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South China Morning Post

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Tencent’s chief AI scientist dismisses lag concerns, says race a ‘long-term game’

Yao Shunyu, the former OpenAI researcher now leading Tencent Holdings’ artificial intelligence model development, pushed back against concerns that the tech giant is slow in AI, arguing that the race is just beginning with massive untapped opportunities in coding agents and embodied intelligence. “AI is a long-term game, with the second half of the race just starting,” said Yao, chief AI scientist at Tencent, comparing the current state to the development of personal computers in the 1970s. Yao...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Govt will not implement HK$2 scheme journey cap

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Friday that the government will not implement a cap on the number of trips under the HK$2 transport subsidy scheme, citing the travel needs of people with disabilities. Starting from April 3, people aged 60 and above, as well as those with disabilities, pay a flat HK$2 fare for trips costing HK$10 or less. For more expensive journeys, they pay 20 percent of the fare. The government had planned to cap subsidised trips at 240 per person each month. On the Labour and Welfare Bureau Facebook page, Sun said some people with disabilities had voiced concern about the proposed cap because they need to transfer more often than other residents in order to reach the same destination. He said the latest figures show that on average, only about 450 people make more than 240 trips per month – a tiny number among the 2.7 million users of the transport subsidy. However about a fifth of those 450 people are people with disabilities. He said this proves that some disabled people do need more trips. "If we go ahead with the trip cap, it will inevitably affect some people with disabilities – including their need to see a doctor, attend rehabilitation services, go to work, and other daily necessities," he wrote. He added the cap could cause worry among some commuters – especially the elderly – about going over the limit, and would create unnecessary stress. Sun also said a cap would not be cost-effective, as limiting the subsidised trips would save only a few hundred thousand dollars, but updating the subsidy system to accommodate a limit would cost an estimated HK$30 million. He concluded that the government decided not to go ahead with the cap – hoping everyone can travel happily and integrate into society. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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Is US wielding new tariff threat to secure big bargain in India trade talks?

The threat by the US to impose additional tariffs on imports from India over forced labour supply-chain concerns is a “pressure” tactic deployed by Washington to drive a harder bargain in its trade talks with New Delhi, according to analysts. Following a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation, the Trump administration proposed that products from India, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and Switzerland would be subject to a 12.5 per cent levy, while a 10 per cent rate would apply to...

South China Morning Post

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IT/기술

Canada PM unveils AI strategy, warns of foreign dominance

Prime Minister Mark Carney launched his AI strategy on Thursday, warning Canada’s slow adoption of the frontier technology had created risks and that domestic capacity needed a boost to avoid it being “weaponised against us”. Reducing Canada’s reliance on the US is a central part of Carney’s agenda, and his AI strategy nodded to concern about the influence of US tech giants. “We are highly dependent on foreign suppliers for the infrastructure that powers AI,” he said. “That creates real risks...

South China Morning Post

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정치

EU trade chief swipes at China’s overcapacity, but seeks ‘meaningful’ talks with Beijing

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic has called for practical approaches and “meaningful discussion” to tackle the growing trade concerns between Brussels and Beijing, following his meeting with China’s chief international trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, on the sideline of a ministerial meeting at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris. Sefcovic opened his press conference on Thursday by stressing the urgency of crafting policy responses to the non-market practices...

South China Morning Post

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Japan’s PM Takaichi eyes India trip for talks with leader Modi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering visiting India early next month to meet with her counterpart Narendra Modi to discuss cooperation on strengthening supply chains of critical goods given concerns about China’s economic coercion, government sources said on Thursday. Takaichi aims to deepen bilateral collaboration in a wide range of fields covering defence, economic issues and cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, according to the...

South China Morning Post

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China rejects OECD report on industrial subsidies as ‘one-sided’ amid EU trade tensions

China has rejected a recent OECD report that said its firms receive far higher government subsidies than international peers, calling the findings “one-sided and arbitrary” at a time when EU concerns over Beijing’s industrial policy are intensifying. “The report’s definition of ‘subsidies’ lacks a unified standard and statistical framework, and deviates from consensus under multilateral frameworks such as the World Trade Organization,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on...

