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South China Morning Post

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How foreign investors should view China’s ‘little giants’ scheme

The surge of interest in Chinese humanoid robotics has raised a practical question for investors, corporate strategists and supply chain executives: who makes the parts? Reduction gears. Torque sensors. Precision bearings. Industrial software. The further one traces the supply chain, the more often the answer leads to companies that are not household names or well understood by foreign investors. Many carry a designation that deserves closer attention: “little giant”. China began cultivating...

South China Morning Post

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Philippine Senate deadlock deepens after Estrada arrest, complicating Sara Duterte’s trial

The arrest of Philippine Senator Jinggoy Estrada has deepened a stand-off in the Senate, leaving the chamber split between two 11-member blocs and raising the risk of a wider political crisis, analysts told This Week in Asia. They warned the stalemate could stall legislation, delay military appointments and complicate Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial, leaving the Senate’s basic ability to do business hostage to a factional power struggle. Estrada, chairman of the Senate...

South China Morning Post

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ByteDance loses key AI research leader behind Seed models amid monetisation push

A renowned artificial intelligence researcher who spearheaded foundational AI research for TikTok owner ByteDance has announced his departure from the company. The unexpected development comes as the firm is increasingly looking to monetise its core AI offerings, including subscription plans for its flagship consumer AI app Doubao. Gu Quanquan, also an associate professor of computer science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), announced his departure from ByteDance on social...

South China Morning Post

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‘Humiliation’: video shows basketball coach slapping boy, ordering self-harm

A viral video showing a basketball coach forcing a pupil to slap himself in front of others at a Hong Kong school has sparked concern from a child protection group, which warns the act could cause physical injury and emotional harm. In a video circulating on social media platform Threads on Tuesday, three men in white T-shirts are seen standing around a boy on a school playground in broad daylight, surrounded by other students wearing basketball jerseys. The man in the middle first takes a...

Hong Kong Free Press

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Hong Kong’s Education Bureau apologises for sending early SMS on Primary One allocation results

Hong Kong’s Education Bureau (EDB) has apologised for mistakenly sending the Primary One allocation results via SMS one day early, urging parents to ignore the message. The EDB said on Tuesday that an “operational error” in setting up a system-controlled text-messaging function led to the sending of the Primary One results via SMS on Tuesday […]

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Direct flights from HK to Kazakhstan set for next year

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said the city’s push to deepen connectivity with Central Asia is already bearing fruit, as he announced progress on direct flights to Kazakhstan alongside moves to make visa arrangements more convenient for travellers. Speaking to reporters in Astana during his first official visit to Central Asia, Lee said a Hong Kong-based airline will begin direct flights to Kazakhstan's biggest city Almaty in the first quarter of next year, significantly cutting travel time between the two places. He added that the new route will also provide access to other Central Asian, Eastern European and Caucasus regional destinations. In a statement, the SAR's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific announced plans to launch direct flights to Almaty in the first quarter of 2027. "The airline plans to operate three flights per week using an Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft, which will be the only direct service linking Hong Kong and Kazakhstan," the airline said. Alongside the aviation breakthrough, Lee confirmed that the SAR is working to substantially extend visa-free access for Hongkongers in Central Asia. The SAR already has visa-free arrangements with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, allowing stays of between 10 and 30 days. But Lee said his target is to extend the visa-free period to 30 days for all three nations. "We and the Kazakh government both agree that this is definitely one of our goals. We have already exchanged some further information with the two governments, and everyone is working hard to work toward this target," he said. "We hope that by this year, we can reach the best arrangement." He added that Uzbekistan has also signalled its agreement to the proposal following communications before the delegation's departure, Lee added. Once agreements with these countries are finalised, the SAR government will seek to facilitate easier entry for the remaining two Central Asian countries. On Wednesday, Lee is scheduled to visit Astana's Nazarbayev University, where President Xi Jinping first proposed the concept of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. The chief executive said Hong Kong and Kazakhstan can enhance collaboration on education. "The Education University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, they will be developing a working relationship with the Nazarbayev University, to further expand the collaboration between the higher education institutions of the two places," he said. Lee will conclude his stay in Kazakhstan on Wednesday before travelling to Uzbekistan, describing the Astana leg alone as a significant breakthrough – with 43 memoranda of understanding in areas such as economic and trade cooperation, investment, and green finance expected to be signed in the country. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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Malaysia tells Norway to hasten scrapped missile deal refund

Malaysia has urged Norway to help expedite a refund for the cancelled missile procurement deal, with Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin insisting that Oslo cannot absolve itself of responsibility. Khaled said he had recently met Norway’s defence minister and conveyed Malaysia’s position that the Norwegian government’s refusal to approve an export licence was the cause of the issue. “The source of everything is Norway’s decision not to approve the export licence to Malaysia. Therefore, Norway...

