https://www.scmp.com/rss/330834/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Julian Ryall Julian Ryall After playing in a forested area in the Solomon Islands, Billy’s children often break out in rashes or itchy boils at home. A few years ago, the family became dizzy, suffered headaches and vomited – they believed it was due to the clams from nearby mangrove beds that they had eaten. “It was lucky that we stopped the children from eating them,” said Billy, whose family lives a hand-to-mouth existence in the village of Yandina in the Russell Islands. The 50-year-old farmer suspected that... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348779/solomon-islands-residents-live-fear-wwii-bomb-explosions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348779/solomon-islands-residents-live-fear-wwii-bomb-explosions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Science and Nature are among the world’s most prestigious journals, which most scientists strive to publish in but never will. By the age of 30, quantum physicist Zhu Zijie had already published in both with significant discoveries on the behaviour of cold atoms. After graduating from Peking University, he went to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) – Albert Einstein’s alma mater – for graduate studies and stayed there as a postdoctoral researcher for over a year. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348415/do-something-nobodys-done-quantum-physicist-zhu-zijie-leaves-europe-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348415/do-something-nobodys-done-quantum-physicist-zhu-zijie-leaves-europe-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:18:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Hundreds of people were evacuated from a nightclub in southwest Germany after a fire broke out, police said on Sunday, with images from the scene showing the blaze raging on the building’s roof. Police said the fire began at around 3.45am in the nightclub in Kehl, which is on the border with France. The blaze went on to “spread over the whole building”, a police statement said. All of the roughly 750 people inside at the time were able to escape, with three people treated by emergency... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348323/hundreds-flee-fire-rips-through-german-nightclub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348323/hundreds-flee-fire-rips-through-german-nightclub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 17:08:29 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Francois Penz, former head of the department of architecture at the University of Cambridge and a pioneer in the interdisciplinary field of architecture and film, has joined Nanjing University on a full-time basis. The school of architecture and urban planning of Nanjing University announced the appointment on its social media account on March 17. Penz is an emeritus professor at the university, a former director of The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, a fellow of Darwin... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347941/cambridge-top-architect-francois-penz-relocates-china-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347941/cambridge-top-architect-francois-penz-relocates-china-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Rising fuel costs triggered by the Middle East crisis are emerging as an unexpected tailwind for China’s electric vehicle (EV) makers, as consumers increasingly pivot towards battery-powered cars to avoid surging petrol bills. With Brent crude climbing past the psychologically significant US$100-a-barrel mark – and now trading above US$110 – mainland buyers are turning away from petrol vehicles, according to dealers and analysts. “It’s a no-brainer for me now,” said Wang Wenbo, a 25-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348200/pain-pump-fuels-ev-rush-china-driving-timely-boost-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348200/pain-pump-fuels-ev-rush-china-driving-timely-boost-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:00:18 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 years in prison by a Paris criminal court for the rape of three women. The verdict marks the latest fall from grace for the former Oxford University professor, who faces a string of rape allegations in Switzerland and France and has already been convicted in the former. A charismatic yet controversial figure in European Islam, Ramadan has always maintained his innocence. While he had been on trial in Paris since March 2 for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347919/french-court-finds-swiss-islamic-scholar-ramadan-guilty-rape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347919/french-court-finds-swiss-islamic-scholar-ramadan-guilty-rape?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:27:48 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Kevin Li Connor Mycroft,Kevin Li Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways’ extended suspension of its Middle Eastern flights is likely to have a limited financial impact on its passenger operations as its expanded European services should help offset losses, aviation experts have said. But they warned of broader effects on its cargo business, given the loss of the Middle East as a historically cost-effective transit route and the upwards pressure on fuel and insurance prices due to the war. The airline announced on Tuesday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347766/cathays-european-services-could-offset-middle-east-losses-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347766/cathays-european-services-could-offset-middle-east-losses-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press French financial prosecutors said on Tuesday that searches were carried out at several locations, including the Paris arm of Swiss private bank Edmond de Rothschild, as part of an investigation tied to revelations from the files on Jeffrey Epstein. France’s national financial prosecutor’s office said searches were carried out last Friday as part of a preliminary investigation opened last month. Investigators are examining suspicions of bribery involving a foreign public official and complicity... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347767/french-authorities-search-paris-arm-swiss-bank-epstein-linked-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347767/french-authorities-search-paris-arm-swiss-bank-epstein-linked-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:37:53 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong developer Sun Hung Kai Properties is betting big on arts and commercial projects at the West Kowloon Cultural District, banking on the city’s designated role as a cross-border asset and wealth management hub – even as the office rental market remains subdued. Sun Hung Kai Properties is positioning its projects to stand out within its 8 million sq ft portfolio of office and commercial space in West Kowloon, where it is also the sole developer in the arts hub building the Artist Square... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347505/hong-kong-developer-banks-arts-and-finance-synergy-west-kowloon-cultural-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347505/hong-kong-developer-banks-arts-and-finance-synergy-west-kowloon-cultural-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:30:20 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang AstraZeneca said it would establish drug manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou and Shanghai as well as a separate innovation centre in Shanghai, joining a group of foreign players building new plants in China amid geopolitical tensions. The moves are part of a US$15 billion commitment the British firm pledged to make in the world’s second-largest drug market through 2030, unveiled during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in January. China’s manufacturing capabilities, integrated... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:30:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Peace talks between the United States, Russia and Ukraine on ending the Ukraine war, the deadliest European conflict since World War II, were on a “situational pause”, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Moscow’s statement followed a report by Russia’s Izvestia newspaper that the Iran war had temporarily ‌halted negotiations between ⁠Moscow, ⁠Washington and Kyiv. Kremlin ‌spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ‌Russia hoped ‌the ‌pause would end and ⁠another round of ⁠negotiations can be held. US President... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347151/russian-report-says-ukraine-peace-talks-paused-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347151/russian-report-says-ukraine-peace-talks-paused-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:27:27 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Beijing has increased its inspections on Panama-flagged vessels entering Chinese ports, a source from the shipping industry said, an action intended to raise the Latin American country’s stress level after its courts voided the operating rights of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison in the Panama Canal. Port state control (PSC) – the inspection regime countries may deploy to verify the compliance of foreign ships with various international standards – was being used as a form of leverage... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346767/papers-please-china-raises-pressure-panama-amid-canal-row-ship-inspection-wave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346767/papers-please-china-raises-pressure-panama-amid-canal-row-ship-inspection-wave?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A UN-backed panel of independent experts focusing on racial discrimination has said that racist hate speech by US President Donald Trump and other American political leaders, along with a crackdown on immigration in the United States, have led to “grave human rights violations”. The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its decision on Wednesday and urged the US to suspend immigration enforcement operations at, and near, schools, hospitals, and faith-based... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346322/trumps-racist-hate-speech-fuelling-rights-violations-us-un-panel-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346322/trumps-racist-hate-speech-fuelling-rights-violations-us-un-panel-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:08:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Trump administration on Wednesday opened a new trade investigation into manufacturing in foreign countries – an effort that comes after the Supreme Court struck down US President Donald Trump’s previous use of tariffs by declaring an economic emergency. Trump and his team have made clear that they’re seeking to replace the hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenues after the Supreme Court’s February ruling by using different laws to establish new tariffs. In this case, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346279/us-launches-trade-probe-china-and-eu-bid-revive-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346279/us-launches-trade-probe-china-and-eu-bid-revive-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:46:48 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The blaze on a bus in Switzerland that killed six people may have been started by a “disturbed” man who set himself alight, the cantonal public prosecutor said on Wednesday. “A witness statement indicated that a man... of Swiss origin boarded the bus carrying bags. At some point, he doused himself with a flammable substance and set himself alight,” Raphael Bourquin told a press conference. “There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that this could be a terrorist act,” he said, adding that “it... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346152/least-6-killed-5-injured-switzerland-bus-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346152/least-6-killed-5-injured-switzerland-bus-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 23:37:08 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage Whenever South African officials meet their Chinese counterparts to talk trade, the issue of the imbalance in China’s favour is almost certainly raised. But a discrepancy in the data from the two sides makes it hard to assess the trade gap. The latest Chinese customs data suggests that South Africa actually holds a surplus – exporting more to the world’s second-largest economy than it receives in return. According to the numbers from Beijing, China recorded US$30.58 billion in imports from South... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345939/us17-billion-question-why-china-and-south-africa-are-so-far-apart-trade-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345939/us17-billion-question-why-china-and-south-africa-are-so-far-apart-trade-data?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Jess Ma,Leopold Chen Jess Ma,Leopold Chen Travellers are paying double the usual airfare on Cathay Pacific Airways flights from more than 50 cities to Hong Kong as the Iran war drives up demand for routes that avoid the conflict zone, with London, Madrid and Chennai seeing the steepest surges, the South China Morning Post has found. The US-Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes that spilled over into neighbouring Gulf states over the course of a week have forced much of the Middle East’s airspace to remain closed,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345793/iran-war-closes-middle-east-skies-how-high-can-cathay-pacific-fares-fly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345793/iran-war-closes-middle-east-skies-how-high-can-cathay-pacific-fares-fly?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:03:22 +0000 Reuters Reuters US military investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible ⁠for an apparent strike on an Iranian ⁠girls’ school that killed scores of children on Saturday ⁠but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation, two US officials told Reuters. Reuters was unable to determine more details about the investigation, including what evidence contributed to the tentative assessment, what type of munition was used, who was responsible or why the US might have... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3345645/us-seen-likely-responsible-iran-school-strike-killed-scores-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3345645/us-seen-likely-responsible-iran-school-strike-killed-scores-children?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:32:37 +0000 Kevin Li Kevin Li Hong Kong will roll out targeted measures to attract precious metals companies as part of broader efforts to establish itself as a premier global gold trading hub, according to the city’s agency tasked with attracting foreign direct investment. InvestHK will assist companies setting up headquarters in Hong Kong with site selection and applications for overseas certifications to enhance refining operations, Benjamin Wong Kwok-fan, the agency’s head of transport, logistics and industries, said in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345457/hong-kong-unveils-incentives-attract-gold-refiners-and-boost-global-hub-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345457/hong-kong-unveils-incentives-attract-gold-refiners-and-boost-global-hub-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng The shortest month of the year was certainly not short on highlights for high horology. Dua Lipa and Jungkook were announced as Bulgari and Hublot’s respective new ambassadors, and stars showed up for the NBA All-Star Weekend and the Baftas. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, a jump-hour-focused brand that used to make movements for Patek Philippe has been revived, COSC is expected to launch a new certification, and there’s been a flurry of brand releases in the form of collaborations, cutting-edge... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3345103/5-watch-moments-february-2026-bafta-wrist-candy-dua-lipa-and-jungkooks-new-roles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3345103/5-watch-moments-february-2026-bafta-wrist-candy-dua-lipa-and-jungkooks-new-roles?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:47:03 +0000 Andrew Sheng Andrew Sheng On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address was a long and rambling preparation for the congressional midterm elections in November. If, as Trump claims, America “is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before”, what does it mean for the rest of the world? Is the global economy as a whole bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever? Or are we in what Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney argued in his stunning speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344836/trumps-state-union-report-underlines-shift-world-minus-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344836/trumps-state-union-report-underlines-shift-world-minus-one?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China’s top court has hailed a mediated resolution to an international shipbuilding dispute as a landmark example of the country’s anti-sanctions law working to protect domestic industry. In a social media post on Friday, the Supreme People’s Court said the case was a milestone in China’s legal response to foreign “bullying” and “long-arm jurisdiction”. “Its ruling’s principles demonstrate China’s firm commitment to safeguarding the multilateral trading system and offer judicial insight towards... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344885/maritime-court-case-model-chinas-anti-sanctions-law-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344885/maritime-court-case-model-chinas-anti-sanctions-law-action?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese stocks are emerging as a potential refuge for global investors seeking to steer clear of volatility tied to artificial intelligence trades, as policy support remains firm and signs of reflation begin to surface, according to global investment banks. A proprietary sentiment gauge tracking China’s yuan-denominated shares had improved over the past two weeks, Morgan Stanley said. The measure, compiled by the US bank from 12 indicators including turnover, margin balances and foreign passive... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344853/china-stocks-shield-investors-ai-turbulence-ahead-key-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344853/china-stocks-shield-investors-ai-turbulence-ahead-key-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:38:56 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Iran and the United States held hours of indirect negotiations on Thursday over Tehran’s nuclear programme but walked away without a deal, leaving the danger of another Mideast war on the table as the US has gathered a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the region. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who mediated the talks in Geneva, said there had been “significant progress in the negotiation” without elaborating. But just before the talks ended, Iranian state television reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344787/us-and-iran-wrap-indirect-nuclear-talks-american-forces-mass-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344787/us-and-iran-wrap-indirect-nuclear-talks-american-forces-mass-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:49:28 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro It is one of the oldest sayings on Wall Street, yet the adage “markets hate uncertainty” has never stood up to scrutiny. Like most maxims, it has a ring of truth but is a gross oversimplification. What is indisputable, however, is that for several decades investors took major economic, financial and political trends for granted. For a long period beginning in the 1980s, the world was relatively predictable. Many economists dubbed this era “the great moderation”. Others pointed to the impact of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344685/trumps-normalisation-market-chaos-can-only-go-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344685/trumps-normalisation-market-chaos-can-only-go-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:45:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that he and US President Donald Trump agreed that the next session of trilateral talks in March on a war settlement should lead to a meeting of the countries’ leaders. Zelensky, speaking after a phone conversation with Trump, said the three-sided talks with Russia and the United States would take place early next month. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also took part in the ‌phone call. “We expect this meeting to create an... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3344656/zelensky-speaks-trump-says-talks-should-lead-leaders-meeting-russia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3344656/zelensky-speaks-trump-says-talks-should-lead-leaders-meeting-russia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:44:30 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump briefly laid out ⁠his case for a possible attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, saying he would not allow the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon. Even while assembling a massive military force in the Middle East, Trump has done little to explain to the American public why he might be leading the US into its most aggressive action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution. In his speech, Trump... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344568/iran-rejects-big-lies-after-trump-lays-out-case-possible-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344568/iran-rejects-big-lies-after-trump-lays-out-case-possible-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:07:48 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, unleashing the deadliest war in Europe since World War II. As the conflict reaches its four-year mark, here’s a look at the state of the conflict and some of the consequences for both countries. Destruction The war has resulted in widespread destruction in Ukraine. Entire cities in Ukraine’s east and south, among them Bakhmut, Toretsk and Vovchansk, have been reduced to rubble by fighting. The World Health Organization has... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3344429/where-ukraine-and-russia-stand-war-enters-fifth-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3344429/where-ukraine-and-russia-stand-war-enters-fifth-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:49:25 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has condemned the uninvited takeover of its Panama ports by the country’s authorities, calling it unlawful and the “culmination of a campaign” against its subsidiary that operated the terminals. The conglomerate, led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family, made the remarks on Tuesday, a day after the Panama Maritime Authority acted on a presidential decree allowing it to take over and operate the Balboa and Cristobal ports at either end of the Panama Canal for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:41:30 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The United States on Monday accused China of dramatically swelling its nuclear arsenal and doubled down on claims that Beijing had conducted secret nuclear tests, demanding again it be part of any future arms control treaty. Washington said the lapsing earlier this month of New Start – the last treaty between top nuclear powers the United States and Russia – presented the possibility of striking a “better agreement” including Beijing. Christopher Yeaw, the US assistant secretary of state for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344385/china-has-massively-expanded-its-nuclear-arsenal-claims-us-state-department?