Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Latest

World Opinion

Opinion | ICE fatal shootings raise fear over Trump’s use of federal authority

The administration is not backing down on its aggressive immigration operations, and Trump’s threat of invoking the Insurrection Act is not so easily dismissed.

Demonstrators protest, calling for an end to ICE operations in Minnesota, outside the office of US Senator Amy Klobuchar on January 26 in Minneapolis. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

United States & Canada

Suspect in Ilhan Omar attack is a convicted felon who made pro-Trump posts

After the US congresswoman was squirted with an unknown liquid, Trump accused her of staging the incident.

Anthony Kazmierczak is subdued after an attack on congresswoman Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

US

US’ Rubio says China profited from Venezuela’s collapse through cut-price oil

US secretary tells senators Beijing received discounted crude via opaque debt deals, saying Maduro’s removal was key to curbing influence.

videocam
5
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears before the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

United States & Canada

US agents who shot Minneapolis man Alex Pretti placed on leave

The killing of the ICU nurse, as well as that of Renee Good by an ICE agent, has sparked nationwide outrage.

videocam
Demonstrators take part in a vigil and protest on Tuesday over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, defying Trump pressure

The US president had been pushing for cuts at the central bank’s first policy gathering this year.

videocam
A view of the US Federal Reserve building in Washington on Monday. Photo: AFP
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Economy, Trade & Business

US Treasury chief Bessent warns Canada on trade fights, slams EU-India deal

Official urges calm from Ottawa ahead of trade talks, says EU put trade ahead of Ukraine by easing pressure on India over Russian oil.

videocam
5
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week in in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters

South Asia

Plane crashes in India, killing Maharashtra deputy chief minister and 4 others

The VSR Ventures-operated Learjet 45 aircraft went down in flames, leaving no survivors.

Rescuers work at the site of a plane crash at Baramati airport on Wednesday. Photo: IANS via Xinhua

Racing

In-form Hayes rings up 700th HK win in emotional Happy Valley double

China Win and Romantic Son both carried the famous Lindsay Park Racing silks to success at the city circuit.

Trainer David Hayes celebrates his 700th Hong Kong victory with jockey Keith Yeung Ming-lun. Photos: Kenneth Chan

Hong Kong

How AI model predicts heavy rainstorms 4 hours in advance

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese researchers have developed a pioneering AI model.

videocam
Hong Kong issued five black rainstorm warnings, the highest alert level, in 2025. Photo: May Tse

United States & Canada

S&P 500 hits 7,000 for first time amid AI boom and rate cut hopes

AI and Big Tech earnings propel the surge, as rate cut expectations boost market confidence despite earlier jitters.

videocam
A trader holds a cap reading “S&P 7,000” on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in July 2025. Photo: Reuters
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Tennis

Swiatek joins calls for privacy at Australian Open: ‘Are we animals in the zoo?’

Novak Djokovic also feels for Coco Gauff, whose post-match meltdown was captured by cameras, but does not see a future with fewer cameras.

Coco Gauff was upset after being filmed without her knowledge smashing her racquet after she lost on Tuesday to Elina Svitolina. Photo: Xinhua

Global Economy

Why Greenland’s rare earth riches cannot end US dependence on China’s minerals

Danish territory boasts vast critical mineral deposits – but mining and processing them extremely challenging, analyst says.

6
Rare earths have become a point of contention in the US-China relationship, particularly after Beijing imposed export controls on the minerals following Washington launching its trade war in April. Photo: Reuters

Europe

Caribbean island wins landmark climate case against Netherlands

The ruling mandates urgent climate action for Bonaire’s 20,000 residents, amid rising seas, setting a precedent for climate justice.

A mangrove on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. Photo: AFP

Transport

Hong Kong eyes lowering age bar for health checks on commercial drivers to 65

Proposals to tighten medical fitness requirements for commercial drivers aim to safeguard road safety amid an ageing workforce in sector.

Commercial vehicle drivers aged 65 or above will be required to submit medical exam certificates. Photo: Jelly Tse

Tech Trends

Hygon’s chips ‘safe’ from AMD security flaw amid China’s tech self-reliance push

That result shows Hygon’s efforts in redesigning the chip architecture licensed from AMD with self-developed innovations.

A Hygon accelerator used in artificial intelligence model training and inference. Photo: Hygon
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Military

Would Chinese or US supply lines be more vulnerable in a Pacific conflict?

