EU lawmakers arrive in China for high-stakes talks to manage mounting tensions
A European Parliament delegation has begun a three-day visit to China to meet senior officials in Beijing and Shanghai to manage strained ties amid escalating trade friction , geopolitical uncertainty and expanding EU import curbs.
The eight-member delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by committee chairman David McAllister, arrived in China on Tuesday for the committee’
Will Indonesia’s decision to join China-led AI body complicate US ties?
Indonesia ’s decision to join a new China-led artificial intelligence body has raised questions about how far Jakarta can push its digital ambitions without complicating its ties with Washington.
For Indonesia, membership in the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (Waico) offers a route to training, infrastructure and a bigger role in global AI governance as it seeks to boost technological development.
But analysts said the move could also be seen as a political manoeuvre that may test a recent trade agreement with the US, which requires Jakarta to consult Washington
Hong Kong retains 17th spot among top cities for students but high costs hurt
Hong Kong has retained its 17th place among the world’s top destinations for students, but British rankings firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has said that high living costs along with the steepest tuition fees in East Asia continue to deter international applicants.
QS also identified limited international diversity and a persistent shortage of accommodation for students as key challenges for the city.
In the QS Best Student Cities list for 2027, which provides an overview of the best places to live and study around the world for international
From bankruptcy to viral critic: the remarkable journey of Chinese veteran actor Li Chengru
Li Chengru is a nationally famous Chinese actor, but before he gained fame as an entertainer, he was a self-made businessman who lost his entire US$13 million in foreign currency trading.
Beijing-born Li, 71, is famous for many classic roles, such as police officer Da Zeng in one of China’s first crime dramas, The VI Group of Fatal Case , and a psychopath who delivers a sharp monologue about the real estate market in Feng Xiaogang’s 2001 film
78 arrested in crackdown on illegal gambling, including racecourse syndicate
Hong Kong police have arrested 78 people, with the youngest aged 16, in a crackdown on illegal gambling activities, including a syndicate operating at the Happy Valley racecourse.
Lo Kin-pong, chief inspector from the regional anti-triad unit on Hong Kong Island, said on Tuesday that the force conducted enforcement efforts between July 7 and Monday against illicit drug, gambling, prostitution and triad activities.
A total of 42 men and 36 women, aged between 16 and 68, were arrested,
Landmark insurance policy clears Shenzhen’s flying vehicle for Hong Kong lift-off
Minxiao Chang in Shenzhen
A groundbreaking cross-border insurance policy covering a piloted aircraft has cleared a key regulatory obstacle, allowing the Shenzhen vehicle to take to the sky in Hong Kong.
With a total liability of HK$20 million (US$2.6 million) covering the one-year period ending in June 2027, this marks the first cross-border insurance policy for China’s burgeoning low-altitude economy
India tunnel blast kills 10 workers, leaves at least 15 trapped
At least 10 people were killed and 17 others remain missing after a suspected gas explosion triggered a collapse inside an under-construction tunnel at a hydropower project in India’s northeastern Himalayan state of Sikkim, near the Chinese border, officials said on Tuesday.
The blast ripped through the tunnel on Monday at Samardung village, about 40km (25 miles) from the state capital, Gangtok, where multiple workers were carrying out construction work on the 500-megawatt Teesta hydroelectric project, Anupama Tamling
Malaysia cracks down on cybercrime with new rules for digital space: ‘necessary reset’
Malaysia is close to overhauling its nearly 30-year-old cybercrime law and giving authorities long-sought tools to pursue online fraud, digital impersonation and AI-generated abuse, but experts say the bill’s impact will depend on whether investigators can enforce it effectively and prevent misuse of its powers.
The Cybercrimes Bill 2026 was first tabled in parliament on June 22 and passed by the Dewan Rakyat, Malaysia’s lower house, on July 1. The Dewan Negara, the upper house,
As Iran war drags on, China keeps tight grip on fuel exports despite eased curbs
While Beijing has lifted refined fuel export restrictions this month amid elevated global oil prices and ample national reserves, it has also introduced compliance requirements for refiners – a cautious pivot aimed at safeguarding domestic stockpiles, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.
“With the interim truce between Washington and Tehran having collapsed, Beijing has adopted a more cautious stance on easing curbs for fuel exports,” a person familiar with the matter said in an interview, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“Refiners now face dual requirements: