eChina.news

Economy

India’s battery cell firms scale back ambition as China partnerships sour

Amara Raja speeds up R&D investment to compensate for loss of knowhow Indian companies have the ability to build out lithium iron phosphate cells from scratch without any Chinese help given the pervasiveness of the technology, experts say, but time is of essence given rapid advancements in the sector. (Photo by Amara Raja) BENGALURU -- Beijing's reluctance to share cutting-edge technologies is forcing Indian conglomerates such as Amara Raja and JSW to temper their battery cell ambitions, dealing a blow to New Delhi's plans to kickstart manufacturing at home to support its clean energy goals.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Japan draws foreign couples for weddings as domestic marriages decline

From Kyoto gardens to Shibuya crossing, demand creates bridal industry opportunities A foreign couple performs kagami biraki, a traditional part of a Japanese wedding ceremony, in Kyoto. (Nomad Weddings) TOKYO -- The number of foreign couples holding wedding ceremonies in Japan is on the rise, with ceremony locations that evoke a distinctly local atmosphere, from traditional gardens in Kyoto to the bustling Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Vietnam’s Vingroup inks $1bn bullet train deal with Siemens

VinSpeed due to finish nation's 1st high-speed lines before north-south rail project Vietnam lacks high-speed rail, something Vingroup wants to change, with one project aiming to slash two-hour trips from Hanoi to 30 minutes. (Siemens) HO CHI MINH CITY -- Vingroup's rail unit, VinSpeed, and German multinational Siemens have signed a deal for 10 bullet trains worth up to 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to be used on the Vietnamese company's high-speed lines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Foxconn leads Taiwan tech firms in plan for AI, EV hub in Poland

Multibillion-dollar project aims to boost strategic resilience for Taipei, Warsaw, EU The Taiwan Expo 2026 Europe was held in June in the Polish capital, Warsaw, where businesses took part in a matchmaking event. (Screenshot from website of Invest in Wroclaw) HAMBURG, Germany -- Taiwanese technology companies led by Foxconn are on track to build a multibillion-dollar hub in Poland centered around AI servers and EV parts that experts say will accelerate industrial development in the European Union and bolster ties between the bloc and the Asian island.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Singapore to get Waymo robotaxis in 2028 as autonomous race grows

US operator prepares entry as Grab, ComfortDelGro expand driverless trials Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana discusses the U.S. company's plans for Singapore during an event in the city-state on Sept. 18. (Photo by Kentaro Takeda) SINGAPORE -- U.S.-based robotaxi operator Waymo plans to enter Singapore in 2028 as its first Southeast Asian market, joining a competitive mobility market dominated by local players such as Grab and ComfortDelGro.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Cambodia will never be ‘safe haven’ for scammers, PM promises

At conference to fight the criminal activity, Hun Manet urges global cooperation A Cambodian police officer stands guard near a basketball court in the Jin Zi Rui scam compound in Kandal province on Sept. 22. (Photo by Ananth Baliga) PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia will never be a "safe haven" for scam operations but unilateral action will not defeat the organizations running the criminal activity, Prime Minister Hun Manet declared as he opened an international conference on the scourge that the United Nations estimated defrauded victims of up to $114 billion last year.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Philippine Senate lowers conviction threshold in Sara Duterte trial

Guilty verdict would bar politician from running in 2028 presidential election Philippine senators wearing red judicial robes attend a session of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in Pasay, Metro Manila, on July 7. © Reuters MANILA -- The Philippine Senate on Wednesday lowered the number of votes required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her ongoing impeachment trial, ruling that only senator-judges participating in the proceedings should be counted in the votes needed to secure a guilty verdict.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Trump-Xi summit live: Chinese president en route to US

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosts U.S. President Donald Trump at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15. The Chinese leader is due in Washington for another summit. © Reuters WASHINGTON/NEW YORK -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are set for their second summit of the year, as tensions over tariffs, rare earth materials, artificial intelligence and other issues test a trade truce due to expire in November. After Trump traveled to Beijing in May, the venue this time is Washington. The White House will be putting on a show of welcoming the Chinese leader, including a state dinner. Yet expectations for tangible results are modest, after their earlier meeting produced what many experts saw as symbolism over substance.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Japan’s Hitachi Rail to upgrade Austria’s signal system in $1.5bn deal

30-year contract covers installing and maintaining digital controls nationwide Hitachi, Siemens and OBB announce a deal to replace Austria's rail signaling system on Sept. 22 in Berlin. (Hitachi Rail) TOKYO -- Japan's Hitachi Rail will install and maintain a next-generation signaling system for Austria's national rail network in a 30-year contract worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.48 billion).

September 23, 2026

Business

Trump’s Board of Peace proposes US$2.45 billion Gaza reconstruction plan

Physical damage across Gaza will cost roughly US$35.2 billion in the medium term and another US$71.4 billion in the next 10 years At a meeting of the group’s board, the governors unveiled a 66-project blueprint to get things started while acknowledging enormous hurdles that must still be overcome. The projects include ambitious infrastructure, education and health initiatives that are designed to support Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Gaza war. “The need is immense,” the board said, noting that full reconstruction from the physical damage across Gaza will cost roughly US$35.2 billion over the medium term and another US$71.4 billion in the next 10 years. The ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, was meant to clear the way for a broader process to rebuild Gaza under the guidance of the Board of Peace. The plan included additional Israeli military withdrawals from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, the arrival of an international peacekeeping force and a new apolitical Palestinian government to administer the territory’s day-to-day affairs. It also envisioned an ambitious programme for rebuilding war-ravaged Gaza.

September 23, 2026

Business

Japan finds child’s body on island, possibly missing boy

The body of a child was found on Wednesday on the coast of an outlying island in northeastern Japan, with police investigating whether it could be a six-year-old boy who went missing in the area earlier this month. The body, which was found around 11.20am on Tobishima, Yamagata Prefecture, was dressed in what appeared to be a navy blue and red Spider Man-themed jumpsuit, similar to the clothing the boy was wearing when he disappeared, according to prefectural police. A man in his 70s alerted...

September 23, 2026

Business

Activist charged after microchipped dog caught in probe into suspected attack

One of five strays caught in Yuen Long was registered to Kent Luk, founder of Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter Hong Kong authorities have charged an animal welfare activist after a stray dog captured during an investigation into a suspected fatal canine attack on a cyclist in Yuen Long was found to have a microchip registered in his name. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and police have been conducting operations to capture stray dogs in the area following the suspected attack on Sunday. Police suspect a pack of dogs attacked a 27-year-old woman, who was found unconscious beside a bicycle on Pok Wai South Road and later died. She suffered lacerations to her head, face, neck, arms and legs. Five stray dogs have been caught so far, three of which were microchipped, according to the department.

September 23, 2026

Business

Hong Kong to welcome 1.29 million mainland Chinese visitors for National Day break

Immigration Department shares estimate as Hong Kong’s No 2 official says authorities to ‘make good preparations’ for ‘golden week’ break Hong Kong is expected to welcome about 1.29 million mainland Chinese travellers over the National Day “golden week” break, with city authorities planning to step up crowd management and tighten supervision of tour agencies and retail outlets. On top of the expected influx of about 1.29 million mainland travellers over the break, the Immigration Department said it expected the average daily number of visitor arrivals to surpass last year’s figure by more than 5 per cent.

September 23, 2026

Business

US Air Force to shut down research centre focusing on Chinese military

The China Aerospace Studies Institute published open-source research on the PLA’s air, space, cyber and missile capabilities The China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) said in a statement on Tuesday that Air University, the US Air Force institution under which it operates, had decided to close the institute, with all of its roles becoming unfunded from October 1. CASI said its employees would continue to work and get paid for now and that it expected to honour its existing commitments “through at least March of 2027”.

September 23, 2026

Business

Xi-Trump summit: China’s state car has already proved a match for the US ‘Beast’

The custom-built Hongqi N701 caught the eye of then-president Biden when he met the Chinese leader in San Francisco in 2023 US President Donald Trump has made no secret of how little he agrees with his predecessor, Joe Biden, on many things. So, as Chinese President Xi Jinping is about to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, local time, there is one object that may offer a small moment of entertaining comparison between the two American leaders: Xi’s car. Xi is expected to bring his own ride – a custom-built Hongqi N701, the Chinese state limousine that has accompanied him on overseas trips since 2022. In a brief exchange captured on camera during Xi’s visit to San Francisco in November 2023, then-president Biden and his guest stopped beside the Chinese limousine. “It’s a beautiful vehicle,” the American leader said. “It’s our Hongqi. Domestically made,” Xi responded with a smile, telling his staff to open the door so that Biden could take a look at the highly secure rear cabin.

