https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325817/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Reuters Reuters Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who arrived in the US on Wednesday, has declared ⁠himself the rightful leader of Brazil, alleging ⁠an electoral coup d’etat had been carried out by the country’s Supreme ⁠Court and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won the presidential election by over 4 million votes. Bolsonaro, who lost Sunday’s election and left Brazil for Miami, where he and his family received US visas, thanked Argentine leader Javier Milei and US President Donald Trump for helping... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3372478/defeated-brazilian-presidential-candidate-flavio-bolsonaro-and-his-family-land-miami https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3372478/defeated-brazilian-presidential-candidate-flavio-bolsonaro-and-his-family-land-miami Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:19:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has left the ⁠country for the United States after losing Sunday’s presidential ⁠election, three sources said, with the US State Department due to grant him ⁠and his family entry visas. Bolsonaro, who has yet to concede to leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left Brazil after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports. The ruling relates to a money-laundering probe in which he denies wrongdoing. Argentina’s migration... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3372350/brazil-wonders-where-earth-flavio-bolsonaro https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3372350/brazil-wonders-where-earth-flavio-bolsonaro Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:41:44 +0000 Beimeng Fu Beimeng Fu SEE THIS Myths and Monsters: The Art of Fantasy in Asia Enter a realm of legends, folklore and storytelling at “Myths and Monsters: The Art of Fantasy in Asia”, the latest special exhibition at M+. Running until April 4, 2027, the show examines how fantasy, mythology and the supernatural have shaped Asian art, cinema and popular culture. Curated into four sections – “Spirits Among Us”, delving into premodern beliefs and ancient tales; “Strange Realities”, exploring surreal perspectives and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/culture/article/3371770/our-cheat-sheet-best-things-do-hong-kong-october-24-november-8 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/culture/article/3371770/our-cheat-sheet-best-things-do-hong-kong-october-24-november-8 Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Pope Leo needs no further treatment for lung cancer after follow-up tests confirmed the disease was localised, the Vatican said in a statement on Wednesday. Leo, 71, had the lower lobe of his right lung removed last week in the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. He left the hospital on Saturday, four days after surgery and well ahead of the week-long hospital stay the Vatican had initially... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371691/pope-leo-doesnt-need-further-treatment-lung-cancer-doctors-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371691/pope-leo-doesnt-need-further-treatment-lung-cancer-doctors-say Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:23:51 +0000 Reuters Reuters Pope Leo pledged on Sunday to slowly resume his usual activities as the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics as he greeted crowds in St. Peter’s Square during his first public event since undergoing surgery for lung cancer five days ago. The 71-year-old pontiff had an ‌operation on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, fuelling speculation about how his illness might change his 17-month papacy. Smiling from a window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace as he spoke to pilgrims... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371311/pope-leo-pledges-return-duties-following-lung-cancer-surgery https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371311/pope-leo-pledges-return-duties-following-lung-cancer-surgery Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:03:20 +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 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China carmakers eye record 12 million global sales in 2026 as EV demand surges Chinese automotive groups have cause to celebrate their go-global strategy amid breakneck export growth in recent years, with deliveries in 2026 expected to beat expectations already buoyed by an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3370855/chinas-carmakers-eye-record-sales-luxury-model-hits-regulatory-bump-7-ev-reads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3370855/chinas-carmakers-eye-record-sales-luxury-model-hits-regulatory-bump-7-ev-reads Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:57:53 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick BYD is studying whether to manufacture lithium batteries in Argentina, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said on Thursday after meeting Stella Li, the Chinese electric vehicle maker’s executive vice-president. According to Quirno, the company was looking at “investment opportunities in Argentina linked to the lithium value chain, particularly in the production of batteries and energy storage systems”. He did not say how much BYD might spend or where the factory could go. The minister tied the talks... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370236/chinas-byd-considering-lithium-battery-plant-argentina-foreign-minister-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370236/chinas-byd-considering-lithium-battery-plant-argentina-foreign-minister-says Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:52:55 +0000 Reuters Reuters A “handful” of Group of 20 trade ministers rejected US calls to curb excess industrial capacity and “non-market” policies, the US Trade Representative’s office said on Friday, exposing divisions within the group of major economies. The US, this year’s G20 chair, issued the statement ‌a day after a trade meeting in Milwaukee that revealed that only two countries – Mexico and Argentina – signed on to a US-led statement calling for more work and cooperation to eliminate goods produced with forced... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369647/g20-countries-divided-over-us-call-curb-excess-industrial-capacity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369647/g20-countries-divided-over-us-call-curb-excess-industrial-capacity Sat, 03 Oct 2026 05:59:32 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China will charge an extra 55 per cent tariff on Brazilian beef from Thursday after Brazil filled its import quota for the year and has not agreed to let Brazilian exporters use the unfilled quota of neighbouring Uruguay, industry sources said. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the surtax on Wednesday, a day after China’s customs administration confirmed that Brazil had used all of its 1.106 million-tonne allowance for 2026, and under the rules the extra tariff applies from the third... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369390/china-slaps-55-cent-tariff-brazilian-beef-rebuffs-bid-borrow-uruguays-quota https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369390/china-slaps-55-cent-tariff-brazilian-beef-rebuffs-bid-borrow-uruguays-quota Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:07:56 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed Argentina’s claim to sovereignty over the islands known to Britain as the Falklands and to Argentines as the Malvinas, calling it a key issue for his nation and urging the parties to find a “peaceful solution” as tensions with London over the disputed archipelago grow. “The Malvinas for us is a national cause,” Milei, a strong ally of US President Donald Trump, said Wednesday while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York. Milei accused the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3368606/milei-renews-argentinas-falklands-claim-rails-against-useless-un https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3368606/milei-renews-argentinas-falklands-claim-rails-against-useless-un Thu, 24 Sep 2026 05:11:13 +0000 Jing Zhang Jing Zhang I WAS BORN in Hong Kong in 1964. My parents came from Shandong province, in mainland China, arriving illegally, later legalised – a common story for that generation. I went to the all-boys Salesian School, in Chai Wan, and was not a good student. I spent all my time messing around with friends. Then, at 17 or 18, I watched a film called Boat People (1982) and there was a character holding a camera who looked cool. Something happened in me. “I want to be that,” I thought. Not the actor – the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/culture/article/3367439/wing-shya-photographer-wong-kar-wai-working-great-and-good-hong-kong-cinema https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/culture/article/3367439/wing-shya-photographer-wong-kar-wai-working-great-and-good-hong-kong-cinema Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press At 18, Martin Taborda began studying law at Argentina’s prestigious University of Buenos Aires, hoping to become the first in his family to graduate. Just two years later, that dream has slipped out of reach. Unemployed and US$1,300 in debt, he can no longer afford the bus fare from his suburb or the books he needs to keep studying – even at a tuition-free university that has helped generations of Argentines climb into the middle class. He’s not alone. Nearly half of Argentina’s 45 million... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3366937/young-argentines-mounting-debt-struggles-test-support-milei https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3366937/young-argentines-mounting-debt-struggles-test-support-milei Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:30:06 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Argentine President Javier Milei has every right to reassert his country’s territorial claims over the Falkland Islands. His proposal to use the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration as a template for resolving the Falkland Islands dispute merits serious consideration as a pragmatic framework for bringing this long-standing territorial conflict to a peaceful conclusion. Argentina’s claim to what its citizens call the Islas Malvinas rests on solid foundations. Upon independence from Spain in 1816,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3366533/britain-should-accept-hong-kong-style-handover-falklands https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3366533/britain-should-accept-hong-kong-style-handover-falklands Wed, 09 Sep 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Argentina has announced that it will investigate and sanction oil companies working near the Falkland Islands without authorisation, after President Javier Milei said the “winds of change” favour his country’s claim to the archipelago. Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war in 1982 over the South Atlantic islands, a British overseas territory that Argentines call Las Malvinas. Argentina’s presidency said in a statement on Friday that it had ordered the opening of proceedings to “investigate... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3366511/argentina-threatens-sanction-oil-projects-around-falkland-islands https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3366511/argentina-threatens-sanction-oil-projects-around-falkland-islands Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:46:54 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Weeks before President Javier Milei visits France, scrutiny has grown around an Argentina-run university residence in Paris supposed to promote peaceful coexistence but which activists say instead restricts lodger freedoms and hosts European far-right figures. Paris city officials have demanded the foreign ministry investigate Argentina House, one of dozens of homes run by foreign nations or French institutions on an international campus in the French capital. The Cite Universitaire campus, or... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3366456/mini-dictatorship-students-slam-far-right-turn-argentina-run-residence-paris https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3366456/mini-dictatorship-students-slam-far-right-turn-argentina-run-residence-paris Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:33:33 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Argentine President Javier Milei escalated his country’s dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands on Thursday, vowing new measures to halt an oil project near the British-controlled archipelago and praising US President Donald Trump for saying Washington could reconsider its neutral stance on the islands’ sovereignty. Milei cast Trump’s comments as proof that his close relationship with the US president – criticised by political opponents as overly deferential – was paying dividends. “The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3366309/milei-escalates-argentinas-falklands-dispute-uk-trump-hints-us-policy-shift https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3366309/milei-escalates-argentinas-falklands-dispute-uk-trump-hints-us-policy-shift Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:09:11 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities are considering genetic testing as a supplementary tool for identifying breeds, an official has said after enforcement action against suspected fighting dogs sparked public concern. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) also said on Thursday that owners could keep existing fighting dogs, provided they complied with statutory requirements, and urged owners not to abandon their pets. Dr Michelle Yeung Lee, the department’s principal veterinary officer,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3366195/hong-kong-considers-dna-testing-amid-concerns-over-fighting-dog-classification https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3366195/hong-kong-considers-dna-testing-amid-concerns-over-fighting-dog-classification Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:35:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters Lionel Messi, who captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022 and the final in 2026, is retiring from international football, he ‌said on Monday. The record eight-times Ballon d’Or winner is his country’s record appearance-maker and scorer with 125 goals in 207 games, having transformed a complicated relationship with the national team into a story of redemption and triumph. “It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come,” the 39-year-old... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3365891/lionel-messi-retires-argentinas-international-team https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3365891/lionel-messi-retires-argentinas-international-team Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:19:37 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese executive filmed taking cash on Colombia metro project Colombian prosecutors are investigating allegations that executives of a Chinese state-owned contractor building the Bogota metro demanded cash from a local subcontractor in exchange for releasing payments owed for work on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365666/brazils-china-borrowing-trump-accuses-9-latam-countries-7-latin-america-relations-reads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365666/brazils-china-borrowing-trump-accuses-9-latam-countries-7-latin-america-relations-reads Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:00:13 +0000 dpa dpa The football with which Diego Maradona scored his “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for US$3.35 million. The sale price achieved by Heritage Auctions in the United States was around US$6.7 million below the US$10 million estimate. The Dallas-based auction house had placed a US$2.5 million starting price on the Adidas Azteca ball. Maradona scored twice in Argentina’s quarter-final victory over England on June 22, 1986 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. He... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365110/diego-maradonas-hand-god-football-sells-us335-million-us-auction https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365110/diego-maradonas-hand-god-football-sells-us335-million-us-auction Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:01:59 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Diplomats for China and the US in Latin America have traded brickbats on social media over alleged espionage risks posed by Chinese tech firms in the region, in the latest sign of the two powers’ unfolding strategic tensions in the western hemisphere. US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs Juan Pablo Segura named telecoms giants Huawei Technologies, ZTE and Hytera, surveillance equipment makers Hikvision and Dahua, and drone heavyweight DJI in a post on social media on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365055/us-china-diplomats-clash-over-tech-spying-and-trade-hub-claims-latin-america https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365055/us-china-diplomats-clash-over-tech-spying-and-trade-hub-claims-latin-america Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong should introduce a tiered risk framework and carry out DNA testing and physical checks to identify dogs with aggressive traits, a veterinarian and a lawmaker have said after a woman and two pets were mauled within a week. Monday’s calls for policy change came after the woman, 33, was found dead in Ping Yeung Tsuen last week. Hours before her body was discovered, she had been attacked at a dog training centre by a canine suspected of being a mixed-breed fighting dog. Preliminary... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365023/hong-kong-urged-adopt-trait-based-dog-tiers-dna-checks-after-fatal-attacks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365023/hong-kong-urged-adopt-trait-based-dog-tiers-dna-checks-after-fatal-attacks Mon, 24 Aug 2026 05:15:35 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Thirty lions and tigers that were kept alive – barely – for years in cramped concrete cages at a closed Argentine zoo began entering jumbo-size transport crates on Friday as they embarked on ambitious journeys to wildlife sanctuaries halfway across the world in South Africa and the United States. The cats are being rescued from the former Lujan Zoo, about 70km (43 miles) northwest of Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires, after years of uncertainty over their fate. Four Paws, the international... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3364124/lions-tigers-notorious-zoo-argentina-begin-journey-wildlife-sanctuaries https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3364124/lions-tigers-notorious-zoo-argentina-begin-journey-wildlife-sanctuaries Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:43:30 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Three Latin American governments that moved against Chinese commercial interests over the past year were named in a White House report on Thursday, which accused Chinese exporters of routing goods through third countries to evade US tariffs. Mexico, Panama and Colombia now join Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic among more than 40 countries the report says carry elevated risk of illegal transshipment, the practice of moving goods through an intermediate country... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363963/us-accuses-9-latin-american-countries-helping-china-avoid-trumps-tariffs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363963/us-accuses-9-latin-american-countries-helping-china-avoid-trumps-tariffs Thu, 13 Aug 2026 23:20:03 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Diego Maradona showed “warning signs” that went unheeded during the home hospitalisation leading up to his death in 2020, a witness on Tuesday told the trial examining the Argentine football legend’s demise. Seven healthcare professionals have been on trial since mid-April in Argentina for potential negligence that may have contributed to his death. The World Cup winner died of heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema – a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs – two weeks after... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3363708/doctors-ignored-warning-signs-maradonas-death-court-hears https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3363708/doctors-ignored-warning-signs-maradonas-death-court-hears Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:07:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters After witnessing what Lionel Messi was still capable of at this summer’s World Cup, the president of ⁠the Argentina Football Association is not rushing ⁠the all-time great out the door. Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia said in an interview on Argentine TV that Messi was the only person making the decision when to hang up his boots. “It’s a decision that is purely and personally his,” Tapia said, according to a translation. “You ‌have to let him relax. In 2022, we didn’t know if he’d play in 2026. He said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363392/no-pressure-lionel-messi-retire-says-argentina-boss-hell-decide-when-time-right https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363392/no-pressure-lionel-messi-retire-says-argentina-boss-hell-decide-when-time-right Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The football that Diego Maradona used to score his infamous “Hand of God” goal during Argentina’s win over England in the 1986 World Cup is expected to sell for US$10 million at a US auction this month. Maradona’s goal in the quarter-final match at the Estadio Azteca saw him punch the ball past the England goalkeeper, with the South Americans ultimately winning 2-1. After the game, the Argentine star said his goal was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3363372/maradonas-hand-god-ball-heads-us-auction https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3363372/maradonas-hand-god-ball-heads-us-auction Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:56:57 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella took office Friday, vowing to wage war on drug-running guerrillas and usher in a new era of close ties with the United States. The flamboyant former lawyer brings a lurch to the right for the Andean nation, vowing to bomb jungle cocaine labs, build “mega prisons” and slash the size of the state. De la Espriella and his Vice-President Jose Manuel Restrepo cheered, embraced and performed their campaign’s characteristic military salute after taking their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3363371/trump-ally-abelardo-de-la-espriella-sworn-colombia-president https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3363371/trump-ally-abelardo-de-la-espriella-sworn-colombia-president Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:46:04 