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Bad to worse? Europe’s relief over US midterms tempered by prospect of Trump backlash

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here After almost two years in which the transatlantic alliance verged on collapse, a Democratic landslide in the US midterm elections was welcomed in Europe on Wednesday, even if few believed it would be a panacea for ailing ties. The Democratic Party swept both chambers of the US Co…

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What is the one big thing that could stop Xi, Putin and Trump meeting at Apec?

With just a fortnight until the Apec summit in Shenzhen, preparations are reportedly under way for the first meeting between the leaders of China, Russia and the United States. If the talks go ahead, they could bolster Beijing’s diplomatic standing, although the different priorities of each power were likely to limi…

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Don’t just see Mbappe and Sanrio episodes as Chinese nationalism run amok

In response to the recent Chinese backlash against French footballer Kylian Mbappe and the Japanese company Sanrio, owner of the popular Hello Kitty character, over perceived national slights, Western commentary tends to have a comfortable, uniform narrative, framing the incidents as another wave of gung-ho Chinese …

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US midterm takeaways: Trump’s blame game, Elon’s space lasers and the rest of the world

Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here Democrats won control of both chambers of the US Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, dealing a heavy blow to President Donald Trump as voters vented frustration over rising costs and the Iran war. With Democrats set to take over Congress in January, they will have the power …

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‘The race is on’: Swiss bankers nod to Hong Kong’s prowess as wealth hub

Swiss private banking executives have acknowledged Hong Kong’s growing prominence as a global cross-border wealth-management hub, as geopolitical tensions prompt wealthy clients to diversify not only their investments but also where their assets are held. “The race is on,” said Giorgio Pradelli, CEO of Swiss private…

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Abandoned by parents after cancer diagnosis, Chinese woman dies after solo battle

A Chinese influencer who became known for bravely battling bone cancer after her parents abandoned her following her diagnosis has died, prompting widespread mourning online. On October 27, the account of anti-cancer influencer Miracle Xia Xia posted an obituary announcing that she had died in a Shanghai hospital. T…

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Guangdong pins consumption revival hopes on tourism, health, care for children and elderly

Guangdong, China’s most populous province, has unveiled a wide-ranging plan to revive consumer spending – one of the country’s biggest economic challenges – with schemes to encourage household purchases, attract overseas visitors and roll out AI-powered products. The plan, issued by the provincial development and re…

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At China’s annual import fair, EU firms test Beijing’s promise to open up its markets

European firms are heading to this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China’s biggest annual import fair, in search of new trade opportunities, with many treating the event as a test of Beijing’s promise to open up its market as frictions persist between Beijing and Brussels and the EU’s defi…

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S. Korea has an award for beautiful restrooms. And this one just won the Presidential Award.

If you've ever been impressed by the restrooms at Incheon International Airport, you're not alone. One of them just won the Presidential Award at South Korea's 28th Beautiful Restroom Awards. The winning restroom, located near Gate 225 in Terminal 2's duty-free area, stands out for its floor-to-ceiling windows offer…

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Banks, brokerages face record W374.6b penalties over Hong Kong ELS

South Korea's financial regulator on Wednesday imposed a record 374.6 billion won ($280 million) in penalties on seven banks and six securities firms for misselling Hong Kong-linked investment products, sharply reducing the fines from earlier proposals after considering investor compensation and legal factors. The F…

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As US-Iran war shows, China’s influence can’t secure its line to Gulf oil

China is becoming increasingly important to the Gulf’s economic future. Yet the Gulf remains capable of disrupting China’s own. That is the contradiction exposed by the US-Iran war. Beijing’s importance as an energy customer, investor and technology partner has grown, but its ability to guarantee the maritime routes…

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Taiwan flags massive PLA naval mobilisation, spike in air sorties

Taiwan expressed concern on Tuesday over more than 100 People’s Liberation Army naval vessels and mainland Chinese coastguard ships sailing across the western Pacific, including the Liaoning strike group conducting drills in the Philippine Sea. The maritime deployment overlapped with a sharp spike in PLA aerial acti…

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Asean chief leads call for regional cooperation on 'ethical, safe AI'

FUZHOU, China — Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn led the call for regional cooperation on 'responsible governance and ethics, a safety network, and harnessing infrastructure' amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) at a media forum here on Wednesday.

