SCMP World

South Korean killer’s escape foiled, Singapore minister’s Mandarin speech: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and…

How are China’s Type 052D destroyers shifting the balance in the western Pacific?

When state television aired footage in July of a Type 052D destroyer launching a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile it…

Rare earths friction threatens to stall trade truce extension ahead of Xi-Trump summit

With the clock counting down to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in Washington for a state visit, the US and…

Malaysian resort under investigation after intruder molests tourist

Malaysia’s Sabah state has ordered a full investigation into the Semporna resort where a female tourist from China was…

Xi-Trump path to ‘constructive strategic stability’

Brazilian serial killer suspect nicknamed ‘Mosquito’ dressed as a woman

A man accused of killing 16 people in a remote part of Brazil avoided capture by hiding in the woods, the police…

How Hong Kong can keep the talking going when US-China officials don’t

When Tung Chee-hwa died, the obituaries predictably described a Hong Kong shipping mogul who became the city’s first…

Shadow of Xi summit hangs over Trump’s high-stakes talks with Japan’s Takaichi

When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets US President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, the leader casting…

Hong Kong animal groups call for tighter pet laws after suspected fatal mauling

Animal welfare groups in Hong Kong have called for a legal loophole in pet ownership laws to be closed to better…

Despite higher costs, Hong Kong’s student residences attract mainland Chinese renters

Purpose-built student accommodation is drawing mainland Chinese university students away from Hong Kong’s traditional…

Moscow’s asset seizures unnerve Japanese companies in Russia

More than 200 Japanese companies still operating in Russia face growing uncertainty following Moscow’s seizure of three…

UK confirms Manchester to host G20 summit in 2027

The leaders of the world’s biggest economies will descend on Manchester next year after the UK government confirmed the…

US, China need nuclear-style AI safeguards, congressman says before Xi-Trump summit

The US and China should agree on international regulatory standards for artificial intelligence (AI), akin to…

Top US Senate Democrat Jeanne Shaheen warns Trump not to waver on Taiwan ahead of Xi meet

The top Democrat on the US Senate’s foreign policy panel urged Donald Trump on Monday not to signal any retreat from…

Why Trump-Xi summit must put Korean peninsula back on the agenda

The September 24 summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump is no ordinary engagement. Their May…

Burnham to meet Trump, make UN debut after offering UK support for Saudis

Andy Burnham once said he would refuse to meet Donald Trump. Now Britain’s prime minister is about to hold his first…

US, Japan and South Korea launch economic-security talks before Xi summit

The United States, Japan and South Korea announced a new economic-security consultation and reinforced their support…

Trump approval hits career low as living costs bite, new poll shows

US President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to 32 per cent – the lowest of his political career – as his fellow…

Trump inaugurates White House helipad as major networks skip ceremony

US President Donald Trump showed off his new White House helicopter landing pad on Monday, attempting to brush aside a…

Thousands of US flights snarled before FAA resolves communications problem

Thousands of flights across the US were snarled on Monday, with incoming flights halted for hours at major East Coast…

Sisters of Pakistan’s Imran Khan arrested in Lahore, jailed ex-PM’s party says

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s party said on Monday that his three sisters had been arrested ahead of ‌a…

President Xi Jinping calls on China, US youth to advance bilateral cooperation

President Xi Jinping has expressed hope that the younger generation will advance Sino-US cooperation, foster mutual…

Gaza children return to in-person schools for first time in 3 years

Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza have returned to in-person teaching for the first time in nearly three years,…

First ladies step forward as Trump lays on rare honours for Xi

US first lady Melania Trump is set to lead key cultural diplomacy events during the coming official state visit by…

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump over White House press ban

CNN, MS ⁠NOW and Politico sued US President Donald Trump and other members of his administration on Monday for banning…

China gets closer to Jupiter mission by bringing Nasa’s StarNAV concept to life

Chinese researchers have tested a new way for spacecraft to navigate in deep space, putting a concept funded by Nasa…

Survey finds US public opinion shifting in favour of engagement with China

On the eve of this week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Americans feel…

Air China makes special pre-summit New York flight over objections of US aviation group

A special Air China flight from Beijing reached New York over the objections of a trade association representing the…

Former top PLA generals expelled from Communist Party for factionalism and disloyalty

The Communist Party accused former military leaders Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of factionalism and disloyalty,…

As AI safety fears mount, can a US-China hotline prevent a global crisis?

The United States and China’s agreement to establish an official AI dialogue, including a proposed threat-notification…

South Korea gets a new internet star as Busan shark sighting goes viral

A 3.5-metre-long shark that wandered into a Busan waterfront channel has become an unlikely internet celebrity in South…

In a China first, low-altitude sector hits turbulence as subsidies face reality check

A major Chinese tech hub is moving to pull the plug on dedicated funding for its low-altitude economy, making it the…

Success of Xi-Trump summit lies in what happens afterwards

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington this week, after the May talks…

Hong Kong developer New World gets nod to spin off K11 Shanghai assets

New World Development (NWD) received the green light from the Shanghai Stock Exchange to spin off and list a Reit (real…

Nearly half of Taiwanese lack confidence in US defence commitments, survey finds

Nearly half of Taiwanese lack confidence that Washington will continue military aid and arms sales to the island, a new…

Southeast Asia supports multilateralism, wary of US or China leadership: survey

Southeast Asia remains comparatively confident in international cooperation even as scepticism grows over whether the…