese suppliers attending the Paris Air Show has more than doubled for this year’s edition. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

China may offer to play ‘constructive’ role in mediating Iran-Israel conflict

Beijing has expressed its willingness to play a ‘constructive’ role, but there may be limits on what it can achieve.

18 Jun 2025 - 1:54PMvideocam

A damaged building in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. China has said it wants to play a “constructive” role in securing peace. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Why the Trump-Musk feud may have cooled, but China’s concern has not

Trump’s unpredictability is well known, but his treatment of his erstwhile ally will make Beijing extra cautious about agreeing to a summit.

17 Jun 2025 - 11:42AMvideocam

China

As US urges foreign investment, Chinese firms see Trump policy and balk

Mixed messaging from American leader adds to complicated terrain for companies, especially at state level where suspicion can run high.

17 Jun 2025 - 3:53AMvideocam

Science

What next for He Jiankui, the human gene editor locked in limbo?

The biophysicist dubbed ‘China’s Frankenstein’ vows to continue controversial research that made him a ‘public enemy’.

15 Jun 2025 - 11:08AMvideocam

Where is Trump’s ‘all-American’ phone made? Analysts point to Asia

China, the world’s largest smartphone market since 2011, is also the hub of global manufacturing, accounting for anything from 60 to 80 per cent of production.

How supply chain politics could mean misery for thousands of Chinese workers

Trump says US ‘may’ or ‘may not’ join Israel against Iran

‘Nobody knows what I’m going to do,’ the US president says at an event at the White House.

China weighs strategic impact as US mulls military response in Iran

With limited leverage, Beijing may choose a muted response but will protect its economic interests in region, analysts say.

Top Beijing official confident ‘masters of Hong Kong’ will be bold on reforms

Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong met city leader John Lee and senior officials on Wednesday evening.

TikTok’s fate still in limbo as Trump extends deadline to sell its US operations

Hundreds of Chinese citizens leave Iran as fighting with Israel continues

The foreign ministry in Beijing said efforts were continuing to get Chinese nationals out of the two countries.

Singapore’s Gen Z sobers up for daytime low-cost parties

Amid challenges in nightlife revival post-pandemic, young people in Singapore and across Asia are opting for affordable alternatives to intoxication and all-nighters.

Air India crash: safety focus at all-time high as competition takes backseat

The stakes are high for Boeing and India as both sides seek to address safety perceptions following the 787 Dreamliner’s crash in Ahmedabad.

Acclaimed photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s dynamic pictures inspire change

Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative supports the conservationist’s work which sparks discussions and action needed to protect the oceans.

China records bumper capital inflow as Gulf investors hedge against US

China saw a US$33 billion capital inflow in May, as investors seek a safe haven and reduce their US exposure amid rising global instability.

Cathay budget carrier HK Express upbeat on growth despite Japan flight cuts

HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao says she expects passenger growth of around 30 to 40 per cent in 2025.

Hong Kong singer Tommy Yuen arrested for allegedly stealing snacks worth HK$140

Police say Cantopop singer arrested after officers on patrol spotted him acting suspiciously in To Kwa Wan.

Karen Read found not guilty of murder in retrial over boyfriend’s death

The same US jury found her guilty of drunken driving, in a case that has attracted legions of true crime followers.

Explainer | Hypersonic missiles are stirring fears in the Iran-Israel conflict. Here’s why

Iran says it has unleashed its ‘Fattah 1’ missiles – could the fast-moving weapons test Israel’s vaunted air defences?

Dalai Lama to issue July 2 message, expected to address succession

The video message will be shown just days before the Nobel Peace Prize-winning monk is expected to celebrate his 90th birthday.

China’s possible peace role, firms flock to air show: SCMP daily highlights

From Beijing’s potential role in an Israel-Iran ceasefire to aviation firms flocking to Paris Air Show, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Russia urges US not to attack Iran, warns world ‘millimetres’ from calamity

Moscow said Washington’s direct involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict would ‘radically destabilise’ the Middle East.

