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South China Morning Post

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Iran threatens US interests and Israel after strike on Beirut

Iran’s chief negotiator warned on Sunday that an Israeli strike on south Beirut and the continuing US blockade of Iranian ports would trigger retaliation. Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs without warning on Sunday, days after a ceasefire agreement in Washington went into effect and despite a US request not to attack Lebanon’s capital. Lebanon’s state-run national news agency said two people were killed and 11 wounded in a preliminary count. Iran had warned that an attack on Beirut would...

South China Morning Post

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China urged to fast-track carrier fleet upgrades as Japan boosts strike power

China should speed up aircraft carrier group upgrades and boost their combat capabilities to counter Japan’s growing defence strength amid mounting tensions, military experts have said. This comes as Tokyo ramps up its defence posture with long-range anti-ship missiles and deployments on Japanese islands near Taiwan, putting Beijing on high alert. A recent simulated attack also highlighted the potential threat. As tensions escalated in December over the Japanese prime minister’s comments on...

South China Morning Post

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Pakistan’s mediators in Iran as US downs drones, Lebanon looks for peace

Pakistan’s interior minister was in Tehran on Sunday in a fresh bid to restart negotiations between Iran and the US, as the American military said it shot down two more Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz that threatened international maritime traffic. The latest action came as the Washington presses for Iran to make a deal to end the war in the Middle East, which has strained the global economy and threatened a hunger crisis in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries. The heaviest...

South China Morning Post

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Baby Danny parents to get 1-hour weekly visits, list 3 possible outcomes

A Hong Kong couple whose baby was born at home and placed in court-ordered care has said they can visit their son for up to one hour a week while they work to prove their parenting capability, as they outlined three potential outcomes listed by social welfare authorities. The unmarried couple, Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin, told the South China Morning Post on Sunday that they were scheduled to meet government social workers and be granted supervised visits in the coming week. During the...

South China Morning Post

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‘Sky breaks’: in some China regions, lying flat can avoid bad luck; use ‘mending pancakes’

While many Chinese people joke that they “work like a dog” because they are anxious about dropping out of the rat race, there is a tradition in some areas that people can legitimately “lie flat” once a year to ward off bad luck. The day is called tian chuan, or the day when the sky breaks. It usually falls on the 20th day of the first lunar month, and marks the day when the sky that Nuwa mended breaks once in a year. Nuwa is a mythological figure, a mother goddess who is said to have moulded the...

South China Morning Post

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Beijing sends largest patrol ship east of Taiwan after Japan-Philippine boundary talks

Beijing has sent a flotilla that includes mainland China’s largest patrol vessel to waters east of Taiwan in response to Japanese-Philippine maritime boundary negotiations. The Ministry of Transport ships are expected to conduct joint patrols with a coastguard formation dispatched to the same waters last Monday. The Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily published a commentary on Sunday that accused Japan and the Philippines, which already have long-running territorial disputes with Beijing,...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Airport chief welcomes direct flights to Central Asia

Airport Authority chairman Fred Lam on Sunday said Hong Kong's expansion into Central Asia would open up new passenger markets and provide an alternative route for cargo coming to and from Europe, with direct flights between the SAR and the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan set to launch in the first quarter of next year. Lam's comments on Commercial Radio came just days after Chief Executive John Lee wrapped up his visit to Central Asia during which he signed multiple agreements in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. He pointed out that 13 percent of Hong Kong's cargo flows to and from Europe currently pass through the Middle East, but the ongoing war against Iran and US tariffs have disrupted supply chains. Additional routes via Central Asia could strengthen Hong Kong's position as a key aviation hub linking Asia and Europe, he said. Lam also noted that Hong Kong International Airport handled 61 million passengers last year while traffic in the first four months of this year rose by 13 percent. He was confident the airport could reach 70 million passengers for the full year. Lam added the airport aimed to attract more travellers from the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and increase transit traffic while creating a "frictionless border" for GBA passengers. This, he said, could encourage transfer passengers to come back to Hong Kong as tourists. Lam also said operations at the newly reopened Terminal 2 have been smooth. "We commissioned the T2 departure facility last week and so far and it has processed 40,000 passengers with 300 flights. We're very happy with the whole process, it's turned out to be very smooth." "The process will complete by Wednesday this week. By then, every day we would have about 110 flights per day with around 20,000 passengers. "We'll continue to monitor that. We believe that this new facility would help to provide an even better service to our passengers," he said. Regarding the 11 Skies Mall development, Lam said it is scheduled for full completion in 2028. While discussions with the developer are ongoing, he said the project is part of the airport city's development blueprint and was confident in its long-term potential. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Injured Mirror dancer Mo Li honours late father Reverend Derek Li at funeral