South China Morning Post

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Philippine President Marcos’ ratings hit record low as inflation bites

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s net satisfaction rating has hit an all-time low, with observers citing deep-seated economic anxieties as the main driver behind the slump – even as expanded media exposure has helped boost awareness of his foreign policy initiatives. The latest Social Weather Stations survey put Marcos’ net satisfaction rating at minus 15 in March: a 12-point drop from minus 3 in November 2025 and the worst figure of his presidency, eclipsing the previous nadir of...

South China Morning Post

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Welfare chief steps in but parents still refuse DNA test in birth certificate controversy

The parents of a Hong Kong baby without legal identity have insisted on not providing DNA proof for birth registration on privacy grounds, with the city’s welfare minister saying authorities would “strive to meet” the family after finally receiving an email reply from them. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han on Tuesday said that the Social Welfare Department had finally received a reply from the parents of two-month old Danny via email on Monday night. The department had first...

South China Morning Post

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Vehicle fire causes partial closure of Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge

A vehicle fire in the undersea tunnel of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge caused major traffic disruption on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a partial closure of the key link between the three cities. The Transport Department said at 1.55pm that the incident occurred in the tunnel bound for Zhuhai and Macau, with the middle and slow lanes closed. Footage circulating online shows the tunnel filled with thick smoke. “Only the fast lane is available to motorists,” the department said. “Traffic is...

South China Morning Post

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WHO chief ends DR Congo visit as group warns Ebola likely spread undetected

The head of the World Health Organization on Monday concluded his visit to Democratic Republic of Congo by briefing the president on the response to the Ebola outbreak, which an aid agency warned was likely much larger than official figures show. The outbreak, already the third-largest on record, persisted for weeks undetected, say health officials, who are now behind the curve and ‌struggling to bring it under control. Arriving in DR Congo last week, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom...

South China Morning Post

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Why have Japan and the Philippines’ maritime boundary talks angered China?

The waters off eastern Taiwan have become a new flashpoint after Tokyo and Manila announced formal negotiations to delimit the maritime boundary of the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and continental shelf between Japan and the Philippines. On Monday, China’s coastguard carried out enforcement patrols in the region, exercising Beijing’s claimed right to maintain its own EEZ and continental shelf rights under both domestic and international law. The Taiwanese coastguard said it shadowed and...

South China Morning Post

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‘Mud Buddha’: China official covered in sludge during mudslide while helping villagers evacuate

A valiant official in China has been dubbed “Mud Buddha” after a photograph emerged of him covered in sludge while he was averting disaster by evacuating residents before a catastrophic landslide. From the evening of May 17 to the early morning of May 18, a downpour hit Shanghongyan Village in Maguan county, southwestern Yunnan province. At its height, the level of precipitation reached 256mm, the People’s Daily reported. Tian Ruliang, the village director, left home three times after 10pm on...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Yacht tourism boom on horizon as sailing curbs eased

A new policy aimed at allowing yachts from Hong Kong and Macao to enter or exit nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area will be a massive catalyst for growth in yacht tourism, said David Norton, vice commodore of Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club, on Tuesday. His remark came after the SAR on Saturday welcomed the State Council's approval of exemption from the requirement of a guarantee and implementation of temporary ship nationality registration, enabling yachts from both SARs to access the nine mainland cities. Speaking on RTHK's Backchat programme, Norton said there used to be great financial and administrative hurdles in the past in trying to get boats across the border in the mainland or Hong Kong for yacht races and sailing events. "It's very difficult for them to bring their boats into China and for our members to get their boats to attend events in the Chinese mainland, so this [new policy] is a massive boost, and the opportunities for cruising around the beautiful Guangdong coast is also a very interesting prospect," he said. It will also bring greater convenience and more opportunities for yachters to explore the region, Norton added. He also said the industry was looking forward to more details of the scheme being made available and the city becoming a focal point for people who wish to enter Chinese mainland waters. Speaking on the same programme, Dennis Kwok from the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education said the policy will have spillover effects for other industries as well. "Not only will the owners travel, they might have their guests, their business partners, and also the maintenance crew, everything that will provide a lot of economic benefits to the tourism industry in Hong Kong," said the head of the department of hospitality at the institute's campuses in Chai Wan and Haking Wong. Although yachts travelling to Hong Kong might not be great in number, Kwok said, they have a major impact on tourism branding and make the city more unique. He also said a recent proposal for an operational merger for China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal was timely as passenger throughput at these two checkpoints had dropped by 6.5 percent last year. He suggested that one of the ferry terminals be used as additional location to serve yacht tourists. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong to relaunch direct flights to Kazakhstan’s Almaty in first quarter of 2027