September 23, 2026

Business

Abused children at higher risk of long-term health problems, Hong Kong NGO warns

Against Child Abuse also calls for tiered prevention strategy, with primary focus on zero-tolerance approach and policy support Child abuse can impair victims’ development and increase their risk of long-term health problems such as obesity and heightened inflammatory responses, a Hong Kong NGO has said, calling for a tiered prevention strategy to strengthen protections. Against Child Abuse on Wednesday shared the results of an overview of local studies from recent years on the effects of abuse on children, while calling for more resources and enhanced measures to safeguard youngsters. One cited study, published in 2024, involved 661 children and found that adverse caregiving experiences in early childhood were associated with altered growth patterns.

September 23, 2026

Markets

Trump offloads tens of millions in AI, tech shares, led by Microsoft, Amazon, Meta

US president made over 1,100 trades in July, selling up to US$31 million of Microsoft and US$26 million of Amazon, disclosures show US President Donald Trump has sold shares worth tens of millions of US dollars in major tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon and Meta Platforms in July, a move that may reveal some of his views on the sector, especially as competition with China intensifies. Microsoft topped the list of sales transactions, with six trades totalling up to US$31 million, according to filings disclosed by the US Office of Government Ethics on Tuesday. The data detailed Trump’s trading activity in July, providing ranges rather than exact figures. He also offloaded up to US$26 million worth of Amazon shares, and up to US$630,000 and US$365,000 in Meta Platforms and Google’s parent company Alphabet, respectively. He sold some US$1 million worth of Nvidia shares during the month in two transactions, with another purchase of a similar value. He also continued to buy shares in other tech giants, despite the number of purchases being lower than sales for most of these companies.

September 23, 2026

Markets

Bad money decisions are coming home to roost for the US and Japan

For major economies that have relied on debt to maintain living standards since 2007, high inflation might be one way out Last week, the 10-year US Treasury yield briefly reached 5.04 per cent, the highest level since 2007, right before the global financial crisis. Bessent had tripled a Treasury buy-back operation on September 10 to US$6 billion, in an attempt to manipulate the market. He must have thought the market was a bunch of fools. How could this modest buy-back make a dent in the debt market, given that the United States government is on course to borrow US$2.1 trillion this year? Meanwhile, oil prices surged again, as Iran tightened its hold on the Strait of Hormuz. Yet prices have been relatively stable despite export flows out of the Gulf falling by more than 10 million barrels per day from pre-war levels. The release of US and other emergency oil reserves and lower Chinese demand have been cited as main factors. But it must be kept in mind that the gap between paper and physical oil prices has widened since the war, meaning that actual physical costs could turn out higher down the road.

September 23, 2026

Business

Neurobiologist Ye Bing says his return to China is not spurred by Michigan campus tragedy

Prominent researcher takes over Nanjing University’s school of life sciences, rejecting claims US policy prompted his return Neurobiologist Ye Bing is returning to China after a long period in the United States, but he says his move is not linked to the suicide of another Chinese scholar at the same university or US policy under the Trump administration. “This is a career choice and has no connection to the events mentioned in your email or the national policies [of the Trump administration],” Ye said in an email on Tuesday. “I have indeed joined my alma mater, Nanjing University, to participate in the development of its school of life sciences.”

September 23, 2026

Business

Singapore’s entry-level job market shrinks despite salary growth, data shows

Aon data published last month shows a 3.2 per cent drop in entry-level headcount in the city state, amid a rise in AI use in the workplace Data published last month by global professional services firm Aon showed a 2.5 per cent year-on-year salary increase for entry-level employees, alongside a 3.2 per cent drop in entry-level headcount. The findings come as graduate employment in Singapore has also weakened. A joint survey by the country’s six autonomous universities released in March found that 83.4 per cent of recent graduates who sought jobs were working within six months of their final exams, declining from 87.1 per cent in 2024 and continuing a downward trend since 2022. Aon’s findings also point to a shift in employer expectations for new workforce entrants, as artificial intelligence takes on a growing role in the workplace.

September 23, 2026

Business

No toxic substance found in sports drinks linked to students’ illness: police

Force says reported ‘pinholes’ likely to be perforated lines in drink’s plastic wrapping Hong Kong police have found no foreign or toxic substances in a brand of bottled drink linked to the illness of 16 students from a secondary school in Kwun Tong, saying the reported “pinholes” are likely to be perforated lines in the plastic wrapping. The update came a day after 16 students from Maryknoll Secondary School reported feeling unwell after drinking free bottles of “Scream” sports drink during lunch at Tuesday’s athletics meet at Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground in Wong Tai Sin. The students complained of symptoms including dizziness, vomiting and diarrhoea.

September 23, 2026

Markets

Hong Kong sets yuan trading timeline, backing Beijing’s push to boost currency’s use

Move marks the latest step in Hong Kong’s efforts to advance internationalisation of the Chinese currency Hong Kong’s securities regulator aims to include a yuan trading counter in a cross-border channel linked with mainland Chinese investors by July 1, marking the latest step in the city’s efforts to advance the internationalisation of the Chinese currency. The measure, announced on Wednesday, is part of a strategic action plan unveiled by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to support the implementation of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the 2026 policy address presented by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu last week. “We hope that Hong Kong will not only serve as a hub for yuan products but also become the platform of choice for yuan asset allocation and risk management,” SFC chairman Kelvin Wong Tin-yau said at a media briefing on Wednesday.

September 23, 2026

Business

China’s storage makers aim to climb value chain with advanced packaging bets

Biwin Storage Technology invests US$672 million in latest example of a storage firm looking to upgrade its business model Chinese storage makers, long known for packaging chips into modules, have been moving up the value chain into wafer-level operations, with the latest firm to make the jump investing 4.5 billion yuan (US$672 million) in an advanced packaging project. The sum, which Shanghai-listed Biwin Storage Technology will pour into the third phase of its advanced packaging and testing project in Dongguan, in southern China’s Guangdong province, will exceed the 3.09 billion yuan it put into the first two phases combined. The project, including the first two phases, had yet to generate mass production revenue, as it was still undergoing customer sampling, process verification and small-batch production, according to Biwin’s stock filing on Tuesday. The company estimated that the facility’s monthly capacity would more than triple to 10,000 wafers by the end of 2027, according to the filing and earlier investor meetings.

September 23, 2026

Business

Hong Kong pledges lenient approach on 10-12 hours of civil service family leave

Civil service chief Ingrid Yeung says applications for new hourly leave scheme will be straightforward, with minimal proof needed Hong Kong authorities have pledged to take a lenient approach when approving applications for a new scheme granting civil servants 10 to 12 hours of family care leave annually from next year. The initiative, first announced in last week’s annual policy address, will allow staff to leave work temporarily to deal with personal matters, such as accompanying family members to hospital or attending parent-teacher meetings. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan told a Legislative Council panel meeting on Wednesday she expected the application process to be “very straightforward”. Noting that civil servants might not have solid supporting documents in advance for special circumstances, she said “if the supervisor is satisfied, it should generally be approved”.

September 23, 2026

Business

Italy’s Colosseum closes after worker dies in accident

The incident comes less ‌than a year ‌after the death of a worker trapped under the rubble of a collapsed medieval tower near the Colosseum Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli ordered the one-day closure of the Colosseum on Wednesday as a mark of respect after a worker was ‌killed overnight in an accident. Andrea Moretti, a 22-year-old technician, died after falling several metres while installing a new lighting system inside the ancient Roman arena. Built 2,000 years ago, the Colosseum was the biggest amphitheatre in the ⁠Roman Empire, used to host gladiator fights, executions and animal hunts. ‌It is Italy’s most visited tourist attraction. “The news of the tragic death of Andrea Moretti, ‌a skilled worker who died overnight … has deeply shocked ⁠and ⁠saddened us,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

September 23, 2026

Business

China hawks grumble over Trump’s lavish welcome planned for Xi state visit

Chorus of disapproval rises ahead of the Chinese leader’s arrival, even as others say the welcome is the show, not the deal But the China hawks who helped shape the debate have spent the week warning that the ceremony risks obscuring a more familiar reality: Beijing remains a rival, and the issues that have defined that rivalry have not gone away. They are making that case from outside the room. Since Trump returned to the White House, the chorus has lost resonance inside the building and with the public. The US president has disputed their arguments himself while calling Xi a “great gentleman”.

September 23, 2026

Business

Ahead of Xi’s ‘historic milestone’ US visit, a fentanyl goodwill gesture from China

China’s top envoy to US hails safeguards from head-of-state diplomacy, as Beijing rolls out severe penalties for non-pharma fentanyl crimes Under the strategic guidance of both leaders, the “giant ship” of China-US relations would continue to “break waves and sail ahead” along a trajectory of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation”, Xie told state news agency Xinhua. The interview was published on Wednesday, hours before Xi’s scheduled departure for the US. The two leaders had maintained “frequent, candid, and strategic communication on major global issues”, Xie said, noting that Xi’s trip would be the second such top-level exchange in just over four months, following Trump’s state visit in May. Head-of-state diplomacy provided “an important strategic safeguard for maintaining the overall dynamic stability of China-US relations amid turbulent winds and rough seas”, Xie said.

