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Latest
China
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Can the new Pinglu Canal become China’s Yangtze of the southwest?

The 134.2km waterway promises shorter routes to the sea and lower transport costs, potentially reshaping the fortunes of landlocked regions.

An aerial drone photo taken on June 11 shows the Pinglu Canal in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Photo: Xinhua

China Economy

Brussels says next round of China-EU trade talks will be in Beijing in October

The EU and Chinese flags at trade talks in Beijing in 2015. Photo: AP

Transport

Authorities aim to launch revamped Huanggang Port on October 12

Thousands of civil servants take part in a trial run of the revamped Huanggang control point on August 29. Photo: Karma Lo

Big Tech

China to see major shift to Huawei for AI model training in 2027: rotating chair

The firm’s Ascend chips are ahead of Nvidia in domestic market, Huawei’s Eric Xu Zhijun says.

People visit an exhibition during Huawei Connect 2026 in Shanghai on Thursday. Photo: AFP

China

China opens Pinglu Canal; Hong Kong unveils first 5-year plan: 7 highlights

From Chinese defence chief’s forum speech to a Beijing Hyrox athlete’s faecal row, here are top stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

A trial vessel moving through the Pinglu Canal in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Photo: Xinhua

China Economy

China publicly names officials in ‘unprecedented’ debt crackdown. Can it work?

The escalating campaign comes as officially identified hidden debt shrinks, even as broader estimates of local financing vehicle liabilities remain far larger.

Workers are seen at the construction site of a railway bridge over Yachi river in Bijie, Guizhou province. Photo: Reuters
Beijing is stepping up efforts to tackle hidden local government debt and broader financial risks. Photo: AFP

China Business

How will Japan’s rate increase affect capital flow in global financial markets?

Tokyo’s bond yields are seeing multi-decade highs as Bank of Japan boosts borrowing cost to three-decade high.

A woman walks past an electronic board displaying stock prices in Tokyo on Monday. Photo: AFP

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.

Science

Scientists trace half the DNA in Xinjiang’s oldest tombs to Yellow River farmers

Study of Bronze Age remains uncovers a population with roots in both Yellow River farmers and Eurasian steppe groups.

The Hami oasis in China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is nestled between the Tianshan Mountains and the Gobi Desert. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Bail out or downsize? Malaysia’s stark choice as AirAsia losses mount

Rival carriers lack commercial incentive to take over unprofitable routes, which could force the government into a subsidy dilemma, analysts say.

AirAsia planes stand on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, in January. Photo: Reuters

China Business

ByteDance spin-off Anew Labs raises US$290m amid AI drug design fundraising boom

As AI’s role in drug design advances rapidly, Chinese start-ups are ramping up fundraising efforts.

AI is increasingly being used in the design of novel drugs. Photo: Shutterstock Images
SERIES: Classic Hong Kong cinema

From Cheng Pei-pei to Michelle Yeoh, Hong Kong’s history of action heroines

Hong Kong studios embraced female action stars long before Hollywood. Here’s how some of the biggest triumphed in wuxia and kung fu films.

Michelle Yeoh (right) in a still from Wing Chun (1994). The Malaysian actress is one of many women to have starred in Hong Kong action movies over the decades. We look at her roles and those of others, from Angela Mao Ying to Brigitte Lin.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s new chapter

The city’s first five-year plan includes 22 key performance indicators tied to the local economy, innovation and residents’ living standards.

Politics

US pivot leaves Saudi Arabia with ‘humiliating dilemma’ over Houthis

Riyadh is now working frantically to build a coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and defend the kingdom against Houthi attacks.

Firefighters inspect damage to a building caused by falling debris from a reported Houthi drone intercepted over Taif province, western Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. Photo: Saudi Press Agency / AP
A car is damaged by a reported Houthi drone attack over Taif, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Saudi Press Agency / AFP
A building is damaged by shrapnel from a reported Houthi drone in Taif on Thursday. Photo: Saudi Press Agency / AFP

People

Breaking | Malaysia’s Najib Razak granted house arrest by Pardons Board

Given a ‘conditional pardon’, Najib has to settle his US$12.3 million fine before he can be transferred home to complete his sentence.