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier It is financially strapped, structurally flawed, infamously bureaucratic, reputationally damaged and riven with infighting. So why would anyone want to take on the role of the next secretary general of the United Nations? “I really think there should be some sort of psychiatric test for wanting this position,” said Richard Gowan, global issues and institutions director at the International Crisis Group (ICG). “The stakes are exceptionally high, and there is a strong sense around the UN that the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363269/race-un-top-job-enters-final-stage-choice-may-make-or-break-organisation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363269/race-un-top-job-enters-final-stage-choice-may-make-or-break-organisation Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Argentina has renewed its currency swap with China for five years, preserving a US$19 billion lifeline that Washington spent more than a year pressing it to give up. The Argentine central bank and the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) signed the extension of the 130 billion yuan line on Wednesday, a day before the existing deal was due to expire. The new term runs to 2031, two years longer than any previous renewal since the two countries first signed it in 2009. The decision ends months of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363219/argentina-renews-us19-billion-china-currency-swap-brushing-washingtons-pressure https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363219/argentina-renews-us19-billion-china-currency-swap-brushing-washingtons-pressure Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:21:23 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador, a State Department official said Tuesday, in a mounting diplomatic row just months before elections in Latin America’s largest nation. The move would be reversed, the official said on customary condition of anonymity, if Brazil granted its approval of US President Donald Trump’s nominee to be ambassador to Brasilia. Trump nominated Daniel Perez, a prominent Florida Republican, as the new ambassador to Brazil in early June. While the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3362990/us-revokes-visa-brazils-ambassador-washington-escalating-row https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3362990/us-revokes-visa-brazils-ambassador-washington-escalating-row Wed, 05 Aug 2026 02:49:24 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, said on Sunday he was “in great shape” as he launched his candidacy for October elections, with pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration looming over the campaign. A titan of the Latin American left, Lula is seeking a fourth and final term in office in a campaign casting him as a safe pair of hands in turbulent times and a bulwark against the global rise of the far-right. While no one mentioned Trump by name at the Workers’ Party... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3362729/brazils-president-lula-80-says-great-shape-he-launches-bid-fourth-term https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3362729/brazils-president-lula-80-says-great-shape-he-launches-bid-fourth-term Sun, 02 Aug 2026 18:27:23 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China has won approval for domestically developed surgical robots to be used in Vietnamese hospitals, marking a major step forward as the country’s high-end medical equipment makers push to challenge Western dominance overseas. The Chinese-made surgical robots had been registered and installed at several leading medical facilities in the Southeast Asian nation, according to China’s National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA). The two countries would also deepen cooperation in robotic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362395/chinese-surgical-robots-break-vietnam-market-beijing-takes-aim-us-dominance https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362395/chinese-surgical-robots-break-vietnam-market-beijing-takes-aim-us-dominance Fri, 31 Jul 2026 02:00:21 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Argentine President Javier Milei on Thursday imposed a bar on foreigners who express “hate” towards the Latin American country, which he claims is the target of a sinister campaign. Experts have cast doubt on the legal feasibility of the emergency decree, which is already in force but requires parliamentary approval to remain law. The measure bars or expels foreigners deemed to have “spread or incited hate messages” against the country or its people. In a statement, Milei said the measure was in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3362455/milei-demands-expulsion-foreigners-expressing-hate-against-argentina https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3362455/milei-demands-expulsion-foreigners-expressing-hate-against-argentina Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:55:35 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Rebeca Grynspan, the former vice-president of Costa Rica, emerged as an early front runner to be the next United Nations secretary general on Thursday, as the Security Council began the selection process, with a first “straw poll” held behind closed doors to evaluate support for candidates vying for the role at the embattled world body. Antonio Guterres, the current UN chief, is set to complete his second five-year term on the final day of 2026, leaving the high-profile role open for a new... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3362445/selection-next-un-chief-gets-underway-first-straw-poll https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3362445/selection-next-un-chief-gets-underway-first-straw-poll Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:09:36 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong If South Korea wants to unlock access to South American trade, it will need to prove it is not a competitor interested only in extracting natural resources but a trustworthy partner committed to revitalising manufacturing industries, according to observers. On Monday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed to revive negotiations on a free-trade agreement between South Korea and Mercosur, the South American trade bloc. A joint working group... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3362218/how-south-korea-can-ease-brazilian-concerns-unlock-trade-south-america https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3362218/how-south-korea-can-ease-brazilian-concerns-unlock-trade-south-america Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The six candidates vying to lead the United Nations stressed the importance of restoring the credibility of an organisation in crisis during a restrained debate Thursday, one week before the selection process formally starts. With the campaign struggling to generate real enthusiasm for a front-runner, the hopefuls faced nearly two hours of questions from diplomats, UN employees and civil society representatives at an event in the huge General Assembly Hall, broadcast by Bloomberg. Chile’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3361688/un-leader-candidates-pitch-visions-save-world-body-crisis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3361688/un-leader-candidates-pitch-visions-save-world-body-crisis Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:40:29 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Like many, I recently watched the Spain vs Argentina final of the Fifa World Cup 2026. For all that the former’s solid sense of teamwork shone through the 120-plus minutes, the game was ultimately blighted by some of the worst examples of sportsmanship (or lack thereof) from the Argentine squad. There was a collective sense of Schadenfreude as Enzo Fernandez was sent off for his brutish antics on the pitch, but that was not the end of the aggression. Argentina’s lasting legacy from this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3361409/how-argentinas-2026-world-cup-meltdowns-over-losing-echo-restaurant-award-tantrums https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3361409/how-argentinas-2026-world-cup-meltdowns-over-losing-echo-restaurant-award-tantrums Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Jolene Otremba Jolene Otremba When Chaiwat Kovavisarach first stepped into Bangchak Corporation Plc in the early 2000s, the Thai oil refiner was fighting for survival. The aftershocks of the 1997 Asian financial crisis were still reverberating through Thailand’s economy. Bangchak, then a small, state-linked refinery under the Ministry of Finance, was burdened with debt and on the verge of shutting down. Several global banks had attempted to stabilise it without success. Chaiwat, then an investment banker running his own... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/presented/business/topics/c-suite-content-hub/article/3360880/crisis-cross-border-growth-bangchaks-energy-reinvention https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/presented/business/topics/c-suite-content-hub/article/3360880/crisis-cross-border-growth-bangchaks-energy-reinvention Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:00:15 +0000 Chelsea Yang Chelsea Yang BYD has rolled out its 100,000th new-energy vehicle from its Brazilian assembly line, underscoring the growth potential for Chinese products in South America, just as electric cars fuel fresh tension in Europe. China’s largest electric vehicle (EV) producer reached the landmark on July 16, reflecting BYD’s rapid expansion as governments increasingly push for local manufacturing and job creation. The milestone vehicle was a BYD Seagull, which came off the line at the Camacari plant, which has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3361304/byd-marks-brazil-milestone-europe-weighs-response-surge-chinese-evs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3361304/byd-marks-brazil-milestone-europe-weighs-response-surge-chinese-evs Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:00:14 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Spain is back atop the football world for a second time, after Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup – unquestionably the goal of his life – gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champion Argentina in the final on Sunday. “It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population. The goal came with Argentina down to 10 men after Enzo Fernández was sent off late in regulation following a reckless tackle. Tempers flared then, and flared again... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3361188/meet-ferran-torres-who-scored-spains-winning-world-cup-goal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3361188/meet-ferran-torres-who-scored-spains-winning-world-cup-goal Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:39:33 +0000 Eric Jiang,Edith Lin Eric Jiang,Edith Lin The World Cup brought in an extra HK$500 million (US$63.8 million) for Hong Kong’s catering sector this year, an industry leader has said, after restaurants and shopping centres hosted overnight viewings of the final with dim sum, snacks and milk tea. Businesses were also urged on Monday to devise creative strategies and set competitive prices to maintain the momentum from the city’s World Cup fever. The final between Spain and Argentina drew crowds of football fans, including children and the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3361141/dim-sum-and-bubble-tea-3am-football-fans-pack-hong-kong-malls-world-cup-final