![\"New](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/24/1637063a-c71e-4fd5-b82b-00676eba9c9b_725209f9.jpg\")
By Leopold Chen
Hong Kong should introduce a tiered risk framework and carry out DNA testing and physical assessments to identify dogs with aggressive breed traits, a veterinary surgeon and a lawmaker have said following three fatal canine attacks within a week.
The calls made on Monday come after the latest fatal mauling at a pet training centre, where a 33-year-old woman was attacked by a dog suspected of being a mixed-breed fighting dog and was later found dead last week.
Preliminary inspections by authorities revealed the dog shared genetic traits with the pit bull terrier, a banned fighting breed in the city. Yet, the dog\u2019s microchip indicated it was a mongrel.
Speaking on a radio show, veterinarian Lai Cheong-sang said Hong Kong should replace the city\u2019s breed-specific categorisation system with a trait-based, tiered system to classify dogs\u2019 danger levels and assign corresponding control measures.
\u201cIf a dog is suspected of having the potential to cause danger after a risk assessment, it can be required to undergo mandatory training, be leashed or otherwise constrained, and receive regular assessments,\u201d he said.
He also called for a certification system for people who keep or train high-risk breeds.
", "summary": "By Leopold Chen
Hong Kong should introduce a tiered risk framework and carry out DNA testing and physical assessments to identify dogs with aggressive breed traits, a veterinary surgeon and a lawmaker have said following three fatal canine attacks within a week.
The calls made on Monday come after the latest fatal mauling at a pet training centre, where a 33-year-old woman was attacked by a dog suspected of being a mixed-breed fighting dog and was later found dead last week.
Preliminary inspections by authorities revealed the dog shared genetic traits with the pit bull terrier, a banned fighting breed in the city. Yet, the dog\u2019s microchip indicated it was a mongrel.
Speaking on a radio show, veterinarian Lai Cheong-sang said Hong Kong should replace the city\u2019s breed-specific categorisation system with a trait-based, tiered system to classify dogs\u2019 danger levels and assign corresponding control measures.
\u201cIf a dog is suspected of having the potential to cause danger after a risk assessment, it can be required to undergo mandatory training, be leashed or otherwise constrained, and receive regular assessments,\u201d he said.
He also called for a certification system for people who keep or train high-risk breeds.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T21:15:35Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T21:30:01Z", "authors": ["Leopold Chen"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3365022/new-zealand-plans-social-media-ban-under-16s-backed-big-fines?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3365022/new-zealand-plans-social-media-ban-under-16s-backed-big-fines?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "New Zealand plans social media ban for under-16s backed by big fines", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Reuters
New \u2060Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday his party would introduce a bill in parliament that seeks to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10 per cent of a \u200cplatform\u2019s global revenue for non-compliance.
The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users\u2019 ages, including by using existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents.
\u201cWe simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children,\u201d Luxon said in a statement.
\u201cSocial media is \u2060exposing them to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to \u200cdeal with and it\u2019s affecting their family life, mental health, sleep and education.\u201d
It was not immediately clear if the bill would garner sufficient \u200csupport to pass through parliament, with one of Luxon\u2019s coalition partners, the \u2060New Zealand First \u2060party, saying it would not support it.
By Reuters
New \u2060Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday his party would introduce a bill in parliament that seeks to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10 per cent of a \u200cplatform\u2019s global revenue for non-compliance.
The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users\u2019 ages, including by using existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents.
\u201cWe simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children,\u201d Luxon said in a statement.
\u201cSocial media is \u2060exposing them to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to \u200cdeal with and it\u2019s affecting their family life, mental health, sleep and education.\u201d
It was not immediately clear if the bill would garner sufficient \u200csupport to pass through parliament, with one of Luxon\u2019s coalition partners, the \u2060New Zealand First \u2060party, saying it would not support it.
Hong Kong\u2019s leader has called on scientists, leading enterprises and investment institutions from around the world to seize opportunities in the city, describing it as a \u201cgolden gateway\u201d for overseas companies to enter the mainland Chinese market and mainland unicorn firms to expand globally.
Speaking at the first Global Unicorn Summit on Monday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made a familiar pitch to attendees and entrepreneurs, citing the city\u2019s unique advantages as a \u201csuperconnector and super value-adder\u201d between mainland China and the world.
\u201cOn the journey of innovation and entrepreneurship, Hong Kong not only serves as a testing ground for technological breakthroughs, but it will also become an accelerator for the transformation of research outcomes and a new world for global expansion.\u201d
Lee highlighted Hong Kong\u2019s strengths, including its world-leading capital market, common-law system, low-tax business environment, global trade network and pool of top-tier international professional talent.
These advantages, he said, made Hong Kong the premier springboard for mainland start-ups and unicorns \u2013 companies valued at over US$1 billion \u2013 to enter international markets and build global supply chains, as well as the primary hub for top-tier overseas innovation and technology (I&T) companies to tap into the mainland market.
According to Lee, a record high of more than 11,000 mainland and overseas companies and over 5,200 start-ups were operating in Hong Kong as of last year. The city has also incubated 20 unicorns over the past decade.
Lee said the development of the Greater Bay Area would draw on Hong Kong\u2019s high-calibre talent and research strengths, together with the robust advanced manufacturing base in mainland cities, providing a solid foundation for I&T growth.
", "summary": "Hong Kong\u2019s leader has called on scientists, leading enterprises and investment institutions from around the world to seize opportunities in the city, describing it as a \u201cgolden gateway\u201d for overseas companies to enter the mainland Chinese market and mainland unicorn firms to expand globally.
Speaking at the first Global Unicorn Summit on Monday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made a familiar pitch to attendees and entrepreneurs, citing the city\u2019s unique advantages as a \u201csuperconnector and super value-adder\u201d between mainland China and the world.
