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Australasia

Australia to spend up to US$245.8 billion by 2055 on Aukus shipyard

It will make an initial investment of A$127 million (US$85 million) over three years to upgrade facilities at the Henderson shipyard.

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(From left) Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Aukus defence ministerial meeting in London. Photo: AFP

Law and Crime

Hong Kong customs arrests 5 men suspected of laundering HK$1.6 billion

Bank manager, syndicate’s allegedly leader, former compliance officer of money changer and two directors of shell companies apprehended.

A bank manager is among five men arrested by Hong Kong customs in a crackdown on a local money-laundering syndicate. Photo: Handout

Banking & Finance

Hong Kong IPOs: market abuzz with activity after China stimulus

Hong Kong’s IPO market is experiencing a surge in activity, driven by Beijing’s stimulus measures and improved investor sentiment.

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Horizon Robotics is using the pickup in sentiment to raise US$700 million on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Asia Opinion

Opinion | As AI takes the world by storm, Asia stands to benefit

Amid rising demand for AI and cybersecurity, Southeast Asia’s lower costs, renewable energy and political neutrality are proving attractive.

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Southeast Asia has quickly emerged as an ideal destination for data centres, with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand leading the way. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

EU plastic waste exports to Malaysia soar despite government’s vow to stop influx

The environment minister’s pledge to stop Malaysia from becoming ‘the world’s rubbish bin’ is seemingly undercut by new EU data.

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A worker sorts through plastic waste to recycle in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP
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Politics

Chinese President Xi visits Taiwan-facing county after huge PLA drills

Xi Jinping inspected Dongshan county in Fujian on Tuesday, CCTV says, but offers no details on when trip to province began.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the crowd during his visit to Dongshan county, Fujian province, on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Xinhua

Arts & Culture

Wynton Marsalis looks ahead to his band’s jazz concerts in Hong Kong

Audience can expect classical jazz pieces from the 1920s and 30s, a Marsalis original and ‘a good time’ as trumpeter celebrates his birthday.

Wynton Marsalis, who will perform with his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Hong Kong on October 17 and 18, 2024. Photo: Gilberto Tadday/Jazz at Lincoln Center

Hong Kong

In pictures: Hong Kong’s Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden releases a black kite it rescued

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden staff release a black kite they rescued at Mai Po Nature Reserve. Photo: Sam Tsang

China Business

Data centres push Asia’s cross-border property investment towards 2-year high

Anticipated growth of 50 per cent will drive 2024 cross-border investments to about US$48 billion, according to Knight Frank.

A pedestrian passes construction sites in Tokyo on September 18, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg

Hong Kong economy

14 things you need to know about Hong Kong leader John Lee’s third policy address

New rules to eradicate substandard subdivided flats and measures to attract visitors from Middle East, Asean and mainland among highlights.

Chief Executive John Lee (centre) has delivered his third policy address. Photo: Eugene Lee
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World

EU braces for trade blows, Trump doubles down on China: 7 EV reads you missed

From the European Union voting to impose tariffs to a price war among China’s EV makers, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

China and the European Union have yet to find a way of avoiding tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles before they come into effect at the end of this month. Photo: AFP

Food & Drink

5 must-try food and drinks events in Hong Kong this weekend, October 18-20

From a menu highlighting crabmeat to a low-alcohol-drinks festival to afternoon tea on the Star Ferry, there is much to savour this weekend.

Kyoto Joe’s The Great Crab Feast: Savour Autumn: A Typhoon Shelter Experience is a six-course tasting menu, Photo: Kyoto Joe

Fashion News

How Victoria’s Secret changed the US retail, media and fashion worlds

Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon examines why the brand is an unsung, if controversial, champion of US consumerism.

Gigi Hadid on the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York. Photo: AP

Football

Coach Ivankovic thanks players, crowd after China snap World Cup losing streak

Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Indonesia before a 37,000 crowd at Qingdao revives China’s hopes as the big guns stay on course for the finals.

A fan waves China’s national flag to celebrate their team’s win against Indonesia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification match in Qingdao on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Martial Arts

Qatar fund reportedly part of US$50m funding round for ONE Championship backers

The injection gives Group One – a rival of the company behind Ultimate Fighting Championship – a valuation of at least US$1.35 billion.

ONE Championship held its ONE 168 event at the Ball Arena in Denver, United States, last month. Photo: ONE Championship
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Middle East

Israel strikes southern Beirut after US says it opposes scope of air assault

Israeli jets struck an underground Hezbollah weapons stockpile in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh.

