https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325689/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Houthi media reported that Saudi strikes killed 11 people in Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday, shortly after the Saudi-led coalition fighting them said it had intercepted two missiles targeting Saudi cities. The Houthis’ Al-Masirah outlet reported a series of “Saudi enemy air strikes” targeting Sanaa, including one on a house that killed at least four people and wounded several others. A separate strike at a residence building for cement factory workers in the Sanaa governorate killed six women... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372035/saudi-strikes-kill-11-yemen-houthi-missiles-target-saudi-cities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3372035/saudi-strikes-kill-11-yemen-houthi-missiles-target-saudi-cities Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:33:12 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Filipino seafarer Jay was on lookout duty aboard a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz one evening in August when drones swarmed overhead, darting past his ship and two others it was following. Within seconds, an explosion rang out from a tanker ahead. “That was traumatic for me when I saw that the tanker ahead of our vessel had been hit,” said Jay, whose real name has been withheld to protect him from possible employer retribution. The 29-year-old and his fellow crew members made it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371457/dire-straits-why-filipino-sailors-continue-brave-troubled-middle-east-waters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371457/dire-straits-why-filipino-sailors-continue-brave-troubled-middle-east-waters Tue, 20 Oct 2026 05:00:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre skyscraper ordered remote working for office tenants on Sunday following repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi-led coalition said two pilots were killed in a crash near the Yemen border. The imposing, 99-storey landmark announced “mandatory” remote working until further notice. No reason was given for the order, but it comes a week after 13 people were killed in a major Houthi attack on Riyadh’s international airport. The Saudi coalition’s decade-plus war... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371307/saudi-closes-riyadh-skyscraper-chopper-pilots-killed-near-yemen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371307/saudi-closes-riyadh-skyscraper-chopper-pilots-killed-near-yemen Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:22:38 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon Archaeologists have long found a disturbing pattern in the graves of ancient rulers: the dead were sometimes accompanied by other dead. Around royal tombs, the remains of people – who appear to have been killed specifically to follow their masters into the afterlife – lie alongside precious objects and weapons. A new study from Egypt has brought this practice back into the news. At the ancient royal cemetery of Abydos, archaeologists re-examined the skulls of people buried around the tombs of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3370687/how-chinas-macabre-practice-human-sacrifice-burials-came-end https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3370687/how-chinas-macabre-practice-human-sacrifice-burials-came-end Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:15:04 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Authorities in the central Chinese province of Hunan have warned of the potential risks of cross-border arranged marriages, saying some relationships lack genuine emotional foundations and can lead to financial ruin or legal trouble. Marriages can be risky when they are organised by illegal matchmaking agencies that charge high fees, according to a post on the Xintian county police branch’s social media account on Tuesday. For-profit international matchmaking is illegal in China. The post... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370982/cross-border-matchmaking-can-lead-financial-ruin-chinese-police-warn-rural-men https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3370982/cross-border-matchmaking-can-lead-financial-ruin-chinese-police-warn-rural-men Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:59:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A South Korean container ship has returned from a trial voyage through the Arctic, testing an alternative route opened by melting sea ice as conflict in the Middle East disrupts global shipping. The PanStar Acro made the round trip to Europe in less time than the conventional route through the Suez Canal, officials said. The initiative has drawn concerns that increased traffic could accelerate Arctic ice loss. The Arctic route could also expose operators to sanctions-related risks because it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370523/south-korea-hails-success-its-first-arctic-shipping-trial https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370523/south-korea-hails-success-its-first-arctic-shipping-trial Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:53:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A fresh Houthi strike hit Riyadh’s international airport on Sunday, killing one person and wounding 11 others, a day after another deadly attack claimed by the Yemeni group forced authorities to suspend operations there. Saturday’s attack, the deadliest on Saudi soil in more than a decade, was a sharp escalation in the Yemen war, where Riyadh has long militarily supported the internationally recognised government against the Houthis. The Iran-backed group on Sunday claimed multiple attacks over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370513/riyadh-airport-hit-fresh-houthi-strike-day-after-deadly-attack-killed-12 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370513/riyadh-airport-hit-fresh-houthi-strike-day-after-deadly-attack-killed-12 