https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/330739/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu “I think about quitting all the time,” says Jordan Leung, known to his Instagram followers as @69ranch. As one of Hong Kong’s most prominent stand-up comedians to emerge in recent years, Leung’s pessimism is surprising. “I don’t wanna make social media content,” the 33-year-old admits. “Now I’m just fixated on likes and stuff … I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” Sitting directly across the table from him, it is not always easy to tell when Leung is being sincere or performing his... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3371883/stand-comedian-jordan-leung-moving-us-and-hong-kong-show-backlash https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3371883/stand-comedian-jordan-leung-moving-us-and-hong-kong-show-backlash Sun, 25 Oct 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Doris Lam Doris Lam When people think of Cantonese food, buttery scrambled egg between slices of soft white bread may not be the first dish to come to mind. For Lucas Sin Lok-yeung, this quintessential Hong Kong classic is the first recipe in his inaugural cookbook, Cha Chaan Teng: Comfort Food from Hong Kong’s Iconic Diners – listed as the “Perfect Scrambled Egg Sandwich”. Sin, 33, has been a staunch advocate of Hong Kong cuisine for more than a decade, starring in a long list of YouTube videos – from explaining... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370808/french-toast-egg-sandwiches-hong-kong-comfort-food-highlighted-lucas-sins-cookbook https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370808/french-toast-egg-sandwiches-hong-kong-comfort-food-highlighted-lucas-sins-cookbook Wed, 21 Oct 2026 04:45:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press It is an icon, that small white receptacle made from a single piece of cardboard folded into a trapezoid-shaped box. Sometimes there is a wire handle, sometimes a bright red graphic of a Chinese-style pagoda on the side. And inside, deliciousness. The Chinese takeaway container – at least, as it is commonly seen in the United States – is actually about as American as it gets, with its mix of ingenuity, immigrant cultures becoming home-grown staples, and the desire for convenience (also known as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371450/behind-carton-story-classic-us-chinese-takeaway-container https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3371450/behind-carton-story-classic-us-chinese-takeaway-container Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Two days have passed since the scenes of chaos and looting on Saturday, but walking down Rue Beaurepaire in Paris on Monday, one can still smell smoke in the air, likely coming from the heaps of burned rubbish and charred bicycles left among the smashed shopfronts. Among the most damaged was La Barrique, a local bar-tabac – a French establishment combining a cafe, bar and tobacco shop – that was burned down by rioters. Its owner, Aline Li, a middle-aged Chinese immigrant from Zhejiang province,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3371455/night-violence-lingers-over-paris-one-chinese-cafe-owner-counts-costs-protest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3371455/night-violence-lingers-over-paris-one-chinese-cafe-owner-counts-costs-protest Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:00:30 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Asian-Americans are laser-focused on the economy and healthcare costs and increasingly disenchanted with US President Donald Trump and his Republican Party leading into the highly consequential November 3 midterm elections, according to a survey released on Monday. While the general trend among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) mirrors the broader US electorate, the minority community’s views are frequently more pronounced, seen in part because they have been the object of more raids,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/politics/article/3371430/asian-americans-trust-trump-fading-economic-woes-increase-survey-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/politics/article/3371430/asian-americans-trust-trump-fading-economic-woes-increase-survey-finds Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:26:43 +0000 Stephanie Sam Stephanie Sam The dining table disappeared beneath a lavish procession of dishes. Our family took food seriously. It was sacred, even. Dinner was never merely about eating. It was the one time each day when everyone was expected to gather, regardless of schedules, moods or whatever else the world demanded outside that room. At the centre sat the pièce de résistance: a whole steamed fish, usually sea bass, topped with ribbons of ginger and spring onion in a fragrant pool of oil and soy sauce. Alongside it were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370657/i-grew-eating-bowls-chinese-migration-history-you https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370657/i-grew-eating-bowls-chinese-migration-history-you Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Han Li,Ling Xin,Zhang Tong Han Li,Ling Xin,Zhang Tong A US congressional committee has released details of investigations into dozens of researchers, many of them Chinese-American, revealing the scale of government scrutiny sweeping academia over alleged links to China. The documents – running to hundreds of pages – were released alongside a separate report by the House Select Committee on China. Titled “How to Stop China’s Theft of Taxpayer-Funded Research”, the report pushes back against arguments by universities and academic groups that tighter... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3371154/new-details-emerge-us-investigations-chinese-american-scientists-over-china-links https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3371154/new-details-emerge-us-investigations-chinese-american-scientists-over-china-links Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Phoebe Amoroso Phoebe Amoroso Hong Kong milk tea – a mainstay of cha chaan teng, or Hong Kong-style diners – is taking on a new role in Tokyo’s cafe culture. According to the Japan Tea Association, the country is in the midst of a “third black tea boom” and more cafes are offering black tea menus. Even convenience stores are revamping their takeaway drink options, with 7-Eleven, for example, expanding its Seven Cafe tea machines to around 2,000 stores in early 2026. Suntory also released a Hong Kong-style milk tea under its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370263/4-tokyo-cafes-serve-hong-kong-style-milk-tea-chenputon-victoria-1842 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370263/4-tokyo-cafes-serve-hong-kong-style-milk-tea-chenputon-victoria-1842 Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:15:05 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Martin Yan Man-tat first appeared on Canadian television in 1978 as a fresh, enthusiastic 29-year-old chef eager to teach people about Cantonese cooking. He has since become one of the culinary world’s most renowned figures, recognised for his cooking show Yan Can Cook and catchphrase, “If Yan can cook, so can you!” Nearly 50 years on, the celebrity chef – who was born in Guangzhou, moved to Hong Kong as a teenager and later left for Canada and the United States – remains as zealous as ever in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369776/ive-always-loved-food-yan-can-cooks-martin-yan-his-culinary-journey https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369776/ive-always-loved-food-yan-can-cooks-martin-yan-his-culinary-journey Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:45:04 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Designer Azeeza Khan has spent the better part of 15 years building a fashion empire on her own terms, in her own way. For one, Khan is still based in her hometown of Chicago, away from the American fashion epicentre of New York and the Hollywood machine in Los Angeles. “We’re at Kith, Revolve, Shopbop, all those places, so we have reach,” she explains, but she hopes to expand her eponymous label’s physical presence with a secondary office outside Chicago. “LA is one of our top-selling consumer... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/luxury-ceos/article/3369746/designer-azeeza-khan-her-cfda-genesis-house-win-new-york-fashion-week-and-law-roach https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/luxury-ceos/article/3369746/designer-azeeza-khan-her-cfda-genesis-house-win-new-york-fashion-week-and-law-roach Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:00:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Hainan chicken rice, known for its tender, poached chicken and fragrant rice flavoured with chicken stock, is one of the many great Asian comfort foods. Paired with a trio of chilli, ginger and soy dipping sauces, every bite offers a customisable balance of rich, nostalgic flavours. The original dish hails from Hainan, a Chinese island province, where traditionally it is made with local Wenchang chicken. The dish evolved as Hainanese natives emigrated to Southeast Asia, with Vietnam’s com ga... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369801/how-vietnams-twist-hainan-chicken-rice-tells-rich-story-migration https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369801/how-vietnams-twist-hainan-chicken-rice-tells-rich-story-migration Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Angela Hui Angela Hui Every fortnight in Walthamstow, East London, a sign with a hand-painted goldfish pointing towards a kitchen window appears on the side of a residential building: “Lucky Yu Bakery pick up”. On the other side of that window is Hai Lin Leung, a general practitioner selling Cantonese-influenced baked goods from her home – think congee sourdough, bolo bao (pineapple buns), gai mei bao (cocktail buns) and more. There is no shopfront, set opening hours or seating; yet queues regularly spill down the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369518/mala-coriander-congee-uk-doctor-sells-cantonese-inspired-bread-home https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369518/mala-coriander-congee-uk-doctor-sells-cantonese-inspired-bread-home Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Han Li Han Li Amid intensifying competition in the AI technology race, US authorities have arrested a California technology company owner accused of using Malaysia and Singapore as transit points to circumvent US export controls