Hong Kong customs arrests 2 party room operators over suspected pirated songs Hong Kong customs has arrested two party room operators on suspicion of providing pirated karaoke songs to customers after raiding eight properties across the city. The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that officers launched an operation between December 3 and 10 after analysing intelligence, with the help of copyright owners, and identifying party rooms suspected of possessing and providing infringing karaoke songs during their business operations. Officers raided eight party rooms...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong customs arrests 2 party room operators over suspected pirated songs

Customs says officers raided eight properties across city, seizing HK$240,000 worth of karaoke equipment in copyright crackdown.

China cuts US Treasury holdings to lowest level since 2008 amid debt ceiling fears China reduced its US Treasury holdings in October to its lowest level in 17 years, as mounting concerns over US debt sustainability and the Federal Reserve’s independence further eroded confidence in dollar-backed assets. The country’s stockpile fell to US$688.7 billion in October, down from US$700.5 billion in September, according to US Treasury Department data released on Thursday. October’s figure was the lowest level reported since November 2008, and marked a plunge of more than 47 per cent...

South China Morning Post

China cuts US Treasury holdings to lowest level since 2008

The stockpile has now fallen to nearly half its November 2013 peak, financial data shows, as long-term sell-off continues.

Myanmar hospital air strikes heighten election turmoil amid global inaction The Myanmar junta’s recent air strikes on a hospital just days before a general election this month are aimed at securing more territory and “intimidating” voters while major powers look the other way due to their own economic and strategic interests, according to analysts. The country’s junta said last Wednesday’s air strikes on a hospital in Mrauk-U in the western state of Rakhine were part of a counterterrorism operation targeting armed groups using the facility as a base for their...

South China Morning Post

Are Myanmar hospital air strikes a bid to ‘intimidate’ voters ahead of poll?

The junta has been emboldened to strike as China, Russia and the US are looking the other way to serve their own interests, analysts say.

China’s heat pump tech, Tokyo clarifies Taiwan stance to Beijing: SCMP’s 7 highlights We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s ultra-hot heat pump breakthrough paves way for melting ore with sunlight For over a century, the dream of efficiently concentrating low-grade heat into high-temperature industrial energy has been constrained by a stubborn...

South China Morning Post

China’s heat pump tech, Tokyo clarifies Taiwan stance: SCMP’s 7 highlights

From Hong Kong Jimmy Lai’s trial verdict to China’s high-altitude tank threat, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Hong Kong taxi driver, 62, arrested after fatally knocking down pedestrian Hong Kong police have arrested a 62-year-old taxi driver after he allegedly knocked down a woman in Central, who later succumbed to her injuries. The taxi was travelling along Caine Road when it hit a 68-year-old female pedestrian near Elgin Street at 8.55pm on Thursday, according to the force. The woman, who sustained multiple injuries, was rushed to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai in an unconscious state and was declared dead at 10.05pm. The cabby was subsequently arrested for dangerous driving...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong taxi driver, 62, arrested over fatally knocking down pedestrian

Police say taxi was travelling along Caine Road when it hit 68-year-old woman, who sustained multiple injuries and later died in hospital.

Japan city launches edible-looking boot souvenirs inspired by Taiwan braised pork rice A city government in Japan has unveiled a bizarre yet impressively realistic pair of fully wearable boots modelled after Taiwan’s beloved dish, braised pork rice. The creation has sparked a lively discussion on social media and left netizens in Taiwan both amused and in disbelief. Lu rou fan, or braised pork rice, is one of Taiwan’s most iconic dishes. It features tender pork simmered in a sweet and savoury soy sauce. The dish is served over white rice with vegetables and a boiled egg and is...

South China Morning Post

Japan city launches edible-looking boot souvenirs just like Taiwan braised pork rice

‘Mysterious’ footwear fashion item crafted to look identical to iconic dish takes culinary craftsmanship to a new level; includes ‘soft-boile...

Viral 24-carat gold logo find turns old AC units into hot property in South Korea A 20-year-old air conditioner has suddenly become the hottest, most sought-after vintage find in South Korea after a video showing that its logo was made of pure gold went viral. The YouTube clip, titled “Is there gold in air conditioners?”, shows a Seoul-based gold shop owner known as Ringring Unnie examining a handful of crumpled metal pieces brought in by a customer. “What is this?” she asks on camera. “It was removed from an LG Whisen air conditioner. It was the logo attached to the front of...

