https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/32048/feed The world's sixth largest country, Australia is a regional power in Asia that has a sometimes troubled relationship with its largest trading partner, China. Canberra began to pull away from Beijing in 2018 due to concerns over Chinese influence on Australian society and politics, as well as disputes over the South China Sea. The global Covid-19 pandemic that began in China in 2019 caused further tensions after Australia called for an independent investigation into the disease's origins. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is bracing for a more unpredictable ally in Washington, as the US midterm elections threaten to deepen political gridlock and complicate Tokyo’s long-term security calculations, analysts say. Observers warn that post-election political battles, ranging from a possible repeat of impeachment proceedings to the mounting legal battles ensnaring the administration of US President Donald Trump, risk diverting the White House’s attention from foreign policy and its long-standing commitments to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372360/will-us-midterm-battles-blind-washington-asia-japan-isnt-taking-any-chances https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372360/will-us-midterm-battles-blind-washington-asia-japan-isnt-taking-any-chances Wed, 28 Oct 2026 03:00:21 +0000 Caroline Lin,Eve Qiao Caroline Lin,Eve Qiao German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has begun his state visit to China in the eastern province of Anhui, spotlighting a growing trend among visiting foreign leaders to look well beyond Beijing. Steinmeier arrived in the provincial capital Hefei early on Tuesday to begin a five-day state visit, marking his first trip to China in nearly eight years and confirming an exclusive report by the South China Morning Post earlier this month. When foreign dignitaries bypass Beijing for provincial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372340/german-leaders-china-visit-latest-sign-foreign-diplomacy-pivot-beyond-beijing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372340/german-leaders-china-visit-latest-sign-foreign-diplomacy-pivot-beyond-beijing Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:17:05 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s energy security, now buttressed by internal resilience, has withstood a difficult test from the protracted war in the Middle East, says the head of a global energy industry body. “China has domestic production, it has developed a diversification policy and there is also the possibility to switch around different types of energy,” Andrea Stegher, president of the International Gas Union (IGU), told the South China Morning Post on Tuesday. Stegher said the world’s second-largest economy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3372333/chinas-energy-supply-chain-withstanding-test-middle-east-war-expert-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3372333/chinas-energy-supply-chain-withstanding-test-middle-east-war-expert-says Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:00:21 +0000 Kristen Cheung,William Yiu Kristen Cheung,William Yiu Hong Kong’s planned university towns in the Northern Metropolis megaproject are being designed to attract the world’s finest students and scholars, the city’s leader has said at a global education summit, as overseas institutions expressed interest but called for partnership incentives. Lawmakers have urged the government to increase the loan quota to help institutions meet their urgent funding needs for campus construction. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu told the Global University Presidents... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3372275/northern-metropolis-university-towns-built-attract-worlds-finest-talent-john-lee https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3372275/northern-metropolis-university-towns-built-attract-worlds-finest-talent-john-lee Tue, 27 Oct 2026 07:20:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Pentagon has assigned the USS Colorado as the first US nuclear-powered attack submarine to join a rotating force to be based in Western Australia. The 115-metre (380-foot) Virginia-class submarine, armed with land-attack missiles and sophisticated torpedoes, would sail to the new Australian base in late 2027, officials said on Tuesday. The deployment was a “significant milestone” in building up a joint US-Australia-UK deterrence in the Pacific under their Aukus defence pact, the allies said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372225/australia-host-uss-colorado-first-us-nuclear-submarine-under-aukus-pact https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372225/australia-host-uss-colorado-first-us-nuclear-submarine-under-aukus-pact Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:25:06 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to the Philippines this week to meet regional allies, the Pentagon announced on Sunday. The visit comes amid a push by Washington to tighten security ties in the Indo-Pacific ahead of an expected meeting between the US and Chinese presidents in southern China. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has faced criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over his handling of the war against Iran, as well as concerns that the conflict could divert US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372182/pentagon-chief-hegseth-visit-philippines-meet-us-allies-asean-events https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372182/pentagon-chief-hegseth-visit-philippines-meet-us-allies-asean-events Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:03:12 +0000 dpa dpa Sydney’s new multibillion-dollar airport has already confused some travellers, with passengers mistaking the new facility for the Australian city’s existing airport and even booking flights to the wrong side of the country. Western Sydney International Airport, which opened at the weekend after decades of planning, is about 60km (37 miles) from the city centre, compared with just 8km for the existing Kingsford Smith Airport. The new airport operates around the clock, while most passenger flights... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372145/australia-sydneys-second-airport-blows-some-passengers-course https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372145/australia-sydneys-second-airport-blows-some-passengers-course Mon, 26 Oct 2026 07:40:16 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Goldman Sachs is accelerating the hiring of wealth management advisers across Asia as the region’s wealthy families increasingly seek to diversify into US assets after years of strong market gains, while the AI boom is creating a new generation of millionaires with growing financial planning needs. The Wall Street bank is expanding its advisory teams in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, alongside specialists in areas such as trading and lending, according to Nishi Somaiya, its global co-head... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3372055/goldman-sachs-steps-asia-hiring-wealthy-clients-eye-us-assets-diversification https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3372055/goldman-sachs-steps-asia-hiring-wealthy-clients-eye-us-assets-diversification Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:23 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung At 22, Luca Yang was running a small teaching company in New Zealand after quitting a six-figure finance job that he hated. It had humble beginnings, where he tutored English online for A$25 (US$17.55) per hour just to get by. When one of his students got into Oxford, word spread: one student became 50, then 500. By most measures, he had already won the start-up lottery. “It was producing a lot of money, but it wasn’t something I actually loved doing,” says Yang, who was born and raised in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371860/o3s-luca-yang-hated-studying-so-he-built-24/7-study-cafes-motivate-people-him https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371860/o3s-luca-yang-hated-studying-so-he-built-24/7-study-cafes-motivate-people-him Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group sailed beyond the first island chain last week to reach the southernmost waters of the Philippines, suggesting an intent to position itself closer to ongoing US-Japan joint exercises. Philippine news channel BNC reported that the carrier group reached about 25 nautical miles (46km) east-southeast of Balut Island, the southernmost point of the Philippines, before sailing northeast on Friday. That positioned the warships past the first island chain, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372078/chinas-liaoning-aircraft-carrier-and-uss-theodore-roosevelt-converge-philippine-sea https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372078/chinas-liaoning-aircraft-carrier-and-uss-theodore-roosevelt-converge-philippine-sea Sun, 25 Oct 2026 12:13:45 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore is turning to major technology firms to strengthen its cyber defences, even as it presses them for greater transparency over security breaches – a balancing act facing regional governments as they seek to harness artificial intelligence while guarding against the risks it introduces. Those risks were highlighted by an AI agent linked to OpenAI that gained unauthorised access to files on an Australian government website earlier this year, raising questions over how quickly companies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371950/singapore-embraces-ai-cyber-defence-one-caveat-breach-transparency https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371950/singapore-embraces-ai-cyber-defence-one-caveat-breach-transparency Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The former father-in-law of slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung rented a village house flat under false pretences and bought a meat mincer and multiple saws as he allegedly prepared for the model’s killing, a court has heard. More evidence emerged regarding how three of Choi’s former in-laws allegedly planned her murder and the disposal of her body as the High Court trial entered its fourth week. Choi’s ex-husband, Alex Kwong Kong-chi, 31, his father, Kwong Kau, 68, and elder brother,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371999/abby-choi-trial-so-far-ex-father-law-lied-rent-village-flat-bought-mincer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371999/abby-choi-trial-so-far-ex-father-law-lied-rent-village-flat-bought-mincer Sat, 24 Oct 2026 07:00:15 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Kevin Rudd, president of the Asia Society and a former Australian prime minister, described US-China strategic competition as full-on and multidimensional at a Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics event on Friday. “There is a full-blown strategic competition under way in every dimension of national political power and influence, militarily, economically, trade and investment and technology, in foreign policy, in ideology,” said Rudd, a noted China scholar. “It’s across the world,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371990/us-china-strategic-competition-keep-escalating-world-watches-rudd-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371990/us-china-strategic-competition-keep-escalating-world-watches-rudd-says Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:29:03 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth Strategic competition between China and the US and its allies is intensifying across the Pacific islands, with both sides pursuing a growing range of security agreements to expand their influence, according to an interactive mapping tool released this week by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank. The tool details 56 security arrangements among 14 Pacific island countries and the US, Australia, New Zealand, mainland China and Taiwan in a bid to map... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371989/us-allies-and-china-vie-influence-through-pacific-security-deals https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371989/us-allies-and-china-vie-influence-through-pacific-security-deals Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:27:23 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The Philippines’ dual push for stronger “minilateral” defence links and a more robust Asean security role is dividing analysts, with one calling the move “opportunistic”. Some experts view Manila’s advocacy for the “Squad” alliance as a strategic opportunity to deepen core security partnerships while chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Others question how much actual weight is carried by this informal defence grouping – comprising the United States, the Philippines, Japan and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371952/opportunistic-experts-weigh-manilas-minilateral-agenda-ahead-trump-xi-meeting https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371952/opportunistic-experts-weigh-manilas-minilateral-agenda-ahead-trump-xi-meeting Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Mainland Chinese shipyards delivered more than twice as much naval tonnage as their US counterparts in 2024 and 2025, according to a new survey, exposing a growing production gap that analysts say could weigh heavily in a prolonged conflict over Taiwan. Tonnage alone is an imperfect measure of naval power, specialists cautioned, pointing to ongoing US advantages in submarine technology, aircraft carriers and operational experience. They also highlighted China’s ability to draw on commercial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371951/what-beijings-two-one-shipbuilding-lead-means-us-war-over-taiwan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371951/what-beijings-two-one-shipbuilding-lead-means-us-war-over-taiwan Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Former HSBC Holdings global insurance head Edward Moncreiffe will join rival AIA Group as regional CEO from November 2, following a path taken by former HSBC Group chairman Mark Tucker, who returned to the Asia-Pacific region’s largest insurer as non-executive chairman last year. Moncreiffe will oversee AIA’s businesses in India, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand, while serving on the group’s executive committee, according to a company statement issued on Friday. He will report to group CEO... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3371907/former-hsbc-insurance-veteran-edward-moncreiffe-joins-aia-latest-senior-talent-move https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3371907/former-hsbc-insurance-veteran-edward-moncreiffe-joins-aia-latest-senior-talent-move Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters The world’s oldest cave paintings on the Indonesian island ⁠of Sulawesi are under threat ⁠as heat and smoke from the ⁠country’s worst wildfires in more than a decade risk accelerating the deterioration of the more than 67,000-year-old works of art, according to researchers. Indonesia is battling its most intense forest and land fires since 2015 as a severe El Nino drives up temperatures and reduces ‌rainfall, leaving its forest and peatland vulnerable to fire. While the islands of Sumatra and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371884/indonesian-wildfires-threaten-worlds-oldest-cave-paintings-sulawesi https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371884/indonesian-wildfires-threaten-worlds-oldest-cave-paintings-sulawesi Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:31:38 +0000 Howard Liu Howard Liu The artificial intelligence agent software market across Asia, Australia and New Zealand is set to expand more than 14-fold by 2030, according to research firm Omdia, as Chinese tech companies increasingly deploy automated tools across office and industrial operations. During its annual event in Beijing on Thursday, Omdia forecast that regional market revenue, which included mainland China and Hong Kong, would reach US$11.2 billion in 2030, up from an estimated US$782 million this year. Over the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371814/asia-pacific-ai-agent-market-surge-14-fold-us112-billion-2030-omdia-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371814/asia-pacific-ai-agent-market-surge-14-fold-us112-billion-2030-omdia-says Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:30:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Australia said on Friday it had sanctioned two North Korean individuals and companies over the use of “fraudulent” IT workers and cybercrime to earn cash for the isolated nuclear-armed state. The two men are alleged to be key operators in Pyongyang’s cybercriminal activities overseas, estimated by analysts to bring in billions for the country’s weapons programme. “The North Korean entities and individuals sanctioned today facilitate North Korea’s use of fraudulent IT workers to raise revenue for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371845/australia-sanctions-2-over-north-korean-fake-it-workers-scheme-nuclear-funds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371845/australia-sanctions-2-over-north-korean-fake-it-workers-scheme-nuclear-funds Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:21:10 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez From the cockpit of an F-22 fighter to an aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific, the US military is showing new ways to command uncrewed aircraft over vast distances. The United States disclosed two tests this month as Washington seeks to outpace Beijing in a technology contest that could redefine air and naval power in the region. Illustrating US military advances and their potential significance for a Taiwan conflict, an F-22 pilot controlled an autonomous YFQ-44A combat drone during flight,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Johannes Nugroho Johannes Nugroho In the wake of Indonesia’s worst stock-market rout since the 1998 Asian financial crisis, President Prabowo Subianto’s administration has turned to appeals to economic nationalism to shore up confidence, urging citizens to rally behind the country’s battered stock market. The government has promised reforms in response to warnings from global index provider MSCI that Indonesia could be downgraded from emerging-market to stand-alone-market status. But analysts say its patriotic appeals will do... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371767/can-prabowos-economic-nationalism-save-indonesia-potential-msci-downgrade https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371767/can-prabowos-economic-nationalism-save-indonesia-potential-msci-downgrade Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A man has been charged with threatening an Australian lawmaker’s staff with nunchucks, police said on Thursday, days after another legislator was critically injured when a man repeatedly hit her with a car. The incidents are heightening concerns about female politicians’ safety and raising concerns about security in a country where lawmakers are highly accessible to the public. Police say that a 56-year-old man entered Western Australian state government minister Hannah Beazley’s electorate... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371759/safety-australian-women-mps-focus-after-man-nunchucks-threatens-staff https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371759/safety-australian-women-mps-focus-after-man-nunchucks-threatens-staff Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:21:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Australia and East Timor signed a defence deal on Thursday to boost cyber and maritime security as Canberra seeks to curb China’s influence among its island neighbours. Australia is East Timor’s largest defence and security partner and the agreement will significantly increase defence exercises, Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters. “This is a time to double down on friendship, to double down on family,” he said in East Timor’s capital Dili. Australia will provide A$62 million (US$44... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371751/australia-commits-us44-million-boost-east-timors-cyber-maritime-security https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371751/australia-commits-us44-million-boost-east-timors-cyber-maritime-security Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:16:08 +0000 Vincent Tan Vincent Tan Southeast Asian nations are seeking to make it easier for businesses and consumers to operate across borders in the digital economy, but achieving the goal will depend on whether governments can align their domestic laws under a proposed pact, according to analysts. Targeted to be signed during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila in November, the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) is aimed at improving compatibility between rules and systems governing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371685/asean-wants-single-digital-economy-will-different-state-laws-hobble-its-goal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371685/asean-wants-single-digital-economy-will-different-state-laws-hobble-its-goal Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:30:19 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Government agencies and companies around the world shut down websites as they raced Thursday to protect themselves from hacks after artificial intelligence uncovered critical flaws in a widely used programming language called PHP. Wiz, one of the cybersecurity firms that found the two flaws, estimated that PHP code helps run about 70 per cent of the world’s websites – from online stores and news outlets to government services. It called the flaws “among the most severe vulnerabilities discovered... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3371694/websites-go-dark-worldwide-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3371694/websites-go-dark-worldwide-ai-exposes-critical-security-flaws Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:10:59 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday that the leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue would meet in the Philippine capital next month, marking the group’s first summit in more than two years, just days before US President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen, China. “It’s been agreement now that we’re going to do it; we’re going to do it in Manila, at the Asean conference,” Rubio said in an interview with Indian news channel CNN-News18. “We don’t... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371558/first-quad-leaders-summit-after-two-years-manila-next-month-rubio-confirms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371558/first-quad-leaders-summit-after-two-years-manila-next-month-rubio-confirms Tue, 20 Oct 2026 17:13:44 +0000 Reuters Reuters Australian police said they charged a man on Tuesday for what they allege was a “targeted” attack on lawmaker and former midwife Helen Haines, who suffered critical injuries. Brendan Nugent, 43, was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and intentionally causing serious injury, as well as the federal crime of harming a public official, Victoria police said. Nugent, from nearby Tarrawingee, was in custody and would face court on Wednesday, police said. National broadcaster ABC and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371447/heroic-barber-recalls-tackling-car-attacker-australian-mp-helen-haines https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371447/heroic-barber-recalls-tackling-car-attacker-australian-mp-helen-haines Tue, 20 Oct 2026 03:12:46 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to dial down the rhetoric and use a hotline between their navy commanders to avoid flashpoints over a vast contested patch of energy-rich seas in the Gulf of Thailand, according to a UN-backed mediation