September 23, 2026

Industry

Tesla’s Elon Musk hails Xi Jinping’s leadership and Chinese AI strength

Musk controls SpaceX, a Pentagon and US intelligence contractor, and his business ties with China have drawn scrutiny in Washington “He seems like a great leader. Under his tenure, China has prospered immensely. I’ve seen it first hand,” Musk said in one of a series of videos posted on CCTV’s social media account. “And it’s also obvious to see just walking around the streets, the … prosperity of the average Chinese citizen has increased tremendously. All that seems to happen under President Xi while he’s been the leader of China. So he’s clearly done an excellent job and is very capable.” Musk has extensive business ties with China, with Shanghai home to Tesla’s largest overseas manufacturing base. In recent years, those ties have drawn scrutiny in Washington because Musk also controls SpaceX, a major Pentagon and US intelligence contractor.

September 23, 2026

Industry

China CEOs to likely miss Xi’s US trip amid thin summit expectations

China will probably decide against inviting business leaders to join President Xi Jinping on his trip to the United States this week as the two countries struggle to reach investment agreements. A lack of agreement about a planned bilateral Board of Investment and differences over potential Chinese investments in the US have put the business delegation in doubt, the South China Morning Post said, citing a person familiar with the situation. The Wall Street Journal reported the story earlier. The...

September 23, 2026

Industry

China puts industry minister in charge of key semiconductor hub Anhui province

China’s industry minister is set to lead Anhui province, a key semiconductor hub, in the latest personnel reshuffle within the Communist Party. Li Lecheng, 61, has served as minister of industry and information technology since April 2025. State news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that Li had been appointed the party secretary of Anhui and a member of its standing committee, taking over both roles from Liang Yanshun. Liang, Anhui party chief since June 2024, retains his role as party...

September 23, 2026

Industry

China’s first lady Peng Liyuan projects glamour and soft power on world stage

Xi Jinping’s wife is a famous singer and an important presence as she accompanies her husband on state visits They are expected to arrive at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, local time, to begin their three-day visit. On Thursday, Xi and Peng will be welcomed at the White House with a State Floor arrival ceremony and a Rose Garden military review. Following the official reception, Peng will visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art with Trump’s wife Melania, while the two presidents hold talks. They will all gather that evening for a state dinner.

September 23, 2026

Markets

Hong Kong unveils gold, bond and liquidity plans to drive next phase of yuan adoption

HKEX to launch yuan gold futures as HKMA eyes new products and platforms to expand offshore market activity “We have recently reactivated our gold contract in the US dollar. But in the future, perhaps sometime early next year, we will be coming up with a yuan-denominated gold futures contract,” said Gregory Yu, managing director and head of markets at HKEX, at the Treasury Markets Summit 2026, which was attended by hundreds of bankers. “We will continue to build various precious metals and other commodities products denominated in offshore yuan.”

September 23, 2026

Industry

PLA chiefs’ downfall eliminated ‘political danger’, military mouthpiece says

The expulsion of two former leaders from the Chinese armed forces and Communist Party “eliminated a major hidden political danger”, China’s military mouthpiece said on Wednesday. The party expelled Zhang Youxia, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and fellow former CMC member Liu Zhenli for factionalism and disloyalty, state media reported on Monday. The CMC is the country’s top military authority and is chaired by President Xi Jinping. “The serious investigation and...

September 23, 2026

Technology

Zhipu Open-Sources ZCode After Repo-Upload Fix; CAICT and NSFOCUS Audits Cite Removals

Zhipu open-sourced its ZCode AI coding workbench on GitHub after removing Repo Wiki snapshot-upload paths in v3.14.0, citing CAICT and NSFOCUS audits, and said MaaS will add optional no-retention controls for standard model calls.

September 23, 2026

Technology

Alibaba Upgrades Qwen Audio Suite: LiveTranslate Latency Cut and Qwen-Audio-3.1 ASR/TTS/Realtime

At Apsara 2026, Alibaba debuted Qwen3.8-LiveTranslate with LAAL latency cut from about 2.8 to 2.3 seconds and unveiled the Qwen-Audio-3.1 family spanning ASR, TTS, Realtime and TTS-Next cinematic soundscapes.

September 23, 2026

Technology

Alibaba Cloud Unveils Agentic Cloud Stack: AgentCore, Next-Gen CPFS and HPN 8.0 Pro

At Apsara 2026, Alibaba Cloud framed an Agentic Cloud around AgentCore for full-lifecycle agent governance, a next-generation CPFS storage system with hundred-TB/s-class throughput claims, and HPN 8.0 Pro AI networking rated at 100 petabits of bandwidth.

September 23, 2026

Technology

Alibaba Puts Qwen4 Family Into Training; Roadmap Points to 5–10T Qwen4.5 and Qwen5

At Apsara Conference 2026, Alibaba said next-generation Qwen 4 is currently in training and outlined a Qwen 4.5 / Qwen 5 roadmap projected to scale toward 5 to 10 trillion parameters, while reporting recursive self-improvement gains on today's Qwen3.8-Max.

September 23, 2026

Technology

Bernstein: Kirin 9050 Pro Multicore Tops A17 Pro as Huawei Narrows Mobile-Chip Gap Without EUV

Equity research firm Bernstein says Huawei's Kirin 9050 Pro, estimated at a 7nm-class node and built with LogicFolding under the Tau Scaling Law, beat Apple's 3nm A17 Pro in Geekbench 6 multicore and cut the mobile-chip gap to about three years—without EUV lithography.

September 23, 2026

Markets

Physical moves by online financial firms unlikely to pump up property market: analysts

Online brokerages and digital banks are opening branches across city after a sharp drop in shop rents in prime locations Digital financial service providers, including online brokerages and digital banks that used to trumpet their “zero-branch, fully online” models, have been opening physical stores across Hong Kong recently. Analysts described it as a strategic trend aimed at enhancing brand image and service quality to capture market share, but added that the impact on the city’s retail property market would be limited. Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) opened a new global headquarters at Pacific Place in Admiralty on Monday. It said in a news release that the new office, spanning about 42,000 square feet, would include a private wealth centre offering high-net-worth and institutional clients access to professional advisory services and tailored asset management solutions. It previously had 13 physical service locations in Hong Kong.

September 23, 2026

Industry

China’s stealth fighters, critical minerals from lithium waste: 7 science highlights

We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. J-50 design team reveals leapfrog tech for China’s next-gen stealth fighters China’s next-generation combat aircraft will be able to fly by themselves if a pilot loses consciousness, navigate without satellite signals and operate in self-reorganising large drone formations. 2. Chinese scientists develop oil...

September 23, 2026

Markets

Chinese EV battery giant CATL starts trial production at Hungarian factory

Contemporary Amperex Technol­ogy Ltd (CATL) has cleared all regulatory hurdles for its mega factory in Hungary, a development that analysts expect will help the world’s largest producer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries extend its reach to international marques like BMW and Volkswagen. Production of battery cells at the €7.3 billion (US$8.35 billion) plant in Debrecen, the second-largest city in Hungary, began on Tuesday after it fulfilled all preconditions for a trial run, the company said. It...

September 23, 2026

Markets

AI trade outlook brightens on falling oil and Meta’s Muse agent ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

The global artificial intelligence trade is staging a comeback, as a confluence of falling oil prices, Meta Platforms’ launch of a new agentic tool and anticipation surrounding the China-US leadership summit reignite investor interest in technology stocks. The Nasdaq-100 Index – where tech firms make up nearly 70 per cent of the 100 companies featured – hit an all-time high on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record set in June. In Asia, China’s chip-heavy Star Market 50 Index and South Korea’s...

September 23, 2026

Markets

Chinese maker of robot-vacuum sensors launches Hong Kong IPO, undeterred by US ban

Camsense Technologies aims to raise about US$87 million in a Hong Kong listing backed by carmaker BYD “The export and procurement for our existing client products remain normal, with potential disruption limited to new product development schedules,” Camsense co-founder Zhou Kun said about the ban’s impact. “We have maintained close communication with clients. Currently, our research and development progress and order intake remain unaffected.” Camsense plans to sell 11.58 million shares at HK$58.85 each, according to a stock exchange filing on Tuesday. The shares are scheduled to start trading on September 30.

September 23, 2026

Industry

Did North Korea’s missile launches target the Xi-Trump summit agenda?

