Will AI-powered open-door vending machines reshape Hong Kong’s retail landscape?
Sherry Shum has embraced a new shopping routine after finding a smart vending machine near her home in Chai Wan. The 37-year-old retail worker...
Gulf economies accelerate diversification as recession looms over Iran war
Before the outbreak of the war triggered by the US-Israeli attack on Iran in February, the Gulf monarchies were living the prosperity dream that...
Xi Using Anniversary Speech to Consolidate Power Ahead of CCP Top Meeting, Analysts Say
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping recently delivered a speech to commemorate the 90th anniversary of communist troops’ “Long March,” and analysts say...
Singapore tells suppliers to ‘honour commitments’ amid Indonesia’s gas cut
Singapore expects all parties who have signed commercial contracts for gas supplies to “honour their commitments”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday after...
‘Mum, good’: Chinese woman wakes vegetative daughter-in-law after 17 years of care
A woman in eastern China has been devotedly caring for her daughter-in-law for 17 years, ever since she fell into a vegetative state, moving...
Fandom vs flag: why young Chinese embrace Japanese pop culture but reject war-era symbols
Published: 10:00am, 25 Oct 2026Updated: 10:21am, 25 Oct 2026 Young Chinese people enjoy Japanese pop culture such as anime and music, but many draw...
Why more Japanese women are choosing ‘silver divorce’ after decades of marriage
Ayumi lives alone in a spacious suburban house originally bought to raise a family, her two cats now her only full-time companions. Her two...
Hong Kong needs a civil service fit for a changed world
Hong Kong’s civil service has long enjoyed a reputation for efficiency, professionalism and probity. It has also been a pillar of stability, particularly during...
School bullying cases in Hong Kong rise 32% to nearly 500 a year
Hong Kong schools handled an average of 496 bullying cases each academic year from 2022 to 2025 – a 32 per cent jump compared...