panel at The Hague tasked with helping to settle the dispute between the neighbours. The Southeast Asian countries have also squabbled for decades over the demarcation of their 800km (500-mile) land border, where clashes last year killed scores on both sides and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371443/thailand-cambodia-seek-calm-escalating-dispute-over-us300-billion-seabed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371443/thailand-cambodia-seek-calm-escalating-dispute-over-us300-billion-seabed Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:43:06 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal US-based money manager Principal Asset Management says it is poised to become more active in Asia-Pacific property markets, believing investors have been “underweight” in the region’s office property segment. Richard Hill, its senior managing director and head of global real estate research and strategy, said the group was also seeing continued interest from institutional investors in the Asia-Pacific region looking to access opportunities in US commercial real estate as it was “too big to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371391/money-manager-eyes-asia-pacific-property-growth-tells-investors-keep-bet-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371391/money-manager-eyes-asia-pacific-property-growth-tells-investors-keep-bet-us Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:00:05 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez A second unusual Chinese vessel suspected of being designed to launch and recover large underwater drones has appeared in Guangzhou, raising questions over whether Beijing is developing a fleet of specialised motherships to extend its undersea operations beyond coastal waters. The smaller vessel, seen under tow on the Pearl River in images circulating online, resembles a ship about 200 metres (660 feet) long seen at a Shanghai shipyard last month that has since been launched. Both feature... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371390/china-building-fleet-drone-motherships-extend-its-naval-reach https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371390/china-building-fleet-drone-motherships-extend-its-naval-reach Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines’ telco industry wants the country to become a regional digital hub anchored by stable underwater cables, but a leading executive and analysts warn that slow approvals for repairs, limited monitoring and fragmented official oversight could undermine the ambition. At a forum on archipelagic governance for subsea cables, PLDT, the Philippines’ largest telecommunications company, called for greater cooperation among government agencies and further reforms to expand the vital digital... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371383/philippines-laws-underwater-cables-lagging-behind-its-digital-hub-goal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371383/philippines-laws-underwater-cables-lagging-behind-its-digital-hub-goal Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:36:22 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A Malaysian reform party led by two former cabinet ministers faces a new test ahead of a crucial state election after one of its founders was sidelined over an alleged religious morality offence, threatening its appeal to voters disillusioned with the country’s political establishment. The controversy surrounding former environment minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad could undercut Bersama’s promise of delivering a different kind of politics in next month’s Melaka poll, analysts say – although some... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371381/can-malaysian-reform-party-bersama-survive-founders-scandal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3371381/can-malaysian-reform-party-bersama-survive-founders-scandal Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:25:19 +0000 Reuters Reuters Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was in a critical condition on Monday after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying a terrorism task force would be investigating an arrested suspect. Albanese told a news conference it was too early to determine the motive for the attack but later pointed to the changing face of social media having raised the temperature around politics in a country where such ‌violence is extremely rare. Victoria Police... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371376/australian-lawmaker-helen-haines-critical-condition-after-vehicle-attack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371376/australian-lawmaker-helen-haines-critical-condition-after-vehicle-attack Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:56:43 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg After more than half a century of political procrastination, environmental protests and funding shortfalls, Sydney finally has a second airport. But the new A$5.6 billion (US$4 billion) site’s commercial prospects are already in question. Western Sydney International, 50km (31 miles) inland from the city centre, will handle its first passenger flight on Sunday – a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast. But the facility has attracted only a handful of airlines and has half a dozen or fewer scheduled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371346/sydney-opens-us4-billion-second-airport-few-flights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371346/sydney-opens-us4-billion-second-airport-few-flights Mon, 19 Oct 2026 04:27:34 +0000 Jen Paolini Jen Paolini Robert Chua Wah-peng does not have the air of a stereotypical collector. He does not demand of you the donning of cotton gloves or scrubbing of fingernails before touching his Chinese antiquities; he excitedly invites you to pick up vases and vessels with your bare hands; he encourages you to engage with his acquisitions up close. Most of them are not sequestered away behind glass or acrylic. He also does not have an exact number for how large his collection is. “Could be hundreds of thousands... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/passions/article/3370559/tv-showman-robert-chua-spells-out-his-vision-his-vast-collection-chinese-antiquities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/passions/article/3370559/tv-showman-robert-chua-spells-out-his-vision-his-vast-collection-chinese-antiquities Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:07 +0000 Tom King Tom King Asia-based airlines are battling stubbornly high fuel costs even as pressure mounts to accelerate their transition to more expensive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Singapore Airlines Group reported a 78.5 per cent surge in net fuel costs in the quarter to June, contributing to a S$76 million (US$59.3 million) net loss despite record revenue. Cathay Pacific has repeatedly adjusted passenger fuel surcharges as jet fuel prices fluctuated, while India’s low-cost carrier IndiGo introduced another... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370973/economic-realities-threaten-asias-green-aviation-ambitions https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370973/economic-realities-threaten-asias-green-aviation-ambitions Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran US President Donald Trump is expected to drive hard bargains on tariffs and critical minerals in his return to the Asean summit in Manila next month, with Washington seeking greater economic and strategic concessions while remaining hawkish on China. The Philippines confirmed on Wednesday that Trump would fly in for the summit from November 16 to 18, before attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen that same week. Trump’s second consecutive appearance at the forum... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371132/trumps-second-asean-summit-presence-comes-price-region https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371132/trumps-second-asean-summit-presence-comes-price-region Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Iris Deng,Vincent Chow Iris Deng,Vincent Chow China’s proposed export bans and controls of artificial intelligence technologies aim to tighten Beijing’s grip in the strategically vital sector, casting a cloud over the commercial prospects of domestic model developers in the global AI race, analysts say. The new measures come as concerns mount globally over the risks of advanced AI systems, following a string of recent cyberattacks, while also underscoring AI’s growing national security importance for both Beijing and Washington. Zhang Yi,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371247/chinas-proposed-ai-tech-export-bans-may-create-short-term-costs-long-term-gains-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371247/chinas-proposed-ai-tech-export-bans-may-create-short-term-costs-long-term-gains-analysts Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A judge has sentenced three Mexican men to more than 158 years in prison each for the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend, a case that tarnished Mexico’s image by exposing the risks foreigners face when visiting the tourism-dependent country. Friday’s sentencing, which came a week after the men were found guilty, marked the end of a lengthy legal process over the killings of Australians Callum and Jake Robinson, and American Carter Redd Rhoad. Their bodies were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3371227/3-mexican-men-jailed-over-158-years-australian-us-surfer-murders https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3371227/3-mexican-men-jailed-over-158-years-australian-us-surfer-murders Sat, 17 Oct 2026 03:39:33 +0000 Han Li Han Li As the US prepares to host the G20 summit in Miami in December, Americans’ views of participating countries vary, with China viewed more favourably than Russia, although both rank near the bottom, according to the latest Pew Research Centre report. Americans gave China an average rating of 37 out of 100, compared with 27 for Russia, Pew found in a report released on Friday. Canada, Australia, Japan and Italy received the warmest ratings, with average scores in the mid-to-high 60s. “Russia stands... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371213/americans-see-china-more-positively-russia-both-near-bottom-g20-pew-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371213/americans-see-china-more-positively-russia-both-near-bottom-g20-pew-report Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:06:42 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Digangana Mukherjee, a mother of a six-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, has banned television at her home in the Indian city of Mysore because she does not want her children to become addicted to watching content on screen. A year ago, when her son’s school started using a smart classroom board that streamed online content, she and her husband decided to enrol him in a school where teachers used chalk on a slate board, and the pace of lessons was slower. Now, she is happy that the Indian... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371153/indias-proposed-social-media-ban-under-18s-wins-parents-backing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371153/indias-proposed-social-media-ban-under-18s-wins-parents-backing Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Simpson Cheung,Jess Ma Simpson Cheung,Jess Ma Hong Kong police will conduct round-the-clock patrols in Wan Chai from Friday as part of enhanced security arrangements for the coming Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting, as delegates begin arriving in the city, the South China Morning Post has learned. Delegates from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies will travel to Hong Kong as early as Friday for preparatory work, although most ministers are not expected to arrive until Sunday at the earliest. They will stay at several