North Korea could be using missile tests to take its denuclearisation off the US-China summit agenda and drive home its demands for recognition as a nuclear power as a prerequisite for talks with Washington, according to analysts. On Sunday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, which, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, were detected three hours apart, with the first flying about 450km (280 miles), while the second travelled...

September 23, 2026

Innovation

Alibaba Cloud set to open new data centres in Europe next year as overseas push gains pace

The tech giant is set to add extra capacity to help international clients deploy real-world artificial intelligence Alibaba Cloud, Alibaba Group Holding’s cloud business unit, is set to launch data centres in Turkey, Finland and the Netherlands over the next 12 months, speeding up an overseas push as it seeks to win enterprise customers through its “full stack AI capabilities” spanning chips, cloud infrastructure and multimodal models. The first of these new data centres will open in the Netherlands in October. The cloud unit will also add to existing data centre capacity in Malaysia, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, France and Hong Kong, said Li Feifei, the CTO and president of international business at Alibaba Cloud, at the company’s Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, which runs through Thursday. “We are expanding our global cloud footprint to bring computing resources closer to customers and partners,” Li said, adding that companies were moving AI from experiments into real-world deployment. The company also announced partnerships with firms including Panasonic Digital, Unity China, Indonesian logistics group Lion Parcel, Malaysia’s Loomi Entertainment and business software provider Shake.

September 23, 2026

Markets

Hong Kong energised as global investment hub for green technology

Government agency InvestHK’s first new energy mission to the UK showcases city’s robust sustainable finance and innovation ecosystem Record-breaking heat, devastating droughts, deadly wildfires and heavy rain and severe floods around the world over recent months have sparked a new urgency in the search for practical solutions to climate change. The challenge for governments is not only to generate cleaner sources of power, but also to use safer and more efficient energy technologies and storage systems that are affordable and scalable so they can have a global impact. Hong Kong is increasingly positioning itself as an integral player in this transition. Locally, the city aims to cut its carbon emissions from the 2005 level by half before 2035, and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. This is aligned with China’s “dual carbon goals” – to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

September 23, 2026

Innovation

China’s Premier Li Qiang calls for harnessing AI to propel manufacturing advances

Li calls for service platforms to help companies, particularly SMEs, with functions such as industrial design, pilot testing and maintenance “[We] should combine China’s strengths in manufacturing and digital technologies,” Li said during his visit to an AI application testing base in the city on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. He called for the creation of more manufacturing service platforms, covering areas such as industrial design, pilot testing and intelligent maintenance, to help companies – particularly small and medium-sized firms – upgrade operations more efficiently and at lower cost.

September 23, 2026

Industry

How does Xi Jinping’s ‘special plane’ compare with Air Force One?

A look at the Chinese leader’s aircraft, which is bound to become part of the visual choreography of his state visit in Washington The aircraft carrying China’s leader, often referred to in state media and official statements as a zhuan ji, or special plane, remains far less known to the world than Air Force One, despite both countries using Boeing 747s for presidential travel. For a head of state, a presidential aircraft is more than a means of transport. Its range, on-board facilities and security systems reflect the practical demands of presidential travel and diplomatic missions, and the aircraft itself becomes part of the visual choreography of a state visit. In one sense, it is one of the first symbols of a country to arrive in the host country, appearing in the sky before the president steps onto the tarmac.

September 23, 2026

Markets

China’s gig economy

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September 23, 2026

Economy

Mitsubishi Heavy buoyed by brisk gas turbine demand from US data centers

Japanese company's order backlog at record level, American unit chief says Takao Tsukui, chairman and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, talks with Nikkei in New York on Sept. 21. (Photo by Mai Ishitsubo) NEW YORK -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries anticipates global demand for gas turbines to remain strong next year, with a surge in American business filling the company's order books, the chief of U.S. operations tells Nikkei.

September 23, 2026

Economy

SMFG brings in Nomura exec as latest outside hire ahead of Jefferies venture

Once insular Japanese banks look outward for talent to compete globally SMBC parent Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is branching out beyond corporate banking. (Photo by Shintaro Ino) TOKYO -- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is hiring more senior managers from outside the company, part of a broader trend in Japanese banking to grow beyond traditional lending.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Big Japan banks’ domestic loan share marks 1st sustained post-bubble rise

Increase in lending margins, financing demand have MUFG, others looking inward The share of Japan's national banks in domestic lending has rebounded from a low of 45.5% in May 2025 to 46.8%. (Photo by Tomoki Mera) TOKYO -- Major Japanese banks' share of domestic lending in August marked the first sustained expansion since the collapse of the bubble economy more than three decades ago, boosted by increases in lending margins and financing demand.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Xi skips UN address to show China as equal to rival US

Beijing limits leader's visit to 3 days, mirroring Trump's trip in May U.S. President Donald Trump, left, visited China for three days in May for his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. © Reuters WASHINGTON -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will skip a stop at the United Nations General Assembly during his visit to the U.S. as Beijing instead prioritizes signaling that it is Washington's equal.

September 23, 2026

Economy

SoftBank-backed SB Energy seen delaying IPO on valuation concerns

Builder of data centers for OpenAI faces skepticism over $50bn target, US media report SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son, center, participates in a groundbreaking ceremony for an Ohio power plant adjoining a data center. (Photo by Yuji Ohira) PALO ALTO, U.S. -- SB Energy, a data center-focused unit of Japan's SoftBank Group, has submitted a revised registration for a planned initial public offering that still lacks a date or price, and U.S. media reports suggest it may postpone its debut.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Starbucks’ South Korean rivals get extra shot from marketing misstep

Independent coffee shop owner Bang Jong-koo says South Korea's big players benefit from customers preferring to know exactly what their coffee will taste like. (Courtesy of Bang Jong-koo) Competitors capitalize on major merchandise mistake in country's coffee shop wars SEOUL -- Hanging from the ceiling of Bang Jong-koo's coffee shop are countless portafilters -- the arm-like steel tool that holds grounds in an espresso machine -- all of which point in the same direction, toward the bar where the baristas make lattes and americanos.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Roche-owned Chugai Pharma to ramp up in-house output with 50% capex boost

Chugai will build a new research lab at its Ukima plant in Tokyo. (Chugai) TOKYO -- Chugai Pharmaceutical intends to invest around 100 billion yen ($635 million) a year in facilities and equipment by 2028 as the Japanese drugmaker seeks to reduce outsourcing and increase in-house production to cut costs.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Sharp takes aim at Starlink dominance with universal satellite antenna

Japan electronics maker anticipates demand amid push for alternative networks Sharp is developing antennas that can be used with a broad range of satellite networks. (Photo by Kyoko Hariya) OSAKA -- Sharp plans to develop an antenna that can connect to multiple different satellite communications networks, letting users more easily switch between services instead of having to rely on specific providers like SpaceX.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Trump, Takaichi reaffirm alliance days before US-China summit

Japanese PM brings up Washington's sanctions on ICC president Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to deepen their alliance in a summit on Sept. 22. © Reuters NEW YORK -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to further strengthen the bilateral alliance in talks on Tuesday, just two days before a U.S.-China summit.

September 23, 2026

Economy

Japan’s NEC joins Meta on ultrafast US-France undersea fiber-optic line

Project aims for world's 1st petabit-class underwater connection as AI booms NEC will handle design and construction for Meta Platforms' Petal undersea cable project. (Photo by Kazuho Fujiwara) TOKYO -- Japanese technology group NEC is taking part in an effort by Meta Platforms, the American owner of Facebook and Instagram, to lay a subsea fiber-optic cable connecting the U.S. and France.

September 23, 2026

Economy

El Nino, AI to widen economic growth gap in developing Asia: ADB

India, Malaysia, Vietnam ride on tech exports despite climate and energy shocks A parched rice field in Candaba, Pampanga province, Philippines, in 2024. The Asian Development Bank said in its latest economic outlook published Sept. 23 that "likely very strong" El Nino effects this year could pose serious risks to agricultural production in the region. © Reuters MANILA -- The gap in growth rates of Asia's developing economies is projected to widen this year as countries like the Philippines and Cambodia are bearing more brunt from the energy crisis and a strong El Nino, while others like India and Vietnam are enjoying an AI-driven export boost.

September 23, 2026

Economy

In Indonesia’s West Kalimantan, prolonged fires and haze choke residents

Residents of Pontianak continue their daily activities despite extremely hazardous air quality caused by haze in the capital of Indonesia's West Kalimantan province. The Flamboyan traditional market bustled with vendors and shoppers on Sept. 19. (All photos by Dimas Ardian) Community-run brigades, Japan military join firefighting as El Nino fans disaster PONTIANAK, Indonesia -- The Japan Self-Defense Forces had planned to fly two CH-47 Chinook helicopters over peatland torched by fires in West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, six to nine hours per day.