South China Morning Post

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No pain, no gain? Former player defends ‘unique’ method of coach seen slapping student

A former student of a well-known Hong Kong basketball coach, seen in a video slapping a young player, has defended his disciplinary approach as acceptable despite legal experts warning the conduct could constitute common assault. Veteran coach Yung Kam-wah apologised on Tuesday over the incident two years ago, after the video recently went viral and sparked public concern. In the clip, Yung first takes a jacket from the boy’s hand and throws it to the ground, then grabs the student’s left hand...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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사회

Unregistered infant moved to shelter under court order

A one-and-a-half-month-old baby boy, who does not possess a birth certificate and was reportedly delivered via homebirth, has been temporarily moved to a sheltering facility following a court order. The Social Welfare Department on Wednesday said the baby is under professional care, adding that it has applied for a child protection order from the court following the arrest of a couple said to be his parents. Police, meanwhile said they have obtained the DNA sample of the boy, as well as samples from the couple, for verification. Officers said the test results are not out yet. The couple was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of child neglect after failing to provide proof that they had taken the infant for medical checks. They previously refused DNA testing to prove their relationship with the baby and failed to register a birth within 42 days set out in the law. Following the couple’s arrest, the baby underwent checks at the hospital and medical workers found no apparent injuries on him. Senior social work officer Stephanie Lee said the department will submit a report to the court to decide the next steps after meeting with the couple. “We will collect the information and then make the assessment and then also involve all other concerned parties. The time [taken for the report submission] will be subject to the progress of this assessment or the information gathered,” she said. When asked if the department will hand the baby back to the couple if it is found they are his biological parents, she stressed that the department will prioritise the baby's well-being. She added that if the couple is proven unfit to care for the child, the department may seek a guardianship order. The couple said they have another child that was placed in foster care in Sweden a number of years ago. The Immigration Department said it has reached out to the Swedish authorities to seek more information, including her identity there and foster care arrangements. The department added that it will take follow-up actions based on their response. Edited by Aaron Tam

South China Morning Post

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정치

How Japan and the Philippines are building a maritime security front against China

Japan and the Philippines are deepening defence and maritime cooperation over shared concerns about China, with broad implications that analysts said reached beyond the South China Sea. Following Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s state visit to Tokyo last week, the two sides agreed to launch formal talks on military intelligence sharing and maritime boundary delimitation, while elevating ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Beijing responded strongly, denouncing the boundary...

Hong Kong Free Press

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Transport chief says health risks linked to late-night aircraft noise over Tung Chung at ‘acceptable’ levels

Hong Kong’s transport chief has said that late-night aircraft noise over Tung Chung is within acceptable limits in terms of risks to residents’ health. Lawmaker Chan Hok-fung relayed concerns from residents during a legislative Q&A on Wednesday. He said that the issue “has been aggravated significantly,” since the operating hours of the South Runway were […]

South China Morning Post

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Warning over home births, vaccine refusal after unregistered baby case in Hong Kong

Unassisted home births and vaccine refusal put mothers and newborns at life-threatening risks, a Hong Kong doctor and a children’s rights group have said, stressing that parental choice must not come at the expense of an infant’s well-being. Their warnings followed the arrest of a Hong Kong couple on suspicion of child neglect. The pair claimed to have given birth to their third child, Danny, at home and had not registered his birth, citing privacy concerns in refusing to submit to a DNA...

South China Morning Post

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Alleged luxury car race crash that killed 5 renews Malaysia’s road safety concerns

Two siblings allegedly racing against each other in luxury cars, causing a multivehicle crash in Johor state that killed five people – including four members of a family – have once again put the spotlight on the “serious public health challenge” facing Malaysia’s roads. Police arrested a 19-year-old driver of a Mercedes-Benz, identified by local media as a Singapore university student, over Monday’s accident which occurred on a highway linking Kluang to Simpang Renggam in Johor. Police said a...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong is emerging as a leading capital hub of the multipolar era

For years, Hong Kong’s obituary has been repeatedly written by international commentators. Geopolitical tensions, pandemic isolation, concerns over capital flight and questions surrounding the city’s future contributed to a narrative of irreversible decline. In many Western analyses, the assumption that Hong Kong’s best days as an international financial centre were behind it became almost automatic. Yet the latest global wealth management data tells a very different story. According to...

South China Morning Post

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정치

South Korea and Japan eye military logistics pact. Should China be wary?

If South Korea and Japan sign a military logistics support agreement, their ties with the US would deepen as they act in concert to deter China and North Korea, analysts said. However, they noted that several “hurdles” must be cleared before the deal could be sealed, including domestic opposition in South Korea to expanding security ties with Japan due to concerns it could sour relations with China, as well as unease stemming from Tokyo’s wartime history. During the Shangri-La Dialogue in...