top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371050/hong-kong-carry-out-24-hour-patrols-near-apec-meeting-venue-and-delegate-hotels https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371050/hong-kong-carry-out-24-hour-patrols-near-apec-meeting-venue-and-delegate-hotels Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin A 500-year-old Buddha statue that was found buried by a roadside in Australia has been returned to China, leaving an ongoing mystery about how it arrived in the country. The 15cm (six-inch) bronze figurine was formally handed over to Chinese consular representatives during a ceremony in the coastal town of Denham in Shark Bay on Tuesday, the public broadcaster ABC reported. It will be taken to China for further evaluation to establish its history before being displayed at a museum in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371046/australia-hands-ming-dynasty-buddha-back-china-amid-ongoing-mystery-over-its-arrival https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371046/australia-hands-ming-dynasty-buddha-back-china-amid-ongoing-mystery-over-its-arrival Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The coming Apec finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong will demonstrate “China’s voice” in regional stability, with the city uniquely placed to bring together regional leaders for important exchanges in a geopolitically charged world, the treasury chief has said. In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post on Thursday, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu said the timing of the meeting of finance ministers from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371051/hong-kong-apec-meet-showcase-chinas-voice-stability-treasury-chief-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371051/hong-kong-apec-meet-showcase-chinas-voice-stability-treasury-chief-says Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:31 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Michelin Guide has handed out its first-ever stars in Australia to 11 restaurants in the state of South Australia. Two Michelin stars were awarded on October 14 to Magill Estate Restaurant, which overlooks the Penfolds winery in the Adelaide foothills. Owned by chef Scott Huggins, it serves tasting experiences for up to A$375 (US$260) per person. Among those awarded one star were Aurora at ILA, based in an arts space co-founded by financial restructuring lawyer and former hedge fund partner... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371028/michelin-guide-south-australia-2027-first-stars-awarded-11-top-restaurants https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371028/michelin-guide-south-australia-2027-first-stars-awarded-11-top-restaurants Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:23:15 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A mild displacement of jobs across the Asia-Pacific region as companies expand their use of AI would trim five percentage points off growth in office space demand in the next few years, according to property consultancy CBRE. In a report released on Thursday it said 3.9 per cent of office jobs were vulnerable to artificial intelligence-driven displacement in developed markets in the region, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. However, only 1.7... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370934/ai-job-losses-set-rein-office-demand-developed-asia-pacific-economies-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370934/ai-job-losses-set-rein-office-demand-developed-asia-pacific-economies-report Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Australia’s navy said on Thursday it would audit bathrooms across its fleet after a video recording device was found in the cabin of one of its ships. Navy chief Matt Buckley has vowed a full investigation into the incident aboard the HMAS Leeuwin, a survey ship docked in the northeastern city of Cairns in the state of Queensland. A member of the armed forces has been identified as a “person of interest” and was assisting military police with enquiries, Australia’s defence ministry said in an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3370928/hidden-cameras-found-womens-showers-australian-navy-ship https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3370928/hidden-cameras-found-womens-showers-australian-navy-ship Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:58:13 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Middle powers should become “indispensable” chokepoints to safeguard strategic autonomy and survive the power rivalry between the US and China, former leaders and top diplomats said at a forum in India on Wednesday. The assessment comes as smaller and middle-tier countries seek to protect themselves from mounting geopolitical uncertainties arising from the tariff war launched by US President Donald Trump. The trade conflict has hit America’s allies and foes alike and grown complicated amid... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370902/us-china-rivalry-middle-powers-urged-be-indispensable-chokepoints https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370902/us-china-rivalry-middle-powers-urged-be-indispensable-chokepoints Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng Senior American diplomats, administration officials and Indo-Pacific military commanders met in Tokyo earlier this month in what one source called an “unusual” gathering ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in November. People familiar with the meeting said it represented an evolution of a long-standing practice in which US ambassadors stationed across Asia and the Pacific gathered to exchange intelligence, coordinate diplomatic reporting and align regional priorities. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370884/us-holds-unusual-civil-military-meeting-tokyo-ahead-trumps-china-trip https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370884/us-holds-unusual-civil-military-meeting-tokyo-ahead-trumps-china-trip Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:00:07 +0000