\u201cOn the journey of innovation and entrepreneurship, Hong Kong not only serves as a testing ground for technological breakthroughs, but it will also become an accelerator for the transformation of research outcomes and a new world for global expansion.\u201d
Lee highlighted Hong Kong\u2019s strengths, including its world-leading capital market, common-law system, low-tax business environment, global trade network and pool of top-tier international professional talent.
These advantages, he said, made Hong Kong the premier springboard for mainland start-ups and unicorns \u2013 companies valued at over US$1 billion \u2013 to enter international markets and build global supply chains, as well as the primary hub for top-tier overseas innovation and technology (I&T) companies to tap into the mainland market.
According to Lee, a record high of more than 11,000 mainland and overseas companies and over 5,200 start-ups were operating in Hong Kong as of last year. The city has also incubated 20 unicorns over the past decade.
Lee said the development of the Greater Bay Area would draw on Hong Kong\u2019s high-calibre talent and research strengths, together with the robust advanced manufacturing base in mainland cities, providing a solid foundation for I&T growth.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T21:08:38Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T21:30:12Z", "authors": ["Matthew Cheng"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365020/thai-teen-rocker-nene-royal-talks-americas-got-talent-and-dreaming-big?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365020/thai-teen-rocker-nene-royal-talks-americas-got-talent-and-dreaming-big?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Thai teen rocker Nene Royal talks America\u2019s Got Talent and dreaming big", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Aidan Jones
A twist of fate put a guitar in Nene Royal\u2019s hands. Aged seven, she wanted to join the computer science club at her school in Phuket, Thailand, but it was already full.
\u201cThe only place left was in the music club, and the teacher handed me a guitar,\u201d she told This Week in Asia. \u201cThe moment I started playing, something clicked.\u201d
Now just 16, the self-taught rocker has a shot at global stardom on the world\u2019s most watched talent show, America\u2019s Got Talent.
\u201cI learned by watching YouTube videos, studying musicians and performers I admired and practising for hours every day,\u201d said Nene, whose real name is Rattikan Amloy, in an email.
Thailand has a long affinity with rock and guitar music, although the scene is dominated by men. Nene said that was never part of her story.
", "summary": "By Aidan Jones
A twist of fate put a guitar in Nene Royal\u2019s hands. Aged seven, she wanted to join the computer science club at her school in Phuket, Thailand, but it was already full.
\u201cThe only place left was in the music club, and the teacher handed me a guitar,\u201d she told This Week in Asia. \u201cThe moment I started playing, something clicked.\u201d
Now just 16, the self-taught rocker has a shot at global stardom on the world\u2019s most watched talent show, America\u2019s Got Talent.
\u201cI learned by watching YouTube videos, studying musicians and performers I admired and practising for hours every day,\u201d said Nene, whose real name is Rattikan Amloy, in an email.
Thailand has a long affinity with rock and guitar music, although the scene is dominated by men. Nene said that was never part of her story.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T21:03:41Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T21:30:17Z", "authors": ["Aidan Jones"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3365010/expat-retirees-fuel-luxury-home-demand-wang-yis-trip-seoul-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3365010/expat-retirees-fuel-luxury-home-demand-wang-yis-trip-seoul-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Expat retirees fuel luxury home demand; Wang Yi\u2019s trip to Seoul: 5 weekend reads you missed", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By SCMP
We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
![\"South](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/24/942b6062-da57-4cc8-a74b-2bb21e6704ef_3956599f.jpg\")
By SCMP
We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
By Howard Liu
China is gearing up for what could become its next record-breaking semiconductor stock listing as the parent company of chip giant Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation (YMTC) prepares to go public on Shanghai\u2019s Star Market.
CCSH Corporation, parent of China\u2019s top NAND flash maker, planned to sell between 1.98 billion and 2.43 billion shares, equivalent to 10 to 12 per cent of its enlarged share capital, according to a prospectus made public on Friday. An overallotment option of up to 15 per cent could also be exercised.
While the final offer price and total proceeds have yet to be set, the planned size signals a massive fundraising push.
CCSH has earmarked 33 billion yuan (US$4.9 billion) specifically for investment projects \u2013 20.8 billion yuan to upgrade mass-production lines and 12.2 billion yuan for research and development.
That target already surpasses the 29.5 billion yuan that ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China\u2019s leading DRAM maker, originally set aside ahead of its float in July.
CXMT ultimately raised 66.6 billion yuan, nearly double its baseline plan, in what became the largest Star Market initial public offering on record. YMTC\u2019s final tally could similarly eclipse its baseline 33 billion yuan target depending on final market demand.
", "summary": "By Howard Liu
China is gearing up for what could become its next record-breaking semiconductor stock listing as the parent company of chip giant Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation (YMTC) prepares to go public on Shanghai\u2019s Star Market.
CCSH Corporation, parent of China\u2019s top NAND flash maker, planned to sell between 1.98 billion and 2.43 billion shares, equivalent to 10 to 12 per cent of its enlarged share capital, according to a prospectus made public on Friday. An overallotment option of up to 15 per cent could also be exercised.
While the final offer price and total proceeds have yet to be set, the planned size signals a massive fundraising push.
CCSH has earmarked 33 billion yuan (US$4.9 billion) specifically for investment projects \u2013 20.8 billion yuan to upgrade mass-production lines and 12.2 billion yuan for research and development.
That target already surpasses the 29.5 billion yuan that ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China\u2019s leading DRAM maker, originally set aside ahead of its float in July.