September 23, 2026

Business

Malaysia’s Anwar faces political reckoning in Melaka as state calls for poll

The Melaka state election is Malaysia’s third this year. Anwar’s coalition performed badly at previous polls in Johor and Negeri Sembilan The state assembly was dissolved effective from Wednesday following an official notification sent to the country’s Election Commission the previous day by Ibrahim Durum, the Melaka state assembly’s speaker. “A state election will be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the state assembly,” commission chairman Ramlan Harun said in a statement late on Tuesday, adding that the commission would convene a special meeting soon to decide on the date of the election.

September 23, 2026

Business

Most Singaporeans ready to let AI agents shop for them with more safeguards: study

The research also found 34 per cent of Singaporeans wanted a government-backed AI safety certification, the highest of the countries in the survey The latest agentic AI study from Global Payments released on Wednesday indicates the hoops agentic AI will need to jump through to be trusted to make purchases without human intervention. The study, which surveyed seven countries including the United States, China and the United Kingdom, found 59 per cent of Singaporeans are open to an agent shopping for them while 23 per cent have already used one. Only 15 per cent say they would let an agent shop, shortlist and pay entirely on its own. Payment companies and AI start-ups are working towards a digital future where people will authorise agents to make all sorts of purchases on their behalf. The survey results point to the gap between curiosity about agentic AI for personal commerce – everything from switching insurance policies to designing travel itineraries – and comfort in letting an agent do more than browse and recommend.

September 23, 2026

Business

Rising US scrutiny on clinical trials could threaten China’s biotech advantage: analysts

China’s ability to conduct clinical trials quickly and cheaply has given it an edge in the biotech sector – and the US is growing concerned China’s edge in fast, cost-effective early clinical trials has propelled its emergence as a global biopharmaceutical powerhouse, but there is a risk that the United States could take steps to curb that advantage, according to analysts. US lawmakers and officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have raised the alarm about American pharmaceutical companies’ growing reliance on conducting early clinical trials in China, flagging the opaqueness of the process and the need to keep medical innovations on shore. While large multinational corporations’ compliance teams have been “on high alert for quite a while”, the recent ratcheting up of such rhetoric in Washington could prompt firms to “double click a lot more when evaluating China-origin target assets”, said Xianfeng Morgan Xu, a partner at US law firm Foley Hoag based in Washington.

September 23, 2026

Business

Why small quakes in Malaysia’s Sabah could be sounding seismic alarms

Scientists say the mountainous regions of Keningau and Tambunan have been overlooked in the state’s monitoring for earthquake risks The latest, a magnitude-3.4 tremor on September 3, was felt in several parts of Keningau, prompting staff at the district office to suspend a meeting and move to a designated safe area. No serious damage was reported. The tremor was one of several weak earthquakes recorded around Keningau since 2023, raising questions about efforts to strengthen monitoring, development and disaster planning in the area. A stronger earthquake in the region could trigger landslides and debris flows, cutting off roads and other vital infrastructure, experts say.

September 23, 2026

Business

Artworks reveal Chinese rulers and Cixi loved role-playing long before modern cosplay

What Emperor Qianlong did with his court painters is the 18th century equivalent of digital photo manipulation and Photoshop The Qing dynasty’s Empress Dowager Cixi is renowned as a cosplay enthusiast, leaving behind photographs and paintings of herself embodying the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin. However, she was not the first to engage in such role-playing while on the throne. Long before Cixi (1835–1908), the Qing dynasty’s emperors Yongzheng (1678–1735) and his son, Qianlong (1711–1799), indulged in role-playing, as evidenced in numerous paintings. Yongzheng, whose reign lasted 13 years, was known as a strict and relentless workaholic. Thus, the contrast of his playful side revealed in the role-playing paintings often surprised many. He left behind two albums titled The Album of the Yongzheng Emperor in Costumes, each featuring paintings of him portraying various characters, including a Taoist priest, a Buddhist lama, a Han intellectual, a peasant, and even a European figure.

September 23, 2026

Technology

China Assembles Orbital Datacenter Pieces: In-Orbit AI, Cloud-Native Sats and 100Gbps Laser Links

A September 23 synthesis of recent launches and tests describes China lofting the building blocks of an orbital datacenter—on-board AI compute, cloud-native satellite software and 100 Gbps-class laser links—across several parallel programs.

September 23, 2026

Technology

Inspur MetaBrain SD200 Ultra Packs 128 Domestic AI Chips for 2.8T Kimi K3 Under 5.85ms/Token

At AICC2026, Inspur Information launched the MetaBrain SD200 Ultra supernode with 128 tightly coupled domestic AI chips, 8 TB of unified accelerator memory and a claimed sub-5.85 ms/token latency running 2.8-trillion-parameter Kimi K3.

September 23, 2026

Technology

Li Auto Ships Embodied Trilogy: ME-Brain-1.0, ME-U0 Unified WAM and Edge ME-VLM

Li Auto's Foundation Model team released ME-Brain-1.0, the ME-U0 unified world-action model and ME-VLM cognitive models (35B-A3B plus a 4B edge SKU on the M100 SoC), emphasizing system architecture over vehicle branding.

September 23, 2026

Technology

China Telecom Open-Sources Xing4.0-29B-A4B Agentic MoE Trained End-to-End on Ascend

China Telecom AI released Xing4.0-29B-A4B, a 29B-parameter Mixture-of-Experts model with 4B active parameters and 256K context, trained end-to-end on Ascend NPUs with MindSpore and published with open weights on Hugging Face and ModelScope.

September 23, 2026

Technology

T-Head Unveils Zhenwu V900 AI Accelerator: About 3× M890, 216GB Memory, Q1 2027 Mass Production

At Apsara 2026, Alibaba's T-Head introduced the Zhenwu V900 training and inference accelerator with about three times M890 performance, 216 GB of memory and 1,200 GB/s chip-to-chip bandwidth, targeting mass production in the first quarter of 2027.

September 23, 2026

Business

Fissures over US investments stall plans for Chinese business leaders to join Xi visit

Differences between Washington and Beijing over potential investment announcements have created roadblocks for a Chinese business delegation expected to accompany President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US, according to sources. The window for travel is narrowing by the hour for these Chinese business leaders, with Xi expected to arrive in Washington by Wednesday. A source familiar with the discussions said Washington and Beijing have yet to resolve their disagreements over the Board of...

September 23, 2026

Business

China launches its first commercial radio-tracking satellites in electronic warfare leap

China has just taken a quiet but critical step in space-based electronic warfare. A Lijian-1 Y18 rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China at noon on Sunday, carrying nine satellites. Among them were three Diting-01 satellites, which successfully entered their planned orbit. The trio is named after Diting, a beast from Chinese mythology that crouches beneath the desk of Ksitigarbha, the bodhisattva of the underworld, and can identify all things simply by...

September 23, 2026

Business

China’s cancer breakthrough on CAR-T cell therapy shows progress

In June, Chinese regulators approved the world’s first CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumour cancers, developed by a drug company based in Shanghai. One month later, at a hospital in the city, a New Zealander with advanced cancer of the stomach and small intestine became the first international patient to receive the breakthrough treatment. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, to give it its full name, is a cutting-edge treatment that, until then, had only been approved to treat blood...

September 23, 2026

Business

Shelters warn against poor treatment of warehouse guard dogs in New Territories

Veteran rescuer says free-roaming warehouse canines fall under definition of stray dogs, with issue in spotlight after suspected fatal attack Poor treatment of guard dogs at warehouses before ditching them in unfamiliar environments could make the animals easier to agitate, rescuers have said, calling for a “trap, neuter and release” approach, among other solutions. On Saturday night, three dogs were seen chasing the woman along Pok Wai South Road in an area with several warehouses. Jacqueline Cheung, founder of the non-profit Love Adopt Animal Society, said that free-roaming warehouse guard dogs fell under the broad definition of stray dogs, which also covered abandoned pets on the streets and wild canines that stayed in the mountains and away from urban areas.

September 23, 2026

Markets

China’s AI self-reliance presents opportunities but valuations, geopolitics are risks: BofA

The nation’s tech firms are catching up with overseas rivals while a wave of high-profile listings has broadened investment opportunities China’s push for tech self-reliance is opening new investment opportunities in artificial intelligence stocks, but stretched valuations and geopolitical tensions make the sector an increasingly risky bet, according to Bank of America. “Localisation is no longer just a policy ambition,” Wu said. “The domestic players are closing the gaps in technology standards, gaining market share [and] making tangible progress.” The bank divided Chinese AI-related stocks into three broad groups, each offering a different risk-return profile.

