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Illustration: Pearl Law

Cash for babies: how China aims to fix its looming population crisis

China is betting big on birth subsidies to stave off a demographic crisis. But do cash payments really work?

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Is free preschool education the solution to China’s birth crisis?

China's population
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China Economy

‘Extremely disruptive’: US plan to tax Chinese ships sparks industry backlash

Shipping bodies urged US policymakers to scrap a controversial port-fee proposal during hearings in Washington.

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Science

Why a young AI expert left a promising US academic career for China

Fu Tianfan leaves tenure-track assistant professor position in New York state for new research opportunities, and Nanjing University’s ‘fertile ground’.

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United States & Canada

‘Scary, reckless’: US allies alarmed by leaked group chat about war plans

The incident is seen as a major security breach that casts doubt on intelligence-sharing and the security of joint operations with the US.

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US-China relations
Left to right: National Security Agency Director General Timothy Haugh, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse appear during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on Tuesday in Washington. Photo: AFP

Signal chat furore may push US workers to China’s side, Democrat warns

Military

US military seen as stretched but South China Sea activity rose: paper

SCSPI think tank says US may adopt primary approach of drones or autonomous weapons to address ‘quantity anxiety’ in the contested waters.

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The US military sent three carrier strike groups, including the USS Carl Vinson, for eight activities gaining access to the South China Sea last year, according to a Beijing-based think tank report. Photo: AP
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China EVs

BYD out-earns Tesla after out-making, out-selling Model 3 producer

Chinese EV maker is forecast to widen its lead over Tesla in 2025 and 2026 global sales, according to consensus compiled by Bloomberg.

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Health & Environment

Hongkongers brace for public hospital fee increases under service reform

Experts call for alternative medical services to be strengthened, as reform seeks to increase standard A&E fee to HK$400, among other areas.

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Tech

Beyond the plate: Hong Kong’s food tech innovators cultivate a sustainable future

Local Michelin-star chef famous for ‘nature-inspired’ cuisine sources innovative green ingredients from three entrepreneurs.

In partnership with
HKSTP
Joris Rousseau, executive chef of the Michelin-star restaurant Feuille in Hong Kong, is dedicated to creating “nature-inspired” dishes using sustainable ingredients.

Travel & Leisure

Eating, shopping and entertainment highlights in London’s Regent Street

Must-visit places on the street include the world’s oldest toy store, the Criterion Theatre and Michel Roux Jnr-helmed tavern The Wigmore.

Regent Street (above) in London is going to be transformed into a pedestrianised entertainment destination. Photo: SCMP

United States & Canada

J.D. Vance to visit Greenland as Trump ups pressure

The US vice-president will join wife Usha Vance’s trip to Pituffik Space Base, saying he doesn’t ‘want her to have all that fun by herself’.

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Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine and Russia agree to Black Sea ceasefire and ban on energy attacks

In return, the US says it will help seek the lifting of international sanctions on Russian agriculture.

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Big Tech

Chinese tech giant Tencent invests in Shanghai robotics start-up Agibot

Robots have become a hot investment area in China as VC firms, supply chain partners and tech giants jostle to back leading start-ups.

The Tencent logo is seen behind a robotic hand in this illustration taken February 16, 2025. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

‘Don’t panic!’ Mystery sky spiral caused by SpaceX rocket fuel, experts say

The Falcon 9 rocket was carrying classified cargo on a mission for the US agency that manages the country’s military’s spy satellites.

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A picture taken in the countryside near Dalby-Viggeby, south of Uppsala, Sweden, on Monday shows a blue and white spiral in the night sky reportedly created by frozen fuel tumbling from a SpaceX rocket. Photo: Bertrand Ilhe via AFP

Global Economy

Unaffected by EU’s tariffs on EVs, China’s hybrid-vehicle exports surge to bloc

With Brussels’ tariffs not a problem, China’s plug-in hybrid EVs have become the fastest-growing Chinese export item to the 27-nation bloc.

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Europe

Depardieu admits grabbing woman by the hips but denies it was sexual assault

Amelie K says the film star groped her and made explicit comments, in the highest-profile #MeToo case to come before France’s courts.

Entertainment

Canadian rock giants Rush release 50-song box set for 50th anniversary

Three-piece Rush last performed in Los Angeles in 2015 and their drummer Neil Peart died in 2020, but their popularity hasn’t diminished.

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Canadian rock giants Rush are celebrating 50 years with a 50-song box set. Above: the vinyl version of Rush 50 on display in a record store in the US state of Colorado. Photo: Instagram/soldoutvinylrecords

Food & Drink

Hong Kong in 2nd, 3rd spots in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 – full list

Bangkok restaurant Gaggan regains top spot in the 13th edition of the annual rankings announced at a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awardees on stage at the awards ceremony held in Seoul, South Korea, on March 25, 2025. Photo: Charmaine Mok

Economics

Bali to crack down on ‘naughty’ foreigners with new rules and tourism levy

The new guidelines for foreign tourists were issued to curb their misbehaviour.

