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4 boys arrested over wet tissue ball, water assaults on pedestrians in Tsuen Wan
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4 boys arrested over wet tissue ball, water assaults on pedestrians in Tsuen Wan

Boys, aged 12 to 14, held after videos of incidents circulated on social media, police say Hong Kong police have arrested four boys as young as 12 years old after they allegedly threw wet tissue balls and splashed water at passers-by while cycling along Tsuen Wan’s waterfront and in a public park. Chief Inspector Leung Wai-yee said on Wednesday that the arrests followed the circulation of videos online showing the incidents that took place between July 18 and 20. The four boys, aged 12 to 14, were arrested in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing on suspicion of common assault. The Form One and Two pupils knew each other, but had no prior connection to the victims, Leung said. The inspector added that the incidents stemmed from disputes over the use of the cycling lane and the park. All four boys remain in custody. Leung said that police were reviewing whether other similar cases had occurred and further arrests had not been ruled out.

World’s first AI model to earn perfect score at maths Olympiad comes from China’s RedNote
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World’s first AI model to earn perfect score at maths Olympiad comes from China’s RedNote

At last year’s IMO, Google DeepMind and OpenAI achieved gold-medal-level performances, both earning 35 out of 42 points For the first time, an artificial intelligence model has achieved a perfect score at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) – and it was developed by Chinese social giant RedNote. The model, dots-note-3.0, solved all six puzzles and secured a perfect score of 42 at this year’s IMO, which concluded in Shanghai on Monday. The note variant, still in beta phase, is currently the lightest model in the dots3 family, which includes two larger versions – jazz and aria – tailored for different use cases and compute costs. Held annually since 1959, the IMO is widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious mathematics competition, including for AI systems. Unlike answer-only exams where only the final results need to be judged, IMO problem-solving requires proof backed up by rigorous arguments, without logical errors or missing conditions. Earlier attempts by AI have scored fairly well. At last year’s IMO, Google DeepMind and OpenAI achieved gold-medal-level performances, both earning 35 out of 42 points.

Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine shows the impotence of nuclear weapons
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Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine shows the impotence of nuclear weapons

Why haven’t Ukraine’s drone and missile attacks on Russia triggered Moscow’s use of tactical nuclear weapons, as it has threatened? When Russia is attacked time and again, one wonders what purpose it serves to have the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. The Ukraine war is at a stalemate. Though roughly 90 per cent of the territory in East Donbas is under Russian control, its ground advances have slowed to less than 100 metres a day, according to a July 1 report by the Centre for Strategic...

Hong Kong loses 2030 maths congress to Glasgow. Does Asia need a stronger voice?
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Hong Kong loses 2030 maths congress to Glasgow. Does Asia need a stronger voice?

Field’s Medal winner Shing‑Tung Yau says the region should set up its own body to coordinate action An award-winning mathematician has called for Asia to set up its own maths union after Hong Kong lost out to Glasgow to host a top international meeting in the field. “My colleagues and I are deeply regretful about the voting result,” Yau said on Wednesday. “The voting power within the IMU is relatively entrenched. The European Mathematical Society, as a regional umbrella organisation representing Europe’s national mathematical societies, commands an overwhelming majority of votes, while Asian countries together hold less than a quarter of the total.” Yau said Europe, North America, Africa and Latin America had regional bodies to coordinate and amplify group action. “Asia urgently needs a similar organisation,” he said. “An Asian Mathematical Union would better represent the interests of mathematicians in the region, foster collaboration and exchange among them, and promote the coordinated advancement of mathematical sciences across Asia.”

India’s ‘cockroach’ protests: a rare political opening for the opposition?
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India’s ‘cockroach’ protests: a rare political opening for the opposition?

Analysts say Congress’ failure to be fully in sync with the movement reveals a missed opportunity to connect with India’s Gen Z The fast-growing movement gained political momentum on Tuesday when opposition leader Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were forcibly removed after a gathering with about 100 fellow lawmakers outside Modi’s residence to condemn the use of force against student protesters. Analysts say the protests have exposed a rare opening for the opposition: a youth grievance that cuts across party lines, speaks directly to middle-class anxieties over opportunity and fairness and puts pressure on a ruling party more used to setting the political agenda. Delhi police said nearly 180 people were injured, including 60 protesters and 118 police and security personnel. By then, prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk had already been hospitalised on Saturday after a three-week hunger strike over demands for education reform, which added national visibility to a protest movement driven largely by students.

Chinese mainland: Cross-Strait trade reflects cooperation potential
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Chinese mainland: Cross-Strait trade reflects cooperation potential

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 Chinese mainland says the latest cross-Strait trade figures demonstrate the importance and vast potential of economic cooperation between both sides of the Strait. The comment was made in response to the recent claim by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in China’s Taiwan region that Taiwan has reduced its reliance on the so-called "single China market" and turned to other markets.

