South China Morning Post
May 2026
US pressure has only helped make China’s tech giants stronger
Huawei can now bypass ASML’s technology to make the advanced chips that the US has barred from export to China
Hong Kong’s progress in quitting tobacco is worth celebrating
The WHO has hailed the city’s tobacco control efforts, which include bringing the smoking rate down to one of the lowest among developed economies
Hong Kong must embrace ‘bipolar’ role to thrive in ‘Stage 3.0’: ex-HKEX boss Charles Li
US takes step to halt Nvidia AI chip shipments to Chinese firms outside China
Syria’s Sharaa holds phone call with Trump, Syrian presidency says
Chinese bus driver charged in crash that killed 5 in Virginia, including family of 4
A son, a father — the whole family — everyone that has been dear to us,
Iran says does not trust US as Trump toughens terms
Any tweaks to the draft could further delay an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of fraught negotiations marked by sharp rhetoric and occasional flare-ups of violence
French museum reports theft of banana from Italian artist’s multimillion-dollar work
A museum in eastern France on Sunday reported to police the theft of a banana that forms a core part of a multimillion-dollar artwork by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan
Italy bans Kanye West concert over security concerns
Jewish community ‘expressed reservations’ about the rapper’s July 18 Pulse of Gaia Festival set after West’s previous antisemitic remarks
The decision … was taken for reasons of protection of public order and safety, in view of the close timing of the events and the large crowd expected within a 24-hour period,
Israeli army captures strategic Crusader-built castle in Lebanon
Israeli troops previously held the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle from 1982 until they withdrew from Lebanon in 2000
United Airlines flight to Spain turns back to Newark, US after possible security threat
45 killed in Myanmar’s Shan state after blast at mining explosive storage facility
About 70 other people were injured in the explosion that took place around noon in the village of Kaungtup, in Namhkam township
Victor Wembanyama eyes ‘childhood dream’ after helping Spurs stun Thunder in NBA playoffs
Victor Wembanyama is within sight of realising a lifelong dream after helping the San Antonio Spurs battle past the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday to set up an NBA finals showdown with the New York Knicks
Winning the Larry O’Brien [NBA championship trophy] is a childhood dream, and having a real shot at it, having a tangible chance at winning it — it’s a lifetime chance,
More medals, records for Hong Kong on final day of Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships
City win one silver, one bronze and set two more Hong Kong records as China top medal table at end of four-day meet at Kai Tak Sports Park
Will a World Cup travel boom help Mexico dispel Chinese tourists’ safety fears?
A boost of visitor numbers for the tournament should also include travellers from China, though surveys show lingering safety concerns
I want to hear the voices of common residents,
French police arrest 780 after violent Paris Saint-Germain celebrations
One small group even tried to storm a Paris police station
Most of the celebrations took place peacefully
‘Silent killer’: the race to beat cancer in Hong Kong
Eudice Chong overcomes 12th seeds, pesky bee to fly Hong Kong flag in French Open doubles
My goal now is to challenge in 500- and 1000-level events and prove I have the ability to establish myself there.”
Shangri-La Dialogue: can Asia do ‘less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs’?
As the Shangri-La Dialogue drew to a close on Sunday, two issues dominated discussions throughout the event: defence spending and the varying level of commitment of countries to maintain peace in the region after calls by Washington for its allies and others to pull their weight
Colombian voters weigh economic reforms against right-wing crackdown
Leftist Ivan Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator, is leading opinion polls, but looks likely to fall well short of the 50 per cent-plus support needed to avoid a June run-off
Human-shaped object in US military UFO files intrigues Chinese expert
Assuming this wasn’t a sensor glitch and that we are looking at an actual, instantaneous displacement, AI-assisted analyses suggest the object’s acceleration could have exceeded 600g — or 600 times the force of gravity on Earth’s surface,
Caspar Fownes draws two clear in championship race as trio of debutants strike at Sha Tin
His trial at Happy Valley against two Class Three horses that both came out and ran very well in Class Three was good,
It was a very nice ride and he’s a young horse, carrying 135lb when you’re a three-year-old, even though it’s Class Four it’s very tough in Hong Kong when you’re against older horses. So, it was a very close finish and I’m very happy I put my head in front of Mr Hayes,
He’s always shown good ability from day one,
I thought the horse did a great job. First time at the races, never easy from gate 10. I think he gave him a very good ride and I think he’s a horse that will go forward from here,
Light Years Charm provides David Eustace with landmark Group Three victory in Hong Kong
I wasn’t sure — luckily a few of the senior trainers around gave me the nod that we got up, but had to wait for the slow-mo. It was close, luckily he’s a big, long horse and he’s got a long neck,
He’s just been a great horse and I’d say worked through his grades really well. We always felt a mile would suit him and it’s probably the first time we’ve really tried a mile where everything’s actually gone well going into the race, and he’s had a nice weight,
Group races in Hong Kong are probably like winning Group Ones anywhere else. They’re hard to win and they don’t happen that often — but a Group One is on another level. It’s a big thrill,
It’s amazing. Before the race, we just talked about saving ground and try to beat the good horses — and we did,
He got a beautiful ride from Jerry. Jerry rides very well and is sort of adaptable to the races, which you need here, and it's nice to share a partnership with him,
There’s an 1,800m race in three weeks, so I’d like to try for that, I don’t see why not. Otherwise he has a break. I’ve always felt he would stay so while he’s going well, I’m not really looking for another option,
Confronting cancer in Hong Kong
Nigeria’s opposition divided, incumbent Tinubu eyes second term
Despite economic pains and an Islamist insurgency, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is viewed as the front runner in January’s elections