South China Morning Post

Viral golden logo find turns old AC units into hot property in South Korea

A YouTube video revealing a pure gold logo on certain LG air conditioners has sparked a nationwide hunt for the 20-year-old units.

Putin vows victory in Ukraine as US and Russia prepare for Miami talks Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in victory for his war in Ukraine during a meeting with senior military officials on Wednesday amid a renewed diplomatic push to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict. He said that more than 300 localities in the neighbouring country have been conquered this year alone. “Among them are also large cities that have been turned by the enemy into fortress nodes with permanent defensive installations,” Putin said. The Russian president said...

South China Morning Post

Putin vows victory in Ukraine as US and Russia prepare for Miami talks

Russian leader boasts of battlefield gains in Ukraine while his envoys prepare to meet the Americans this weekend.

Singapore fines man US$9,300 over vaping videos in deepening crackdown A 25-year-old man was fined S$12,000 (US$9,300) on Wednesday for posting social media videos and photos of himself holding or using e-vaporisers in Singapore. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said this is the first time it has prosecuted someone for posting images of himself vaping on social media. Krish Khalifa, who uses the account name “Rapperboya”, had posted several of these videos and photos on his YouTube, Instagram and TikTok channels between November 2023 and September 2024. He was...

South China Morning Post

Singapore fines man US$9,300 over vaping videos in deepening crackdown

Krish Khalifa became the first person to be prosecuted in the city state for posting clips of himself vaping on social media.

1 arrested after currency exchange staff robbed of 1 billion Japanese yen in Hong Kong Hong Kong police have arrested one suspect after four armed men robbed the staff of a currency exchange shop of 1 billion Japanese yen (US$6.4 million). The force said it received a report at 9.06am on Thursday from a staff member who, along with a colleague, was robbed of cash equivalent to nearly HK$50 million at 181 Queen’s Road Central near Grand Millennium Plaza in Sheung Wan. The four knife-wielding robbers fled in a westward direction along Queen’s Road Central after the theft. Police...

South China Morning Post

1 arrested after currency exchange staff robbed of 1 billion yen in Hong Kong

Four knife-wielding men stole Japanese currency worth nearly HK$50 million before fleeing scene, police say.

How Hong Kong charity helps injured workers get back on their feet A charity in Hong Kong that quietly helps hundreds of injured workers every year will soon get much-needed financial support to assist more employees and their families. The Hong Kong Workers’ Health Centre (HKWHC) is one of 13 charities selected this year to receive funding from the annual Operation Santa Claus (OSC) fundraising campaign. The funding will enable the centre to help 120 injured workers and their carers through its Care, Support & Connect project next year. “People think that if...

South China Morning Post

How a Hong Kong charity helps injured workers get back on their feet

Hong Kong Workers’ Health Centre will be able to help 120 people and their carers next year with funding from Operation Santa Claus.

China CCTV removes short film that ‘romanticises’ food delivery work after public backlash China’s state broadcaster CCTV has come under fire over a short film that romanticises food delivery jobs. The film told viewers that such jobs offer “the freedom to enjoy the scenery along the way” and “brings delivery workers closer to their dreams”. Netizens slammed the video for glorifying hardship and suffering, describing it as being tone-deaf to the real struggles faced by delivery workers. On November 28, CCTV and Meituan, the operator of China’s major on-demand delivery platform,...

South China Morning Post

China CCTV removes short film that ‘romanticises’ food delivery work after backlash

‘Fairy tale’ video which says often dangerous job with long hours brings workers ‘closer to their dreams’ is branded ‘disgusting’ by cr...

Malaysian religious authorities clear woman of ‘2 husbands’ allegations A woman from Tanah Merah, Malaysia’s Kelantan state, who was alleged to have two husbands, had in fact divorced her first spouse in June 2022, Kosmo reported. Kelantan Islamic Development, Da’wah (proselytising), Information and Public Relations Committee chairman Mohd Asri Mat Daud said both the 30-year-old woman and her ex-husband confirmed the divorce. He said the verification was made after both parties appeared to clarify their marital status with the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs...

South China Morning Post

Malaysian religious authorities clear woman of ‘2 husbands’ allegations

A Kelantan official said the woman divorced her first husband in 2022 before remarrying in Thailand.