Congo’s Ebola outbreak kills nearly 1,000 people, warning of worse to come
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Congo’s Ebola outbreak kills nearly 1,000 people, warning of worse to come

The disease has killed more people at a quicker rate than any Ebola outbreak on record The latest update from Congo’s Ministry of Health shows that as of Monday, 2,473 cases have been recorded in the latest outbreak, and 999 people have died. At least 737 patients were currently in isolation and hospitals, it said. The outbreak declared on May 15 is unlike most previous Ebola outbreaks because the Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccines or treatments. It has also killed more people at a quicker rate than any outbreak on record, including the 2013-2016 outbreak that is considered the worst on record with over 11,000 deaths out of at least 28,000 cases. That outbreak took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths. Ebola is rare, but highly contagious and can be contracted via bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. The disease it causes is severe and often fatal. Officials have also warned that 80 per cent of new cases have emerged through unknown chains of transmission, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track it even as they step up their response in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, as well as in four other provinces where cases have been recorded.

Beijing and Manila should avoid South China Sea ‘miscalculation’: top diplomats
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Beijing and Manila should avoid South China Sea ‘miscalculation’: top diplomats

Foreign ministers meet on margins of Asean event in Manila, days after fresh sea clash and outrage over video mocking 2016 arbitral ruling The meeting on the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers’ gathering marked the first formal talks between the top diplomats since Maria Theresa Lazaro assumed office in July last year. The Philippine foreign ministry described Wednesday’s meeting between Wang and Lazaro as “candid, comprehensive and constructive”. “The two sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, reducing the risk of miscalculation, and sustaining dialogue on matters of mutual concern,” it said in a read-out. The talks covered a wide range of topics, including maritime disputes, security, law enforcement, trade and investment cooperation as well as tourism and regional issues, according to the ministry. It said Lazaro reiterated Manila’s protest against “violent actions” by China Coast Guard personnel near the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Renai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.

Japanese agency warns of ‘cruelly hot days’ amid 40 degrees and above heat
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Japanese agency warns of ‘cruelly hot days’ amid 40 degrees and above heat

At least 14 people have died from heat-related causes in the past week as emergency officials describe the rising heat as ‘a disaster’ Japanese cities are experiencing “cruelly hot days”, a new meteorological term devised this year to warn people of intense heat above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with emergency officials describing the soaring temperatures on Wednesday as “a disaster”. Heatstroke alerts were issued across almost the whole country and emergency officials said at least 14 people had died from heat-related causes in the past week. Three central cities logged scorching temperatures on Tuesday above the new threshold, called kokushobi, which translates to “cruelly hot day”, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Large areas, including the central hub of Nagoya and communities near Tokyo in the east, were enduring temperatures approaching or above 40 degrees on Wednesday. The new term was designed to draw greater public attention to heat-related warnings, although it does not trigger any official measures nationwide. The JMA has issued heatstroke alerts in 41 out of Japan’s 47 prefectures, urging the public – especially the country’s many elderly – to take steps to stay cool.

End-of-life directives to go on eHealth as new law takes effect in Hong Kong
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End-of-life directives to go on eHealth as new law takes effect in Hong Kong

Hospital Authority’s Doris Tse says Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance ‘milestone for Hong Kong’s end-of-life care’ Hongkongers will be able to upload orders specifying which life-sustaining treatments they do not wish to receive when terminally ill to the city’s electronic health record platform from next Friday, when the new law comes into effect. The move marks a significant step in formalising end-of-life care arrangements, more than 20 months after the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance was passed by lawmakers. “This legislation is a milestone for Hong Kong’s end-of-life care,” Dr Doris Tse Man-wah, chairwoman of the Hospital Authority’s clinical ethics committee, said on Wednesday. While advance medical directives and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders – the two instruments key for end-of-life decisions – had been in place in public hospitals based on common law since 2010, Tse said the new ordinance provided clearer legal protection for both patients and healthcare professionals. “The legislation could help rule out all uncertainties, and protect people who draft [the directives] as well as rescue personnel,” Tse said.

China expresses strong opposition to EU’s fine on AliExpress
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China expresses strong opposition to EU’s fine on AliExpress

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 front of an AliExpress high-street shop in Madrid, Spain, July 20, 2026. /VCG China's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and serious concern over the European Commission's decision to fine AliExpress 550 million euros (about $627 million) under the EU's Digital Services Act. China firmly opposes the EU's moves to erect digital barriers under the guise of platform regulation and adopt discriminatory measures to restrict and suppress the normal operations of Chinese e-commerce companies in Europe, a spokesperson for the ministry said in a statement. China urges the EU side to stop abusing its discretionary power through legal ambiguities and treat Chinese companies in a fair and just manner, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that China will firmly support Chinese companies in safeguarding their rights via legal means and will take solid steps to protect their legitimate interests.

How China keeps the world cool this summer
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How China keeps the world cool this summer

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. Summer heat is driving demand for cooling appliances worldwide. Behind the scenes, China's manufacturing is shifting into high gear — with smart designs, efficient production, and strong supply chains keeping products moving.