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak attends the verdict of his house arrest bid at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex on December 22, 2025. Photo: Reuters

People

Filipino fishers count the cost of South China Sea dispute

Blocked from accessing Scarborough Shoal and hit by local dredging, Zambales fishermen say their weekly incomes have collapsed.

Filipino fishing boats are seen moored at a port in Masinloc town, Zambales province, in 2022. Photo: AFP
Exclusive

US families press for loved ones’ release from China ahead of Xi’s visit

Cases of US citizens detained in China gain greater attention as their families increase pressure on Trump administration to help them.

11
Clockwise from left: Chen Youlin, Dawn Michelle Hunt and Nelson Wells Jnr. All three are US citizens detained in China. Photos: Supplied

United States & Canada

US to allow Iranian leaders to attend UN meeting amid wartime stand-off

US again imposes strict conditions on the Iranian delegation for the UN General Assembly in New York.

Member state flags fly outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City. Photo: Getty Images

Politics

Poland eyes deeper Philippines defence ties following Black Hawk deal

Warsaw is targeting drones, air defence and artillery exports to Manila as European rearmament fuels global arms ambitions.

A Philippine Air Force officer speaking during the acceptance ceremony for the seven and last batch of S-70i Black Hawk helicopters at Villamor air force base in Manila in August. Photo: AFP
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Hong Kong’s 5-year plan

The story begins …

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s final policy address for his current term lays out five major development opportunities and 25 key livelihood measures, from targets for Northern Metropolis to family friendly policies.

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Opinion
Chow Chung-yan
Opinion |

Experimentation drives the Northern Metropolis – just as it did Shenzhen

4 hours ago
Chow Chung-yan
Letters |

Northern Metropolis can offer a clean slate for educational innovation

2 hours ago
Bernard Chan
Opinion |

What the China-Nepal floods teach us about crisis communication

18 Sep 2026 - 5:30AM
Bernard Chan
Editorial |

Hong Kong, mainland China won’t genuflect to Silicon Valley’s moral panic over AI

6 hours ago
Glyn Ford
Opinion |

A new Trump-Kim summit would be a nightmare for everyone but Pyongyang

17 Sep 2026 - 8:30PM
Glyn Ford
Charmaine Mok
Opinion |

Is New York’s Bar Leone a copycat of Hong Kong’s ‘World’s Best’ original?

17 Sep 2026 - 1:16PM
Charmaine Mok
Harry’s View | 18 Sep 2026
September 18, 2026
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Latest

Politics

US pivot leaves Saudi Arabia with ‘humiliating dilemma’ over Houthis

Big Tech

China to see major shift to Huawei for AI model training in 2027: rotating chair

China

China opens Pinglu Canal; Hong Kong unveils first 5-year plan: 7 highlights

People

Breaking | Malaysia’s Najib Razak granted house arrest by Pardons Board

Asia

Video | Chinese national arrested for allegedly killing sea turtle

More Latest News
SCMP Shorts
Hyrox offers refunds to Beijing participants affected by athlete who soiled herself
Hyrox offers refunds to Beijing participants affected by athlete who soiled herself
Early evacuation heads off casualties from huge landslide in China’s Sichuan province
Early evacuation heads off casualties from huge landslide in China’s Sichuan province
South Korean drug lord’s plan to use drone to escape Philippine prison foiled by test flight
South Korean drug lord’s plan to use drone to escape Philippine prison foiled by test flight
Key takeaways from Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address: from the Northern Metropolis to babies and employment
Key takeaways from Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address: from the Northern Metropolis to babies and employment
Asian Games athletes and officials slam ‘worst ever’ housing as cruise ship arrives in Japan
Asian Games athletes and officials slam ‘worst ever’ housing as cruise ship arrives in Japan
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