https://www.scmp.com/rss/519152/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com dpa dpa Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday appeared to suggest Ukraine was involved in planning an act of sabotage after Serbia reported finding explosives on a gas pipeline used to transport Russian natural gas to the two countries. Earlier on Sunday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said explosives “of devastating force” were found on the Balkan Stream pipeline near the village of Velebit on the Hungarian border. The pipeline transports Russian natural gas from Turkey via Bulgaria,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349104/orban-appears-blame-kyiv-serbian-gas-pipeline-explosives-find?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349104/orban-appears-blame-kyiv-serbian-gas-pipeline-explosives-find?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:46:53 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Hamas said on Sunday it will dissolve its existing government in Gaza once a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee takes over the territory, as mandated under the US-brokered peace plan. But the group gave no specifics on when the change will take place. Hamas and the rival Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians’ internationally recognised representative, have not announced the names of the technocrats, who are not supposed to be politically affiliated, and it remains unclear if they... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3339518/hamas-says-it-will-dissolve-its-gaza-government-when-new-palestinian-body-takes-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3339518/hamas-says-it-will-dissolve-its-gaza-government-when-new-palestinian-body-takes-over?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:18:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Bulgaria became the 21st country to switch to the euro as it entered the new year on Thursday, a milestone met with both cheers and fears, nearly 20 years after the Balkan nation joined the European Union. At midnight, Bulgaria gave up the lev currency, which has been in use since the late 19th century, and Bulgarian euro coins were projected onto the central bank’s building. Successive governments in the country of 6.4 million people have advocated joining the euro, hoping that it will boost... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338363/bulgaria-becomes-21st-country-adopt-euro-historic-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338363/bulgaria-becomes-21st-country-adopt-euro-historic-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:24:25 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo It’s not for nothing that John Locke famously wrote that “life, liberty and property” are inalienable rights. The West, after all, has taught the world that property ownership, legally obtained, is sacrosanct. But what the West has imposed, it can also break. That is the real meaning of the rules-based international order, as opposed to international law: do what I say, not as I do. So the hardline European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been pressuring member states to support... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3336405/emerging-axis-lawlessness-european-union-united-states-and-israel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3336405/emerging-axis-lawlessness-european-union-united-states-and-israel?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:15:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Bulgaria’s prime minister announced on Thursday that his government was resigning after less than a year in office following a series of anti-corruption protests, making fresh elections likely. The Balkan EU member, which is introducing the euro from January, has seen a spiral of elections in recent years, with parties unable to form a stable government. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Bulgaria on Wednesday to protest against the government and corruption in the latest... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3336129/bulgarian-government-resigns-after-mass-anti-corruption-protests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3336129/bulgarian-government-resigns-after-mass-anti-corruption-protests?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:53:14 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Europe is buying Chinese hybrid vehicles by the shipload – imports are up more than 400 per cent this year – while Germany’s car exports to China have slumped, leaving gold as its biggest single shipment going the other way. These are just two findings from new statistics that show how quickly the old trade model has shifted gears, while offering a stunning snapshot of the contrasting industrial fortunes of the European Union and China. Germany – the bloc’s biggest economy and its manufacturing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326504/car-trade-reverse-germanys-trade-deficit-china-jumps-143-cent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326504/car-trade-reverse-germanys-trade-deficit-china-jumps-143-cent?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:15 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A member-driven organisation representing European business interests in China is urging policymakers to seize the opportunity – while forming the nation’s next five-year plan – to rebalance the economic-development model and strike at the heart of cutthroat price competition that hurts both foreign and domestic firms. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, which has more than 1,600 member companies, recommends in its latest position paper that China should use its 2026-2030 plan to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3325859/eu-chamber-china-flags-manufacturing-maladies-urging-course-correction-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3325859/eu-chamber-china-flags-manufacturing-maladies-urging-course-correction-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:01:04 +0000 Mark Magnier,Finbarr Bermingham,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Finbarr Bermingham,Khushboo Razdan US and European leaders reacted with veneration, concern and stiffened resolve on Wednesday to China’s epic military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Over 25 foreign leaders – including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – joined Chinese President Xi Jinping at the showcase event marked by intimidating weaponry and choreographed troop manoeuvres. “I thought it was very, very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3324250/western-leaders-parse-china-military-parade-displaying-authoritarian-strength?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3324250/western-leaders-parse-china-military-parade-displaying-authoritarian-strength?