CXMT ultimately raised 66.6 billion yuan, nearly double its baseline plan, in what became the largest Star Market initial public offering on record. YMTC\u2019s final tally could similarly eclipse its baseline 33 billion yuan target depending on final market demand.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T20:34:59Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T21:00:06Z", "authors": ["Howard Liu"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3365014/philippines-stakes-claim-latin-americas-asean-gateway?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3365014/philippines-stakes-claim-latin-americas-asean-gateway?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Philippines stakes claim as Latin America\u2019s Asean gateway", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Sam Beltran
The Philippines is positioning itself as Latin America\u2019s bridge to Southeast Asia, testing whether shared history and culture can translate into hard trade figures as Asean and the Mercosur bloc look beyond their traditional partners.
Manila\u2019s Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro made the pitch during visits to Brazil and Chile from August 10-13.
\u201cUpon this human foundation, commercial bridges thrive: the Philippines stands as the premier strategic gateway for Latin American firms expanding into Asean\u2019s US$4-trillion market,\u201d she told an audience in Chile, referring to the two regions\u2019 shared Spanish colonial history, Catholic faith and people-to-people ties.
Lazaro also floated the idea of expanding logistics links \u2013 citing the regional presence of Philippine port operator International Container Terminal Services \u2013 as a way to cut costs and shield supply chains from global shocks via direct trans-Pacific shipping routes.
The pitch lands in a crowded field, however: Singapore remains Southeast Asia\u2019s dominant commercial, financial and logistics hub, while Vietnam and Indonesia have attracted growing interest from companies looking to diversify supply chains.
It also comes as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Mercosur \u2013 a South American trade bloc whose members include Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay \u2013 look for new partners amid US tariffs, energy insecurity and wider geopolitical uncertainty.
![\"A](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/24/f3fd6c54-6f6f-4d1d-b849-78ab0e28bede_3998aaf8.jpg\")
By Sam Beltran
The Philippines is positioning itself as Latin America\u2019s bridge to Southeast Asia, testing whether shared history and culture can translate into hard trade figures as Asean and the Mercosur bloc look beyond their traditional partners.
Manila\u2019s Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro made the pitch during visits to Brazil and Chile from August 10-13.
\u201cUpon this human foundation, commercial bridges thrive: the Philippines stands as the premier strategic gateway for Latin American firms expanding into Asean\u2019s US$4-trillion market,\u201d she told an audience in Chile, referring to the two regions\u2019 shared Spanish colonial history, Catholic faith and people-to-people ties.
Lazaro also floated the idea of expanding logistics links \u2013 citing the regional presence of Philippine port operator International Container Terminal Services \u2013 as a way to cut costs and shield supply chains from global shocks via direct trans-Pacific shipping routes.
The pitch lands in a crowded field, however: Singapore remains Southeast Asia\u2019s dominant commercial, financial and logistics hub, while Vietnam and Indonesia have attracted growing interest from companies looking to diversify supply chains.
It also comes as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Mercosur \u2013 a South American trade bloc whose members include Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay \u2013 look for new partners amid US tariffs, energy insecurity and wider geopolitical uncertainty.
Chinese scientists have developed a new tabletop X-ray ghost imaging method that allows them to capture real-time \u201csee-through\u201d video of fast-moving objects.
The team\u2019s system could be used to capture dynamic objects such as rotating aircraft engines or biological movements like a beating heart.
Importantly, this could all be accomplished with a lower radiation dose and simpler set-up than traditional X-ray methods.
\u201cIn contrast to other available X-ray imaging techniques for moving objects, our method can be implemented with a conventional tabletop X-ray source,\u201d the team said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Physics on August 15.
\u201cThe set-up is simple, relatively inexpensive and easy to operate.\u201d
The researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiao Tong University said their method had \u201cgreat potential\u201d for medical imaging as well as non-destructive imaging of moving mechanical components.
", "summary": "Chinese scientists have developed a new tabletop X-ray ghost imaging method that allows them to capture real-time \u201csee-through\u201d video of fast-moving objects.
The team\u2019s system could be used to capture dynamic objects such as rotating aircraft engines or biological movements like a beating heart.
Importantly, this could all be accomplished with a lower radiation dose and simpler set-up than traditional X-ray methods.
\u201cIn contrast to other available X-ray imaging techniques for moving objects, our method can be implemented with a conventional tabletop X-ray source,\u201d the team said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Physics on August 15.
\u201cThe set-up is simple, relatively inexpensive and easy to operate.\u201d
The researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiao Tong University said their method had \u201cgreat potential\u201d for medical imaging as well as non-destructive imaging of moving mechanical components.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T20:00:07Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T20:30:06Z", "authors": ["Victoria Bela"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3365013/murder-suicide-suspected-woman-66-found-dead-after-husband-jumped-building?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3365013/murder-suicide-suspected-woman-66-found-dead-after-husband-jumped-building?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Murder-suicide suspected as woman, 66, found dead after husband jumped from building", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Edith Lin
Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after an 80-year-old man allegedly jumped to his death from a residential building, shortly before officers found his 66-year-old wife dead inside their flat.
The force said on Monday that a security guard from Kwai Chung Estate, a public housing estate in Kwai Tsing, reported that the man had fallen from a height at Chun Kwai House at about 11.30pm on Sunday.
His wife was subsequently found collapsed inside their flat at the same block.
The pair were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said their deaths were suspicious and classified the case as a murder-suicide.
More to follow \u2026
", "summary": "By Edith Lin
Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after an 80-year-old man allegedly jumped to his death from a residential building, shortly before officers found his 66-year-old wife dead inside their flat.
The force said on Monday that a security guard from Kwai Chung Estate, a public housing estate in Kwai Tsing, reported that the man had fallen from a height at Chun Kwai House at about 11.30pm on Sunday.
His wife was subsequently found collapsed inside their flat at the same block.
The pair were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said their deaths were suspicious and classified the case as a murder-suicide.