South China Morning Post

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Starry Lee urges Hong Kong officials to respect lawmakers’ dissent amid pushback

Hong Kong Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king has urged officials to respect lawmakers’ dissenting views amid a recent rise in government pushback, stressing that public policies “always have pros and cons”. Speaking at a media gathering on Tuesday, Lee said she had relayed lawmakers’ concerns to the government regarding officials’ recent rebuttals. She described the relationship between the executive and legislative branches as an ongoing process requiring mutual respect from both...

South China Morning Post

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스포츠

‘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...

South China Morning Post

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정치

Japan’s Russia concern, businesses choose Malaysia over Singapore: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Russia’s military activity has Japan fearing a dual-front war Japan’s call to maintain “impeccable” defences on its northern frontier reflects Tokyo’s deepening concern over growing Russian military activity in the region, analysts say. 2. Rising costs in Singapore spur...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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ID-limbo baby concern rises over 'Save Lily' couple

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said the government is highly concerned about the controversial case involving a couple who refused DNA testing required for their baby's birth certificate following a home birth in Hong Kong. Speaking after an event on Tuesday, Sun said he hoped a health check and assessment of the baby boy, as well as a meeting with the parents, could be arranged as soon as possible. He said relevant departments have been following up on the case. "From last Thursday, we have been using different methods to get in touch with the parents and family involved," Sun said. "Our social workers had waited outside their home at various times of the day. They waited until late on one occasion. "We had also left different contact methods for the parents to reach us. "It wasn't until yesterday that our social workers were finally able to get in touch with the parents through email." The incident sparked concern over the internet after the couple opened a social media page called "Save Lily" in the hope of taking back their second daughter – who was born at home in Finland in 2021 and did not have a birth certificate – after she was put under a formal care order when the family was in Sweden in 2023. The couple then returned to Hong Kong and gave birth to their third son, Danny, at home. Speaking on a radio programme on Tuesday, the father, Tsang, said he and his partner have submitted a statement of self-delivery of birth at home. But the couple have not registered Danny's birth within 42 days of delivery – as required under the law – and refused DNA testing to verify their biological relationship with the infant, citing religious reasons. Tsang said he and his partner are unwilling to undergo such testing, saying that DNA information is highly sensitive, and hope to know the reasons for the required procedures. Sun said the Immigration Department would follow up on the issue regarding Danny's birth certificate and that it had also reached out to the Chinese embassy in Sweden through the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong to follow up on Lily's case. He also said the administration has a comprehensive mechanism for handling matters when it comes to child welfare and will take steps to address the situation as quickly as possible while taking into account all relevant factors. Sun added that appropriate support would be forthcoming should the family express any need for it. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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정치

Taiwan targets Beijing’s grey-zone tactics near remote South China Sea islands

Taiwan’s navy will support patrols around the Taipei-controlled Dongsha Islands after mainland Chinese coastguard activity near the South China Sea atoll surged over the past year. The activity has fuelled concerns in Taipei that Beijing is using the remote outpost to test Taiwan’s responses and refine its grey-zone tactics. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said mainland Chinese coastguard vessels had appeared around the atoll 39 times since February last year, compared with only occasional...

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Tencent’s chief AI scientist dismisses lag concerns, says race a ‘long-term game’

Govt will not implement HK$2 scheme journey cap

Is US wielding new tariff threat to secure big bargain in India trade talks?

Canada PM unveils AI strategy, warns of foreign dominance

EU trade chief swipes at China’s overcapacity, but seeks ‘meaningful’ talks with Beijing

Japan’s PM Takaichi eyes India trip for talks with leader Modi

China rejects OECD report on industrial subsidies as ‘one-sided’ amid EU trade tensions

No pain, no gain? Former player defends ‘unique’ method of coach seen slapping student

Unregistered infant moved to shelter under court order

How Japan and the Philippines are building a maritime security front against China

Transport chief says health risks linked to late-night aircraft noise over Tung Chung at ‘acceptable’ levels

Warning over home births, vaccine refusal after unregistered baby case in Hong Kong

Alleged luxury car race crash that killed 5 renews Malaysia’s road safety concerns

Hong Kong is emerging as a leading capital hub of the multipolar era

South Korea and Japan eye military logistics pact. Should China be wary?

Starry Lee urges Hong Kong officials to respect lawmakers’ dissent amid pushback

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

Japan’s Russia concern, businesses choose Malaysia over Singapore: 7 Asia highlights

ID-limbo baby concern rises over 'Save Lily' couple

Taiwan targets Beijing’s grey-zone tactics near remote South China Sea islands