Dignitaries, relatives and members of the public gathered on Saturday to pay their final respects to the late Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam, whose son, Mo Li Kai-yin – the Hong Kong dancer left paralysed after an accident at a 2022 concert – delivered a heartfelt video tribute thanking his father for his “unconditional love”. For nearly four years, Reverend Li, a former Christian Ministry Institute president, had been a tireless advocate for his son, issuing prayer letters to update supporters on...

South China Morning Post

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The problem with Japan’s bid to strengthen energy security, supply chains

What is in effect Japan’s version of the Belt and Road Initiative is being rolled out at an accelerating pace. But unlike China’s global infrastructure initiative, which mainly takes the form of highways, railways and sea lanes, Japan’s project is all about energy networks and supply chains. It poses a further challenge to America’s waning economic and strategic influence in Asia, the world’s most populous, resource-rich and potentially powerful region. What is more, it is a cooperative venture...

South China Morning Post

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Past failures haunt Quad’s US$20 billion critical minerals push

The Quad’s newly announced US$20 billion critical minerals framework aims to loosen China’s near-monopoly on the materials that power modern defence, technology and clean energy industries. But analysts say its success will depend on the ability of Australia, the United States, India and Japan – the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’s four members – to move beyond policy declarations and deliver measurable outcomes. The initiative, announced after a meeting of Quad foreign ministers on May 27, has...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong baby Danny’s future remains unclear despite birth registration progress

Baby Danny’s future remains uncertain despite having almost completed his birth registration in Hong Kong, as welfare authorities still had to assess the capability of his parents, who were earlier arrested for suspected child neglect and have a troubled parental history. Danny’s welfare sparked public concern over the past week after Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin, who initially declined a DNA test for their home-born son’s birth registration on religious and privacy grounds. They only made a...

Hong Kong Free Press

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Overtaken by Hong Kong in global wealth management, Swiss keep cool

Though Hong Kong has overtaken Switzerland as the number one in cross-border wealth management, rather than enter panic mode, Swiss banks seem unruffled — feeling it bolsters the case against looming tighter banking regulations. Hong Kong is now the world’s largest cross-border booking centre thanks to inflows from mainland China, strong initial public offering activity, […]

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Uzbekistan becoming a big draw for visitors'

The Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan is a hidden gem that is fast being discovered by a new generation of international travellers, including those from China. At the Center for Islamic Civilization, a popular tourist attraction in the capital Tashkent, a cross-section of tourists told RTHK that the country is becoming increasingly accessible and a must-visit destination. A traveller from Shaanxi province in China, surnamed Wang, said he was attracted by a blend of post-Soviet history and Islamic architecture. "I just want to experience the fourth largest republic of the former Soviet Union. Just to see how they've developed since breaking away from the Soviet Union, and to see what changes have taken place in the city's appearance," he said. "So I came to stroll around and take a look, just to experience the different culture of another country." Wang noted that travel has become significantly easier. "It’s visa-free for 30 days," he explained, having arrived via Almaty, Kazakhstan. Wang also noted that more Chinese people have been visiting Uzbekistan in the past few years. That sense of discovery is echoed by European visitors. "We didn’t know anyone else who has been here, so it was really exciting to come somewhere completely different and experience a completely different culture," said William Norton, a tourist from Scotland. But he also met some challenges. "Language is the main one – we don’t speak Uzbek or Russian, which would help a lot. "Apart from that, obviously the lack of public transport as well has been a little bit of a problem in Tashkent. The metro is easier, however, in other places in Uzbekistan like Samarkand." Yet, for Norton, those very challenges are part of the charm. "You go to other places in Europe that are equally as beautiful if not less beautiful and they are absolutely rammed with people, so it's nice that it's a little bit quieter here." His travel companion, Christian Cannarella, agreed, saying their friends back in Scotland were surprised by their travel plans. He said people in Uzbekistan have been very welcoming and visiting the landmarks is an "incredible" experience. For travellers from other Islamic nations, the attraction lies in the shared cultural heritage. Ammar Nizamani, visiting from Pakistan, said he wanted to find out what they have in common in faith and history. He said he tries to visit different countries whenever he has the chance. Edited by Robert Kemp

South China Morning Post

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Chinese researchers claim breakthrough in training household robots with AI-generated homes

A team of Chinese researchers has claimed a breakthrough in training robots in real-world home environments, tackling a long-standing data bottleneck in the field and potentially accelerating the adoption of robots at home. Kairos-HomeWorld was the world’s first unified framework capable of generating coherent, accurate and simulation-ready home environments using simple text prompts, according to researchers from Ace Robotics, a start-up backed by Hong Kong-listed artificial intelligence...

South China Morning Post

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Asia’s marine pledges face credibility test at global ocean conference

Asia’s governments have spent years promising to protect the seas that feed their people, shelter their coasts and support some of the world’s richest marine life. World Ocean Day on Monday will put those promises back in the public spotlight, but the more consequential test will come days later in Mombasa, Kenya, where governments, donors, companies and conservation groups will gather for the 11th annual Our Ocean Conference from June 16 to 18. The conference has become a key stage for global...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Tech MoUs highlight last day of CE's Central Asia trip

Chief Executive John Lee announced a series of innovation and technology agreements with Uzbekistan, following a visit to the Central Asian nation’s flagship IT hub on Friday. Writing on his social media, Lee detailed the delegation’s visit to Uzbekistan IT Park, a national special economic zone in Tashkent, where they met with Ayubkhon Sultanov, Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies. He said the IT Park serves as a core engine for Uzbekistan’s digital economic transformation, offering tax incentives and rental concessions and facilitating visa arrangements to attract tech enterprises and talent. The park, he said, is central to implementing the “Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy” and the country’s national AI Strategy. The CE noted that while Uzbekistan is accelerating its economic transformation and I&T development, Hong Kong — as an international financial centre — is actively building itself into a global innovation hub. “Leveraging its world-class financing platform, professional services and unique bridging role connecting the mainland and international markets, Hong Kong is highly complementary to Uzbekistan’s development,” the CE wrote. Both places, he added, are important partners within the Belt and Road Initiative and can strengthen exchanges of development experience. Lee said senior executives from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Cyberport and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with IT Park during the visit. The agreements aim to establish platforms for startup incubation, acceleration programmes and cross-border market access. Under the deals, Uzbekistan’s I&T companies would gain a strategic gateway into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and global markets, while Hong Kong enterprises would be able to tap into Uzbekistan’s young IT talent pool for software development and innovative collaborations. “Going forward, we can further synergise the innovation and technology ecosystems of both sides, explore collaborative projects and achieve complementary advantages and win-win partnerships,” the CE said. Lee concludes his Central Asia trip on Friday. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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TIA to work with Shenzhen to combat coercive shopping