More to follow \u2026
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T19:35:38Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T20:00:03Z", "authors": ["Edith Lin"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3365011/australia-see-spike-near-misses-amid-air-traffic-controller-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3365011/australia-see-spike-near-misses-amid-air-traffic-controller-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Australia see spike in near-misses amid air traffic controller shortage", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Bloomberg
Australia\u2019s shortage of air traffic controllers is showing signs of nearing a breaking point after the country\u2019s busiest airport recorded at least four near misses in the past month.
Since late July, incidents at Sydney Airport included a passenger jet aborting its take-off because there was a plane in its path. In a separate close call, an aircraft that was taxiing had to slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with another jet.
Short-staffed control towers have long been a problem globally, but nowhere is the urgency of the matter more on display recently than in Australia. The growing number of incidents is pressing the need for authorities worldwide to crank up hiring and adopt new tools like artificial intelligence.
\u201cAir traffic control staffing levels are not at the level required,\u201d said Andrew Marshall, president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, which represents the flight crew at the nation\u2019s flag carrier, Qantas Airways. \u201cWhilst pilots are the last line of defence in aviation safety, it isn\u2019t an appropriate long-term solution.\u201d
The problem is there is no quick way to fill the shortfall of air traffic controllers in Australia, largely because it takes years for a new recruit to be fully trained. Meanwhile, flight demand continues to grow.
That is becoming the case worldwide as the lack of controllers has turned into one of the aviation industry\u2019s biggest frustrations. More than 70,000 new controllers will be needed globally by 2034, according to forecasts by aviation training provider CAE.
![\"Jetstar](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/24/be222a46-0069-4901-b548-8b5e2f66c8ad_f0786332.jpg\")
By Bloomberg
Australia\u2019s shortage of air traffic controllers is showing signs of nearing a breaking point after the country\u2019s busiest airport recorded at least four near misses in the past month.
Since late July, incidents at Sydney Airport included a passenger jet aborting its take-off because there was a plane in its path. In a separate close call, an aircraft that was taxiing had to slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with another jet.
Short-staffed control towers have long been a problem globally, but nowhere is the urgency of the matter more on display recently than in Australia. The growing number of incidents is pressing the need for authorities worldwide to crank up hiring and adopt new tools like artificial intelligence.
\u201cAir traffic control staffing levels are not at the level required,\u201d said Andrew Marshall, president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, which represents the flight crew at the nation\u2019s flag carrier, Qantas Airways. \u201cWhilst pilots are the last line of defence in aviation safety, it isn\u2019t an appropriate long-term solution.\u201d
The problem is there is no quick way to fill the shortfall of air traffic controllers in Australia, largely because it takes years for a new recruit to be fully trained. Meanwhile, flight demand continues to grow.
That is becoming the case worldwide as the lack of controllers has turned into one of the aviation industry\u2019s biggest frustrations. More than 70,000 new controllers will be needed globally by 2034, according to forecasts by aviation training provider CAE.
By Themis Qi
Wealthy investors should be ready for higher volatility \u201cfor years\u201d as uncertainties around artificial intelligence (AI) development and geopolitical risks are set to persist, according to a major private bank.
In the past few years, asset prices underwent several roller coaster rides, from US Liberation Day last year to the sell-off of semiconductor shares and US Treasury in recent months.
But volatility came after changes to the market\u2019s structure \u201cover the decades\u201d and was expected to be \u201chere to stay\u201d, said Julia Wang, North Asia chief investment officer of Nomura International Wealth Management, in an interview with the South China Morning Post.
\u201c(Periodic high volatility) is already a result of structure changes to the market, so it\u2019s unlikely to change, unless we have a global recession,\u201d said Wang, who joined the international wealth management arm of Japan\u2019s largest investment banking and brokerage firm in November last year, to advise the offshore investments of clients with at least US$20 million of potential investable surplus.
While Wang reaffirmed Nomura\u2019s positive outlook on AI and the global economy, AI was one of the key pushes behind the ups and downs.
She explained that expectations for outperforming gains from the future productivity driver resulted in crowded trading and leverage, which usually would be followed by market sell-offs.
Semiconductor shares could be a good example. After hitting a record high in late June, the memory chip-heavy Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunged 22 per cent last month, sending a Hong Kong-listed SK Hynix-leveraged exchange-traded fund to dive 71 per cent over the month.
", "summary": "By Themis Qi
Wealthy investors should be ready for higher volatility \u201cfor years\u201d as uncertainties around artificial intelligence (AI) development and geopolitical risks are set to persist, according to a major private bank.
In the past few years, asset prices underwent several roller coaster rides, from US Liberation Day last year to the sell-off of semiconductor shares and US Treasury in recent months.
But volatility came after changes to the market\u2019s structure \u201cover the decades\u201d and was expected to be \u201chere to stay\u201d, said Julia Wang, North Asia chief investment officer of Nomura International Wealth Management, in an interview with the South China Morning Post.
\u201c(Periodic high volatility) is already a result of structure changes to the market, so it\u2019s unlikely to change, unless we have a global recession,\u201d said Wang, who joined the international wealth management arm of Japan\u2019s largest investment banking and brokerage firm in November last year, to advise the offshore investments of clients with at least US$20 million of potential investable surplus.
While Wang reaffirmed Nomura\u2019s positive outlook on AI and the global economy, AI was one of the key pushes behind the ups and downs.
She explained that expectations for outperforming gains from the future productivity driver resulted in crowded trading and leverage, which usually would be followed by market sell-offs.