September 23, 2026

Business

Gulf tech firms turn to Hong Kong and Singapore as Iran war grinds on

Paul Bratby had already drawn up plans for expanding to Hong Kong when war broke out in the Middle East earlier this year. But the founder of xBratAI, a Dubai-based AI-powered trading signals platform, soon brought that timeline forward as the Iran conflict dragged on and widened in scope. “Our Hong Kong entity had been scheduled for a few years later, but we established it in early 2026,” he said. Bratby is not alone in looking east. As missiles continue to target Gulf capitals and shipping...

September 23, 2026

Business

Canada seeks to wrap up India trade talks soon, as US ties fray

PM Carney says his Indian counterpart Modi will visit Canada around the time of the G20 summit in Miami this December Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that trade negotiations with India are making “good progress” and that the two countries are aiming to conclude talks by the G20 summit in mid-December. Carney also said India had, to his understanding, confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Canada around that time, though the precise date had not been finalised. “We are making good progress in our trade negotiations with India,” Carney said at a news conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Carney said he and Modi had committed to try to conclude negotiations by the G20. The summit is scheduled for December 14-15 at Trump National Doral in Miami.

September 22, 2026

Markets

Power, not chips, will decide where Asia’s AI gets built

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong is asking for more computing power and for the electricity to stay clean and steady while it arrives. That was the bind put to regional utility executives on September 15 by Joseph Law, president of AESIEAP and managing director of CLP Power. It also aligned with the city’s first five-year development blueprint and the priorities set out in the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address. Construction of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster has already begun. By 2032 it is meant to deliver 180,000 petaflops, about 36 times Hong Kong’s present computing power. The government’s stated direction for that work is “high efficiency computing power, stable electricity supply, low-carbon transition”. Years of decarbonisation efforts were planned for a different pace of demand growth. The rapid rise of generative AI and data centres is now reshaping assumptions about future electricity demand, creating new challenges for power systems across the region. Citing the International Energy Agency’s “Age of Electricity”, Law said electricity demand is growing 50 per cent faster each year than the average of the past decade.

September 22, 2026

Business

As Buffett exits, can China win back Wall Street with own brand of his winning formula?

Chinese regulators push patient capital, reshape US$4.5 trillion mutual fund industry towards long-term holdings as foreign investors weigh risks against thin IPO pipelines China is betting that patient capital, rather than quick trades, will define its next phase of growth – a wager that has taken on new resonance since Warren Buffett stepped down last week after growing Berkshire Hathaway into a US$1 trillion empire over six decades. And as global investors watch this week’s US-China leadership summit for any sign of easing friction, one question is whether Beijing’s version of Buffett’s value-investing legacy can help Wall Street regain its appetite for Chinese assets. “The long-term return nature of Berkshire’s philosophy coincides with China’s economic philosophy,” said Tommy Ong, managing director of Hong Kong-based T.O. & Associates Consultancy.

September 22, 2026

Business

How can tensions ease for China-US trade?

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. The U.S.-initiated trade war against China and most other global trading partners has eased since President Donald Trump imposed his so-called "liberation day" tariffs back in April 2025. In fact, Chinese imports to the US have been rising recently. August marked a fifth straight month the U.S. logged increased shipments from China. But tensions remain, especially over key technology industries.CGTN’s Victor Ning has this report.

September 22, 2026

Business

Zelensky meets Trump, says Ukraine ready for energy truce with Russia

The US president announced such a truce last week, but Russia ‌hit petrol stations in Kyiv the next day and Ukraine bombed an oil refinery Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that he and US President Donald Trump had discussed efforts to end the four-year-old war with Russia, including a potential bilateral ceasefire on energy-related targets. Speaking to the media after a 40-minute meeting with Trump at UN headquarters in New York, Zelensky said Kyiv was ready for any ‌format of an energy ceasefire with Moscow but there had been no discussion of Ukraine unilaterally halting its attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump, whose approval ratings have slumped to a record low amid high fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections in November, had expressed concern in recent days over the extensive damage done to Russia’s fuel-processing capacity, which he said was stoking diesel prices globally.

September 22, 2026

Business

Can Xi and Trump use their leverage to actually make progress?

When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the fifth part of a series, Fan Chen and Orange Wang look at the negotiating chips and areas where progress might be made. There will be some powerful bargaining chips on the table when Xi Jinping and Donald Trump meet in Washington this week. Both sides have economic and...

September 22, 2026

Business

‘Looksmaxxing’ influencer Clavicular charged with raping US girl, 17

Braden Peters is the face of the trend involving the pursuit of achieving maximum physical attractiveness The social media influencer “Clavicular”, who gained a following promoting the online “looksmaxxing” trend, has been charged in Massachusetts with raping a 17-year-old girl who told police she became heavily intoxicated after he gave her alcohol at his family’s Cape Cod home. Braden Peters, 20, is charged with rape, administering a substance for sexual intercourse and procuring alcohol for a person under 21 in the alleged May 23, 2025, assault in Chatham, according to court records. A clerk-magistrate found probable cause for the charges on September 4, and a criminal complaint was issued September 8.

September 22, 2026

Industry

US law enforcement tightens security for Xi summit as welcome and protest events planned

US Secret Service says it is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all foreign heads of state while they are on American soil The US Secret Service, which is leading security for the visit, said it is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all foreign heads of state while they are on US soil. “Secret Service personnel have been planning for the visit of the Chinese president for several weeks, in coordination with Chinese officials and our federal and local law enforcement partners,” the agency said in a statement.

September 22, 2026

Industry

Trump praises Takaichi for doing ‘tremendous job’ ahead of Xi’s visit to US

US President Donald Trump praised his strong relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in New York on Tuesday, days before he is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The talks, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, came at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo show no signs of thawing. Both leaders hailed their good working relationship, with Takaichi saying the two countries looked forward to deepening ties. Trump lavished praise on the...

September 22, 2026

Industry

Brazil’s Lula backs China peace push at UN, tells US his nation is ‘no one’s backyard’

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva renewed his backing on Tuesday for a peace initiative he launched with China to end the war in Ukraine, using his opening speech at the UN General Assembly to take thinly veiled aim at the United States over tariffs, military pressure and access to critical minerals. Speaking in New York just days before Brazilians vote in a tight presidential race, Lula described the war between Russia and Ukraine as a five-year humanitarian drama that “continues to...

September 22, 2026

Markets

185 Years of Private Banking Heritage, A Legacy of Forward-thinking Stewardship 

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] This dynamic approach comes at a defining moment, particularly in Asia. ^McKinsey estimates that USD 5.8 trillion in family wealth across the region will be transferred between generations by 2030, marking one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in its history. Ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth families face a distinct challenge today: partnering with an institution that combines established, long-term stability with forward-looking innovation. Innovation begins with trust. For nearly two centuries, the J. Safra Sarasin Group has built a reputation for financial strength and disciplined stewardship. It was ranked as the Best Performing Bank in Switzerland in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks 2025 and 2026, and operates in more than 35 locations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. J. Safra Sarasin Group maintains a highly conservative and strong balance sheet. Standard & Poor’s rates the Bank as “A” for long-term and “A-1” for short-term counterparty credit. Through this capital strength, J. Safra Sarasin underscores its commitment to preserving client wealth through prudent risk management.

September 22, 2026

Industry

Trump defends Iran war, touts ‘America is back’ agenda in UN speech

US President Donald Trump addressed the global community on Tuesday morning with a speech that sought to justify his war with Iran, touted how he has “made peace” and argued that his “make America great again” policies benefit the world. His speech before the UN General Assembly came as the world grapples with years of conflict in Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, Sudan, Yemen and Lebanon, with no relief in sight. “I can report to you with pride that America is back, and our country is stronger today than...

September 22, 2026

Industry

Learning from Ukraine war, Chinese military doctors target injuries from drones

Head, face and neck injuries are becoming a big problem in armed conflicts dominated by uncrewed aerial vehicles Chen Juxiang, a senior Chinese military doctor, told CCTV on Monday that cranio-maxillofacial injuries – damage to the hard and soft tissues of the head – had become a particularly big problem in conflicts dominated by drones. Chen said his team had been preparing for the shift for years and had made progress in treatment protocols and haemostatic materials for these kinds of head injuries.

September 22, 2026

Economy

Singapore maps out more land reclamation for industrial growth

New islands to serve as manufacturing and energy hubs, guard against sea level rise Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his National Day Rally 2026 speech on Aug. 23. (Ministry of Digital Development and Information) SINGAPORE -- Singapore has unveiled a series of land reclamation plans, including an artificial island off its southwestern coast for next-generation industries and new energy facilities, to address the constant constraint of land shortages.

September 22, 2026

Economy

Alibaba touts ‘most powerful AI chip in China’ for data center buildout

Conglomerate targets 20 GW of capacity by 2032 as tech safety debate unfolds The Alibaba booth at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai in July: The company is pushing a major buildup of data center capacity. © Reuters HONG KONG -- Alibaba Group unveiled what it calls "the most powerful AI chip in China" on Tuesday, part of a grand plan to expand its global data center capacity beyond 20 gigawatts by 2032.

