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United States & Canada

Trump says may leave UFC arena on White House lawn permanently

The US president compared the structure to France’s Eiffel Tower, which was supposed to have been dismantled 20 years after it was built.

A UFC championship belt is displayed as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office in May. Photo: AFP/TNS

Europe

Ukraine, Hungary agree on minority rights, paving way for EU accession talks

The long-running dispute had strained ties between Budapest and Kyiv and complicated Hungary’s support for Ukraine’s EU ambitions.

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Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar attends a press conference in Paris, France, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

China, EU slam proposed US tariffs, reject forced labour claims

Trump administration threatens tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 economies over failure to ban goods made with forced labour.

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A Chinese flag flies from a ship at the Port of Oakland in the US state of California. Photo: AP

Europe

Portugal and Austria defeat Germany for seats on UN Security Council

Kyrgyzstan beat the Philippines by a vote of 143-49 to join the council for the first time.

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and the Austrian delegation cheer at the United Nations General Assembly during the election of non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Wednesday. Photo: dpa

Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine drone strikes causing ‘panic’ for Kremlin, EU’s Kallas says

Russia is increasing attacks on civilians because it doesn’t know how to respond to attacks deep in its territory, the top EU diplomat says.

Smoke billows following hits by Ukrainian drones at an oil terminal in St Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday. Photo: Social media via Reuters
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US

‘I will sell to someone else’: Brazil’s Lula hits back at US after China beef win

The president also branded Rubio a ‘frustrated Latino’ and vowed Brazil would ‘not be treated as an insignificant little republic’ by the US.

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Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks in Brasília as trade tensions with the US escalate. Photo: Reuters

Europe

Wim Wenders pulls 1975 film over nude scene with Nastassja Kinski, who was 13

The acclaimed director apologised to the actress for not protecting her during the making of ‘The Wrong Move’.

Wim Wenders appears during a press conference for the Jury of the International Film Festival, Berlinale, of which he was jury president, in Berlin, in February 2026. Photo: Invision/AP

United States & Canada

Trump says Vance-Rubio team-up for 2028 run would be unbeatable

Trump ‌has continued to fuel the succession talk even as both Vance and Rubio downplay ‌their ‌2028 ambitions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) and US Vice-President J.D. Vance at the White House in March. Photo: dpa

Football

Scotland’s Tartan Army to bring ‘the party’ on return to World Cup after 28 years

Thousands of fans will defy exorbitant prices to visit Boston and Miami, hoping to see their team get past group stage for first time.

Thousands of Scotland's famous fans arriving at Paris' Parc des Princes stadium in September 2007 for a Euro 2008 qualifying match against France. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong Economy

MTR Corp boss Jacob Kam elected chairman of Hong Kong’s largest business chamber

Kam takes over as head of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce for one-year term.

Jacob Kam (left) shake hands with Agnes Chan as chamber deputy chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok looks on. Photo: Dickson Lee
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United States & Canada

FBI kill man holding hostages in California after 12-hour standoff, bomb threat

The stand-off ended with all hostages freed and none hurt, police said.

FBI agents respond after a man barricaded himself inside a building with hostages on Tuesday in Bakersfield, California. Photo: AP

Racing

Fownes breaks own Valley record with 41 wins thanks to Wednesday night double

The ‘King Of The Valley’ now sits on 60 victories for the season, three above the next highest placed trainer Danny Shum.

Caspar Fownes (right) and son Ronan celebrate a double at Happy Valley. Photos: Kenneth Chan

Africa

Kenya health minister says US Ebola quarantine centre will proceed amid protests

Kenyans are angry their land is being used by a foreign power in a way that has colonial undertones, and over the risk of Ebola spreading.

Activists shout slogans as they carry a mock coffin during a protest against an Ebola facility in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

Society

Sweden outlines child care policy amid registration row over infant in Hong Kong

Government explains how decision to take child away from parents is reached, shedding light on Hong Kong couple’s custody battle for daughter.

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Kwan Pui-sin with Lily, who was born in Finland and is currently in the care of Swedish authorities. Photo: Handout

Tennis

Sabalenka knocked out of French Open as Zheng Qinwen’s conqueror keeps going

World No 1 makes 57 unforced errors against Russian Diana Shnaider, while Maja Chwalinska becomes only second qualifier to reach semis.

Russia’s Diana Shnaider celebrates after winning her quarter-final match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka (in background). Photo: Reuters
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Tech

Want to save the planet? Stop being so polite to AI chatbots

UN report reveals massive energy, water, and e-waste footprint, urging sustainable practices as AI usage skyrockets.