Semiconductor shares could be a good example. After hitting a record high in late June, the memory chip-heavy Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunged 22 per cent last month, sending a Hong Kong-listed SK Hynix-leveraged exchange-traded fund to dive 71 per cent over the month.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T19:00:09Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T19:30:06Z", "authors": ["Themis Qi"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365006/hang-there-chinese-boys-offer-us15-struggling-store-owner-sparking-wave-support?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365006/hang-there-chinese-boys-offer-us15-struggling-store-owner-sparking-wave-support?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "\u2018Hang in there\u2019: Chinese boys offer US$1.5 to struggling store owner, sparking wave of support", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Zoey Zhang
Three boys from southeastern China offered 10.5 yuan (US$1.5) to a convenience store owner on the brink of closing, igniting a wave of public support.
Five years after borrowing money to establish his convenience store in Guangzhou, Chen decided to shut down the shop as business continued to decline.
On August 12, three primary school boys visited the store, as they often did, to buy drinks. During a casual conversation, they learned that Chen was preparing to close the establishment.
One boy suggested that Chen take his business online, while another proposed they combine their pocket money to support him.
The trio then counted their savings and placed 10.5 yuan on Chen\u2019s counter, despite his persistent refusals, before running off with a message of encouragement: \u201cHang in there!\u201d
The sight of the crumpled banknotes brought Chen to tears.
![\"The](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/24/4fb5cad0-f039-41d3-8120-b9e6cb6a2e08_418dd89a.jpg\")
By Zoey Zhang
Three boys from southeastern China offered 10.5 yuan (US$1.5) to a convenience store owner on the brink of closing, igniting a wave of public support.
Five years after borrowing money to establish his convenience store in Guangzhou, Chen decided to shut down the shop as business continued to decline.
On August 12, three primary school boys visited the store, as they often did, to buy drinks. During a casual conversation, they learned that Chen was preparing to close the establishment.
One boy suggested that Chen take his business online, while another proposed they combine their pocket money to support him.
The trio then counted their savings and placed 10.5 yuan on Chen\u2019s counter, despite his persistent refusals, before running off with a message of encouragement: \u201cHang in there!\u201d
The sight of the crumpled banknotes brought Chen to tears.
By Bloomberg
Londoners are facing historic levels of subsidence risk after five successive heatwaves dried out the clay soil on which much of the British capital is built.
Insurance claims tied to subsidence \u2013 a phenomenon associated with bouts of hot, dry weather that shrink the soil and destabilise the foundations on which buildings stand \u2013 hit a record last quarter, according to data provided by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). On average, households claimed \u00a320,000 (US$27,200) for the risk, more than in any previous quarter and a 15 per cent jump from the same period in 2025, the ABI said.
Laura Hughes, head of general insurance at the ABI, said the upwards trend is likely to continue. \u201cWe expect to see more subsidence cases because of the hot weather,\u201d she said in an interview.
Londoners have taken to social media to express their dismay. On Reddit, people offered personal accounts telling of \u201chorrendous cracking\u201d in their homes, and \u201cdoors sticking\u201d due to subsidence. One said it was \u201cgenuinely scary\u201d to discover that their kitchen had moved as the foundations of the home shifted.
Another Reddit user described the response of a structural engineer they contacted for help. \u201cBefore I could finish explaining he laughed and said, \u2018You and 20,000 other people in southeast London\u2019,\u201d the person wrote.
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy, what\u2019s happening now,\u201d said Otso Lahtinen, chief executive of Geobear, an engineering firm that is regularly called in to repair damage caused by subsidence. \u201cIt\u2019s the new norm, and it seems it will happen more often in the next 20 to 30 years.\u201d
", "summary": "By Bloomberg
Londoners are facing historic levels of subsidence risk after five successive heatwaves dried out the clay soil on which much of the British capital is built.
Insurance claims tied to subsidence \u2013 a phenomenon associated with bouts of hot, dry weather that shrink the soil and destabilise the foundations on which buildings stand \u2013 hit a record last quarter, according to data provided by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). On average, households claimed \u00a320,000 (US$27,200) for the risk, more than in any previous quarter and a 15 per cent jump from the same period in 2025, the ABI said.
Laura Hughes, head of general insurance at the ABI, said the upwards trend is likely to continue. \u201cWe expect to see more subsidence cases because of the hot weather,\u201d she said in an interview.
Londoners have taken to social media to express their dismay. On Reddit, people offered personal accounts telling of \u201chorrendous cracking\u201d in their homes, and \u201cdoors sticking\u201d due to subsidence. One said it was \u201cgenuinely scary\u201d to discover that their kitchen had moved as the foundations of the home shifted.
Another Reddit user described the response of a structural engineer they contacted for help. \u201cBefore I could finish explaining he laughed and said, \u2018You and 20,000 other people in southeast London\u2019,\u201d the person wrote.
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy, what\u2019s happening now,\u201d said Otso Lahtinen, chief executive of Geobear, an engineering firm that is regularly called in to repair damage caused by subsidence. \u201cIt\u2019s the new norm, and it seems it will happen more often in the next 20 to 30 years.\u201d
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T18:12:05Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T18:30:06Z", "authors": ["Bloomberg"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364987/half-hong-kongs-public-bodies-omit-emissions-data-green-group-finds?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364987/half-hong-kongs-public-bodies-omit-emissions-data-green-group-finds?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Half of Hong Kong\u2019s public bodies omit emissions data, green group finds", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Theodora Yu
Half of Hong Kong\u2019s government departments and public bodies have not disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions data and some calculations have been based on outdated information, a green group has found.
The findings from The Green Earth have prompted calls for stronger carbon reporting and the setting of reduction targets across the public sector to align with the city\u2019s goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050.
The non-profit group\u2019s study of 82 public entities found that while 41 published emissions data, about eight entities relied on an outdated emission factor.
An emission factor is a standard multiplier used to calculate the amount of greenhouse gas generated from an activity.
The city\u2019s two utility providers, CLP Power and HK Electric, each publish their own emission factors, which are adjusted with changes in the energy mix.
Using outdated factors could lead to overestimated emission reductions, said Steven Chan Wing-kit, the green group\u2019s assistant environmental affairs manager.
", "summary": "By Theodora Yu
Half of Hong Kong\u2019s government departments and public bodies have not disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions data and some calculations have been based on outdated information, a green group has found.
The findings from The Green Earth have prompted calls for stronger carbon reporting and the setting of reduction targets across the public sector to align with the city\u2019s goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050.
The non-profit group\u2019s study of 82 public entities found that while 41 published emissions data, about eight entities relied on an outdated emission factor.
An emission factor is a standard multiplier used to calculate the amount of greenhouse gas generated from an activity.
The city\u2019s two utility providers, CLP Power and HK Electric, each publish their own emission factors, which are adjusted with changes in the energy mix.
Using outdated factors could lead to overestimated emission reductions, said Steven Chan Wing-kit, the green group\u2019s assistant environmental affairs manager.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T18:00:22Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T18:30:11Z", "authors": ["Theodora Yu"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3365003/alibaba-sets-price-us102-billion-new-share-offer-fuel-ai-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3365003/alibaba-sets-price-us102-billion-new-share-offer-fuel-ai-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Alibaba\u2019s US$10 billion share sale three times oversubscribed in Hong Kong", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Xinmei Shen
Alibaba Group Holding has sold 710 million new shares at HK$112.70 each to raise HK$80 billion (US$10.2 billion) in one of the largest artificial intelligence-dedicated fundraising efforts by a Chinese technology firm.
The offer price represented an 8.4 per cent discount to the stock\u2019s closing price in Hong Kong on Friday and a 3.6 per cent discount to the Friday closing price of its New York-listed shares, the company said in a stock exchange filing on Monday.
The 710 million newly issued shares represented around 3.7 per cent of the company\u2019s 19.17 billion total outstanding shares. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.
The placement, Alibaba\u2019s first primary share issuance since its 2019 secondary listing in Hong Kong, drew fierce investor demand.
The order book exceeded the US$10 billion target shortly after launch, attracting US$28 billion in demand to leave the deal nearly three times oversubscribed, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Anchor demand came from leading sovereign wealth funds across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, they said.
", "summary": "By Xinmei Shen
Alibaba Group Holding has sold 710 million new shares at HK$112.70 each to raise HK$80 billion (US$10.2 billion) in one of the largest artificial intelligence-dedicated fundraising efforts by a Chinese technology firm.
The offer price represented an 8.4 per cent discount to the stock\u2019s closing price in Hong Kong on Friday and a 3.6 per cent discount to the Friday closing price of its New York-listed shares, the company said in a stock exchange filing on Monday.
The 710 million newly issued shares represented around 3.7 per cent of the company\u2019s 19.17 billion total outstanding shares. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.
The placement, Alibaba\u2019s first primary share issuance since its 2019 secondary listing in Hong Kong, drew fierce investor demand.
The order book exceeded the US$10 billion target shortly after launch, attracting US$28 billion in demand to leave the deal nearly three times oversubscribed, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Anchor demand came from leading sovereign wealth funds across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, they said.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T17:59:29Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T21:30:22Z", "authors": ["Xinmei Shen"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3364730/remembering-zhu-rongji-and-understanding-his-legacy?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3364730/remembering-zhu-rongji-and-understanding-his-legacy?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Remembering Zhu Rongji and understanding his legacy", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Tammy Tam
\u201cHistory doesn\u2019t repeat itself but it often rhymes.\u201d This famous quote, widely attributed to Mark Twain, keeps playing in my mind as China mourns the death of former premier Zhu Rongji and reflects on his legacy.
It was early afternoon on August 12 when I received a message from a friend on the mainland that made my heart sink: \u201cOur much-respected Premier Zhu left us this morning!\u201d
As we anxiously waited for the official confirmation that would launch us into a frantically busy news day, my mind went back to those years when I, as a journalist, had multiple opportunities to encounter Zhu up close. I was as impressed by his statesmanship, wisdom and wit on the international stage as I was touched by the genuine love he showed Hong Kong.
Zhu became the fifth premier of China in March 1998 as the country was undergoing a tremendous transformation from decades of a planned economy to a \u201cmarket economy with Chinese characteristics\u201d under then-president Jiang Zemin. It was only about nine months after Hong Kong\u2019s return to Chinese sovereignty following more than a century of British colonial rule.
It was an uncertain but exciting time, when the \u201cone country, two systems\u201d governing principle for Hong Kong was being rolled out. The implementation of the special formula designed by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and officially recognised in China\u2019s constitution \u2013 which empowered the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the legislation of the Basic Law \u2013 was well received but still a work in progress.
Back then there were plenty of concerns, doubts and political narratives about it being \u201cover\u201d for Hong Kong, and some of that remains to this day, although the facts speak louder about the progress the city has made and its transformation for the better after its return to the motherland. Zhu and Jiang kept one country, two systems dear to their hearts, and China\u2019s current leadership has neither changed that approach nor intends to.
", "summary": "By Tammy Tam
\u201cHistory doesn\u2019t repeat itself but it often rhymes.\u201d This famous quote, widely attributed to Mark Twain, keeps playing in my mind as China mourns the death of former premier Zhu Rongji and reflects on his legacy.
It was early afternoon on August 12 when I received a message from a friend on the mainland that made my heart sink: \u201cOur much-respected Premier Zhu left us this morning!\u201d
As we anxiously waited for the official confirmation that would launch us into a frantically busy news day, my mind went back to those years when I, as a journalist, had multiple opportunities to encounter Zhu up close. I was as impressed by his statesmanship, wisdom and wit on the international stage as I was touched by the genuine love he showed Hong Kong.