September 22, 2026

Economy

Pakistan’s auto policy likely to reignite WTO dispute with Japan

Strict targets on exports remain, with Chinese makers set to benefit, say experts A showroom of Honda Motor's subsidiary in Islamabad: Pakistani government rules will require carmakers manufacturing in the country to export 12% of all vehicles by value. (Photo by Adnan Aamir) ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's updated auto policy is likely to provoke Japanese automakers because it retains rules that Tokyo has already raised at the World Trade Organization and links vehicle manufacturers' export performance to licensing and concessions on imported vehicle parts.

September 22, 2026

Economy

US lithium recycler eyes Vietnam battery business amid EV shift

R3 in talks with auto and electronics companies, Vietnamese government says Lithium recycling company R3 Lithium is interested in the Vietnamese market, as the key component in EV batteries is in high demand. © Reuters HO CHI MINH CITY -- A U.S.-based lithium recycling company plans to enter Vietnam's battery recycling industry, tapping opportunities created by the shift to electric vehicles in the Southeast Asian country.

September 22, 2026

Economy

Chinese tourists flock to Hong Kong trails as spending slows

Outdoor destinations gain traction as household budgets remain under pressure Tourists pose for photographs at Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, known for its hexagonal volcanic rock columns. (All photos by Anne Chan) HONG KONG -- Apple Yang squeezes past more than a dozen hikers for selfies in front of Hong Kong's UNESCO-registered Sea Stack, a 140-million-year-old formation of hexagonal columns of volcanic rock.

September 22, 2026

Economy

Amazon taps TBC to make AI models faster, cheaper with human neurons

Startup's new artificial intelligence model to boost video generation speed fivefold Alex Ksendzovsky, co-founder and CEO of The Biological Computing Co. (TBC), left, poses with Jon Pomeraniec, TBC’s other co-founder and chief operating officer, TBC, a San Francisco-based startup, uses living neurons to improve AI models. (Photo by Yifan Yu) PALO ALTO, California -- At The Biological Computing Co.'s lab in San Francisco, roughly 100,000 neurons -- some dissected from rat brains, others grown from human skin cells -- sat fused to a grid of 4,096 electrodes in a single culture dish.

September 22, 2026

Economy

ASEAN eyes signing of digital economy pact at November Manila summit

Ministers reaffirm commitment to DEFA to create more integrated, inclusive region Flags of ASEAN member states. The bloc is set to sign the Digital Economy Framework Agreement during its summit in November. © Reuters MANILA -- ASEAN member states are targeting November to sign a landmark Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), as the 11-member bloc seeks to capitalize on the emerging sectors while setting regional rules.

September 22, 2026

Economy

Trump and Xi set to talk trade and AI as truce hangs in balance

Rival powers expected to seek 'small gains and conflict avoidance' at White House summit U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14. They are due to hold their second summit of the year in Washington this week. © Reuters NEW YORK -- U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a state visit this week with a packed agenda and an expiry date on the rival powers' trade truce fast approaching.

September 22, 2026

Business

China names new Tibet party chief as Communist Party reshuffles regional leadership

Hu Changsheng takes top Tibet post as regional transfers offer clues about broader political line-up ahead of national party congress Meanwhile, Luo Dongchuan, 60, Qinghai’s governor, will succeed Wu as party secretary of the province. The 21st party congress is expected to be held next year and will shape the leadership line-up for the next five years. Leadership changes at the provincial level ahead of the congress could offer clues about the party’s broader personnel arrangements and political line-up.

September 22, 2026

Business

Hong Kong workforce to shrink by 20,000 yearly as key sectors face shortages

Predicted 2028 shortfall will narrow to 130,000, but key sectors such as aviation, tech, healthcare and construction still face crunch Hong Kong’s workforce is forecast to shrink by around 20,000 a year until 2028 despite measures to import labour and talent, with shortages remaining most acute among skilled technical workers. A government report on manpower projections on Tuesday found that although the labour shortfall would narrow to 130,000 by 2028, down by nearly a third from the original estimate of 180,000, the city would continue to face critical manpower challenges across key sectors. “Due to economic transformation, the adoption of AI [artificial intelligence] and various talent and labour importation measures, the predicted manpower shortfall in 2028 will narrow to 130,000, but most critical industries, especially innovation, aviation, construction, city operations and healthcare, still face a manpower crunch,” said Ho Kai-ming, the acting secretary for labour and welfare. “The adoption of AI is expected to accelerate and companies are likely to take a more cautious approach when hiring for entry-level positions. We believe demand for these roles will ease and some clerical jobs will undergo restructuring.

September 22, 2026

Business

China’s Hygon moves beyond data centres with embedded processors for robotics, edge AI

Chinese chipmaker Hygon Information Technology on Tuesday launched a suite of central processing units (CPUs) for robotics and industrial edge devices, expanding beyond cloud computing and into the fast-growing market for physical artificial intelligence. The firm unveiled its Hygon 1000 series processors, designed to be embedded into physical devices in industrial automation systems such as robotics and factory controllers, enabling computing and graphics processing to be handled locally. Built...

September 22, 2026

Business

11 ASEAN member states, one expo – What’s there to discover?

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. 11 ASEAN member states, one expo – and a lot to explore. From coffee and snacks to handicrafts, cultural traditions and new technologies, there's something new around every corner at the China-ASEAN Expo. But the real surprise is that the search goes both ways. While ASEAN businesses showcase what they have to offer, they're also looking to China for products, technology, market opportunities and new partners. Come explore the China-ASEAN Expo with CGTN's Wang Tao and see what turns up along the way.

September 22, 2026

Business

Committee to investigate Hong Kong district councillor’s sex crime conviction

Yuen Long councillor Sei Chun-hing faces sentencing after conviction for sex with 13-year-old girl as committee considers disciplinary sanctions Hong Kong authorities have appointed a five-member supervisory committee to investigate the conviction of a district councillor for having sex with a 13-year-old girl 15 years ago. Yuen Long district councillor Sei Chun-hing, 39, is the first elected officeholder to face possible imprisonment for a criminal offence since Beijing’s 2021 electoral overhaul, which restricted candidates to those vetted as “patriots”.

September 22, 2026

Business

Why China’s frontier AI pioneers are expected to miss this week’s Xi-Trump summit

As President Xi Jinping prepares to travel to the United States to meet his American counterpart Donald Trump, attention is turning to the group of business leaders who could join him. The South China Morning Post previously reported that executives from electric vehicle maker BYD, smart manufacturing giant Xiaomi and battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited were likely to accompany Xi on the trip – though Beijing has yet to officially confirm the delegation. What has raised...

September 22, 2026

Business

US, Greenland, Denmark to sign deal at UN in New York in bid to end Arctic stand-off

Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, sits between the ‌Arctic and North America and has vast energy resources President Donald Trump was due to meet with leaders of Greenland and Denmark on Tuesday to sign a deal that will allow a larger US military presence on Greenland and ‌could end a stand-off over the strategically located and mineral-rich island. The agreement will allow the US to expand its military footprint in Greenland, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. In addition to the existing Pituffik Space Base, the deal is expected to open two new military sites: Narsarsuaq, a former Cold War airbase whose population has dwindled to just a few dozen, and Mestersvig, currently used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite ⁠Danish special forces unit. Greenland, a former colony and now a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, sits between the ‌Arctic and North America and holds vast energy resources.

September 22, 2026

Business

Hong Kong urged to secure sustainable fuel supply to safeguard aviation hub status

Policy chief calls on city to consider sustainable aviation fuel mandate, saying clear targets are needed to draw investment and build supply Hong Kong risks losing its status as an international aviation hub if it fails to secure a reliable, credibly certified supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the head of the government’s think tank has warned. Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, made the remarks at the Sustainable Aviation Futures China Congress on Tuesday, days after the government set out its fuel strategy in the city’s first five-year plan and policy address amid mounting global competition. “It is a question of whether Hong Kong can remain an international aviation hub as the economics and rules of global aviation change,” he said.

September 22, 2026

Business

Indonesia breathing issues spike to over 170,000 cases amid wildfire haze

As blazes blanket some areas and neighbouring nations in toxic smog, oxygen canisters have been given out. Over 40,000 toddlers are affected More than 170,000 respiratory cases were recorded in regions affected by haze in Indonesia, a health ministry official said on Tuesday, as the country continues its battle to control fires that caused the toxic smog. Blazes in Borneo, Sumatra and Papua have blanketed parts of the vast archipelago of more than 280 million people with haze, as well as neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, sending air quality indices plummeting. The toxic smog contains pollutants including PM 2.5, a fine particulate matter smaller than a human hair that could carry health risks such as respiratory infections, health ministry official Then Suyanti told a press conference. “There were 174,694 cases of acute respiratory infections between August and September 21 in areas affected by forest and land fires,” she said.