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Food Week Korea opens in Seoul with focus on exports, food technology

Food Week Korea 2026 opened Wednesday in Seoul, bringing together about 1,000 food companies and 252 international buyers, as organizers seek to turn the consumer-oriented exhibition into a global business platform for Korean food exports. The four-day event runs through Saturday at Coex in southern Seoul. Organizer…

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Imported vehicle sales jump 29.3% in Oct. on strong EV demand

Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea rose a sharp 29.3 percent in October from a year earlier, driven by robust demand for electric vehicles (EVs), industry data showed Wednesday. New registrations increased to 31,117 units last month from 24,064 a year earlier, according to the Korea Automobile Importers & Dis…

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Gibbeum Hospital’s hernia expertise reaching beyond Korea -- and the surgeon behind it

At Gibbeum Hospital in southern Seoul, surgeon Yoon-Sik Kang’s days revolve around the operating room. On his busiest days, he performs up to 15 operations, each lasting about 20 to 30 minutes. “The simpler and quicker the operation, the better, as surgery causes trauma to the patient’s body,” Kang said in an interv…

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Behind Korea’s drama boom lies a harsh production reality

South Korean television, driven by its idiosyncratic, nuanced portrayals of human relationships and bold storytelling, is dominating international charts. But beneath the industry's high-production gloss lies a less flattering reality: working conditions that fail to keep pace with its growing global stature. Despit…

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Opposition grows to Cheonghae Unit expansion

Opposition is mounting against South Korea's potential expansion of naval operations near the Strait of Hormuz, as the government weighs strengthening the Cheonghae Unit's mission amid pressure from Washington to contribute to maritime security in the region. Rep. Kim Joon-hyung, floor leader of the minor left-leani…

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Korea secures record $2b investment pledges

South Korea secured $2 billion in investment pledges from seven global companies at the Invest Korea Summit 2026 on Wednesday, the largest commitments in the event’s 22-year history. The nation’s largest government-led investor relations event, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and organized by…

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How China accidentally broke the West’s arms trade monopoly

As Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent months, the deployment of fiber-optic drones has proven devastatingly effective. The drones use hair-thin cables to maintain direct connections with operators, making them highly resistant to electronic jamming and essential to both s…

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2 sunken ships from 13th century offer glimpse into Medieval Korea

Remains of two shipwrecks believed to date to the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) have been identified off the coast of Mado in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, offering new clues as to how goods were transported to the kingdom's capital. The National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage announced Wednesday that unde…

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China’s Shang Chunsong jumps from gymnastics to women’s parkour World Cup gold in Beijing

Former Chinese women’s team captain Shang Chunsong credited her gymnastics career for laying the groundwork after she clinched gold at the parkour World Cup, while also voicing hope that the sport will one day be included in the Olympics. The 30-year-old won the women’s freestyle title at the FIG Parkour World Cup l…

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Korea Investment & Securities, Neuberger eye global investment products

Korea Investment & Securities seeks to deepen its partnership with US asset manager Neuberger to bring Korean investors more global investment opportunities, particularly in high-growth sectors such as aerospace, semiconductors and private companies preparing to go public. KIS said Wednesday that its President and C…

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Chinese firms’ third-quarter dividend growth lags global average amid market slump

Chinese listed firms’ third-quarter dividend payments lag behind the global average, according to a report by Capital Group, throwing doubt over the effectiveness of Beijing’s ongoing stock market stabilisation plans. In China, dividends only rose 5.3 per cent on a core basis in the third-quarter, compared with glob…

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Jobplanet, LinkedIn leadership discuss AI-driven future of hiring

Jobplanet, an online recruitment platform operated by Worxphere, exchanged views with LinkedIn executives on Korea’s hiring market and the role of artificial intelligence in recruitment, the company announced Wednesday. At its Seoul headquarters on Oct. 19, where LinkedIn Ecosystem Chief Product Officer Hari Sriniva…

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