Zhu became the fifth premier of China in March 1998 as the country was undergoing a tremendous transformation from decades of a planned economy to a \u201cmarket economy with Chinese characteristics\u201d under then-president Jiang Zemin. It was only about nine months after Hong Kong\u2019s return to Chinese sovereignty following more than a century of British colonial rule.
It was an uncertain but exciting time, when the \u201cone country, two systems\u201d governing principle for Hong Kong was being rolled out. The implementation of the special formula designed by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and officially recognised in China\u2019s constitution \u2013 which empowered the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the legislation of the Basic Law \u2013 was well received but still a work in progress.
Back then there were plenty of concerns, doubts and political narratives about it being \u201cover\u201d for Hong Kong, and some of that remains to this day, although the facts speak louder about the progress the city has made and its transformation for the better after its return to the motherland. Zhu and Jiang kept one country, two systems dear to their hearts, and China\u2019s current leadership has neither changed that approach nor intends to.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T17:30:06Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T18:00:01Z", "authors": ["Tammy Tam"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3365000/malaysian-villages-shaken-blasts-rock-southern-thailand?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3365000/malaysian-villages-shaken-blasts-rock-southern-thailand?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Malaysian villages shaken as blasts rock southern Thailand", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Agencies
Residents of Malaysian villages near the Thailand border were left shaken this weekend after hearing loud booms and seeing flashes of light across the frontier, as Thai authorities confirmed more than 50 coordinated attacks on Saturday night.
The blasts, heard in Kampung Lubok Gong and Kampung Tersang in Malaysia\u2019s Kelantan state, coincided with a wave of near-simultaneous attacks across 21 districts in Thailand\u2019s Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces beginning around 8pm local time on Saturday, according to Thailand\u2019s Internal Security Operations Command.
Preliminary reports indicated three civilians were injured and they were reported to be recovering on Sunday, though authorities said they were still compiling a full casualty count given the scale of the incidents.
On the Malaysian side of the border, Ismail Abdul Rahman, 50, of Kampung Lubok Gong, and Malik Zulkarnain, 35, of Kampung Tersang, told national news agency Bernama that the booms were unmistakable.
\u201cThey were very loud, like booms in the sky during a lightning storm. The house felt as though it was shaking, and we immediately stayed alert,\u201d Ismail said, adding that he kept his family indoors until the noise abated.
", "summary": "By Agencies
Residents of Malaysian villages near the Thailand border were left shaken this weekend after hearing loud booms and seeing flashes of light across the frontier, as Thai authorities confirmed more than 50 coordinated attacks on Saturday night.
The blasts, heard in Kampung Lubok Gong and Kampung Tersang in Malaysia\u2019s Kelantan state, coincided with a wave of near-simultaneous attacks across 21 districts in Thailand\u2019s Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces beginning around 8pm local time on Saturday, according to Thailand\u2019s Internal Security Operations Command.
Preliminary reports indicated three civilians were injured and they were reported to be recovering on Sunday, though authorities said they were still compiling a full casualty count given the scale of the incidents.
On the Malaysian side of the border, Ismail Abdul Rahman, 50, of Kampung Lubok Gong, and Malik Zulkarnain, 35, of Kampung Tersang, told national news agency Bernama that the booms were unmistakable.
\u201cThey were very loud, like booms in the sky during a lightning storm. The house felt as though it was shaking, and we immediately stayed alert,\u201d Ismail said, adding that he kept his family indoors until the noise abated.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T17:27:36Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T17:30:01Z", "authors": ["Agencies"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3364999/kazakhstan-election-pro-tokayev-party-set-landslide-president-hints-staying?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3364999/kazakhstan-election-pro-tokayev-party-set-landslide-president-hints-staying?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Kazakhstan election: pro-Tokayev party set for landslide as president hints at staying on", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Bloomberg
A party led by allies of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won a landslide in parliamentary elections on Sunday, hours after he hinted that he may stay in power beyond his current term.
The Adilet party won 71.8 per cent of votes in the election to a new single-chamber parliament, according to an exit poll released on state television. The Auyl party representing agrarian interests was second with 6.4 per cent.
\u201cI have the right to be re\u2011elected in accordance with the law,\u201d Tokayev told reporters earlier, after casting his vote, in response to a question on whether he would seek another term. \u201cPerhaps next year I\u2019ll be able to give you a more specific answer.\u201d
Adilet, which means Justice, is led by one of Tokayev\u2019s former top aides with backing from business leaders who have gained influence during his presidency. It was founded only in May, and the former ruling Amanat party, which won the 2023 parliamentary elections, announced in June that it was merging with Adilet.
Seven parties contested 145 seats allocated by party list for a five-year term in the new parliament. Five had cleared the 5 per cent threshold, according to the exit poll conducted by the Institute of Eurasian Integration, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point. Voter turnout was 74.19 per cent, according to the country\u2019s central election commission.
The new chamber is the latest element of a constitutional overhaul initiated by Tokayev following deadly 2022 riots that he called an attempted coup in the giant former Soviet republic of about 20 million people. It replaces the previous bicameral parliament, following a referendum in March that also established the post of vice-president, who would succeed the head of state in the event of an early departure from office.
![\"Tokayev](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/08/24/a93e2d80-8620-4019-9f50-a41057d0229b_521d0c9f.jpg\")
By Bloomberg
A party led by allies of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won a landslide in parliamentary elections on Sunday, hours after he hinted that he may stay in power beyond his current term.
The Adilet party won 71.8 per cent of votes in the election to a new single-chamber parliament, according to an exit poll released on state television. The Auyl party representing agrarian interests was second with 6.4 per cent.