https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3361141/dim-sum-and-bubble-tea-3am-football-fans-pack-hong-kong-malls-world-cup-final Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:04:54 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu As Spain and Argentina prepare to go head to head in the World Cup final, China may have already claimed the tournament’s main economic prize without stepping onto the pitch. This year’s World Cup has generated a substantial windfall for many Chinese businesses that produce and export sports items and merchandise to global markets. Zheng Ziyi, who runs an apparel export business in China’s central Jiangxi province, said he had seen orders for Argentina jerseys surge after the team defeated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360943/china-did-not-qualify-world-cup-it-may-have-won-economic-terms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360943/china-did-not-qualify-world-cup-it-may-have-won-economic-terms Sun, 19 Jul 2026 08:00:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The World Cup has gripped football fans globally for over a month. It is about to reach its climax, with a showpiece final that promises to be a thriller. This has been the biggest edition of the competition yet, featuring a record 48 teams. Now, only Spain and Argentina remain. The event has shown the universal appeal of the sport and its ability to bring people of different cultures together. More than six million fans will have attended the record 104 matches, held for the first time in three... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3360985/world-cup-has-showcased-beautiful-game-despite-some-ugly-moments https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3360985/world-cup-has-showcased-beautiful-game-despite-some-ugly-moments Sat, 18 Jul 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. The young Chinese scientist behind ‘impossible’ breakthrough on sodium batteries Scientist Lu Yaxiang, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Physics, has spent a decade working to make sodium-ion batteries... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3360888/chinese-scientists-sodium-battery-leap-petition-boot-argentina-scmps-7-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3360888/chinese-scientists-sodium-battery-leap-petition-boot-argentina-scmps-7-highlights Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:34:45 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, will expand its network by including four new destinations in Latin America via Madrid through code-share flights with Spanish airline Iberia. Passengers from Hong Kong will be able to travel to Fortaleza and Recife in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic under the new arrangement. Cathay will also increase the frequency of non-stop flights from Hong Kong to Madrid from four a week to daily, starting on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3360660/cathay-pacific-add-4-latin-american-destinations-madrid-code-share-iberia https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3360660/cathay-pacific-add-4-latin-american-destinations-madrid-code-share-iberia Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:03:38 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China’s landmark recovery of a reusable rocket has ignited heated debate on social media, with reactions ranging from awe at the rapid pace of Chinese space development to speculation over a more intense space race with the United States. This comes at a time of renewed optimism around the satellite sector, as commercial demand for internet constellations skyrockets. China made history on Friday by becoming only the second nation to achieve the controlled recovery of an orbital-class rocket... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3360231/chinas-long-march-10b-rocket-feat-lights-social-media-spacex-set-lose-crown https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3360231/chinas-long-march-10b-rocket-feat-lights-social-media-spacex-set-lose-crown Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:00:16 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer A Latin staple, the beef empanada is a classic Argentinian bite, but variations occur with every border crossing. At new Argentinian steakhouse and wine bar Don Pedro, head chef Tim Rattray builds his around Aberdeen Angus beef sourced from grass-fed cattle raised on the vast fertile pastures of the Argentine Pampas. It captures Rattray’s aim of evoking Buenos Aires while letting the quality of the beef and the kitchen’s simple craftsmanship do the talking. The dish also feels especially fitting... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3359850/dish-focus-beef-empanada-don-pedro https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3359850/dish-focus-beef-empanada-don-pedro Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:00:06 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The US share of Brazilian exports fell to its lowest level since 1997 in the first half of 2026, while China widened its lead as the country’s top trading partner, according to the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil, whose report landed as Washington held public hearings on a proposed new round of tariffs against Brazilian goods. American buyers took 9.4 per cent of Brazilian exports between January and June, down from 12.1 per cent a year earlier and the smallest share in the chamber’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359906/trumps-tariff-war-pushes-brazils-trade-towards-china-us-share-hits-record-low https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359906/trumps-tariff-war-pushes-brazils-trade-towards-china-us-share-hits-record-low Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:17:55 +0000