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A report from the Institute for Water, Environment and Health under the United Nations University says that vast amounts of electricity are being wasted saying “please” and “thank you” to AI chatbots. Illustration: Shutterstock

China Economy

Hong Kong banks tighten rules in mainland China as Beijing pores over outflows

Some banks are exercising more caution with offshore accounts for their mainland China clients amid tighter investment controls from Beijing.

At least one branch of the Bank of East Asia (BEA) in Shanghai has banned mainland Chinese customers from opening Hong Kong bank accounts. Photo: May Tse

China Economy

China’s new plan to feed 1.4 billion people: AI, gene editing and edible algae

Beijing’s latest agriculture plan focuses on harnessing frontier technologies – from AI and gene editing to alternative food sources.

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A farmer transplants rice seedlings in a paddy field in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Photo: Xinhua

Tech Trends

Hong Kong unveils HKGAI-V3 model built on domestic tech and DeepSeek V4

Agent Workshop operated stably for up to 28 hours without interruption in a single session to produce a research report.

Guo Yike, provost of HKUST and director of HKGAI, delivers remarks at the launch event on Wednesday. Photo: Dickson Lee

China Economy

How China plans to turn the AI computing boom into a new financial market

Aimed at attracting capital into hi-tech sectors, the move would be a first for the city and comes weeks after US-based CME Group announced a similar plan.

A view of Lujiazui, Shanghai’s premier financial district, on May 18. Photo: EPA
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Science

Chinese AI lets everyday users command quantum computing with natural language

Shanghai-based start-up and researchers unveil platform to turn complex emergent field of computer science into mass-accessible technology.

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Researchers and developers can access the system through a lightweight interface rather than building quantum environments from scratch. Photo: Shutterstock

World Opinion

Opinion | How cooperating with the US on economic security could backfire

The conflict in the Middle East and the ensuing turmoil are testing the conventional concept of economic security.

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A drone view shows vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Musandam in Oman, on May 30. Photo: Reuters

Cricket

Hong Kong cricket’s ‘transformational’ chance after booking Asian Games ticket

City team follow up Bahrain victory with win over Singapore to earn place in 10-team tournament in Nagoya, where HKSI funding is up for grabs.

Hong Kong wicketkeeper Shahid Wasif (left) watches on as another Singapore wicket falls to the leg spin of Mohammad Ghazanfar. Photo: Handout

China Economy

Exclusive | EU and China set for Paris talks this week as trade war fears mount

Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting.

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While there is acknowledgement in the EU of the growing quality of Chinese exporters, concern remains that it is tainted by unfair trading practices that make competition impossible for European firms. Photo: AFP

Asia

Video | Security camera captures bear attack in Japan

Security footage shows an Asian black bear chasing a factory worker and throwing him to the ground.

A bear attacks a man at a steel factory in Fukushima, Japan.
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Politics

Citizen group to press for ‘transparency’ in Philippine VP’s impeachment trial

The Bantay Senado network aims to fill gaps in information, accountability and engagement, and ensure senators conduct a fair trial.

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Members of Bantay Senado, a Philippine citizen watchdog launched to monitor Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial. Photo: Dino Singson de Leon and Team Pinas

East Asia

Typhoon Jangmi churns along Japan’s Pacific coast, leaves dozens hurt

Heavy rain continued in the Tokyo metropolitan area in the morning, with flood danger warnings for several rivers in the capital.

A pedestrian braves the rains brought by Typhoon Jangmi in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Tech

Order coffee, book a flight, buy a burger: Alibaba broadens Qwen’s reach

As Tencent prepares a rival WeChat agent, Alibaba is moving quickly to turn Qwen from a chatbot into a digital concierge for everyday life.

The latest upgrade to Alibaba’s Qwen platform brings consumer brands into its AI ecosystem, challenging rivals including Tencent in the battle for China’s next digital gateway. Photo: Shutterstock

China

Video | Sale is the latest example of how foreign businesses in China are revamping models amid heated domestic competition

Haagen-Dazs’ parent company sells its shops in China.

[Shutterstock] Bordeaux , Aquitaine / France - 10 17 2019 : Haagen-Dazs sign logo Häagen Dazs ice cream store shop. Photo: Shutterstock Stock Photo ID: 1535822942
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Southeast Asia

Indonesia arrests sacked head of free meal scheme

Dadan Hindayana is accused of ‘crimes in the management’ of President Prabowo’s flagship scheme.

Prosecutors escort former head of the National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hindayana (middle) to a detention vehicle after he was named a suspect in a corruption case at the attorney general’s office in Jakarta on Wednesday. Photo: EPA