September 22, 2026

Business

Taiwan coastguard’s rare missile firing reveals deepening links with navy

Further integrating the agency with the military would multiply threats to the PLA Navy in a conflict, analysts say Taiwan’s coastguard fired a supersonic anti-ship missile during a military exercise last week, an unusual move by a civilian law enforcement agency that analysts say could be aimed at complicating potential war plans. On Friday, the Anping-class coastguard patrol vessel Qijin launched a home-grown Hsiung Feng III, or HF-3, which hit a decommissioned navy frigate more than 100km (62 miles) away, according to local media. The coastguard also fired an HF-2, an older subsonic anti-ship weapon, during the drills, which involved Taiwan’s army, navy and air force. This means at least three named vessels of the coastguard’s 12-ship Anping class have now fired Hsiung Feng missiles, underscoring a broader effort to turn them into an additional pool of naval strike platforms.

September 22, 2026

Business

Fatal dog attacks trigger safety fears in Hong Kong. Here’s how to protect yourself

Canine experts explain what to do, what to avoid and how to protect yourself during an attack The death of a cyclist in a suspected canine attack in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long on Saturday night has sparked fierce discussion on social media, with users sharing similar encounters and debating how to stay safe. The woman was discovered along Pok Wai South Road in the early hours of Sunday. She had suffered lacerations to her head, face, neck, arms and legs, with the wounds to her head and neck believed to have been fatal. Nearly a month earlier, a 33-year-old dog handler was found dead near her pet training centre in Ta Kwu Ling after being mauled by a canine. To help residents stay safe, the South China Morning Post has spoken with canine behavioural experts and dog rescuers to share essential safety tips.

September 22, 2026

Markets

Some family offices eyeing Chinese investments as US-China tensions ease: report

European, Middle Eastern and African family offices are increasing their exposure to China as they diversify their portfolios, report finds Ultra-wealthy families in Europe, the Middle East and Africa view China as their most favoured market for future investments, as concerns over tensions between Beijing and Washington ease, according to a survey by Citigroup. The latest edition of the Global Family Office Report, published on Tuesday, analysed the investment plans of 351 family offices – private companies set up to manage the assets of ultra-wealthy families – from more than 40 countries around the world. In the survey, 29 per cent of respondents from Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) said they planned to increase their exposure to the Chinese market, the highest figure for any geographic region.

September 22, 2026

Business

Philippines races to turn Pax Silica into reality before political changes derail dreams

The Philippines has less than two years to turn its ambitious Pax Silica project from a US-backed plan into a functioning industrial hub before a change of government in Manila – and potentially Washington – puts its future to the test. Pax Silica is an initiative by US President Donald Trump’s administration to diversify US supplies of critical minerals and semiconductors. The Philippines is seeking to position itself as a manufacturing base for companies looking to reduce their dependence on...

September 22, 2026

Business

Xi and Trump face their greatest challenge yet: building US-China trust

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the White House is not just another ceremonial exchange. It is a test of whether the world’s two largest powers can build trust in an age where mistrust has become the default. Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the agenda. Both sides see danger but have yet to come up with meaningful regulatory cooperation. If this summit fails to deliver workable agreements, the tactical detente could collapse into a new cold war. If the leaders succeed in their personal...

September 22, 2026

Business

Mother seeks justice 7 months after Thai-Swedish son’s fatal crash in Pattaya

The grieving family of 15-year-old Tommy Boulanger accuses police of failing to execute an arrest warrant seven months after the fatal crash The mother of a 15-year-old Thai-Swedish teenager who died after his motorbike crashed into a truck illegally reversing into oncoming traffic has made an emotional appeal for justice, accusing police of failing to execute an arrest warrant for the alleged driver, a Chinese national, seven months after the fatal crash. Tommy Boulanger, an aspiring footballer, was left in a coma following the February 20 crash in the Nongpure district of Chonburi, near the resort city of Pattaya. He never regained consciousness and died six days later. Widely circulated CCTV footage of the crash shows a pickup truck reversing onto the main road without indicating – in an apparent attempt to make a U-turn outside a karaoke bar – leaving Tommy unable to brake in time before slamming into the back of the vehicle. Tommy’s death has gripped the Thai public, reviving complaints over the country’s often sclerotic justice system and fuelling a mounting sense that wealthy foreign nationals are able to gain preferential treatment.

September 22, 2026

Business

Why the aviation revolution depends on global collaboration

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. More than 10,000 Boeing jets worldwide fly with Chinese-made parts, while Boeing's Shanghai facility services airlines from China and beyond. The world's two largest aviation markets will need over 43,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years. In this episode, we see how one plane lifts off on the strength of an entire global supply chain.

September 22, 2026

Business

China’s central bank pledges high-level financial opening-up

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. The headquarters of the People's Bank of China, Beijing, China, May 19, 2026. /VCG China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), pledged during a symposium with foreign financial institutions on Monday to further advance high-level opening-up of the financial sector. According to a PBOC statement, PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng said China will improve policy supply, steadily expand the two-way opening-up of financial markets, optimize cross-border payment services and further facilitate the international use of the renminbi. The symposium was attended by 15 foreign financial institutions, including Bank of America, HSBC and First Abu Dhabi Bank. China's economy is generally stable and improving, with its structure continuing to optimize and high-quality development making new progress, Pan said, adding that the PBOC will continue to adopt a moderately loose monetary policy and create a sound monetary and financial environment for steady economic growth and smooth operation of financial markets.

September 22, 2026

Business

Hong Kong to bar firms with integrity offences from building renovation lists

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn says applications to pre-qualify will open next Wednesday and lists rolled out by year-end Hong Kong building maintenance consultants and contractors prosecuted or convicted of integrity-related offences in the past three years will be excluded from pre-qualified lists set up for owners undertaking renovation projects, the development minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Tuesday that applications to join the lists – covering inspection consultants, supervision consultants and building works contractors – would open next Wednesday and close on October 23. The lists would be set up by the end of the year, she added. Linn told the Legislative Council’s development panel that the lists would be reviewed every two years, as authorities tightened oversight of integrity standards. “If they are convicted of integrity-related offences, they will be removed from the pre-qualified lists immediately,” Linn said.

September 22, 2026

Business

Nicaragua govt responsible for at least 8 deaths in custody since 2018: UN

Experts also documented the disappearance of at least 161 people since 2018, when a crackdown on dissent began after mass protests The Nicaraguan government is responsible for at least eight deaths in custody since it began its crackdown on dissent and assault of democratic institutions in 2018, UN experts said Tuesday. The report from the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua was the latest condemnation of the government of married co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, which has crushed dissent since 2018 mass protests and recently cancelled elections. “A State that resorts to enforced disappearance and allows persons to die in its custody falls short of the minimum human rights standards required for credible democratic governance,” said Jan-Michael Simon, the group’s chair. The report detailed inconsistencies in the government’s account of the in-custody death of Indigenous Miskito leader Brooklyn Rivera, who was imprisoned for 32 months with almost no contact with his family before he died in May.

September 22, 2026

Markets

China’s Huawei trims mobile chip gap with Apple as Tau Scaling Law pays off: Bernstein

Huawei Technologies’ latest smartphone processor, the Kirin 9050 Pro, unveiled earlier this month, has narrowed its gap with Apple’s chips to about three years, from roughly four years in the previous generation, according to equity research firm Bernstein. The chip, which Bernstein estimated was produced using technology equivalent to a 7-nanometre process node, outperformed Apple’s 3nm A17 Pro in Geekbench 6 multicore tests, a widely used benchmark that measures how effectively processors...

September 22, 2026

Business

The green bridge between China and US

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. In 2019, Tesla was running on fumes. Shanghai handed it a lifeline, a gigafactory built in 10 months. Today, that plant produces nearly half of all Teslas using 95% local parts. That same playbook is expanding across green tech, pairing Chinese battery tech with American software. When the world's two largest economies build together, clean energy gets cheaper and faster for everyone.

September 22, 2026

Industry

Taiwan’s opposition casts doubt on ‘rock solid’ US ties ahead of Xi-Trump summit

KMT seizes on reported limits on Washington visits as a ‘wake-up call’ for Taipei, warning that US policy is driven by self-interest The New York Times reported on Monday that some Taiwanese officials travelling to the US had been told by Trump administration officials to “curtail their visits to research groups in Washington”. Citing Brookings Institution senior fellow Ryan Hass, the report said the move reflected Trump’s preference to ensure Taiwan did not become an “obstacle” to his ambitions in dealing with Beijing.

September 22, 2026