The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) said it had exchanged views with relevant officials from Shenzhen to ramp up supervision on industry misconduct such as tours that involve coercive shopping. In a statement released on Friday, the authority noted its chairperson, Kevin Lam, led a team last month to meet with Ding Zhongyuan, deputy director-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Tourism, Radio & Television on May 18. The team also met with representatives from Shenzhen's tourism, cybersecurity, market supervision and enforcement departments, as well as travel associations and certain key online platforms. Together, they discussed how to strengthen collaboration to combat illegal tours as well as tours that involve coercive shopping. Speaking at their meeting, Lam noted Hong Kong has been cracking down on unlicensed tour activities, citing a recent case in which authorities arrested a mainland worker for the offence of breaching conditions of stay and offering hiking tour guide services at High Island Reservoir in early May. The man was later convicted and sentenced to six weeks in prison, according to the TIA. Meanwhile, the two sides also touched on issues in which mainland visitors were forced to buy items while on their packaged tours in the SAR. Authorities revoked a tour guide's licence in one case, following an investigation in April. The revocation took effect today. The TIA reiterated that it has "zero tolerance over actions that damage the reputation of Hong Kong's tourism industry", adding it would work with its peers in Shenzhen to enhance education and publicity. It also called on tourists to check if their travel agencies have obtained proper legal certificates before joining their tour groups. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Europe’s fears about China trade threat miss the point

Europe’s political and business leaderships appear to have concluded that China’s economic dominance represents an existential threat – not from intrinsic competitiveness but from subsidies, technology theft, state-owned enterprises and a pervasive industrial policy. Cecilia Malmstrom, former European Commission member and a member of the European Parliament, wrote this week about “an ever more aggressive China”, which “seems to be entering a new phase of industrial policy with an increase of...

South China Morning Post

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China woman dances with eye patch and mask after losing partial jaw, vision in one eye to cancer

A 24-year-old Chinese woman keeps managing to shine on stage despite wearing a patch and a mask after she lost an eye and her left upper jaw to cancer. Han Yifei, from eastern China’s Jiangsu province, has moved many people online and garnered over 7,000 followers on a social media platform with her beautiful ballroom dancing. In videos she uploaded, she always wears an eye patch and sometimes a mask. Han lost part of her jaw and the vision in her left eye to osteosarcoma, a type of bone...

South China Morning Post

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Shadow of old dictatorship looms over Peru’s bitter presidential run-off

Peru’s duelling presidential hopefuls made a final pitch to voters on Thursday, capping a bruising and razor-tight race dominated by anger over rising crime and political instability. Conservative Keiko Fujimori and leftist Roberto Sanchez staged rival events in Lima ahead of Sunday’s vote, with ardent flag-waving supporters arguing their “communist” or “dictator” opponents would bring the country to ruin. “We cannot let them win with communism and terrorism,” said bandana-wearing 65-year-old...

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Iran threatens US interests and Israel after strike on Beirut

China urged to fast-track carrier fleet upgrades as Japan boosts strike power

Pakistan’s mediators in Iran as US downs drones, Lebanon looks for peace

Baby Danny parents to get 1-hour weekly visits, list 3 possible outcomes

‘Sky breaks’: in some China regions, lying flat can avoid bad luck; use ‘mending pancakes’

Beijing sends largest patrol ship east of Taiwan after Japan-Philippine boundary talks

Airport chief welcomes direct flights to Central Asia

Injured Mirror dancer Mo Li honours late father Reverend Derek Li at funeral

The problem with Japan’s bid to strengthen energy security, supply chains

Past failures haunt Quad’s US$20 billion critical minerals push

Hong Kong baby Danny’s future remains unclear despite birth registration progress

Overtaken by Hong Kong in global wealth management, Swiss keep cool

'Uzbekistan becoming a big draw for visitors'

Chinese researchers claim breakthrough in training household robots with AI-generated homes

Asia’s marine pledges face credibility test at global ocean conference

Tech MoUs highlight last day of CE's Central Asia trip

TIA to work with Shenzhen to combat coercive shopping

Europe’s fears about China trade threat miss the point

China woman dances with eye patch and mask after losing partial jaw, vision in one eye to cancer

Shadow of old dictatorship looms over Peru’s bitter presidential run-off