and send more than US$300 million worth of restricted computer servers to China. Greg Lui, 38, also known as Yiu Kong Lui, of San Gabriel, was arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to violate US export controls, outbound smuggling and conspiracy to commit money laundering,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3369637/us-man-arrested-over-alleged-300-million-scheme-smuggle-nvidia-ai-servers-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3369637/us-man-arrested-over-alleged-300-million-scheme-smuggle-nvidia-ai-servers-china Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:57:01 +0000 Yap Yok Foo Yap Yok Foo Every morning, I settle into my armchair in Kuala Lumpur, pen in hand, to tackle The Times cryptic crossword, freshly downloaded from the internet. It is a ritual I have observed since my university days in the United Kingdom. I have become rather adept at it; in fact, puzzle devotees might recognise Sayang, the pseudonym under which I set crosswords for the Financial Times. I can still recite the names of England’s 1966 World Cup squad in my sleep. My youth was scored to the sounds of Cliff... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3368822/im-80-its-not-too-late-reconnect-my-chinese-roots https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3368822/im-80-its-not-too-late-reconnect-my-chinese-roots Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Francesca Fearon Francesca Fearon London Fashion Week drew the clothing crowd from New York to the British capital to see the highly anticipated return of Alexander McQueen and the debut of Christopher Kane at Mulberry. The event, which ran from September 17 to 21, showcased memorable collections from Erdem, Roksanda, Simone Rocha and Pauline Dujancourt. The week was rounded off by Burberry designer Daniel Lee’s collaboration with textile designer Celia Birtwell. London Fashion Week has since also become a platform for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369540/chinese-designers-make-bold-statement-london-fashion-week-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369540/chinese-designers-make-bold-statement-london-fashion-week-2026 Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin A heavily redacted police report has deepened the mystery surrounding the death of a young Chinese semiconductor researcher at the University of Michigan, who took his own life soon after what US federal agents described as a routine and voluntary interview. On the cold morning of March 18, Wang Danhao, 31, spoke with two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers for about 10 minutes outside his rented home in Ann Arbor. When one officer offered to end the interview because of the weather,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3368780/us-police-report-raises-more-questions-about-chinese-researcher-wang-danhaos-death https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3368780/us-police-report-raises-more-questions-about-chinese-researcher-wang-danhaos-death Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:00:19 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung In 2024, French artisanal cookie company Sucré did a four-day pop-up in Hong Kong. The response was overwhelming, says Louise Lui, the brand’s Hong Kong-born co-founder. “There was already a queue forming outside 25 minutes before us selling,” she says. “And then I was just like, ‘Oh my God, how do you know about us?’” When developing recipes for the pop-up, Lui and her French partner in life and business, Victor Selle, wanted something that would bridge cultures. They landed on familiar Asian... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368775/hong-kong-born-cookie-brand-founder-brings-flavours-her-youth-small-town-france https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368775/hong-kong-born-cookie-brand-founder-brings-flavours-her-youth-small-town-france Sat, 26 Sep 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Two overseas branches of Hong Kong’s modern Chinese restaurant Mott 32, located in Toronto and Vancouver, were crowned the best Chinese restaurants in Canada in the 17th edition of the Chinese Restaurant Awards. The awards ceremony, held in the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver on September 23, saw these restaurants top the ranked 2026 Elite 30 Canada list. Beyond recognising the country’s best Chinese restaurants, the awards also spotlighted 12 signature dishes and honoured both emerging... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368785/chinese-restaurant-awards-2026-hong-kongs-mott-32-takes-top-spot-canada https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368785/chinese-restaurant-awards-2026-hong-kongs-mott-32-takes-top-spot-canada Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:15:04 +0000 Ravi Kant Ravi Kant A country’s diaspora can be a symbol of its pride and power. A nation’s diaspora can help it build international value through success stories, promote its soft power through culture and contribute to its economic progress through remittances, investments and transfers of expertise. India and China have among the world’s largest diasporas. They also offer two very different models of how countries can leverage their diasporas. In India, before the 1991 reforms, people mostly saw those who left... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367636/china-leveraging-its-diaspora-boost-economy-unlike-india https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367636/china-leveraging-its-diaspora-boost-economy-unlike-india Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Phoebe Amoroso Phoebe Amoroso With its dark-wood-furnished interior that is part-boutique, part-workshop and part-cafe, there is a lot to notice about Urushi to Hibi in Tokyo. The daily line of customers outside the door, however, is mostly here for one thing: its Hong Kong-style milk tea. Behind the counter, the three co-founders – Lei Shengyu, Zhang Qingyue and Ji Qiuzi – work tirelessly, alternating between taking and prepping orders. On this day, Ji is making the milk tea, face full of concentration as he strains it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367719/how-hong-kong-style-milk-tea-shop-tokyo-has-customers-queuing-out-door https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367719/how-hong-kong-style-milk-tea-shop-tokyo-has-customers-queuing-out-door Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Few figures in Qing dynasty (1644-1912) history embody the tragedy of shifting tides quite like Duanfang, a Manchu statesman born in 1861. Duanfang rose through the imperial ranks, earned distinction for his service during the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) and went on to hold major regional posts, such as governor of China’s Hubei province and viceroy of the Liangjiang region. His career took a bizarre turn when he was stripped of his viceroyalty in 1909 for supposedly showing disrespect by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367584/tragic-qing-dynasty-politician-whose-legacy-lives-descendants-new-novel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367584/tragic-qing-dynasty-politician-whose-legacy-lives-descendants-new-novel Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Director Xiaodan He immigrated from China to Montreal, Canada, 24 years ago. While many of her previous film projects were filmed in China, she returned to the French-speaking city for her newest film, Montreal, My Beautiful (2025). “The decision was very simple: I just really wanted to shoot a film in Montreal because I hadn’t done so yet,” she says. “I think it feels very cinematic, and through my eyes, it would look very beautiful on screen.” The 51-year-old Chinese-Canadian filmmaker did not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367045/authentic-chinese-canadian-directors-queer-love-story-starring-joan-chen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367045/authentic-chinese-canadian-directors-queer-love-story-starring-joan-chen Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:15:04 +0000 Amy Wu Amy Wu The symptoms started a little before my 50th birthday in December. I pride myself on healthy living, and my gauge of good health has always been consistency: are sleep, eating, digestion and period cycle regular? Now the clockwork was off, if only slightly. My hypervigilance was born more than a decade earlier in Hong Kong, where I lived from 2009 to 2013 while working as a journalist. In 2013, at age 37 with no family history, I was treated for stage 0 breast cancer – the earliest detectable... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366711/12-years-after-surviving-breast-cancer-new-health-scare-tests-american-journalist https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366711/12-years-after-surviving-breast-cancer-new-health-scare-tests-american-journalist Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:01:45 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan In Vancouver, people hear the music first – “The Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss II – then see a red, white and blue patterned truck pulling up shortly after. As impossible as it may seem, that can mean only one thing for people from Hong Kong – a Mister Softee truck is in town. Or is it? Although it is not the same beloved ice cream dispenser – renamed Mobile Softee in 2010 – found in Hong Kong, Watt A Truck looks remarkably similar and offers nostalgic soft-serve ice cream. “We wanted the truck... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366377/hong-kong-ice-cream-truck-vancouver-watt-truck-brings-citys-flavours-canada https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366377/hong-kong-ice-cream-truck-vancouver-watt-truck-brings-citys-flavours-canada Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Fresh off the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Hong Kong-born Tammy Wong is still buzzing – and not just from the adrenaline. The 30-year-old weightlifter, who represented England in the women’s 48kg category, finished with a combined total of 160kg (352lbs), just 7kg shy of a podium finish, and five off her own personal best. A three-time champion of British Weight Lifting’s British Championships, Wong played hockey as a child, continuing through university while going to the gym on the side.