https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/519398/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 Many delegates to ⁠the International Monetary Fund’s steering ⁠committee walked out of a meeting on ⁠Saturday when Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov addressed the group in Russian, three sources familiar with the matter said. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has roiled the International Monetary and Financial Committee, preventing it from reaching consensus statements in the years ‌since. There were deep divisions again at this week’s annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371248/european-delegates-walk-out-russian-finance-minister-imf-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371248/european-delegates-walk-out-russian-finance-minister-imf-summit Sat, 17 Oct 2026 07:51:33 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse European leaders on Friday rallied around Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky as Kyiv’s ties with US President Donald Trump have nosedived and worries grow that US leader is increasingly siding with Russia. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since last week, when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets. Zelensky infuriated Trump further by ordering Ukraine’s forces to restart strikes on Russian oil refineries in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371174/european-leaders-back-zelensky-ukraine-us-ties-fray-over-trumps-russia-sanctions-lift https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371174/european-leaders-back-zelensky-ukraine-us-ties-fray-over-trumps-russia-sanctions-lift Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:14:29 +0000 Reuters Reuters British counterterrorism police are investigating after two Latvian men were arrested inside a Royal Air Force base used by US personnel, authorities said on Thursday. The arrests come weeks after a suspected plot targeting another British airbase used by ‌the US military raised concerns about security at military sites across Britain. Police said there was nothing so far to suggest the incident at RAF Molesworth in eastern England was linked to the suspected plot against RAF Fairford in western... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370233/uk-ministry-defence-patrols-arrest-2-latvians-near-raf-base https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370233/uk-ministry-defence-patrols-arrest-2-latvians-near-raf-base Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:48:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters Latvian lawmakers on Sunday planned to begin negotiations to form a new government following a parliamentary election in which pro-Ukraine Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs ‘s four-party coalition emerged with 35 per cent of the vote. The United List party is expected to take 42 seats in parliament, and a multiparty coalition will be needed to govern in a splintered political landscape. Parties must take at least 5 per cent of the vote to win parliamentary seats. The election saw a voter turnout... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369674/latvian-leader-poised-big-win-election-shadowed-putin https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369674/latvian-leader-poised-big-win-election-shadowed-putin Sat, 03 Oct 2026 23:11:44 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Latvia will vote on Saturday in an election shaped by concerns over neighbouring Russia and the cost of living, but the result is not expected to steer the country off its pro-European and pro-Ukrainian course. The centre-right United List party of incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is at the head of the race, with over 14 per cent of the vote, according to the SKDS institute. His coalition, however, is expected to emerge weakened as populist parties gain ground by focusing on economic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369655/latvia-holds-election-concerns-over-russia-inflation-dominate https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369655/latvia-holds-election-concerns-over-russia-inflation-dominate Sat, 03 Oct 2026 07:46:17 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Estonian authorities said on Tuesday they had concluded that an arson attack in mid-August on a defence company that provides military vehicles to Ukraine was an act of sabotage commissioned by Russian security services. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that “such actions are absolutely unacceptable” and that Russia’s charge d’affaires in Tallinn was being summoned to his ministry. A fire broke out overnight on August 15 at a building in Estonia’s capital used by Milrem Robotics, but was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369227/estonia-blames-russia-arson-attack-company-supplying-vehicles-ukraine https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369227/estonia-blames-russia-arson-attack-company-supplying-vehicles-ukraine Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:07:37 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko and her Taiwanese partner, Hsieh Su-wei, missed out on the US Open women’s doubles semi-finals after losing to Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider on Tuesday. Leading up to the match, Ostapenko was at ⁠the centre of another ⁠heated US Open exchange on Monday, confronting an opposing coach after reaching the women’s doubles quarter-finals with Hsieh. The fourth seeds beat Australian-Taiwanese pair Maya ‌Joint and Chan Hao-ching 6-4, 6-4, but tempers flared after... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3366890/meet-jelena-ostapenko-fiery-latvian-tennis-star-making-headlines-over-us-open-drama https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3366890/meet-jelena-ostapenko-fiery-latvian-tennis-star-making-headlines-over-us-open-drama Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:26:35 +0000 Reuters Reuters Twelve people were killed and several more injured in Russian air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Tuesday, authorities said, in the sixth consecutive day of ‌strikes on the Ukrainian capital. Attacks both in Ukraine and Russia continue as efforts are ongoing to find a solution to end the deadliest conflict on the European continent since World War II, which started with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Eight people were killed and another five wounded in Kyiv, three... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3365931/russia-strikes-ukraine-capital-sixth-straight-day-killing-least-9 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3365931/russia-strikes-ukraine-capital-sixth-straight-day-killing-least-9 Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:39:22 +0000 Xinlu Liang,Shi Huang Xinlu Liang,Shi Huang China said on Sunday that 261 foreign citizens were missing after last week’s deadly floods along the border between its Tibet autonomous region and Nepal. The missing foreigners were from 23 different countries and included 104 Nepalese citizens, authorities in Tibet’s Gyirong county told reporters. Also unaccounted for are 49 people from India; 33 Latvians; 18 from the United States; 15 from Britain; six each from Canada and Australia; four from South Africa; three each from Malaysia, Germany... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365730/china-nepal-floods-hundreds-foreigners-missing-tibet-after-disaster https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365730/china-nepal-floods-hundreds-foreigners-missing-tibet-after-disaster Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:31:37 +0000 dpa dpa A drone entered Latvian airspace and was shot down by Italian Eurofighter jets, the military said on Friday. The decision to shoot it down was taken to avert a threat to Latvia’s population, Defence Minister Raivis Melnis said. An air alert was lifted after the drone was intercepted, Latvia’s military said on social media, after authorities had urged people across the Baltic state to avoid going outside and seek shelter. A spokeswoman for Latvia’s military said the drone was shot down over a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364075/nato-jets-shoot-down-foreign-drone-after-it-enters-latvian-airspace https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364075/nato-jets-shoot-down-foreign-drone-after-it-enters-latvian-airspace Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:30:03 +0000 Reuters Reuters US Secretary of State Marco ⁠Rubio told officials from more than 60 countries on Thursday that the United States would seek to refocus international counterterrorism efforts on what he called “far-left terror”, arguing that left-wing violence had long been overlooked. The conference in Washington has sparked Democratic concerns that the Trump administration is politicising counterterrorism efforts and diverting resources from other extremist threats. In a speech, Rubio said the Islamic militancy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3360849/us-focus-counterterrorism-efforts-left-wing-groups-rubio-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3360849/us-focus-counterterrorism-efforts-left-wing-groups-rubio-says Thu, 16 Jul 2026 22:42:17 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Seventeen countries have agreed to collaborate on defence strategies for critical marine infrastructure such as undersea cables, an effort that analysts warn may be undermined by the absence of superpower involvement. At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, defence ministers and representatives from these countries attended the launch of the Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges (Guide), which aims to bring countries together to explore potential areas... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3355411/17-nations-launch-pact-protect-vital-undersea-cables-amid-us-china-absence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3355411/17-nations-launch-pact-protect-vital-undersea-cables-amid-us-china-absence Sat, 30 May 2026 09:55:59 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Germany and the Netherlands will set up a joint tactical headquarters in the Baltics this year to command forces on Nato’s eastern flank and help deter Russia, Berlin said on Thursday. The joint German-Dutch command centre known as 1GNC will “assume a command role on Nato’s eastern flank, specifically in the region of Estonia and Latvia” in coming months, the German defence ministry said in a statement. “The deployment of an additional tactical headquarters to the region strengthens the cohesion... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3355193/germany-netherlands-set-nato-command-centre-baltics https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3355193/germany-netherlands-set-nato-command-centre-baltics Thu, 28 May 2026 11:36:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday she felt that EU governments were not ready to give Ukraine a date for membership despite a demand to do so from ‌President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky repeated on Saturday that he needed a date as part of security guarantees for a final peace package with Russia. “My feeling is that the member states are not ready to give a concrete date,” Kallas told a panel at the Munich Security Conference. “There’s a lot of work to be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3343638/eu-not-ready-give-ukraine-date-membership-says-blocs-foreign-policy-chief-kallas https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3343638/eu-not-ready-give-ukraine-date-membership-says-blocs-foreign-policy-chief-kallas Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:49:25 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Flight routes between Europe and China are suddenly crowded with prime ministers and presidents, giving the impression of a continent pivoting eastward. A flurry that began late last year with visits to Beijing by the Spanish king and French president has continued with leaders of Britain, Ireland and Finland, with Germany’s chancellor to follow next month. The frenzied outreach comes with the transatlantic relationship on the rocks. US President Donald Trump’s designs on Greenland have even... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341938/full-pivot-or-anxious-hedge-europes-leaders-flock-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341938/full-pivot-or-anxious-hedge-europes-leaders-flock-china Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump stole the show at the World Economic Forum in Davos, but he may have also made the annual gabfest of the global elite relevant again – at least for a week. The relevance of the gathering of CEOs and political leaders in the Swiss Alps is regularly questioned by critics who deride it as an out-of-touch echo chamber where little gets done. But all eyes were on this year’s Davos as Trump barrelled into town with a geopolitical storm hanging over the picturesque ski resort,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3341046/how-trump-stole-show-davos-and-revived-wef-never-been-more-relevant https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3341046/how-trump-stole-show-davos-and-revived-wef-never-been-more-relevant Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:42:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse It looked like a rock concert: hundreds of the world’s rich and powerful stood in a massive line for a precious seat to hear US President Donald Trump deliver his speech in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. After a two-hour wait, the doors to the World Economic Forum’s congress hall closed to the disappointment of many who had to scramble for spots in four overflow rooms to watch him on television screens. The exclusive crowd included executives of top companies, academics and politicians – even... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340738/huge-lines-laughs-and-gasps-trump-addresses-davos https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3340738/huge-lines-laughs-and-gasps-trump-addresses-davos Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:00:12 +0000 Sophie Wushuang Yi Sophie Wushuang Yi The Donald Trump administration is executing not merely a restructuring but a fundamental redefinition of American military purpose. The clearest evidence emerged in June, when the US president deployed 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles alongside 4,000 federalised National Guard troops to confront immigration enforcement protests – without California Governor Gavin Newsom’s consent. A federal judge subsequently ruled that this deployment violated the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3329870/retreating-globally-us-finds-new-arena-flex-power-home https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3329870/retreating-globally-us-finds-new-arena-flex-power-home Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Alarmed by Russia’s vast military spending since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the three Baltic states were drawing up contingency plans to deal with the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing a Russian troop build-up or attack. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have long voiced fears to fellow Nato states about possible Russian aggression, citing Russian cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and incursions over the past few months by Russian fighter jets and drones. Russia has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3328502/baltic-nations-planning-mass-evacuations-event-russian-attack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3328502/baltic-nations-planning-mass-evacuations-event-russian-attack Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:45:33 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press British, Lithuanian and Latvian authorities have detained people on suspicion of carrying out intelligence-related activities on behalf of Russia in the latest of a string of incidents linked to Moscow by Western officials. The Metropolitan Police said on Thursday they arrested three people just east of London on suspicion of spying for Russia. On Wednesday, Lithuanian prosecutors said they uncovered and detained a Russia-linked network of suspects who are alleged to have planned and organised... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3326023/uk-police-arrest-3-spying-lithuania-eyes-russia-linked-sabotage-network https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3326023/uk-police-arrest-3-spying-lithuania-eyes-russia-linked-sabotage-network Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:55:34 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A member-driven organisation representing European business interests in China is urging policymakers to seize the opportunity – while forming the nation’s next five-year plan – to rebalance the economic-development model and strike at the heart of cutthroat price competition that hurts both foreign and domestic firms. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, which has more than 1,600 member companies, recommends in its latest position paper that China should use its 2026-2030 plan to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3325859/eu-chamber-china-flags-manufacturing-maladies-urging-course-correction-5-year-plan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3325859/eu-chamber-china-flags-manufacturing-maladies-urging-course-correction-5-year-plan Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:01:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Russia and its key ally Belarus began major joint military drills early Friday, putting Nato on edge two days after Poland accused Moscow of escalating tensions by firing attack drones through its airspace. The “Zapad” exercises also come as Russian forces grind across the sprawling front line in Ukraine and escalate aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities. Nato’s eastern flank members that border Belarus - Poland, Lithuania and Latvia - are on high alert over the drills, which Belarus says will be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3325314/nato-high-alert-russia-and-belarus-launch-major-war-games https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3325314/nato-high-alert-russia-and-belarus-launch-major-war-games Fri, 12 Sep 2025 07:06:46 +0000 Mark Magnier,Finbarr Bermingham,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Finbarr Bermingham,Khushboo Razdan US and European leaders reacted with veneration, concern and stiffened resolve on Wednesday to China’s epic military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Over 25 foreign leaders – including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – joined Chinese President Xi Jinping at the showcase event marked by intimidating weaponry and choreographed troop manoeuvres. “I thought it was very, very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3324250/western-leaders-parse-china-military-parade-displaying-authoritarian-strength https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3324250/western-leaders-parse-china-military-parade-displaying-authoritarian-strength Wed, 03 Sep 2025 20:21:26 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nato’s easternmost member states are grappling with a sharp rise in radio and satellite interference, with Baltic governments accusing Russia of positioning equipment for electronic warfare close to their borders. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Baltic Sea region has registered widespread signal jamming, including of the Global Positioning System or GPS, which has affected air and maritime communications. But authorities in the Baltic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3322958/russia-needles-nato-escalating-signal-spoofing-baltic-nations https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3322958/russia-needles-nato-escalating-signal-spoofing-baltic-nations Sun, 24 Aug 2025 04:12:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he had signed a decree to pull Ukraine out of the Ottawa Convention banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines as a necessary step in view of Russian tactics in their 40-month-old war. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. The Ottawa Convention, adopted in 1997, prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of all types of anti-personnel mines, which are considered especially inhumane weapons. More than 160 countries... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3316300/ukraine-track-withdraw-ottawa-anti-personnel-mines-treaty-zelensky-decree-shows https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3316300/ukraine-track-withdraw-ottawa-anti-personnel-mines-treaty-zelensky-decree-shows Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:51:52 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse France charged a British citizen with offences including money laundering and identity theft after he allegedly organised a bizarre ceremony at Disneyland Paris where he played the role of the groom in a fake marriage with a nine-year-old girl, prosecutors said on Tuesday. He is suspected of hiring the theme park before it opened to the public on Saturday for the staged wedding event, in a contract worth €130,000 (US$151,000). The man, who has not been named but has a criminal record in Britain... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3315660/france-charges-uk-man-over-staged-disneyland-marriage-child https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3315660/france-charges-uk-man-over-staged-disneyland-marriage-child Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:50:07 +0000 Nato members Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia plan to withdraw from the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel landmines due to the military threat from their neighbour Russia, the four countries said on Tuesday. Quitting the 1997 treaty, which has been ratified or acceded to by more than 160 nations, will allow Poland and the three Baltic countries to start stockpiling and using landmines again. “Military threats to Nato member states bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3302888/poland-baltic-nations-quit-landmine-treaty-amid-russia-threat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3302888/poland-baltic-nations-quit-landmine-treaty-amid-russia-threat Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:05:28 +0000 Lithuanian prosecutors on Monday blamed the Russian military intelligence service for being behind the arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius last year, calling it “an act of terrorism”. Lithuania, a Baltic state and Nato member, has been a staunch ally of Kyiv since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and frequently warned against sabotage attempts inspired by Russia. On Monday, Lithuanian prosecutor general’s office attributed the arson attack at Vilnius’s Ikea furniture store to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3302737/lithuania-blames-russian-military-intelligence-ikea-store-arson https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3302737/lithuania-blames-russian-military-intelligence-ikea-store-arson Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:09:09 +0000 A Norway-owned and Russian-crewed ship that authorities suspect may have been involved in damage to an underwater fibre optic cable connecting Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland has been stopped off Norway, police said pn Friday. The Silver Dania was stopped on Thursday evening and brought into the port