TikTok fuelling rise of fascist youth movement in the Philippines, experts warn

The far-right Philippine Falangist Front seeks to evoke nostalgia for Spanish rule while calling for Catholic authoritarianism.

China to reduce pig count by 1 million amid low prices, deflation risk: report

Measures reportedly in the works by agriculture authorities are not just aimed at restoring balance to pork sector, but also at shoring up economy amid deflation risks.

Trump muses about appointing himself to lead US Fed in new attack on Powell

The US president’s remarks came just before the central bank revealed its decision to hold interest rates steady for a fourth consecutive time.

Opinion | Where is the tolerant, friendly and open US of my college days?

My Take | New world order: Greater China, Russia and Israel, but smaller US

Opinion | Israeli strikes one more challenge for new China-Iran rail corridor

Opinion | In China-Russia relations, power speaks louder than friendship

Opinion | Why the US and China have failed to stop war in the Middle East

Karen Read found not guilty of murder in retrial over boyfriend’s death

Trump shows off giant new flagpoles: ‘best in the world’

Explainer | Hypersonic missiles are stirring fears in the Iran-Israel conflict. Here’s why

Trump muses about appointing himself to lead US Fed in new attack on Powell

Dalai Lama to issue July 2 message, expected to address succession

Hong Kong singer Tommy Yuen arrested for allegedly stealing snacks worth HK$140

As US urges foreign investment, Chinese firms see Trump policy and balk

Mixed messaging from American leader adds to complicated terrain for companies, especially at state level where suspicion can run high.

China’s economy weathers US tariff storm in May as consumption picks up

Why Chinese firms building foreign factories are no longer focused on US market

Open Questions | Trump and Xi to act tough but won’t allow free fall in US-China ties: Ryan Hass

Think tank expert and former diplomat discusses Donald Trump’s approach to China and why his ‘bromance’ with Xi Jinping might be one-sided.

Open Dialogue | Is the US dollar’s decline inevitable? Kenneth Rogoff and Yu Yongding weigh in

The two economists reflect on how the Trump administration’s recent actions have harmed the US dollar – and handed China a golden opportunity.

Open Questions | How US tech curbs pushed China to innovate, and where a ‘super AI’ could emerge

Law professor says regulating AI is ‘like buying insurance’ and precautions must be taken, especially by pioneers in the field.

Open Questions | Truth in the truce: Wendy Cutler mulls if US-China trade can find lasting peace

With three decades spent shaping US trade policy from behind the scenes, Cutler touches on hot-button issues, from Trump’s executive orders to the likelihood of a lasting agreement with China.

DeepSeek rival MiniMax says its first AI reasoning model halves compute of R1

The Shanghai-based firm said its open-source M1 model is more efficient in tasks including maths and coding than the popular DeepSeek-R1.

DeepSeek’s updated R1 AI model matches Google, Anthropic in coding benchmark

The updated reasoning model, released in May, performed well against leading US models in the real-time WebDev Arena tests.

Alibaba recruits top Chinese AI scientist to lead speech-recognition push

Li, who holds a PhD in Computer and Information Sciences, has taken a pivotal role leading speech AI research at the e-commerce giant.

At Paris Air Show, China’s aviation suppliers circle for a landing

The number of Chinese exhibitors has more than doubled at this year’s show, as producers across the supply chain eye European market.

China may offer to play ‘constructive’ role in mediating Iran-Israel conflict

Beijing has expressed its willingness to play a ‘constructive’ role, but there may be limits on what it can achieve.

Why the Trump-Musk feud may have cooled, but China’s concern has not

Trump’s unpredictability is well known, but his treatment of his erstwhile ally will make Beijing extra cautious about agreeing to a summit.

As US urges foreign investment, Chinese firms see Trump policy and balk

Mixed messaging from American leader adds to complicated terrain for companies, especially at state level where suspicion can run high.

What next for He Jiankui, the human gene editor locked in limbo?

The biophysicist dubbed ‘China’s Frankenstein’ vows to continue controversial research that made him a ‘public enemy’.