We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China launches Pinglu Canal, slashing transit time to Southeast Asia China officially opened its landmark Pinglu Canal to navigation on Wednesday, creating a new maritime gateway for the country’s southwestern hinterland and providing
China launches Pinglu Canal; Hong Kong unveils first 5-year plan: SCMP’s 7 highlights
From Chinese defence chief’s forum speech to a Beijing Hyrox athlete’s faecal row, here are top stories from SCMP’s recent reporting
China officially opened its landmark Pinglu Canal to navigation on Wednesday, creating a new maritime gateway for the country’s southwestern hinterland and providing a shorter route to Southeast Asia as Beijing seeks to deepen trade with the region.
Heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides across northern Vietnam, killing three people and damaging thousands of homes as well as more than 22,000 hectares (54,000 acres) of crops. The northern region has experienced downpours since Monday, with some areas receiving as much as 653mm (26 inches) of rain, according to a statement on the government’s website. More than 16,000 houses have been inundated while rice and other crops have been damaged. National and provincial roads have been...
Polling stations opened Friday in Russia’s Far East, kicking off a three-day election that President Vladimir Putin’s party is all but guaranteed to win in the fifth year of war with Ukraine. It will be Russia’s first parliamentary election since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has since killed hundreds of thousands. Only parties that support Putin and the Kremlin’s dragging military campaign have been registered to run. Moscow has also organised voting in occupied..
UN mission alleges crimes against humanity in Iranian protest crackdown A UN fact-finding mission has concluded Iranian forces committed crimes against humanity during a crackdown on protests, with the worst repression occurring in January. The report backs up witness claims of unprecedented violence.
A Polícia Rodoviária Federal e a Receita Federal encontraram duas toneladas de maconha escondidas em meio a uma carga de repolhos na rodovia BR-280, em Rio Negrinho (SC). Leia mais (09/18/2026 - 02h25)
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday that United States President Donald Trump wants dialogue with Pyongyang and confirmed Seoul will not be deploying troops to intervene militarily in the Iran war. “Trump clearly wants dialogue with North Korea,” Lee said on Friday. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3How South Korea finds itself…
Two decades into an insurgency that has killed thousands in southern Thailand, a leader of the main Malay–Muslim separatist group has vowed to keep fighting until it achieves its goals. “This struggle will continue until the end of time,” Nikmatullah Seri, the spokesman for the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) peace negotiation delegation, said in a rare interview. “As long as our objectives remain unachieved, we will continue to fight.” Militants from BRN have fought for an independent Islamic..