Hong Kong will relaunch direct flights with Almaty in Kazakhstan in the first quarter of next year, the city’s leader has announced in a breakthrough which businesses have said will be essential for easing travel and strengthening ties with Central Asia. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who is leading a high-powered delegation to the region, also said on Tuesday that the city would start deliberations with Kazakhstani authorities to reach a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement...

South China Morning Post

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Why Japan’s intolerance towards Muslims is rapidly deepening

Discrimination towards foreign residents in Japan has expanded from Koreans and Kurds to Muslims as their population is estimated to have nearly doubled in recent years, according to observers and community members. Misinformation and hate speech are spreading on Japanese social media and mosques are receiving a barrage of abusive phone calls and emails. Some are asking why they are suddenly being targeted. Others are afraid to leave their homes. Muslims in Japan, including foreign residents and...

South China Morning Post

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IT/기술

Tencent shares jump on expectations of AI agent within WeChat super app

Shares of Tencent Holdings surged as much as 8 per cent on Tuesday, driven by investor optimism over reports that the Chinese tech giant is close to launching an artificial intelligence agent within its super app WeChat. Tencent was testing a prototype AI agent for the WeChat ecosystem, which boasts 1.4 billion active users, and planned to start the compliance process as soon as this month for a public launch, according to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday, citing anonymous sources. The...

South China Morning Post

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US general’s ‘dagger’ remark tests South Korea’s China balancing act

A top US general’s description of South Korea as a “dagger in the heart of Asia” aimed at China has laid bare the differences in how Washington and Seoul view their alliance and Beijing. US Forces Korea commander General Xavier Brunson made the blunt remark in a podcast interview hosted by the US Army War College on May 22, drawing a backlash both from Beijing and from Seoul itself. South Korea’s presidential office said on Saturday that it was “aware” of Brunson’s remarks and that close...

South China Morning Post

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2 Taiwan air force pilots die in T-34C crash, spurring probe and debate over aircraft

A Taiwanese air force aircraft crashed during a training mission on Tuesday, killing two experienced pilots and prompting renewed scrutiny of the island’s ageing fleet of T-34 basic trainers. The T-34C aircraft went down at about 8.08am at Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, while conducting a simulated engine-failure exercise, according to the island’s air force. Both pilots on board, Lieutenant Colonel Kuo Chun-nan and Lieutenant Colonel Lu Chi-yu, were killed. The air force...

Hong Kong Free Press

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Environmental NGO urges stronger climate policies as Hong Kong faces extreme summer heat

An environmental NGO has urged the Hong Kong government to prioritise the climate crisis and strengthen its climate adaptation policies, as the city is expected to endure an extremely hot summer this year. Friends of the Earth said on Monday that as May drew to a close, Hong Kong and many parts of the world […]

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How foreign investors should view China’s ‘little giants’ scheme

Philippine Senate deadlock deepens after Estrada arrest, complicating Sara Duterte’s trial

ByteDance loses key AI research leader behind Seed models amid monetisation push

‘Humiliation’: video shows basketball coach slapping boy, ordering self-harm

Hong Kong’s Education Bureau apologises for sending early SMS on Primary One allocation results

Direct flights from HK to Kazakhstan set for next year

Malaysia tells Norway to hasten scrapped missile deal refund

Philippine President Marcos’ ratings hit record low as inflation bites

Welfare chief steps in but parents still refuse DNA test in birth certificate controversy

Vehicle fire causes partial closure of Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge

WHO chief ends DR Congo visit as group warns Ebola likely spread undetected

Why have Japan and the Philippines’ maritime boundary talks angered China?

‘Mud Buddha’: China official covered in sludge during mudslide while helping villagers evacuate

Yacht tourism boom on horizon as sailing curbs eased

Hong Kong to relaunch direct flights to Kazakhstan’s Almaty in first quarter of 2027

Why Japan’s intolerance towards Muslims is rapidly deepening

Tencent shares jump on expectations of AI agent within WeChat super app

US general’s ‘dagger’ remark tests South Korea’s China balancing act

2 Taiwan air force pilots die in T-34C crash, spurring probe and debate over aircraft

Environmental NGO urges stronger climate policies as Hong Kong faces extreme summer heat