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 20:21:26 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Bloomberg Agence France-Presse,Bloomberg A plane carrying EU chief Ursula von der Leyen was hit by GPS jamming as it readied to land in Bulgaria on Sunday, Brussels said on Monday, alleging Russia was thought to be behind the incident. The European Commission said Bulgarian authorities suspected the disruption “was due to blatant interference” from Moscow, but it was not clear if the chartered flight was deliberately targeted. “We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming,” Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta told a press... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3323952/eu-chiefs-plane-hit-suspected-russian-gps-jamming-over-bulgaria?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3323952/eu-chiefs-plane-hit-suspected-russian-gps-jamming-over-bulgaria?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:55:43 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain After years of strained relations and embargoes, Turkey is poised to become an “indispensable” defence partner for Europe, as Germany lifts its veto on advanced jet sales and the United States seeks to end a damaging arms dispute. Analysts say the changes reflect a recalibration of Europe’s security architecture – and the West’s strategic priorities – amid rising tensions with Russia. Germany last week dropped its veto on the sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, a fellow Nato member,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319945/how-turkey-re-emerged-wests-indispensable-defence-partner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319945/how-turkey-re-emerged-wests-indispensable-defence-partner?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:00:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Five suspects implicated in the killing of a University of California, Berkeley professor appeared in court in Athens on Thursday, including his ex-wife, who has denied all charges. Przemyslaw Jeziorski, 43, was shot and killed on July 4 in Athens while visiting Greece to see his two young children and finalise legal arrangements for future visitation. Among those who appeared in court was Jeziorski’s Greek ex-wife, who remains in police custody on charges of solicitation to commit murder. Her... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3318648/berkeley-professors-ex-wife-charged-connection-his-murder-greece?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3318648/berkeley-professors-ex-wife-charged-connection-his-murder-greece?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:23:52 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Russia on Thursday accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, saying it was a stab in the back by its long-time Slavic Balkan ally. “Serbian defence enterprises, contrary to the ‘neutrality’ declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv,” the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, SVR, said in a statement. The statement alleged that the export of the Serbian arms to Ukraine were going through Nato intermediaries, “primarily the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria.... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312387/russia-accuses-serbia-betrayal-supplying-arms-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312387/russia-accuses-serbia-betrayal-supplying-arms-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 03:40:40 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham The European Parliament has named five of its lawmakers whom Belgian prosecutors have targeted in a bribery scandal investigation involving Chinese technology giant Huawei Technologies. Authorities have asked the parliament to waive the lawmakers’ immunity so that they can be investigated under the probe, which has been running for two months. They are accused of accepting gifts from Huawei in exchange for lobbying for the firm’s interests in the parliament. European Parliament President Roberta... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3311287/european-parliament-names-5-lawmakers-targeted-huawei-bribery-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3311287/european-parliament-names-5-lawmakers-targeted-huawei-bribery-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 18:28:57 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A UK court Monday handed down jail terms of up to 10 years to six Bulgarians convicted for belonging to a Russian espionage cell described as like something from a “spy novel”. Fake passports, hidden cameras, a spy love triangle and secret online chats about potential abductions and honeytraps were uncovered by investigators. Orlin Roussev, 47, headed the operation from a run-down former guest house in the eastern English seaside resort of Great Yarmouth where police found a “treasure trove” of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3310070/fake-passports-hidden-cameras-6-bulgarians-who-led-russian-spy-ring-are-jailed-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3310070/fake-passports-hidden-cameras-6-bulgarians-who-led-russian-spy-ring-are-jailed-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 May 2025 19:21:51 +0000 An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during one of his workshops. Hongchi Xiao, 61, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing to get medical help for Danielle Carr-Gomm as she howled in pain and frothed at the mouth during the fourth day of a workshop in October 2016. Xiao, of Cloudbreak, California, promoted paida... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3289778/uk-sentences-healer-10-years-jail-death-woman-slapping-therapy-workshop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3289778/uk-sentences-healer-10-years-jail-death-woman-slapping-therapy-workshop?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 14:33:54 +0000 The numbers of foreign visitors flocking to China are rapidly beginning to resemble levels from before the pandemic. The welcome revival has without a doubt been supported by Beijing’s decisions to liberally grant visa-free access to an ever increasing number of countries. Such arrangements for visa-free access were once secured through lengthy bilateral negotiations. No longer. On Saturday, another four nations – Japan, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania – were added to the scheme, with their... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3289572/china-benefits-all-fronts-visitors-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3289572/china-benefits-all-fronts-visitors-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Dec 2024 15:55:55 +0000