Entertainment

Less rebellion, more depression and apathy. Welcome to punk in China today

As the Chinese punk scene soldiers on, bands increasingly perform to relieve pressure and release negativity, one insider says.

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OPINION
Hao Nan

Opinion | China has good reason to keep its peacekeepers out of Ukraine

Hao Nan
Thomas O. Falk

Opinion | Why Germany can’t afford not to spend billions on defence

Thomas O. Falk
4
Shi Jiangtao

Opinion | As Trump shocks rock the world, can China, Japan, South Korea shape its future?

Shi Jiangtao
Winston Mok

Opinion | China’s true talent in AI lies in making it safe to use

Winston Mok
Grenville Cross

Opinion | In handing Duterte to ICC, Marcos stirs up Philippine hornets’ nest

Grenville Cross
5
Harry’s View | 26 Mar 2025
March 26, 2025
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Health & Environment

Hong Kong to press on with premium food branding push, set up certification system

Society

Video | Record crowd expected for Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament

Hong Kong Sevens: city’s premier sporting event to take place at new Kai Tak Stadium
02:27

United States & Canada

J.D. Vance to visit Greenland as Trump ups pressure

Special Reports

Beyond Art Basel Hong Kong: free events to check out during Arts Month

Food & Drink

The hottest new openings in Hong Kong, March 23-29

Entertainment

Who is Jason Isaacs’ wife Emma Hewitt – who he met at drama school?

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Illustration: Henry Wong

How did China’s top weapons brains become targets of its anti-corruption push?

Acceleration of defence sector’s anti-corruption drive may be linked to the downfall of former defence minister Li Shangfu, analysts say.

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From BTS to a free trade deal, is South Korea moving closer to China?

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‘De-dollar’ diplomacy: Brics focus on alternative currency stirs Trump’s ire

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Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Political analyst Zheng Yongnian on how China should respond to Trump’s return

Chinese political scientist says if the country’s private enterprises can’t thrive, foreign capital won’t either.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

China Economy

Open Questions | Why China’s economic recovery is captivating investors again: Robin Xing

Morgan Stanley’s chief China economist sees green shoots in China thanks to innovation, but highlights need for social security reform.

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China Economy

Open Questions | Michael Pettis on China’s consumption paradox and the pitfalls of a trade war

The professor of finance and author talks China’s economy and argues the US dollar’s monopoly role in trade is an ‘unsustainable’ anomaly.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | China watcher Wang Xiangwei says ‘bloated bureaucracy’ is stifling growth

Journalism professor and former Post editor says China must walk the talk to reassure private sector, with lessons from DeepSeek, Ne Zha.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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Banking & Finance

Alibaba’s Tsai says some AI bets like excess data centres are speculative

‘People are talking literally about US$500 billion, several US$100 billion [projects]. I don’t think that is entirely necessary,’ Tsai says.

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Alibaba Group chairman Joe Tsai says some of the multi-billion outlays may be unnecessary. Photo: Handout

Big Tech

Chinese tech giant Tencent invests in Shanghai robotics start-up Agibot

Robots have become a hot investment area in China as VC firms, supply chain partners and tech giants jostle to back leading start-ups.

China EVs

BYD out-earns Tesla after out-making, out-selling Model 3 producer

Chinese EV maker is forecast to widen its lead over Tesla in 2025 and 2026 global sales, according to consensus compiled by Bloomberg.

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Tech War

Ant Group’s use of local GPUs, not Nvidia, cuts AI model training costs by 20%

The fintech affiliate of Alibaba said its Ling-Plus-Base model can be ‘effectively trained on lower-performance devices’.

Ant Group’s latest research into AI development places it among domestic firms such as DeepSeek and ByteDance in the search for more efficient ways to train and run models. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

How did China’s top weapons brains become targets of its anti-corruption push?

Acceleration of defence sector’s anti-corruption drive may be linked to the downfall of former defence minister Li Shangfu, analysts say.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Science

Explainer | What is 6G and why is China racing ahead of US and Europe with the technology?

Sixth-generation wireless communications will change the way we interact with the world but not all countries are embracing it.

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China Economy

What’s behind the pro-Beijing camp’s criticism of the Panama ports deal?

The backlash against Hutchison’s ports sell-off is designed to send a message to other Chinese firms with overseas assets, analysts say.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Cosmetic cravings: Asia’s Gen Z risk it all to keep their youthful looks

Young Southeast Asians are running a gauntlet of bootleg botox, fake fillers and clandestine clinics in their quest to defy ageing.

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Gen Z beauty seekers appear undeterred by harrowing tales of disfiguring infections, scarring and deaths caused by botulism. Photo: Shutterstock
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