Taiwan government accused of trying to ‘bypass legislature’ amid bitter funding row The Taiwanese government has sparked fresh controversy by refusing to enforce amendments passed by the opposition-controlled legislature about local government funding. The move risks deepening a political stand-off and has drawn criticism that the island’s leader William Lai Ching-te was “bypassing the legislature when you can’t win”. The dispute centres on revisions to a law about how the central government distributes revenue to local authorities. Observers said the clash had escalated well...

South China Morning Post

Taiwan government accused of trying to ‘bypass legislature’ amid bitter row

A dispute over how funds are allocated has triggered a stand-off in which both sides accused the other of undermining the constitution.

War-torn Sudan tops global humanitarian crisis watch list for third year Sudan topped a watch list of global humanitarian crises released on Tuesday by an international aid group for the third year in a row as a devastating war grips the northeastern African country. The International Rescue Committee said Sudan was at the top of its annual Emergency Watchlist, which included 20 countries at risk of worsening humanitarian crises in 2026. The IRC called for scaling up global humanitarian funding, which has shrunk by 50 per cent in the outgoing year and is on track to...

South China Morning Post

War-torn Sudan tops global humanitarian crisis watch list for third year

International Rescue Committee highlights a stark concentration of human suffering in a small number of countries in latest rankings.

Hong Kong man arrested after car hits 94-year-old pedestrian, who later dies Hong Kong police have arrested a man after his car struck a 94-year-old pedestrian, who later died in hospital. The force said the accident took place on Tam Kon Chau Road towards Yuen Long at 4.06am on Wednesday. As the car approached Mai Po near the border, the 32-year-old driver knocked down the pedestrian. The elderly man sustained multiple injuries and was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin. He was certified dead at 7.37am. The driver, arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong man arrested after car hits 94-year-old pedestrian, who later dies

Elderly man dies in hospital on Wednesday morning after sustaining multiple injuries as police call for witnesses.

Indian police reveal Bondi Beach shooting suspect’s background The alleged gunman shot dead by police during Sunday’s attack on Australia’s Bondi Beach was originally from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad and his family did not know about his “radical mindset”, Indian police said on Tuesday. Fifteen people were killed in the attack on a Hanukkah event, Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years, and it is being investigated as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community. In a statement providing more details about the man alleged to have...

South China Morning Post

Indian police reveal Bondi Beach shooting suspect’s background

Police said the Indian family of Sajid Akram, who got a degree in commerce in Hyderabad, was unaware of his ‘radical mindset’.

Hong Kong launches consultation for 2026 budget focusing on economic growth Hong Kong has launched public consultation for the 2026-27 budget, which the finance chief says will focus on how the city can expand its economic development and better integrate into China’s 15th five-year plan. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Wednesday highlighted several key issues for the coming budget, including how the city could further broaden and deepen its economy, accelerate innovation and technology, upgrade its industrial structure, and strengthen its integration and...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong launches consultation for 2026 budget focusing on economic growth

Finance chief says he will engage with public and ‘draw on collective wisdom’ while making sure coming budget aligns with five-year plan.

Health and beauty chain Mannings to withdraw from mainland China Mannings, one of Hong Kong’s largest health and beauty chains, will cease all retail operations in mainland China, both online and offline, as it adjusts its strategy in the highly competitive market. In a letter to its members, Mannings China said “its physical stores on the mainland will close permanently after January 15, 2026”. Its online sales channels will wind down even earlier. Mannings’ official mini mall on Tencent Holdings’ WeChat will stop service at midnight on December 28, 2025,...

South China Morning Post

Why retailers are beating a hasty retreat from mainland China

Hong Kong retailer Mannings will cease online operations from December 26 and close its physical stores after January 15.

Operation Santa Claus helps Hong Kong’s Shaw Foundation uplift smaller charities One of Asia’s largest philanthropic organisations, the Shaw Foundation, has pledged to continue supporting small charities in Hong Kong and urged the public to do the same, after making a generous donation to victims of last month’s catastrophic fire in Tai Po. The foundation made a HK$20 million (US$2.6 million) contribution to help victims of the Wang Fuk Court fire, which broke out on November 26 and raged for 43 hours. The deadly fire killed at least 160 people, injured 79 others and...

South China Morning Post

Operation Santa Claus helps Hong Kong’s Shaw Foundation uplift smaller charities

Major philanthropic organisation urges Hongkongers to support smaller, lesser-known charities.