\u201cI have the right to be re\u2011elected in accordance with the law,\u201d Tokayev told reporters earlier, after casting his vote, in response to a question on whether he would seek another term. \u201cPerhaps next year I\u2019ll be able to give you a more specific answer.\u201d
Adilet, which means Justice, is led by one of Tokayev\u2019s former top aides with backing from business leaders who have gained influence during his presidency. It was founded only in May, and the former ruling Amanat party, which won the 2023 parliamentary elections, announced in June that it was merging with Adilet.
Seven parties contested 145 seats allocated by party list for a five-year term in the new parliament. Five had cleared the 5 per cent threshold, according to the exit poll conducted by the Institute of Eurasian Integration, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point. Voter turnout was 74.19 per cent, according to the country\u2019s central election commission.
The new chamber is the latest element of a constitutional overhaul initiated by Tokayev following deadly 2022 riots that he called an attempted coup in the giant former Soviet republic of about 20 million people. It replaces the previous bicameral parliament, following a referendum in March that also established the post of vice-president, who would succeed the head of state in the event of an early departure from office.
By William Yiu
Hong Kong public universities have admitted a record number of students applying outside the local exam system, with the intake surging by 63 per cent over seven years to account for nearly 30 per cent of the 15,000 government-funded places, the South China Morning Post has found.
Meanwhile, the intake of home-grown students taking the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam has dropped by 7 per cent, causing its proportion to fall from 82 per cent to 72 per cent, sparking calls for a cap on admissions through alternative qualifications to safeguard local interests.
\u201cThe decrease in places for DSE students results in driving up admission scores,\u201d said Ng Po-shing, a student guidance consultant at Hok Yau Club and vice-principal of a secondary school. \u201cMore students are complaining that they failed to get into certain programmes though they met the median score in the previous cohort.\u201d
The Diploma of Secondary Education is the city\u2019s main university entrance examination.
The SCMP isolated the trends after analysing data sets from the University Grants Committee (UGC) on first-year-first-degree students admitted with DSE and non-DSE qualifications across all eight government-funded universities from 2019-20 to 2025-26.
According to the data, non-DSE admissions to government-funded Year One university places have shown an upward trend in both overall numbers and proportions over six years.
", "summary": "By William Yiu
Hong Kong public universities have admitted a record number of students applying outside the local exam system, with the intake surging by 63 per cent over seven years to account for nearly 30 per cent of the 15,000 government-funded places, the South China Morning Post has found.
Meanwhile, the intake of home-grown students taking the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam has dropped by 7 per cent, causing its proportion to fall from 82 per cent to 72 per cent, sparking calls for a cap on admissions through alternative qualifications to safeguard local interests.
\u201cThe decrease in places for DSE students results in driving up admission scores,\u201d said Ng Po-shing, a student guidance consultant at Hok Yau Club and vice-principal of a secondary school. \u201cMore students are complaining that they failed to get into certain programmes though they met the median score in the previous cohort.\u201d
The Diploma of Secondary Education is the city\u2019s main university entrance examination.
The SCMP isolated the trends after analysing data sets from the University Grants Committee (UGC) on first-year-first-degree students admitted with DSE and non-DSE qualifications across all eight government-funded universities from 2019-20 to 2025-26.
According to the data, non-DSE admissions to government-funded Year One university places have shown an upward trend in both overall numbers and proportions over six years.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-08-23T16:30:12Z", "date_modified": "2026-08-23T17:00:06Z", "authors": ["William Yiu"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3364890/indonesia-takes-malaysia-battle-over-palm-oil-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3364890/indonesia-takes-malaysia-battle-over-palm-oil-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Indonesia takes on Malaysia in battle over palm oil pricing", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Vincent Tan
Indonesia produces and exports more palm oil than any other country, but when it comes to setting the price, it still plays second fiddle to Malaysia.
President Prabowo Subianto wants to change that. On August 14, he announced a new exchange for commodities including palm oil, nickel and coal, targeted to begin operations on January 1.
But analysts say dominance in physical supply does not automatically translate into pricing power. Jakarta\u2019s move to set new benchmarks may not be enough to persuade international traders to ditch Bursa Malaysia\u2019s crude palm oil futures contract (FCPO), the industry\u2019s principal reference for pricing and hedging.
The new bourse is part of a broader push by Prabowo for greater state oversight of export prices, volumes and revenue.
\u201cWe do not merely want to be a producer of global commodities. We must become a setter for prices of global commodities,\u201d Prabowo told lawmakers during his annual budget speech before Indonesia\u2019s House of Representatives.
The Strategic Mineral and Commodity Exchange (BMKS) will be supervised by the Financial Services Authority, which said on August 19 that it had appointed Henry Rialdi as deputy commissioner responsible for the exchange\u2019s regulation and oversight.
", "summary": "By Vincent Tan
Indonesia produces and exports more palm oil than any other country, but when it comes to setting the price, it still plays second fiddle to Malaysia.
President Prabowo Subianto wants to change that. On August 14, he announced a new exchange for commodities including palm oil, nickel and coal, targeted to begin operations on January 1.
But analysts say dominance in physical supply does not automatically translate into pricing power. Jakarta\u2019s move to set new benchmarks may not be enough to persuade international traders to ditch Bursa Malaysia\u2019s crude palm oil futures contract (FCPO), the industry\u2019s principal reference for pricing and hedging.
The new bourse is part of a broader push by Prabowo for greater state oversight of export prices, volumes and revenue.
\u201cWe do not merely want to be a producer of global commodities. We must become a setter for prices of global commodities,\u201d Prabowo told lawmakers during his annual budget speech before Indonesia\u2019s House of Representatives.
The Strategic Mineral and Commodity Exchange (BMKS) will be supervised by the Financial Services Authority, which said on August 19 that it had appointed Henry Rialdi as deputy commissioner responsible for the exchange\u2019s regulation and oversight.
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