AI-assisted modelling by the Heritage Foundation finds critical risks to fuel and munitions on both sides.

videocam
25
According to a Heritage Foundation report, the United States’ oiler fleet would be insufficient for at-sea fuel replenishment during a prolonged conflict with China. Photo: US Navy

Transport

Hong Kong transport chief pledges to refine bus seat belt rules after backlash

Hong Kong has made it mandatory for passengers on public or private buses to wear seat belts whenever they are available.

6
The new law took effect earlier this month. Photo: Jelly Tse

Global Economy

What haunts China’s investors? Geopolitics and a demographic abyss, survey finds

Weak domestic demand, shrinking confidence in the property market and a declining fertility rate fuel caution among investors in China’s major hubs.

videocam
China’s plummeting birth rates present a daunting challenge, as the nation’s newborn population fell below 8 million in 2025 for the first time since 1949. Photo: AFP

Companies

Muyuan Foods courts cornerstone investors for Hong Kong listing

Thai conglomerate expected to join a group of cornerstone investors in a deal that could raise about US$1.5 billion.

Muyuan is among a crop of Chinese companies in the consumer industry that are defying China’s sluggish consumer demand to sell shares in Hong Kong. Photo: AP

United States & Canada

Amazon cuts 16,000 jobs amid AI shift, post-pandemic restructuring

The restructuring and cost-cutting come despite soaring profits and strategic hiring in key areas.

Amazon plans to cut its workforce worldwide to streamline operations and reduce bureaucracy across the company. Photo: Shutterstock
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Travel & Leisure

Mostly unseen footage shows the crazy year building world’s first Disneyland

The new documentary Disneyland Handcrafted on Disney+ reveals just how fragile the creation of California’s Disneyland was.

Workers construct the front gates of California’s Disneyland in a still from Disneyland Handcrafted, a new documentary on Disney+. Photo: TNS

Tech Trends

Moonshot’s newest release narrows US-China AI model development gap: analysts

Kimi K2.5 raises questions about the potency of US controls on advanced chips to constrain China’s AI efforts, Brookings’ Kyle Chan says.

Chinese start-up Moonshot AI on Tuesday released its latest artificial intelligence model, Kimi K2.5. Photo: Shutterstock

Europe

‘Big statement’: Sarah Mullally confirmed as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

The worldwide Anglican Communion, including the US Episcopal Church, has no formal head, but the archbishop is its spiritual leader.

Dame Sarah Mullally is legally confirmed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

World Opinion

Opinion | With China visit, Starmer makes clear he’s putting Britain first

The prime minister’s visit to China is a declaration that the UK will no longer be a simple passenger in a contest defined in Washington and Beijing.

Illustration: Craig Stephens

Video | What is Nipah virus and should you be concerned?

Fatality rate of virus can be as high as 75 per cent and there is no effective treatment, but health experts say an outbreak in China is relatively less likely.

Health worker
02:15
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Business

Hong Kong logs US$37 million Admiralty office deal amid market recovery hopes

The sale follows a series of sizeable office transactions and a pickup in leasing, as investors reassess opportunities in Hong Kong.

Admiralty Centre: property agents point to improving sentiment in the commercial segment. Photo: Handout

Diplomacy

China vows to step in if Australia moves to regain control of Darwin Port

Envoy Xiao Qian says Beijing ‘has the obligation to take measures’ if the port, leased to China for 99 years, is taken back.

videocam
21
Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian says the Darwin Port issue should be “properly managed” to show that Australia welcomes Chinese investment. Photo: EPA-EFE

Big Tech

Beijing clears Nvidia’s H200 imports, easing chip crunch for China tech giants

More than 400,000 H200 chips reportedly approved for ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent as China balances AI needs with tech self-reliance push.

5
The first batch of Nvidia chip shipments is expected to go to China’s Big Tech companies. Photo: Shutterstock

China Economy

As World Cup boosts merch demand, China’s small-goods capital Yiwu stays wary

China sees a spike in orders from across the globe for footy-themed flags, scarves and wristbands but overall economic outlook is still weak.

videocam
Fifa President Gianni Infantino holds a football next to the Fifa World Cup trophy as he attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle & Culture

Who are ‘we’? Why some Singaporeans bristle at ‘we first’ inclusive society call

Several ministers have spoken about a “we first” society, prompting some Singaporeans to question whether it benefits foreigners more.

People gathering at the Merlion Park in Singapore. Photo: Wang Gang/Future Publishing via Getty Images