South China Morning Post

Beijing has announced that the United States and China will pursue a military crisis-communication pact, according to the South China Morning Post. The reported agreement would aim to keep open channels between the two militaries and reduce the risk of escalation during incidents at sea or in the air. The announcement comes amid continued tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, Taiwan and regional security.

Elon Musk said Chinese AI models are generally outstanding and that China leads the world on performance per unit of compute. The remarks were carried by the South China Morning Post alongside comments in which he also praised Xi Jinping's leadership, drawing wide attention and debate over whether the praise reflects genuine technical assessment or diplomatic flattery.

A dispute between South Korea and Ukraine over prisoners of war is threatening relations between the two countries. The disagreement risks undermining South Korean support for Kyiv as Ukraine continues its defence against Russia, according to the South China Morning Post. Officials on both sides have yet to resolve the standoff, raising concern that Seoul's aid to Ukraine could be reduced.

US export controls on semiconductors did not feature as a key topic when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met at their summit, according to the South China Morning Post. The omission is notable given that technology restrictions have been one of the most contentious issues in US-China relations, with Washington limiting Chinese access to advanced chips and Beijing pressing for relief. Observers are weighing what the quiet treatment signals about future trade and tech negotiations.

Commentary is asking whether the most significant outcome of the recent Xi-Trump summit was not the widely reported trade truce, but an agreement or understanding on artificial intelligence. The South China Morning Post piece frames AI as a possible quiet breakthrough between the US and China alongside the headline trade deal. From the available post, the specific terms of any AI understanding and readers' reactions are not clear.

China is considering measures to make open-weight artificial intelligence models less dangerous as risks from the technology grow, according to the South China Morning Post. The discussion focuses on how freely available model weights could be misused, and what safeguards Beijing might apply. The report comes amid intensifying global debate over regulating powerful AI systems.

China has announced a sweeping reform of its higher education system, according to the South China Morning Post. The overhaul is expected to reshape how universities are structured and managed, drawing attention from education watchers and policymakers internationally who are assessing what the changes mean for students, research and China's global academic standing.

A South China Morning Post exclusive reports that the New Development Bank, the Brics bank headquartered in China and often called the Brics bank, is set to take on a leading role in a global alliance against hunger this year, according to Brazil. The report suggests Brazil has indicated the bank will head the hunger alliance effort within the Brics grouping. Beyond the single headline, there is little detail in the available posts about how the arrangement would work or what the bank's exact responsibilities would be, and broader public reaction is not visible.

Chinese researchers say they have developed an electron gun beam described as world-leading, a key step toward building an advanced 'super microscope' for studying materials at extremely small scales. The announcement, reported by the South China Morning Post, is being read as another signal of China's push to compete with the United States and others in cutting-edge scientific instruments.

Chinese chipmaker Amicro, described as a 'little giant' firm, has cleared a key regulatory hurdle for a listing in Hong Kong, according to sources cited by the South China Morning Post. The reported progress would advance the semiconductor company's plans to go public as China pushes to develop its domestic chip industry and expand funding channels for strategic technology firms.

Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has died at the age of 100. The South China Morning Post reported the death as a developing story. Siti Hasmah was a prominent figure in Malaysia in her own right, long seen at Mahathir's side during his decades dominating Malaysian politics. Tributes and condolences are flowing from Malaysians and regional figures.

A South China Morning Post commentary argues that Hong Kong and mainland China cannot afford to ignore the need for greater transparency in their property markets. The piece suggests opaque market practices carry risks for buyers, investors and the wider economy, and that both governments should address disclosure and information gaps in the housing sector.

South China Morning Post's The View column argues that Hong Kong and mainland China cannot afford to ignore the need for greater transparency in their property markets. The piece frames openness in real estate data and dealings as essential to market confidence, at a time when both markets face questions over pricing, demand and developer finances.

Italy is drawing growing interest from wealthy Chinese buyers seeking property in the country, attracted by its food, fashion and lifestyle as well as a flat tax regime for high-net-worth foreign residents. The South China Morning Post reports on how the tax incentive is positioning Italy as a destination for affluent Chinese looking to invest in homes abroad.

A South China Morning Post opinion piece examines how Hong Kong is pursuing a new solution to its long-running land value problem, which has made the city one of the world's least affordable housing markets. The article weighs whether the government's latest approach can unlock land supply and ease pressure on property prices, a debate central to Hong Kong's economy and public finances.

The South China Morning Post reports on the hidden risks of combining traditional Chinese medicine with Western prescription drugs. The piece highlights concerns that herbal remedies can interact with pharmaceuticals, altering their effectiveness or causing harmful side effects, particularly when patients do not tell their doctors about everything they are taking. It calls for greater awareness among patients and practitioners about these potential interactions.

The wives of China's leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump have, according to a South China Morning Post report, carved out a side channel in US-China diplomacy through their own contacts and public appearances. Spousal diplomacy is being discussed as a soft-power complement to formal talks between Washington and Beijing, adding a personal dimension to an otherwise tense bilateral relationship.

Two Singaporean television actors have been charged in connection with protests against the death penalty, according to the South China Morning Post. The charges mark an unusual instance of media figures facing legal action over activism in Singapore, where capital punishment remains in use and anti-death-penalty advocacy is tightly constrained.

A South China Morning Post report examines whether paying people to read and using gamification can reverse declining literacy rates across Southeast Asia. The piece explores incentive-based programmes that reward reading with cash, asking whether such schemes can meaningfully improve reading habits and comprehension in a region struggling with falling literacy levels.