Sun, 11 Oct 2026 17:52:46 +0000 Reuters Reuters Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday postponed legislative elections due next month until September 11, 2027, and called a presidential poll for the same date, blaming Israel and ‌the security situation in the Palestinian territories for the delay. Abbas’ decree cited “obstacles posed by Israeli measures” and the need to establish suitable political, security and on-the-ground conditions for “free, fair and inclusive elections”, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370455/palestinian-leader-abbas-postpones-elections-september-2027 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370455/palestinian-leader-abbas-postpones-elections-september-2027 Sat, 10 Oct 2026 15:09:00 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth The Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the United States and the country’s leading gateway for imports from China and other Asian countries, had its busiest three-month period on record from July through to September, despite persistent uncertainty over tariffs and shifting global trade supply chains. “If there was ever a time for a drum roll, this is it,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, during a media briefing on Friday. “July through September... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370410/key-us-port-china-imports-records-best-ever-quarter-despite-trade-uncertainty https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370410/key-us-port-china-imports-records-best-ever-quarter-despite-trade-uncertainty Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:54:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Saudi authorities said Wednesday three people were killed in attacks on two of the kingdom’s international airports, including in the capital Riyadh, after Yemen’s Houthis claimed to have fired on both transport hubs. The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed a wave of attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure in recent weeks, which came as Riyadh-backed forces pressed a counteroffensive against the group’s territorial gains. Since Yemen’s civil war reignited in July, more than 200,000 people have... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370112/houthi-strikes-saudi-airports-leave-3-dead-dozens-wounded https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370112/houthi-strikes-saudi-airports-leave-3-dead-dozens-wounded Thu, 08 Oct 2026 01:54:42 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠Yemen’s Houthis attacked Aden’s international airport with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones on Wednesday, the country’s transport ministry said, as fighting between the Iran-aligned group and Saudi-backed government forces intensified. Fighting has been focused in recent days on areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a shipping route that has become more crucial for energy exports since the conflict between the US and Iran restricted trade through the Strait of Hormuz. This week,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370080/yemens-houthis-attack-aden-airport-fighting-intensifies https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3370080/yemens-houthis-attack-aden-airport-fighting-intensifies Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:20:05 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Indonesia is expected to receive its first Chengdu J-10CE fighter jets in six months, according to an Indonesian media report, which would make it the third international operator of the Chinese-made aircraft. Jakarta confirmed an order of 42 of the 4.5-generation fighter jets – known as Vigorous Dragons – last October, with an approved budget of US$9 billion. The first delivery is expected in April though it is not known how many aircraft will be delivered, Indonesian news outlet Republika... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369910/indonesia-take-delivery-first-chinese-j-10ce-fighter-jets-6-months-report-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3369910/indonesia-take-delivery-first-chinese-j-10ce-fighter-jets-6-months-report-says Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:00:18 +0000 William Yiu,Edith Lin William Yiu,Edith Lin Hong Kong has retained its status as the world’s freest economy in the latest annual ranking by a top Canadian think tank, although its score has declined in recent years. Switzerland overtook Singapore to claim second place in 2026, pushing the city state down to third in the league table released by the Fraser Institute on Tuesday. The Economic Freedom of the World report, compiled by the Vancouver-based public policy research organisation using data from 2024, ranked Hong Kong first among 165... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369922/hong-kong-remains-worlds-freest-economy-switzerland-overtakes-singapore https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369922/hong-kong-remains-worlds-freest-economy-switzerland-overtakes-singapore Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:36:16 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung Companies from the United States, Britain and Singapore have been among the leading sources of inbound foreign capital in Hong Kong so far this year, the city’s commerce minister has said, insisting that “money is money” despite geopolitical instability. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with the South China Morning Post, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah described 2026 as a very challenging year because of the geopolitical situation. Nevertheless, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369494/money-money-us-uk-firms-still-coming-hong-kong-commerce-chief-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369494/money-money-us-uk-firms-still-coming-hong-kong-commerce-chief-says Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press When Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the war, choking off sea passage for some 15 million barrels of oil a day, many feared that prices would skyrocket, cratering the world economy. Instead, nearly seven months on, oil is expensive but not exorbitant, and analysts say there is enough oil available to meet current global needs, even as the higher prices cause political problems for US President Donald Trump and others. That’s because Saudi Arabia and other Gulf producers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3368688/gulf-nations-keep-oil-flowing-amid-iran-war-its-getting-costly https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3368688/gulf-nations-keep-oil-flowing-amid-iran-war-its-getting-costly Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:40:36 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Moscow at the United Nations on Wednesday that his nation would strike back and make the coming winter deeply painful for Russia, if the two sides cannot agree a truce on energy attacks before the cold sets in. Ukraine and its allies are racing to secure limited agreements on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping before winter, fearing renewed Russian strikes on power and heating ‌facilities, while Moscow continues to show little interest in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3368566/ukraines-zelensky-warns-painful-winter-russia-if-energy-truce-talks-fail https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3368566/ukraines-zelensky-warns-painful-winter-russia-if-energy-truce-talks-fail Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:01:32 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ⁠met US CIA chief John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland, two people familiar with the matter said. The meeting took place on Monday, one of ‌the sources said. The other source said the pair spoke informally while their planes were being refuelled without specifying a date. Both sources, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, declined to disclose details of their conversation. The ⁠meeting happened as Zelensky was travelling to New York... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368307/zelensky-and-us-spy-chief-ratcliffe-meet-ireland-sources-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368307/zelensky-and-us-spy-chief-ratcliffe-meet-ireland-sources-say Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:58:39 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the second part of a series, Fan Chen looks at Beijing’s stronger position going into the high-stakes visit. Beijing is poised to begin this week’s summit with Washington from a position of strength, bolstered by a flurry of recent diplomatic outreach. Chinese confidence could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368100/analysts-tip-stronger-hand-china-ahead-xi-trump-summit-washington https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368100/analysts-tip-stronger-hand-china-ahead-xi-trump-summit-washington Sat, 19 Sep 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage Six Chinese J-16 fighter jets arrived in Egypt last month for a joint exercise in what was the aircraft’s first known deployment in Africa. In Egyptian airspace, Chinese pilots had the rare chance to train against the Rafale, an advanced French-built fighter. The 6,000km (3,700-mile) deployment was completed in about nine hours with aerial refuelling, and tested China’s ability to move and support a combat-capable air package far from home. Analysts say the exercise reflects a decades-long... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367972/africa-becoming-testing-ground-chinese-power-projection https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367972/africa-becoming-testing-ground-chinese-power-projection Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Alexey D Muraviev Alexey D Muraviev Over the past two weeks, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin staged a major diplomatic blitz. Across three events in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East and New Delhi, India, as well as a state visit by Vietnam’s leader, he met some 18 heads of state. Among them were the leaders of heavyweights of the Global South such as China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Turkey, just to name a few. The Ukraine war certainly featured in these conversations. Russia has recently ramped up... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3368037/why-global-south-keeps-its-doors-wide-open-russia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3368037/why-global-south-keeps-its-doors-wide-open-russia Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:00:05 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain Saudi Arabia faces a “humiliating dilemma” after the United States refused to militarily intervene to prevent the Iran-aligned Houthi militia from tightening its blockade of the kingdom’s key backup maritime trade route with Asia, according to analysts. US President Donald Trump on September 12 dismissed the Houthi seizure of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast as a problem that “only affects one country”. Iran has already blockaded the Straits of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia’s main oil and petrochemicals... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367944/saudi-scrambles-solve-humiliating-dilemma-after-us-rejects-red-sea-intervention https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367944/saudi-scrambles-solve-humiliating-dilemma-after-us-rejects-red-sea-intervention Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:00:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has turned to regional and Western allies for help as its stand-off with Houthi rebels in Yemen drags on, two regional officials said on Wednesday. The officials said the Saudis have asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-defence support to the region to help defend against missiles and drones fired by Houthis and other Iran-backed groups. The outreach was initiated because Saudi Arabia’s main ally and arms supplier, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3367777/saudis-seek-allies-help-missile-defences-run-low-fight-houthis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3367777/saudis-seek-allies-help-missile-defences-run-low-fight-houthis Wed, 16 Sep 2026 19:55:51 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthis accused the rebels on Wednesday of targeting Islam’s holy city Mecca, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and deepening the conflict roiling the region. Fresh fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government has dragged in Riyadh, with the Houthis declaring a maritime blockade on the kingdom and targeting its ships in the Red Sea. Last week’s lightning offensive saw the group seize control of the entirety of Yemen’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3367663/red-line-saudi-coalition-accuses-houthis-targeting-mecca-drone https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3367663/red-line-saudi-coalition-accuses-houthis-targeting-mecca-drone Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:06:58 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage China is moving early to secure a role in Sudan’s reconstruction, pursuing port and power agreements with the army-backed government while the war continues and many Western countries maintain only a limited presence. One expert also said Beijing was using the prospect of future investment as a bilateral incentive to encourage warring parties to cease hostilities. Sudan signed an agreement with the China Harbour Engineering Company in July to upgrade existing ports and build new ones. Meanwhile,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365972/china-bets-early-port-and-power-deals-sudan-secure-post-war-economic-edge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365972/china-bets-early-port-and-power-deals-sudan-secure-post-war-economic-edge Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:00:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on September 10, 1976. Sense of grief in Hongkong A deep sense of grief was felt by great numbers of the people in Hongkong yesterday (September 9, 1976) when radio and television stations flashed the news of the Chairman’s passing. The news brought a cloud of gloom over celebrations of the mid-autumn festivities. Flags at a number of major building and hotels, – including the Bank of China – were flown at half-mast within an hour of the announcement. Hongkong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3366847/hong-kong-mourns-mao-zedongs-death-1976-scmp-archive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3366847/hong-kong-mourns-mao-zedongs-death-1976-scmp-archive Sun, 13 Sep 2026 03:15:05 +0000 Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou,Cao Jiaxuan Dewey Sim,Laura Zhou,Cao Jiaxuan Leaders from some of the world’s largest emerging economies are gathering in New Delhi this weekend for a summit marking the 20th anniversary of Brics, a fast-expanding group of developing nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with his Russian and Iranian counterparts Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, are among those meeting in the Indian capital for one of the group’s most closely watched gatherings in years. Brics can point to some achievements over that time, with analysts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367252/internal-splits-threaten-slow-brics-progress-bloc-looks-back-20-years-growth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367252/internal-splits-threaten-slow-brics-progress-bloc-looks-back-20-years-growth Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:00:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial India’s public preparations for this weekend’s Brics summit in New Delhi are not to be compared with the spectacular display for the Group of 20 summit three years ago. The low-key approach to the meeting of leaders of emerging major economies and developing countries from the Global South can be misleading. What Brics may lack in pomp it makes up for in substance, such as the landmark in relations between the world’s two most populous nations. The occasion marks the first visit to India in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3367233/brics-summit-could-emerge-milestone-blocs-unity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3367233/brics-summit-could-emerge-milestone-blocs-unity Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick When the Belt and Road Initiative is discussed, the imagery is often concrete: ports, railways, motorways and transmission lines. But across Hong Kong, a parallel form of connectivity is playing out in galleries, concert halls, classrooms and studios. At the Hong Kong Palace Museum, visitors have been encountering thousands of years of Chinese art and history alongside “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums”, which brought 250 objects from Africa to West Kowloon. In September,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366771/hong-kongs-belt-and-road-cultural-exchange-builds-ties-beyond-railways-and-ports https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366771/hong-kongs-belt-and-road-cultural-exchange-builds-ties-beyond-railways-and-ports Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:30:09 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Fresh off a joint air drill, China will for the first time showcase several PLA Air Force aircraft overseas at an air show this week. The featured aircraft were selected for the air show in Egypt to demonstrate the air force’s integrated combat abilities and export potential, according to a military analyst. China’s armed forces on Tuesday posted pictures of Z-20, J-16, YY-20, and KJ-500 with its social media postings about the El Alamein International Airshow. The PLA Air Force said the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366666/chinese-pla-aircraft-headline-egypt-air-show-display-export-potential https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366666/chinese-pla-aircraft-headline-egypt-air-show-display-export-potential Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:00:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial President Xi Jinping has begun a month of travel expected to lead to the United States and a summit with President Donald Trump. That contrasts with the earlier part of the year which saw Xi hardly going anywhere but staying in Beijing. Instead, he hosted foreign leaders who flocked to meet him, including those of middle powers such as Britain, Germany, Canada and Spain, as they looked beyond an unpredictable American president and mixed signals from Washington. This reflects the growing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366616/chinas-xi-sends-strong-message-his-us-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366616/chinas-xi-sends-strong-message-his-us-visit Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen His summit with US President Donald Trump is just over two weeks away, but already this month Xi Jinping has had one of his busiest stretches of diplomatic travel in recent years. First he wrapped up the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and then he made a state visit to Egypt. Xi is expected to head off again later this week to visit New Delhi for the Brics summit before he travels to Washington. Beijing has not yet confirmed those two trips, in line with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366643/clock-counts-down-trump-summit-xi-boosts-global-clout-diplomatic-blitz https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366643/clock-counts-down-trump-summit-xi-boosts-global-clout-diplomatic-blitz Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Dulue Mbachu Dulue Mbachu In the US, the push is on to “drill, baby, drill”. In China, the national strategy is to “walk towards the light”. Two energy behemoths, two contrasting approaches to energy. For African countries working out which way to go, the deciding factor is cost and, with China’s advances in solar generation and battery technologies making acquisitions cheaper, a consensus is coalescing across the continent around renewables. “Africa’s solar revolution is here,” said Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366527/how-chinas-green-tech-undercutting-trumps-drill-baby-drill-oil-strategy-africa https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366527/how-chinas-green-tech-undercutting-trumps-drill-baby-drill-oil-strategy-africa Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An Egyptian court sentenced a well-known television presenter and 11 others to death for manufacturing and trafficking narcotics in a sprawling drugs case, official media reported on Saturday. The presenter, Sarah Khalifa, 39, is best known for her programme Mission Impossible, which dealt with issues concerning security and crime. The state-linked Al-Ahram newspaper said a Cairo court sentenced “Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging on charges of forming an organised criminal gang... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/africa/article/3366504/egypt-sentences-tv-presenter-11-others-death-drugs-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/africa/article/3366504/egypt-sentences-tv-presenter-11-others-death-drugs-case Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:38:14 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage Egypt’s expanded currency swap with China may help bring the yuan into wider use in trade and investment, but experts say any reduced reliance on the US dollar will not happen in a hurry. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi this week backed greater use of their currencies, while linking closer financial ties to plans for new factories, energy projects and digital infrastructure. A joint statement released on Wednesday during Xi’s state visit to Cairo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366430/china-expands-currency-swap-egypt-trade-ties-reach-new-heights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366430/china-expands-currency-swap-egypt-trade-ties-reach-new-heights Sat, 05 Sep 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Sheena Khemaney Sheena Khemaney Let these uplifting, emotion-stirring fragrances from Tom Ford, Aesop, Byredo and Penhaligon’s take you on an olfactory journey to trending destinations around the globe. Perhaps their scent will even inspire a physical journey to explore one of these places for real. Tom Ford Taormina Orange Tom Ford Beauty’s Private Blend Taormina Orange Eau de Parfum (US$305/50ml) has a sharp citrus scent that captures the spirit and essence of the charming resort town perched on the cliffs of Sicily. Byredo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3365272/perfumes-tom-ford-aesop-byredo-and-penhaligons-inspire-wanderlust https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3365272/perfumes-tom-ford-aesop-byredo-and-penhaligons-inspire-wanderlust Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:00:09 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong The enduring mystery of how the ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramid of Giza – with its 2.3 million multi-tonne stone blocks – has puzzled researchers for centuries. Mainstream archaeology holds that the pyramids were constructed from natural limestone or granite blocks precisely cut and hauled into place. An alternative scientific theory suggests the blocks might have been cast from an early form of concrete, but that idea has long faced a critical question: how could such an artificial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3366293/could-roman-concrete-have-clues-how-pyramid-giza-was-built-and-saved https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3366293/could-roman-concrete-have-clues-how-pyramid-giza-was-built-and-saved Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:53:47 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Middle Eastern nations to build a self-led security model, nudging them to cut reliance on Washington following further US-Iran military clashes. But, on his first visit to Egypt in a decade, he did not position Beijing as an alternative security guarantor. He made the proposal during talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi at Cairo’s Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday. Beijing and Cairo also aligned on Gaza, Red Sea security and Sudan, while China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366206/xi-jinpings-call-mideast-build-own-security-framework-message-us-expert https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366206/xi-jinpings-call-mideast-build-own-security-framework-message-us-expert Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:40:50 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat President Xi Jinping’s journey from Central Asia to Egypt highlights Beijing’s efforts to strengthen alternative trade, energy and manufacturing networks across Eurasia and Africa, analysts said, as wars and tariffs expose a reliance on vulnerable supply routes and overseas markets. Xi arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for his first visit in 10 years after attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where state leaders including Indian Prime Minister... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3366123/chinas-xi-seeks-trade-routes-egypt-central-asia-bypass-tariffs-and-western-rules https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3366123/chinas-xi-seeks-trade-routes-egypt-central-asia-bypass-tariffs-and-western-rules Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Nicholas Ho Nicholas Ho Recently, I joined Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah in Malaysia for the official opening of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur. The occasion marked an elevation in Hong Kong’s economic and trade ties with Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asian region. During the visit, Hong Kong’s Belt and Road Office hosted a forum that brought government officials, business leaders and professionals together for substantive discussions – underscoring... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365366/3-key-belt-and-road-connectivities-hong-kong-drives https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365366/3-key-belt-and-road-connectivities-hong-kong-drives Wed, 02 Sep 2026 21:30:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel has plans ready to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip but is waiting for the United States to figure out where to take them, the defence minister has said. “There is no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration,” Defence Minister Israel Katz told a conference hosted by Israeli news site Ynet and newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday. The Israeli government “is organised and prepared to get them out – by sea, by air, by every way possible”, he said. The US embassy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3366150/israel-ready-remove-palestinians-gaza-once-us-approves-minister-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3366150/israel-ready-remove-palestinians-gaza-once-us-approves-minister-says Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:43:12 +0000 Mohamed Ibrahim Hafez,Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa Mohamed Ibrahim Hafez,Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa China is beginning to match its economic presence abroad with the military reach required to operate across it. The clearest evidence came from Egypt. Chinese J-16 fighters flew there recently, supported by YU-20 tankers that refuelled them in the air. The Chinese jets are taking part in Egypt’s “Eagles of Civilisation” alongside Egyptian Rafales and MiG-29s. This is the first time China has sent the jets to Africa, providing experience in moving a combat force across continents and operating... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3365853/china-egypt-joint-drills-show-beijings-military-reach https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3365853/china-egypt-joint-drills-show-beijings-military-reach Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Chinese President Xi Jinping touched down in Egypt on Tuesday, the second stop in a potentially busy month of travel that will probably conclude with a White House meeting. “Once you drink from the Nile, you are destined to return,” the Chinese leader said on arrival at Cairo International Airport. Xi is likely to sign economic agreements with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday as part of his first trip in a decade to the most-populous Arab nation and his first Middle East stop... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366111/xi-makes-world-tour-ahead-white-house-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366111/xi-makes-world-tour-ahead-white-house-summit Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:24:21 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez In a rare display of interoperability, a Chinese YY-20 aerial tanker has been pictured refuelling a French-built Egyptian Rafale fighter – showing a versatility analysts say could enable closer multinational air operations and improve the tanker’s potential for export. The photo, released by the Egyptian military on Monday, showed mid-air refuelling during the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 joint exercise, which began last month and is being held at several airbases across Egypt. The YY-20, also... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365970/export-potential-chinese-yy-20-refuels-egyptian-rafale-cross-platform-drill https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365970/export-potential-chinese-yy-20-refuels-egyptian-rafale-cross-platform-drill Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage Chinese President Xi Jinping is returning to Egypt after a decade as Beijing deepens its economic, military and diplomatic ties with Cairo and seeks to work more closely with Egypt on crises across the Middle East and Africa. Xi will visit Egypt this week following his trip to Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, which finishes on Tuesday. China’s foreign ministry last week described relations with Egypt as being “at their best in history” and said Xi’s visit would build... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365831/xi-jinpings-cairo-trip-marks-best-ties-history-egypt-seeks-balance-west https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365831/xi-jinpings-cairo-trip-marks-best-ties-history-egypt-seeks-balance-west Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Iranian leaders are acknowledging the economic toll of war with the United States, with the supreme leader calling on the government to address the hardship while the president reported foreign trade has shrunk 35 per cent due to the American sanctions and blockade. The warnings came even as other leaders threaten the US with military retaliation and declarations that the Iranian navy maintains control of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway giving Iran ‌leverage through its ability to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3365679/iranian-leaders-admit-economic-toll-war-us-trade-drops-35 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3365679/iranian-leaders-admit-economic-toll-war-us-trade-drops-35 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 03:23:00 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press President Donald Trump arrives at an awkward moment for his presidency on Friday as the US-Israel war against Iran reaches the six-month mark, a notable milestone for a conflict that the Republican leader repeatedly assured Americans would be a “little excursion” lasting a matter of weeks. The war is not over, though Trump claims that through bombs and blockade, he has already devastated Iran’s leadership, military and economy. And this week his administration said it would turn its focus to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3365663/iran-war-hits-six-month-mark-trump-says-hes-not-hurry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3365663/iran-war-hits-six-month-mark-trump-says-hes-not-hurry Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:26:37 +0000 Bao Yinan Bao Yinan With the end of the 60-day US-Iran memorandum of understanding, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have flared again. The crisis in the strait highlights how the security and stability of key international waterways are becoming an increasingly urgent global concern. Over the past decade, major maritime routes have been affected by regional armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing security risks. These disruptions have exposed a vulnerability in the global trading system: a key... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3365191/us-and-china-must-team-keep-maritime-trade-routes-free-and-safe https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3365191/us-and-china-must-team-keep-maritime-trade-routes-free-and-safe Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:30:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Chinese fighter jets have conducted combat training with their Egyptian counterparts in a joint exercise following a major Chinese air force deployment to the Middle East. The drill, which was launched on Saturday and is expected to continue until early next month, is part of the second China-Egypt “Eagles of Civilisation” joint air force training exercises, taking place against the backdrop of the war between the United States and Iran. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force deployed J-16... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365163/chinas-j-16s-face-against-egypts-rafales-combat-drills-iran-war-rumbles https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365163/chinas-j-16s-face-against-egypts-rafales-combat-drills-iran-war-rumbles Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim A fleet of Chinese J-16 fighters has arrived in Egypt ahead of a joint exercise that will be the aircraft’s first-ever deployment to Africa. The planes and aviators taking part in the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 exercise arrived at an Egyptian airbase on Friday morning after a 6,000km (3,700-mile) journey that took nine hours and required the planes to refuel in mid-air, according to the People’s Liberation Army. It added that the service personnel involved in the exercise had started... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364913/chinese-j-16-fighters-arrive-egypt-ahead-eagles-civilisation-2026-joint-drill https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364913/chinese-j-16-fighters-arrive-egypt-ahead-eagles-civilisation-2026-joint-drill Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage While the US and some European governments view China’s vast production of electric vehicles and green-energy tech as overcapacity, African companies see it as an opportunity to secure EV technology and develop the industry. China is the global leader of the EV industry – it makes nearly 75 per cent of the world’s electric vehicles and dominates the supply chain. Its high production has driven down the cost of EVs, batteries and components, which has improved access to technologies that were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364799/why-chinas-ev-boom-seen-unparalleled-opportunity-africa https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364799/why-chinas-ev-boom-seen-unparalleled-opportunity-africa Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:00:06 +0000