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365834/hong-kong-born-weightlifting-champion-tammy-wong-strength-fear-and-femininity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365834/hong-kong-born-weightlifting-champion-tammy-wong-strength-fear-and-femininity Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Han Li Han Li China’s biggest box-office surprise this year – a Teochew-language family drama that became a hit in Southeast Asia – is finally coming to North American cinemas on September 4. Dear You, whose Chinese title translates as “Love Letters for Grandma”, has grossed nearly US$300 million in mainland China. Its North American release will test whether a Chinese film rooted in migration, family, and regional culture can find an audience beyond the Chinese-speaking diaspora. The seemingly non-political... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365902/can-chinese-sleeper-hit-dear-you-conquer-us-box-office-next https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365902/can-chinese-sleeper-hit-dear-you-conquer-us-box-office-next Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:29:59 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Around a hundred patrons packed a bar in Central on Monday night to raise funds for victims of catastrophic flash floods and mudslides in Nepal, as members of Hong Kong’s Nepalese community rallied to support relief efforts for their homeland. The death toll in Nepal had risen to 919 as of 1pm on Monday, with 4,247 people still missing, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. The disaster struck on Wednesday when a massive wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river along the Himalayan border... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365888/central-bar-packed-hongkongers-aim-raise-hk50000-nepal-flood-relief https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365888/central-bar-packed-hongkongers-aim-raise-hk50000-nepal-flood-relief Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:35:50 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The United Kingdom has seen a spike in the number of migrants applying for citizenship and permanent settlement ahead of a planned government clampdown. Government data shows what appears to be a rush to secure residency rights in response to changes announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that would force migrants to wait longer before they can gain them. The Home Office said 199,628 people were granted settlement, giving them the right to live, work and study in the UK permanently, in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3365500/foreigners-jostle-secure-uk-residency-rights-rules-tighten https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3365500/foreigners-jostle-secure-uk-residency-rights-rules-tighten Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:12:22 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Despite being raised by parents in the restaurant industry, Xiengni Zhou never imagined she’d one day pursue a career in food. “When I was born, the first building I saw after the hospital was probably the restaurant,” she jokes. The UK-based content creator and co-founder of the Malaysian Chinese chilli oil company Mama Yu took quite a roundabout journey to get to where she is. “I always thought I’d be an investment banking queen,” she says frankly. “I read maths and economics [at Newcastle... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/article/3362086/mama-yu-uk-based-chilli-oil-empire-xiengni-zhou-and-her-mum-built-scratch https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/article/3362086/mama-yu-uk-based-chilli-oil-empire-xiengni-zhou-and-her-mum-built-scratch Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Tins of fried dace with salted black beans – known as dau si leng yu in Cantonese – are a pantry staple in Hong Kong and in Cantonese-diaspora homes around the globe. Affordable, ready to eat and with a long shelf life, the canned food is a symbol of working-class resilience. And it is highly valued; in April 2023, a masked man in a black windbreaker allegedly stole 48 cans of dau si leng yu (worth HK$1,800 or US$230) from a supermarket in Sheung Shui in Hong Kong’s New Territories. Although the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3364539/hong-kong-food-staple-having-gourmet-moment-cantonese-canned-fish-dessert-anyone https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3364539/hong-kong-food-staple-having-gourmet-moment-cantonese-canned-fish-dessert-anyone Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Han Li Han Li Almost five years after the pandemic-era surge in anti-Asian hate in the US, new Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data shows a downward trend nationally. But advocates say concerns persist amid immigration crackdowns and heightened US-China geopolitical tension. A survey from Stop AAPI Hate, a self-reporting platform formed during the pandemic, paints an even more worrying picture, with almost half of individuals indicating they have been targeted but many decline to report it to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364614/fewer-anti-asian-hate-crimes-us-immigration-crackdowns-raise-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364614/fewer-anti-asian-hate-crimes-us-immigration-crackdowns-raise-concerns Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:32:37 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso “I didn’t even cook [when I lived] in Singapore,” Shu Han Lee tells me quite frankly. It’s a strange thing to hear from a Singaporean cookbook author and entrepreneur who has spent the better part of her career refining and remixing the city state’s cooking for a global audience, but Lee just didn’t grow up thinking she would be a cook one day. In fact, she was discouraged from pursuing it. “My mum grew up in a kampong [village], and she was the oldest daughter, so from the age of 10 she was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3362092/rempapas-shu-han-lee-didnt-even-cook-now-she-works-jamie-oliver-sainsburys-and-wagamama https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3362092/rempapas-shu-han-lee-didnt-even-cook-now-she-works-jamie-oliver-sainsburys-and-wagamama Wed, 19 Aug 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan In just two years, Christophe Yu Jiulong went from speaking no French to graduating from a French programme at the largest culinary school in Canada after moving from his hometown in Chongqing, China to Montreal. Fast forward another two years and the 30-year-old is now dedicated to Flying Tables, a collective he started with 24-year-old Nora Lou Yueyue. Together in Montreal, they create gastronomic experiences that celebrate Chinese gastronomy through pop-up events. “I always feel eating food... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363994/how-2-minded-chefs-are-celebrating-chinese-diasporic-gastronomy-montreal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363994/how-2-minded-chefs-are-celebrating-chinese-diasporic-gastronomy-montreal Sun, 16 Aug 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Winnie Chung Winnie Chung For the better part of two decades, Helen Goh has existed at a rare culinary and clinical intersection: the quiet intimacy of the psychotherapist’s consulting room and the exacting, warm chemistry of the pastry kitchen. While these disciplines might seem worlds apart, they share a fundamental core. Both are obsessed with process, both search for connection and both seek to answer a deceptively simple question: what brings comfort and meaning to a human life? Those tracks ran parallel, never to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363597/how-baker-and-psychologist-helen-goh-aims-create-recipes-make-your-life-better https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363597/how-baker-and-psychologist-helen-goh-aims-create-recipes-make-your-life-better Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:15:05 +0000 James Mottram James Mottram For Chee Keong Cheung, a cinematic education came not from the local cinemas of his native Lancaster in England’s northwest, but from the neon-lit streets of Hong Kong. “I was probably a bit young to be watching them, but the John Woo films were a big inspiration. The Killer, A Better Tomorrow … had a real effect on me,” he tells the South China Morning Post over a video call. Films from the so-called “Heroic Bloodshed” era of Hong Kong action cinema, of which Woo was a key figure, lit a fire in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3363502/how-british-chinese-filmmaker-chee-keong-cheung-aims-build-blumhouse-action https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3363502/how-british-chinese-filmmaker-chee-keong-cheung-aims-build-blumhouse-action Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam You may have noticed a surge in Cantonese influencers on social media this year. Language teachers have long used digital platforms to increase their student numbers, but these influencers are not there to teach – they simply share their love for Cantonese. They come from all walks of life, and they are learning and practising with their followers. One such presence is 35-year-old Mihi Matshingana. In one video, with more than 15,000 likes on Instagram, she bursts onto the screen with a glass of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3363137/want-learn-cantonese-these-influencers-are-sparking-canto-revival-social-media https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3363137/want-learn-cantonese-these-influencers-are-sparking-canto-revival-social-media Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak When you think of those who lived on the American frontier, the sort of person who springs to mind is probably a rough-and-rowdy Caucasian cowboy with a scruffy face and spurs on his boots. But then there was Ah Toy – pronounced “Ah Choi” in Cantonese – who became one of the best-known Asian women in 19th century California. Ah Toy was the first recorded Chinese sex worker in San Francisco, but became much more: so successful was her chain of brothels that she often attracted unfriendly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3362911/chinese-sex-worker-who-built-empire-americas-old-west https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3362911/chinese-sex-worker-who-built-empire-americas-old-west Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Stand-up comedians are used to tuning out the din of clinking glasses from two-drink minimums and patrons walking in and out during sets. But what about rolling shopping trolleys or the smell of fried fish? That kind of ambience is what you will find on comic Jenny Yang’s nationwide summer comedy tour, where she has been turning cultural grocery stores into comedy clubs for a night. “I got to buy a bunch of small snacks and shrimp chips and throw it into the audience every time I felt like a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3363039/rolling-aisles-jenny-yang-tours-us-grocery-stores-comedy-show https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3363039/rolling-aisles-jenny-yang-tours-us-grocery-stores-comedy-show Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Charles Chear Charles Chear In countries like France and Norway, the government census strictly avoids asking about race and ethnicity. Governed by a desire for national unity, these states operate on a firm premise: categorising citizens by skin colour risks creating divisions and reinforcing prejudice. Across the Atlantic and in the Commonwealth, you find a different philosophy. The United States, United Kingdom and Canada measure race and ethnicity. In these societies, data collection isn’t seen as a wedge to divide... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3362259/why-global-migration-data-should-recognise-subgroups-teochew https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3362259/why-global-migration-data-should-recognise-subgroups-teochew Tue, 04 Aug 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin Researchers based in China or having a Chinese surname were far less likely than their US and Canadian counterparts to have papers published in the world’s most prestigious journals, according to a new study. Just 2.5 per cent of submissions from China-based researchers were accepted, compared with 8.3 per cent overall for those from North America, a team found after analysing a rare dataset of more than 110,000 manuscripts submitted to Science and Science Advances between 2015 and 2020. Even... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3362349/top-us-science-journals-more-likely-reject-paper-chinese-authors-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3362349/top-us-science-journals-more-likely-reject-paper-chinese-authors-study Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia’s attempt to lure back its native talent scattered around the world through limited dual citizenship has highlighted a long-held demand of the diaspora for such a scheme before they would consider returning home. The proposed revision to the citizenship law would mark a major shift for a country that has largely allowed only single citizenship since independence in 1945. Currently, children of mixed marriages can hold dual citizenship until they reach 18 years of age, when they are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3362272/limited-dual-citizenship-gives-indonesian-diaspora-hope-return-better-future https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3362272/limited-dual-citizenship-gives-indonesian-diaspora-hope-return-better-future Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:05:34 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Private kitchens and high-end boutiques might seem worlds apart, but Eva Che, founder of catering brand CheHub, has found that they share common currencies: atmosphere, detail and hospitality. “The food [at a private kitchen] is the interesting product that makes people curious to come,” says Che, 30, a self-taught cook who draws on her Cantonese heritage, Czech upbringing and experience in luxury fashion retail for her catering brand. “What keeps the client coming back again and again are the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3361970/chef-turns-down-earth-cantonese-recipes-luxury-diasporic-gastronomy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3361970/chef-turns-down-earth-cantonese-recipes-luxury-diasporic-gastronomy Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:16:27 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan When chef Hideaki Sato was a child in Nagano, Japan, he was fed tofu accompanied by various vegetable condiments, such as myoga or Japanese ginger, shiso leaves, chives, ginger and leeks that were picked from the family garden. “But I was a picky eater as a kid and I didn’t like these strongly flavoured vegetables. So I always took them out,” he recalls, and ate the tofu plain. “When I was a kid, I preferred hard tofu [momen], but came to like soft tofu [kinugoshi] as I grew older.” These days,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3361185/many-types-tofu-discovering-versatile-chinese-and-japanese-staple https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3361185/many-types-tofu-discovering-versatile-chinese-and-japanese-staple Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Asian-American groups on Friday slammed US President Donald Trump’s speech, delivered this week, as a dangerous threat to citizens of US minority communities that are already facing attacks and hostility during troubled and deeply partisan times, even as China hawks praised its message and tone. On Thursday during a prime-time address from the East Room of the White House, Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims that Beijing was interfering in US elections, citing his suspicion of what he termed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361023/asian-american-groups-fear-trumps-escalating-rhetoric-will-fuel-prejudice-racism-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361023/asian-american-groups-fear-trumps-escalating-rhetoric-will-fuel-prejudice-racism-us Fri, 17 Jul 2026 23:14:26 +0000 Victoria Burrows Victoria Burrows In a converted warehouse in the light-industrial area of Byculla on the eastern seaboard of Mumbai, India, chef Shannen Alexandra pulls a tray of mantou, or milk buns, from a rack of baked goods. Her ponytail bobs as she excitedly explains how she tweaks the classic Chinese recipe to create her buns, which, rather than the typical round shape, resemble bow ties. Her mantou differ in other ways, too. The classic version is usually made from simple milk bread, which is then steamed or fried;... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3360611/chinese-indonesian-chef-transforming-mumbais-bread-scene-her-heritage-baking https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3360611/chinese-indonesian-chef-transforming-mumbais-bread-scene-her-heritage-baking Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Tucked away on a quiet street in Southbank, Melbourne, is yet another Cantonese restaurant. But this time, there are no lazy Susans, no clamorous dim sum trolleys and none of the sprawling banquet halls you would expect in Hong Kong-style spots. Instead, just 10 seats line an elegant counter where diners watch and listen to two chefs sharing stories of a home far away, flavours from which define the 10-course tasting menu. This is Dom, the personal project of Dominic Li, the founder of the now... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3360108/cantonese-home-cooking-meets-fine-dining-melbourne-omakase-restaurant-dom https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3360108/cantonese-home-cooking-meets-fine-dining-melbourne-omakase-restaurant-dom Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung For most Americans, breakfast looks like cereal, bagels, oatmeal, yogurt and fruit smoothies or the classic spread with eggs, bacon and pancakes. For Cindy Lam, a Chicago-born first-generation Cantonese-American entrepreneur, these options felt, in her words, “70-80 per cent” complete – a sentiment captured by the Cantonese phrase “chat chat baat baat” (literally “seven seven, eight eight”), meaning almost there, but not quite. The phrase resonated with her own sense of identity, too: caught... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3359914/granola-breakfast-make-it-chinese-american-digs-deep-her-heritage https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3359914/granola-breakfast-make-it-chinese-american-digs-deep-her-heritage Sun, 12 Jul 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu New York-based author Elizabeth Lim grew up hearing her grandmother’s stories about Hong Kong in World War II, Guangdong during the Sino-Japanese war and the sweeping immigrant journey that eventually brought their family to American shores. Those ancestral memories form the backbone of her latest novel, Fishbone Cinderella, set to hit shelves on July 28. Known widely for her young adult high fantasies such as Spin the Dawn (2019) and Six Crimson Cranes (2021), The New York Times bestselling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3359950/i-never-felt-ready-elizabeth-lim-writing-her-chinese-grandmothers-story-and-soy-milk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3359950/i-never-felt-ready-elizabeth-lim-writing-her-chinese-grandmothers-story-and-soy-milk Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Despite more than a decade in the entertainment industry, Yvonne Chapman admits that, even now, she worries that walking away from a stable career in finance to pursue acting was a mistake. “I’ve never felt secure, ever, in this business,” she says. “I think that’s the nature of it.” Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, to a Hong Kong father and Singaporean mother, the 37-year-old actress is in Hong Kong to promote her latest project, The Season. Already drawing comparisons to hit shows like The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3359620/i-couldnt-quiet-it-any-more-seasons-yvonne-chapman-choosing-acting-over-stable-career-interview https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3359620/i-couldnt-quiet-it-any-more-seasons-yvonne-chapman-choosing-acting-over-stable-career-interview Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Actor Elliot Page and his girlfriend, Julia Shiplett, were recently spotted at the world premiere of director Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film The Odyssey. The film, which features a star-studded cast of Zendaya, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth and Charlize Theron, held its world premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on Monday. Page, who plays a Greek soldier in the film, walked the red carpet alone but later snapped pics... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3359834/meet-elliot-pages-comedian-girlfriend-hong-kong-descent-julia-shiplett-who-attended-odyssey-premiere https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3359834/meet-elliot-pages-comedian-girlfriend-hong-kong-descent-julia-shiplett-who-attended-odyssey-premiere Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:00:18 +0000