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344385/china-has-massively-expanded-its-nuclear-arsenal-claims-us-state-department?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:48:21 +0000 Alex Capri Alex Capri 2026 has begun with a worsening trust deficit, as geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China ruptures the international system. Much of this mistrust stems from an escalating technology race. At centre stage is artificial intelligence – the foundational technology for virtually all industries, from hyper-scaled computer networks and data centres to self-learning “cognitive” machines and advanced semiconductor production. The US and China now face a prisoner’s dilemma in military... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3344163/who-will-save-world-us-china-ai-arms-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3344163/who-will-save-world-us-china-ai-arms-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran after ordering a major naval build-up in the Middle East aimed at heaping pressure on Tehran to cut a deal to curb its nuclear programme. The latest threat came after Iran’s foreign minister said a draft proposal for an agreement with Washington would be ready in a matter of days following negotiations between the two sides in Geneva earlier this week. Trump had suggested on Thursday that “bad things” would happen if... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344183/trump-weighs-limited-strike-iran-tehran-says-draft-deal-coming-soon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3344183/trump-weighs-limited-strike-iran-tehran-says-draft-deal-coming-soon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:02:25 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Thailand and Cambodia are battling for narrative control over their border dispute, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet alleging truce violations during a Washington trip – and Bangkok accusing its neighbour of spreading “distorted” information to the international community. The two nations intermittently clashed over demarcation points along their 817km (508-mile) border from last July until December 27, when a second ceasefire was reached. The fighting killed 149 people and displaced... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343975/thailand-and-cambodia-fight-worlds-ear-over-deadly-border-feud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343975/thailand-and-cambodia-fight-worlds-ear-over-deadly-border-feud?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:25:15 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Ukrainian and Russian negotiators concluded a second day of US-mediated talks in Geneva on Wednesday, though neither side signalled they were any closer to ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. The talks wrapped up after just two hours, much shorter than the six hours of meetings on Tuesday, according to the head of Russia’s delegation. Neither side elaborated on what they discussed or whether they had agreed on anything, but both signalled the discussions had been tricky. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343925/ukraine-russia-talks-geneva-wrap-2-hours-no-sign-breakthrough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343925/ukraine-russia-talks-geneva-wrap-2-hours-no-sign-breakthrough?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:04:57 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain After US and Iranian negotiators agreed on Tuesday to a set of “guiding principles” at their nuclear talks in Geneva mediated by Oman, Tehran went further – framing any eventual deal as a commercial proposition, not just a security arrangement. Iran is pitching access to its vast energy and mineral reserves as what it has called a “trillion-dollar opportunity” for American firms. In doing so, analysts say Tehran is speaking the language of a US president known for his deal-making... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343872/iran-tempts-trump-trillion-dollar-nuclear-deal-pitch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343872/iran-tempts-trump-trillion-dollar-nuclear-deal-pitch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 04:37:14 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Like many of the greatest love stories of all time, the tale of how Swiss jewellery brand Aglagla came to be begins with a perfect match. “Five years ago, it was really a side operation,” says Lyla Marsol, the creative brains behind the brand, who produces one-of-a-kind bracelets, necklaces and earrings in her Geneva atelier out of vintage glass beads sourced from Paris. “I’m a painter, an artist, and I started [designing jewellery] on the side. I did it alone for two and a half, three years and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3343457/how-lyla-marsol-and-anouck-mutsaerts-grew-jewellery-brand-aglagla-out-colourful-beads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3343457/how-lyla-marsol-and-anouck-mutsaerts-grew-jewellery-brand-aglagla-out-colourful-beads?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia met for the first of two days of US-mediated peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump pressing Kyiv to act fast to reach a deal. Trump is urging Moscow and Kyiv to reach a deal to end Europe’s biggest war since 1945, though Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has complained that his country is facing the greatest pressure to make concessions. Ukraine’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said ahead of the talks that the two sides would... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3343847/ukraine-and-russia-meet-geneva-trump-piles-new-pressure-kyiv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3343847/ukraine-and-russia-meet-geneva-trump-piles-new-pressure-kyiv?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:30:01 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Iran fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz while its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that the US warship deployed in the Gulf could be sunk, amid nuclear talks between the two countries. “We constantly hear that they [the US] have sent a warship towards Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it,” Khamenei said in a speech on Tuesday. The US and Iran held their second round of talks about Iran’s nuclear... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3343836/iran-fires-missiles-khamenei-threatens-sink-us-warship-nuclear-talks-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3343836/iran-fires-missiles-khamenei-threatens-sink-us-warship-nuclear-talks-start?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:38:19 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Cambodia is scrambling to shore up an economy battered by months of border conflict with Thailand, as shuttered crossings choke trade and hundreds of thousands of migrant workers return home to fewer jobs and lower pay. Prime Minister Hun Manet is travelling to the United States and Europe this week seeking to diversify markets and secure new investment, part of a broader effort to reduce Cambodia’s reliance on Thailand after the fighting forced supply chains to be diverted and slashed... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343805/cambodia-seeks-economic-reset-after-thailand-border-war-batters-trade-and-remittances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343805/cambodia-seeks-economic-reset-after-thailand-border-war-batters-trade-and-remittances?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:00:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters US ⁠President Donald Trump has said he will be “indirectly” involved in talks between Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear programme set to begin on Tuesday in Geneva. “I’ll be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they’ll be very important,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, adding he believed ‌Tehran wanted to make a deal. Tensions are soaring ahead of the talks, with the US deploying a second aircraft carrier to the ⁠Middle East. The US military is preparing for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3343781/trump-predicts-iran-nuclear-deal-warns-consequences-ahead-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3343781/trump-predicts-iran-nuclear-deal-warns-consequences-ahead-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:14:57 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump denounced a clean ⁠energy agreement between ⁠the United Kingdom and ⁠California Governor Gavin Newsom hours after it was signed on Monday, Politico reported. In an interview with the news outlet, Trump said it was “inappropriate” for Britain to be ‌dealing with the Democratic governor. Trump, a Republican, also branded Newsom “a loser”, saying “his state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster”. Newsom is an outspoken Trump critic and has publicly... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343772/trump-slams-energy-deal-between-california-and-britain-calls-governor-newsom-loser?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343772/trump-slams-energy-deal-between-california-and-britain-calls-governor-newsom-loser?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:57:52 +0000 Julie Zhang,Themis Qi Julie Zhang,Themis Qi Thousands of Chinese retail investors spent the last day of the Year of the Snake on Monday filing complaints against UBS SDIC Fund Management for an overnight valuation change that caused steep losses for holders of its silver fund, even after the firm offered remedies. More than 200,000 people lodged complaints against the operator of the country’s only silver fund after the controversial change on February 2, according to Xiaofei Bao, an online Chinese consumer protection platform. The switch... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3343729/ubs-china-venture-faces-wrath-silver-investors-after-valuation-change-increases-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3343729/ubs-china-venture-faces-wrath-silver-investors-after-valuation-change-increases-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Gold, mahjong sets, fancy lai see packets and dinners with fireworks views are among the incentives Hong Kong banks are using to lure wealthy customers from the city and the mainland during the Lunar New Year, which kicks off on Tuesday. Hong Kong authorities estimated that as many as 1.43 million mainland visitors would cross the border during the holiday period, up 6 per cent from a year earlier. The Year of the Horse begins on Tuesday, but the mainland holiday started on Sunday and ends on... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343663/hong-kong-banks-lure-wealthy-clients-gold-mahjong-sets-fireworks-during-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343663/hong-kong-banks-lure-wealthy-clients-gold-mahjong-sets-fireworks-during-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Iran’s top diplomat has arrived in Geneva ahead of a second round of negotiations with the United States, Iranian state television said on Monday, as Washington keeps up pressure on the Islamic republic. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation are in the Swiss city after the first round of indirect talks took place in Oman last week. Oman would mediate Tuesday’s talks in Geneva, the IRNA state-run news agency reported on its Telegram channel on Sunday. Similar talks last year broke... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3343656/irans-top-diplomat-attend-indirect-talks-us-geneva-state-news-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3343656/irans-top-diplomat-attend-indirect-talks-us-geneva-state-news-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:20:34 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Russia’s army chief Valery Gerasimov visited Moscow’s troops in Ukraine and said the Kremlin’s forces seized a dozen eastern villages in February, the defence ministry said on Sunday. Gerasimov’s visit comes days before US-mediated talks with Kyiv in Geneva on ending almost four years of war and ahead of the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale offensive against Ukraine. “In two weeks of February, despite severe winter conditions, combined forces and military units of the joint task force... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3343629/russia-seized-12-eastern-ukraine-villages-so-far-february-army-chief-tells-troops?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3343629/russia-seized-12-eastern-ukraine-villages-so-far-february-army-chief-tells-troops?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:55:02 +0000 The Star The Star The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has filed a court order to forfeit overseas assets belonging to Prince Turki Abdullah Al Saud. The application to forfeit assets was filed under Sections 56(1), 59 and 61(2) of the Anti-Money-Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act. Around US$115.3 million held in several Swiss bank accounts is subject to the forfeiture order, including funds in JP Morgan (Suisse) and UBS Switzerland. MACC chief commissioner... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343621/malaysia-seeks-seize-saudi-princes-overseas-assets-worth-us115-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343621/malaysia-seeks-seize-saudi-princes-overseas-assets-worth-us115-million?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 07:44:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Switzerland said on Saturday that Oman would host talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva next week, with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme. “Switzerland stands ready at all times to offer its good offices to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran,” a Swiss foreign ministry spokesman said. On February 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Oman with US envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3343601/us-iran-talks-be-held-geneva-next-week-hosted-oman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3343601/us-iran-talks-be-held-geneva-next-week-hosted-oman?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:10:50 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Team USA freestyle skier Alex Hall – who took home the gold in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing for men’s freestyle skiing (slopestyle) – is not too bothered about defending his title at this year’s Milano Cortina Games. “It’s cool I got a medal four years ago, but I’m just here to ride. I’m not really thinking, ‘I’ve got to defend it.’ There’s nothing really to defend. I’m just going out to ski and have some fun,” Hall said at a press conference ahead of the competition. Here’s what to know... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3343182/meet-alex-hall-freestyle-skiings-2022-olympic-champion-competing-milano-cortina-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3343182/meet-alex-hall-freestyle-skiings-2022-olympic-champion-competing-milano-cortina-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The presidents of Argentina and Romania said on Sunday they have been invited to attend the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s controversial “Board of Peace” in Washington on February 19. Originally designed by Trump as a mechanism to oversee the Gaza truce and post-war reconstruction, the board’s mandate has since expanded, prompting concerns among critics that it could evolve into a rival to the United Nations. Writing on his Facebook page, Romania’s President Nicusor Dan said... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342854/romania-argentina-leaders-invited-trumps-board-peace-meeting-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342854/romania-argentina-leaders-invited-trumps-board-peace-meeting-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:29:27 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A memorial for the victims of a deadly New Year’s fire in Switzerland itself caught fire early on Sunday, likely sparked by candles left burning inside, police said. It was a makeshift tribute to the 41 people killed and the 115 injured in the January 1 fire that erupted at the Le Constellation bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana, which was packed with mainly teenagers and young adults. The memorial, laden with flowers, candles and messages of condolence, had been set up near the site of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3342845/memorial-swiss-bar-fire-victims-goes-flames-adding-new-years-tragedy-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3342845/memorial-swiss-bar-fire-victims-goes-flames-adding-new-years-tragedy-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:10:33 +0000