Smoke rise from Israeli air strikes on Dahiyeh, Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Politics

Pritam Singh case: ex-Singapore MP Raeesah Khan faces second impeachment bid

The bid filed by Singh’s lawyer Andre Jumabhoy centres on what he says are discrepancies in Khan’s police and parliamentary statements.

Then Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan speaking in Singapore’s parliament in 2021. Photo: YouTube/wpsgp

Business

‘Studying in Hong Kong’ brand to boost demand for student housing

Chief executive pledges to turn Hong Kong into an international hub for postsecondary education, earmarks over 80 hectares of land for university town.

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General view of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Chief Executive John Lee has pledged to turn the city into an international hub for postsecondary education. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Science

Chinese archaeologists uncover a tomb ‘fit for a king’ in Neolithic burial site

‘Extra-large’ structure with jade ornaments and other signs of wealth suggest ruins could be capital of a prehistoric kingdom.

The excavation site of the M27 tomb at Wangzhuang village in Henan province, central China. Photo: Xinhua

People & Culture

Explainer | China ‘crying wedding’ custom sees women sing parting laments to family, friends

Key part of ceremony is ‘scolding the matchmaker’ – symbolic protest against traditional marital constraints.

China’s “crying wedding” custom sees women sing farewell laments for the old life they are leaving behind. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/hunan.gov.cn
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Gadgets

Director mocks Tesla’s Musk over sci-fi movie looks of Robovan, Optimus

Director of I, Robot film suggests Elon Musk copied its designs for Tesla’s Robovan autonomous bus, Cybercab and Optimus robot.

Tesla’s robovan is unveiled at an event in Los Angeles, California, on October 10, 2024. Photo: Tesla/Handout via Reuters

Policy

China looks to fix problems for debt-ridden authorities with water tax reforms

Ministry of Finance announces expansion of the Water Tax Interim Measures from 10 provinces to the entire nation, effective from December 1.

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Water gushes out from the Three Gorges Dam through nine of its flood discharge gates to spare more capacity for incoming floods from upper reaches of the Yangtze River in central China’s Hubei province. Photo: Xinhua

East Asia

North Korea blows up roads connecting to South

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Food & Drink

Hong Kong Young Chef Young Waiter Young Mixologist winners on their victory

Amber, Argo and Godenya restaurants produce 2024 Hong Kong YYY competition winners. They talk about their creations that impressed judges.

(From left) Argo’s Evan Mak Siu-nam, Amber’s Angus Wong Chun-kei and Godenya’s Tony To Long-him, who were respectively crowned the best bartender, chef and waiter in Hong Kong in the 2024 Young Chef Young Waiter Young Mixologist Hong Kong contest. Photo: Ashlyn Chak

Travel

How to experience Yangshuo, China, like a local – beyond its famous mountains

The mountains of Yangshuo need no introduction, but the picturesque Guangxi county offers much more – from the Tiger Mountain Waterfall to delicious beer fish.

Yangshuo County is a county under the jurisdiction of Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Photo: Getty Images
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Football

Bullish Westwood wants to make Hong Kong fans ‘proud’ after Cambodia lift-off

The Englishman has endured a frosty relationship with fans since taking charge in August, with his name even booed before kick-off.

Everton Camargo was a key figure in Hong Kong’s victory over Cambodia. Photo: Dickson Lee

East Asia

North Korea claims army swells as 1.4 million young fighters clamour to join

State media published photographs of young applicants fervently signing petitions to enlist for a ‘sacred war’ against South Korea.

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Troops train at a special operations forces base of the Korean People’s Army in North Korea. Photo: KCNA via KNS/AFP

Politics

Indonesia bans iPhone 16 sales over Apple’s failure to hit investment target

Apple has failed to meet its investment commitments and needs to renew its local content licence, Indonesia’s government says.

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Apple iPhone 16 models on display at an Apple Store in Los Angeles, California. Photo: AFP

Military

‘Far from restrained’: Beijing’s naval drills near Taiwan reveal blockade plans

Record 17 coastguard vessels coordinated closely with navy vessels in move described as ‘highlight’ of PLA drills around Taiwan on Monday.

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A fighter jet takes off from the PLA aircraft carrier Liaoning sailing east of Taiwan, during the “Joint Sword-2024B” military drills on Monday. Photo: AFP /PLA Eastern Theatre Command

Russia & Central Asia

Russian survives 2 months adrift on inflatable boat. His companions didn’t

The man, who reportedly lost 50kg during his ordeal, was found by a fishing boat 1,000km from his starting point.

The man was rescued Monday by a fishing vessel off the Kamchatka Peninsula. Photo: Russia’s Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office via Reuters