of Tromsø in northern Norway on Friday morning by a Norwegian coastguard vessel, Norwegian police said in a statement. They said that followed a request from Latvian authorities and a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3296978/norway-detains-ship-and-russian-crew-suspected-damaging-sweden-latvia-cable https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3296978/norway-detains-ship-and-russian-crew-suspected-damaging-sweden-latvia-cable Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:41:49 +0000 The Brutalist, the story of a Holocaust survivor who chases the American dream, and musical thriller Emilia Perez took home the first major movie honours of Hollywood’s awards season at the Golden Globes. The Brutalist was named best movie drama and star Adrien Brody won best film actor. The genre-shifting trans musical Emilia Perez won best film, comedy or musical, handing Jacques Audiard’s movie a major prize and elevating the Oscar chances of Netflix’s top Oscar contender. Most of the TV... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3293560/2025-golden-globes-brutalist-emilia-perez-and-shogun-triumph-demi-moore-surprises https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3293560/2025-golden-globes-brutalist-emilia-perez-and-shogun-triumph-demi-moore-surprises Mon, 06 Jan 2025 05:38:27 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang US private-equity firm L Catterton has acquired a majority stake in Chinese-owned bath and body care company Stenders in a rare transaction amid a consumption decline and lacklustre foreign investment in mainland China. The acquisition through L Catterton’s Asia fund platform marks the consumer sector-focused firm’s fourth investment in China in the past 12 months, with deployment totalling US$200 million. The firm said it was able to identify companies with “favourable risk and reward profiles”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3277826/us-private-equity-firm-l-catterton-invests-stenders-chinas-consumer-trends-shift https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3277826/us-private-equity-firm-l-catterton-invests-stenders-chinas-consumer-trends-shift Tue, 10 Sep 2024 01:00:14 +0000 Another basketball competition for the US men and women to sweep, perhaps, but Serbia will fancy their chances of beating the former. Athletes to watch Jimmer Fredette, United States: The 35-year-old Fredette, who became a superstar at Brigham Young University and was the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, headlines the American men’s team. He began playing 3X3 in 2022 and was named USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2023. Canyon Barry, US: The son of Hall of Famer Rick Berry... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3269844/paris-olympics-all-you-need-know-about-3x3-basketball-competition https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3269844/paris-olympics-all-you-need-know-about-3x3-basketball-competition Tue, 30 Jul 2024 06:00:08 +0000 While the recent Nato summit celebrated the organisation’s 75th anniversary, its focus on China underscored a shift in geopolitical dynamics. The transatlantic alliance, which was founded to defend against the threat from the Soviet Union and later Russia, is increasingly critical of China and its global role. Nato has voiced deep concern over China’s failure to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accused Beijing of providing material and political support for Moscow’s war efforts. This... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3271129/how-natos-china-focus-obscures-greater-threats-coming-within https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3271129/how-natos-china-focus-obscures-greater-threats-coming-within Mon, 22 Jul 2024 01:30:11 +0000 China’s trade policy drew castigation in Geneva this week as its economic rivals found fault with a lack of transparency in its state subsidies and in the impact of industrial overcapacity in the Chinese economy. After the World Trade Organization itself pointed to the opaque nature of China’s state support measures in a lengthy report, a two-day session at the body saw more than 70 of its members take the floor and Beijing fielding over 1,500 written questions. Li Fei, China’s vice-minister for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3271213/wto-chinas-trade-policy-sparks-war-words-amid-darkening-geopolitical-outlook https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3271213/wto-chinas-trade-policy-sparks-war-words-amid-darkening-geopolitical-outlook Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:20:31 +0000 When leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization gather in Washington next week to commemorate the enduring unity between Europe and North America, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump will be the names dominating the discussions. A senior official in US President Joe Biden’s administration said on Friday that the negotiations on the final communique of the summit were continuing, but the text in the draft on China was “very solid”. Reiterating evidence of Beijing’s role in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3269412/threats-vladimir-putin-xi-jinping-will-be-focus-upcoming-nato-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3269412/threats-vladimir-putin-xi-jinping-will-be-focus-upcoming-nato-summit Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:35:31 +0000 The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) has named young Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski as its next music director. The 24-year-old succeeds the 63-year-old Dutch maestro Jaap van Zweden, who led the orchestra for a record 12 years. The choice by one of Asia’s top orchestras of Peltokoski to lead it is likely to cause a stir given his young age; his initial, four-year contract as music director will formally begin in September 2026, when he will be 26. “He is young and my perspective... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3269164/tarmo-peltokoski-24-named-hk-phils-next-music-director-why-he-couldnt-say-no https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3269164/tarmo-peltokoski-24-named-hk-phils-next-music-director-why-he-couldnt-say-no Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:15:07 +0000 Thinking of visiting China, India, or Venezuela with a US passport for your summer holiday? Not so fast – or at least not before securing a visa. Some of the best wonders of the world require US citizens to obtain a visa before take-off, an inconvenience in planning that long-awaited international getaway. US passport holders can access 188 countries globally without a visa, putting it in eighth place among world passports on the global mobility spectrum, according to the 2024 Henley Passport... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3268536/singapore-has-worlds-most-powerful-passport-ahead-japan-us-8th-henley-passport-index https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3268536/singapore-has-worlds-most-powerful-passport-ahead-japan-us-8th-henley-passport-index Fri, 28 Jun 2024 22:00:22 +0000 Belarus said on Monday its army was taking part in the second stage of Russian exercises ordered by President Vladimir Putin to practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. The first phase of the drills took place in southern Russia last month, in what nuclear analysts said was a warning signal by Putin to deter the West from wading more deeply into the war in Ukraine. Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin said the exercises were a proactive measure to “increase... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3266061/belarus-join-russias-nuclear-drills-practise-deploying-tactical-nuclear-weapons https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3266061/belarus-join-russias-nuclear-drills-practise-deploying-tactical-nuclear-weapons Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:33:06 +0000 The European Parliament lurched to the political right on Sunday, with the parties of heavyweight leaders Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz suffering damaging losses in French and German polls. French President Macron dissolved the national parliament after his centrist group was trounced by the far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen, in a move that will lead to legislative elections at the end of June. Alternative for Germany (AfD), another far-right group, followed the conservative Christian... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3266001/china-hawk-von-der-leyen-confident-new-term-europe-lurches-right https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3266001/china-hawk-von-der-leyen-confident-new-term-europe-lurches-right Mon, 10 Jun 2024 04:04:25 +0000 Voters in Slovakia, Italy and other European Union nations are casting their ballots Saturday on the third day of elections for the European Parliament, with populist and far-right parties looking to make gains across the 27-member bloc. In Slovakia, the election was overshadowed by an attempt to assassinate populist Prime Minister Robert Fico on May 15, sending shock waves through the nation of 5.4 million and reverberating throughout Europe. Analysts say the attack could boost the chances of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3265898/european-union-elections-slovaks-others-vote-under-shadow-assassination-attempt https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3265898/european-union-elections-slovaks-others-vote-under-shadow-assassination-attempt Sat, 08 Jun 2024 09:10:15 +0000 Global trade is facing several challenges. Last year, global trade volumes initially rebounded but the overall trend showed a slowdown compared to the robust growth of 2022. The trade in goods in particular was down sharply last year by nearly US$2 trillion. These headwinds are a result of geopolitical tensions, including conflicts and supply chain disruptions. Trade between Asia and Europe has not been immune to this, as reflected in the slower growth last year. As global trade is vital for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3265200/how-trans-caspian-middle-corridor-can-help-revive-asia-europe-trade https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3265200/how-trans-caspian-middle-corridor-can-help-revive-asia-europe-trade Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:30:11 +0000 What have Hollywood superstar Susan Sarandon and the Chinese Communist Party got in common? The chances are, they are both rooting for two Irish politicians, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, to be re-elected to the European Parliament this week. In a video that went viral last week, the Oscar-winning actress pointed to the two lawmakers’ vocal support for Gaza, contrasting them with her own country, the United States, which is “in a very pro-war time”. “There are very few voices for peace in places... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3265092/chinas-best-friends-european-parliament-fighting-political-lives-back-home-ireland https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3265092/chinas-best-friends-european-parliament-fighting-political-lives-back-home-ireland Mon, 03 Jun 2024 04:00:08 +0000 With the tennis clay-court season in full flow, it’s time for second grand slam of year with the French Open. The tournament, organised by the French Tennis Federation, was first held in 1891 and is also referred to as Roland Garros, after the stadium which has hosted it since 1928. On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal is the all-time record holder with 14 triumphs – and is likely to be competing for the last time. While Chris Evert has the most victories on the women’s side with seven from 1974 to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/tennis/article/3263604/when-french-open-2024-who-can-battle-novak-djokovic-where-can-i-watch-it-everything-you-need-know https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/tennis/article/3263604/when-french-open-2024-who-can-battle-novak-djokovic-where-can-i-watch-it-everything-you-need-know Wed, 22 May 2024 06:22:50 +0000 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people in the European Union face less discrimination but more physical or sexual attacks than three years ago, a vast survey by an EU rights body showed on Tuesday. The online survey of more than 100,000 people who identify as LGBTQ carried out in June, July and August last year found only slight overall changes compared with the previous such survey three years earlier, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights said in a report on the findings... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3262776/lgbtq-people-eu-face-less-discrimination-more-violence-survey-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3262776/lgbtq-people-eu-face-less-discrimination-more-violence-survey-finds Wed, 15 May 2024 08:42:07 +0000 Thousands of protesters rallied in Georgia after parliament adopted a law to brand overseas-funded NGOs as groups under “foreign influence”, a measure Brussels has warned will undermine Tbilisi’s European aspirations. Lawmakers on Tuesday voted 84 to 30 in favour during the third and final reading of the law, which was widely denounced as mirroring repressive Russian legislation used to silence dissent. Protesters skirmished with riot police in the street outside the parliament building in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3262718/more-protests-georgia-after-parliament-passes-russian-inspired-foreign-influence-law https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3262718/more-protests-georgia-after-parliament-passes-russian-inspired-foreign-influence-law Wed, 15 May 2024 02:13:30 +0000 Once a hothouse for grooming elite civil servants, Hong Kong’s trade office in London was where former city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and ex-financial secretary John Tsang Chun-wah nurtured their budding careers before rising to the top jobs within government. But as UK-Hong Kong relations hit rock bottom following the 2019 protests and the city’s implementation of the national security law, the government outpost has become a hotspot for protests and even vandalism. The Hong Kong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3262699/uk-spying-case-puts-hong-kong-trade-offices-london-and-elsewhere-cross-hairs-geopolitical-battles https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3262699/uk-spying-case-puts-hong-kong-trade-offices-london-and-elsewhere-cross-hairs-geopolitical-battles Wed, 15 May 2024 00:30:11 +0000 Nato is a transatlantic security apparatus at its core but, increasingly, there are calls for the alliance to expand into the Indo-Pacific, which has become the new centre of global attention. As Nato’s partners in the Asia -Pacific, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand attended its summit in Madrid, Spain, in 2022 for the first time and were again present at the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, last year. Dubbed the “Asia-Pacific 4”, their inclusion underscored the rising importance of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3261440/nato-needs-allies-asia-does-it-need-indo-pacific-presence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3261440/nato-needs-allies-asia-does-it-need-indo-pacific-presence Mon, 06 May 2024 11:30:25 +0000 Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Paris visit next month is set to capture the political centre stage for his European tour, but his expected trips to Central and Eastern European states will be no less significant for the dynamics of the China-Europe relationship. Talks between Xi and France’s President Emmanuel Macron are likely to focus on persuading China to reduce its growing trade and industrial ties with Russia – an economic partnership that Western governments are concerned is bolstering... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3260389/xis-european-tour-why-hungary-and-serbia-are-important-stops https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3260389/xis-european-tour-why-hungary-and-serbia-are-important-stops Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:30:12 +0000 TikTok is in the cross hairs of authorities in the US, where new legislation threatens a nationwide ban unless its China-based parent ByteDance divests. It would be the biggest blow yet to the popular video-sharing app, which has faced various restrictions around the world. TikTok is already banned in a handful of places and from government-issued devices, due to official worries that the app poses privacy and cybersecurity concerns. Those fears are reflected in the US bill, which is the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3260539/these-are-places-where-chinese-owned-tiktok-already-banned https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3260539/these-are-places-where-chinese-owned-tiktok-already-banned Fri, 26 Apr 2024 23:00:13 +0000 A Belgian man with a very rare metabolic condition that causes his body to produce alcohol had a drink-driving charge against him dismissed in court on Monday. The 40-year-old proved he has auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), which causes carbohydrates in his stomach to be fermented, increasing ethanol levels in his blood and resulting in signs of intoxication. His lawyer, Anse Ghesquiere, confirmed the unusual case to Agence France-Presse after Belgian media reported on it. She said scientists believe... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3259963/belgian-man-whose-body-brews-alcohol-beats-drink-driving-charge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3259963/belgian-man-whose-body-brews-alcohol-beats-drink-driving-charge Mon, 22 Apr 2024 18:45:05 +0000