Traffic gridlock in Hong Kong as crowds throng last day of Lunar New Year fair
Roads surrounding flower market at Victoria Park and connecting tram and bus routes grind to a halt amid crowds seeking last-minute bargains
· Oscar Liu
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Thailand’s economy rebounds despite tourism decline, pandemic
Lagging regional peers since the pandemic, the Thai economy has faced multiple headwinds, including US tariffs, high household debt and a strengthening baht
· Reuters
China’s Xi prioritises ‘AI-plus’ and consumer spending to counter economic risks
Previously unreleased comments by Xi urge income growth and tech breakthroughs, potentially setting stage for measures ahead of March’s parliamentary meetings
· Frank Chen
‘Disgusting’: pre-made Lunar New Year meals lose lustre for Chinese families
Food fight between star influencer and restaurant chain becomes a hot potato at reunion dinner tables as hosts pick quality over convenience
· He Huifeng
Hongkongers make 1.4 million outbound trips ahead of Lunar New Year
Longer holiday, Valentine’s Day overlap drive 21.6 per cent increase in outbound trips from 2025
· Ambrose Li
School economics class: The challenges of a weight-loss economy
PublishedFebruary 16 2026
Hong Kong banks lure wealthy clients with gold, mahjong sets, fireworks
HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, Standard Chartered, Citibank and DBS offer the metal to select clients while it hovers near a record high
· Enoch Yiu
Hong Kong stocks rise to wrap up best lunar-year performance in eight years
As market closes for Lunar New Year, benchmark hits 32 per cent gain since the Year of the Snake began in January 2025
· Yulu Ao
New think tank launched to bridge talent gap in Hong Kong studies
Hong Kong Future Economy Institute’s director says focus on global topics at local universities has led to fewer people researching pressing local issues
· Leopold Chen
ADB appoints Sona Shrestha as Director General for South Asia - DailyNews
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Sona Shrestha as Director General of its South Asia Department (SARD), where she will lead the development and implementation of ADB’s strategy and operations in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
· Gayan Abeykoon
Softlogic Life surpasses Rs. 40 Bn GWP in FY25 - DailyNews
Softlogic Life delivered a strong financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025, recording a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 40.1 billion delivering a robust year-on-year growth of 27% whilst taking significant strides to expand and further develop its business portfolio with the addition of the Alli…
· Gayan Abeykoon
UB Finance partners John Keells CG Auto to deliver financing solutions for BYD vehicles - DailyNews
UB Finance PLC (UBF), a subsidiary of Union Bank of Colombo PLC entered into a strategic partnership with John Keells CG Auto Pvt Ltd (JKCG Auto) the authorised distributor for BYD New Energy Vehicles in Sri Lanka to offer exclusive and attractive financing solutions for customers purchasing BYD’s latest electric an…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Inflation projected to move towards 5% target by 2H-2026 - DailyNews
Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic stability continued to strengthen in 2025, alongside notable progress in implementing critical structural and policy reforms. Although the year was marked by both severe domestic and global shocks, the economy demonstrated resilience, underscoring the effectiveness of decisive measures to s…
· Gayan Abeykoon
United Motors Group posts LKR 2.4 Bn PAT - DailyNews
United Motors Group (UML) announced a robust financial performance for the first nine months of the financial year, ende December 31, 2025. Year-to-date Group Profit after Tax (PAT) for the financial year stood at Rs. 2.4 billion, an increase of 5,315% compared to the same period last year. At the company level, Uni…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Bangladesh PM-elect says economy faces serious challenges - DailyNews
Tarique Rahman, in his first news conference as prime minister-elect, struck a tone of triumph and reconciliation, declaring that Bangladesh had “restored the true essence of freedom and rights”, after more than a decade and a half of “authoritarian rule”.
· Gayan Abeykoon
Israel launches new West Bank land policy seen as a ‘mega land grab’
West Bank land registration will force anyone who has a claim to land to prove ownership, a move decried by Palestinians
· Associated Press
Кличко: Независимость Украины - все еще открытый вопрос
Существование Украины как независимого государства все еще остается открытым вопросом, считает мэр Киева Виталий Кличко. Такое мнение он высказал в интервью газете Financial Times (FT), опубликованном в воскресенье, 15 февраля.
· Ася Локина
Early flower blooms in warm weather add to sellers’ woes at festival fairs
Temperatures aside, vendors say competition from rivals over border and poor economy have dampened consumer spending
· Lam Ka-sing
Hong Kong visitor arrivals off to strong start in 2026, up 9.6% to 7.23 million
Financial Secretary Paul Chan says 1.43 million mainland Chinese visitors expected during Lunar New Year holiday, up 6 per cent from last year
· Ng Kang-chung
China puts another big bank under stricter watch – why now?
Beijing continues to impose stricter regulatory standards on major lenders, shielding the financial system from mounting strains
· Carol Yang
From fireworks to racing, how Hong Kong is celebrating the Year of the Horse
Here is your guide to events beginning on February 17 ushering in the new year
· Oscar Liu
Malaysia seeks to seize Saudi prince’s overseas assets worth US$115 million
The 1MDB funds are held in several Swiss bank accounts belonging to Turki Abdullah Al Saud
· The Star
Indonesians weigh peril and promise of Jakarta – the world’s most populous city
Extreme heat, floods, pollution, congested traffic and a tough job market are some of the major challenges faced by the city’s residents
· Aisyah Llewellyn
China’s Spring Festival box office faces plot twist after 2025 smashed records
Home-grown films lead the charge but fail to meet the phenomenal success of last year’s Ne Zha 2, which attracted record-breaking crowds
· He Huifeng
Opinion | How recent graduates entering the job market can outperform AI
As automation erodes cognitive and interpersonal skills, those who embrace the struggle of enhancing offline reasoning will thrive
· Eric Stryson
Editorial | Steady recovery in Hong Kong’s property market a vote of confidence
Landmark deals in Central show foreign financial institutions see potential in the city’s and China’s economy
· SCMP Editorial
Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring
The UN’s financial strain is a chance to rethink its structure, cut inefficiencies and empower local work that delivers more impact
· Cale Holmes
China’s gold rush: why families are doubling down on precious metals
Gold is becoming more popular in China ahead of the Lunar New Year, with households viewing the asset as a safety net amid an uncertain economy
· He Huifeng
Macroscope | How robust domestic financial markets could ease era of AI uncertainty
Attempts to develop financial centres must go beyond luring global capital and talent
· Anthony Rowley
Japan out, Australia in? China’s tourists heading down under for Lunar New Year
Bookings projected to surge on new flights, flexible itineraries and ease of payment
· Ralph Jennings
Трамп может сделать послом в ФРГ куратора санкций против РФ
Администрация Дональда Трампа рассматривает возможность назначения высокопоставленного сотрудника министерства финансов послом США в Германии, сообщила в субботу, 14 февраля, британская газета The Financial Times (FT) со ссылкой на трех американских чиновников, отметивших, что позиция в одной из ключевых столиц Евро…
· Сергей Ромашенко
Savvy Hongkongers book 9-day Lunar New Year break for festive trips across Asia
Immigration Department earlier forecast number of trips by residents and visitors alike would reach 11.38 million between February 14 and 23
· Edith Lin
Businessman with Rs.1.2 Mn worth of smuggled antibiotics arrested - DailyNews
Customs Narcotics Control Division officials at the Katunayake Airport arrivals terminal arrested a Sri Lankan passenger on February 13 for illegally smuggling a stock of antibiotic injections worth Rs. 1.2 million. The suspect is a 30-year-old businessman residing in Chilaw.
· damith
Letters | To protect children, professionals could also watch family dynamics
Readers discuss how to better implement child protection, and the financial meaning of lai see
· Letters
FT: Рубио отменил встречу по Украине с европейцами
Госсекретарь США Марко Рубио в последнюю минуту отменил встречу с европейскими лидерами по вопросу войны России против Украины, сообщила в пятницу, 13 февраля, британская газета Financial Times со ссылкой на источники. По ее данным, Рубио должен был участвовать в переговорах представителей Германии, Франции, Польши,…
· Отдел новостей DW
Ministry targets high speed broadband connectivity by 2029 - DailyNews
Digital Economy Ministry officials said plans have been formulated to provide every person in the country with high speed broadband connectivity by 2029.
· damith
US inflation cools more than expected, kindling hopes of Fed rate cut
The consumer price index rose 2.4 per cent year-on-year, the lowest level since May, though affordability concerns still weigh on households
· Agence France-Presse
As Chinese provinces slash revenue outlook, analysts warn of debt control
Local governments seen curbing infrastructure spending as Beijing’s fiscal discipline pushes regions to prioritise social services and tech over large projects
· Ralph Jennings
READ MORE: Ex-Obama counsel quits Goldman Sachs over ‘Uncle Jeffrey’
Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel under Barack Obama, has announced her resignation from the bank, after newly unsealed files revealed her close personal relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
· RT
Chinese power line projects seek private capital in sign of infrastructure shift
Beijing is encouraging more private investment in a range of critical infrastructure projects, from railways to nuclear power plants
· Xinyi Wu
Hong Kong’s West Kowloon arts hub secures HK$3 billion, 10-year loan facility
Deal, together with US$1 billion bond issuance in tranches, will help operator meet financing challenges until property project generates revenue
· Denise Tsang
China charges former AstraZeneca executive – a sign of the times?
Foreign drug makers face pressure in the Chinese market, from tighter regulatory oversight to growing local competition
· Luna Sun
Банк России шестой раз подряд снизил ключевую ставку
Совет директоров Банка России принял решение снизить ключевую ставку с 16% до 15,5% годовых, сообщается на сайте регулятора в пятницу, 13 февраля. Это стало шестым подряд снижением ключевой ставки.
· Отдел новостей DW
CATL, CMOC Group, Laopu Gold join Hang Seng Index in latest quarterly review
The three companies will be added to the gauge after the market close on March 6, while car dealer Zhongsheng Group will be removed
· Zhang Shidong
Gold rush backlash: why China is clamping down on ‘get rich’ promises
Regulators intervene to contain fallout after volatility in global prices sparks market turmoil at home
· Sylvia Ma
Waruna Sri Dhanapala appointed Digital Economy Ministry Secretary - DailyNews
Waruna Sri Dhanapala has been appointed as Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
· Thushan Jayasuriya
China overhauls CPI basket, with never-before-seen unveiling of its composition
Beijing’s five-year recalibration aims to better reflect consumption, as policymakers shift weight away from food and housing
· Carol Yang
Hong Kong diners bid farewell to 80-year-old Honolulu Coffee Shop in Wan Chai
Dozens pack cha chaan teng known for its egg tarts and milk tea ahead of March 1 closure
· Lo Hoi-ying
Thailand plays down ‘too expensive’ concerns from South Korean visitors
The perceived squeeze on the wallet is a result of exchange rate volatility rather than the kingdom’s inflation, tourism officials say
· SCMP’s Asia desk
Almost half of Filipinos willing to trust cheating partners again, survey says
The survey covers six types of cheating: physical, emotional, cyber, object and financial infidelity, as well as micro-cheating
· SCMP’s Asia desk