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China
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Hong Kong
Asia
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Vice-Premier Ding signals fiscal reform to ease pressure on local governments

Ding Xuexiang discusses a fiscal reset through expanded local discretion, bigger outlays from the central government and scientific fiscal management pilots.

Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang discusses the application of artificial intelligence in scientific research at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui province, on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

China-Nepal flash flood: death toll rises to 292, over 1,000 missing

4

Money

Hong Kong retirees’ living costs grow 3 times city’s 5-year average: index

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Politics

Flights, ferries cancelled in Shanghai and Shenzhen as Typhoon Saudel closes in

Saudel is forecast to make landfall on Friday morning, becoming the seventh typhoon to hit the mainland this year.

Typhoon Saudel is approaching mainland China’s east coast. Photo; EPA/Nasa

Big Tech

Zhipu’s viral Ox Alpha AI model runs entirely on Chinese chips

Model shows China can scale AI on domestic chips, setting a usage record as Beijing pushes to cut reliance on US hardware.

Zhipu AI's move marks a significant test of China’s ability to handle large-scale global inference workloads on home-grown hardware. Photo: Getty Images

Law and Crime

3 women charged over play-area brawl, police say grandmother was hit first

Force says dispute began over basketball attraction and investigators believe girl’s mother slapped 68‑year‑old first.

Three women have been charged after a brawl broke out in a children’s play area at a Hong Kong shopping centre. Photo: Threads/one_mushroooom
Police say the 68‑year‑old woman seen in a viral video slapping a young girl was struck first. Photo: Threads/one_mushroooom

Economics

South Korea prioritises financial stability with consecutive rate increases

Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song says the pre-emptive moves aim to help ‘reduce the costs to the economy’.

People walk in a business district in Seoul. The Bank of Korea lifted its benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage point to 3.0 per cent on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Shipping containers and cranes at Busan New Port in Busan on August 22. South Korea’s economy is forecast to grow 3.3 per cent in 2026. Photo: AFP
A business district in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday. The central bank says the domestic economy continues to grow strongly, led by exports and investment. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle

What drives 4 Shaw Prize laureates in pursuit of scientific discovery

In partnership with:The Shaw Prize
Four of this year’s Shaw Prize laureates: (from left) Ken’ichi Nomoto, Stanford Woosley, Camillo De Lellis and Emmanuel Candes.

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong to launch free AI courses with tech giants Google, Microsoft for SMEs

Productivity Council collaborating with tech giants to roll out free training, boosting business adoption under HK$50 million initiative.

The courses will go beyond teaching employees to use AI, Productivity Council deputy chairman Emil Yu says, calling them “a future-facing talent investment” that also ensures the technology is used safely. Photo: Getty Images
The four-day Hong Kong Computer and Communications Festival opened on Friday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Policy

PBOC cautious on yuan gains despite US dollar weakness: analysts

Compared with a more than 2 per cent decline in the US dollar index since late July, the yuan gained less than 1 per cent against the dollar.

Chinese yuan and US dollar banknotes are seen in this arranged photo taken April 9, 2025. Photo: dpa

Tech Trends

Unitree’s stock slump begs question: is there a bubble in humanoid robotics?

Even after the sell-off, Unitree’s market value is more than four times the top of the range indicated by lead underwriter Citic Securities.

Unitree G1 robots perform at the company’s booth at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, August 20, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

What China can do to secure trade routes in its coming high-seas struggle with US

Di Dongsheng argues it could take three decades for China to dominate access to ports, straits, canals and shipping lanes around the world.

The era of open oceans could be drawing to a close, says academic Di Dongsheng, who urges Beijing to prepare “for struggle in a coming contest over sea power and the security of shipping routes”. Photo: Getty Images

China Business

Dovish or Hawkish? Markets await Warsh’s Jackson Hole debut for policy clues

Investors are watching closely for shifts in interest-rate and monetary policy during Friday’s symposium.

US Federal chairman Kevin Warsh holds a press conference on July 29. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

China must ‘take all necessary measures’ to secure autumn harvest: Li Qiang

During an inspection tour in northeastern China, Premier Li says advanced tech can protect crop yield.

Villagers work in rice paddies at a farm in Anhui province on May 18. Photo: Getty Images

China Economy

‘On-the-ground exports’: Shanghai turns to foreign tourists to boost consumption

Inbound visitors are considered a low-cost initiative to address the nation’s consumption figures.

Tourists from Russia take a selfie at the Bund area in Shanghai. Photo: Xinhua
Exclusive

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing explores merging GEM with main board: source

The bourse operator is exploring creating a chapter listing rule to absorb 300-plus firms from the GEM board.

Exchange Square in Central, where the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is located. Photo: Nora Tam

Politics

Philippines’ rising military pensions risk triggering budget ‘time bomb’

The surge in pensions may weaken the country’s push to buy modern military assets to strengthen its deterrence.

Philippine military servicemen take part in a live fire exercise during the annual US-Philippines joint Balikatan exercise in Rizal, Palawan, last year. Photo: AFP
Philippine soldiers pose for a picture in front of the Japanese Type 88 surface-to-ship missile launcher during the annual Balikatan military drills between the US and the Philippines at Paoay, Ilocos Norte province, in May. Photo: Reuters
Philippine troops participate in live‑fire exercises in Barangay Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, during the Balikatan joint military drills between the US and the Philippines in April. Photo: Reuters
SERIES: US visa pause fallout

‘Panicked’: pause to US visa interviews affects more than 100 Hong Kong applicants

Sudden global restrictions by Trump have some applicants in city fearing US may scrap immigration pathway.

US President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, the US State Department said that “appointments for visa services” had been adjusted as officers underwent training at embassies and consulates worldwide. Photo: AP

Hong Kong

Hong Kong lowers heat stress warning system thresholds after calls for revamp

Labour Department says updates include automatically raising alert level when temperatures in multiple parts of the city reach 35 degrees Celsius.

The Labour Department says the revamped system will issue earlier and higher heat stress alerts for workers during extreme temperatures. Photo: Karma Lo
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Science

Chinese scientists discover that trees are producing ozone smog in Beijing

The city’s poplars and willows have been identified as the source of an unexpected spike in ozone levels during the heat of the summer.

Beijing has an unusually high number of willows and poplars. Photo: Shutterstock
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Why is the US-Canada trade war seemingly hinging on drinking games?

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Harry’s View | 27 Aug 2026
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China

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Economics

South Korea prioritises financial stability with consecutive rate increases

Banking & Finance

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PBOC cautious on yuan gains despite US dollar weakness: analysts

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Vice-Premier Ding signals fiscal reform to ease pressure on local governments

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