A study in one of the world’s top scientific journals that concluded China’s policy-driven solar energy expansion was harming bird diversity has come under fire after allegations emerged that the analysis may have used observations of 2.1 billion little egrets in a single park – more than the entire global population of the species. It also brought up heated conversations on social media about negative narratives surrounding China’s green energy sector. The study in question – by researchers in...

China is using the world’s most powerful geostationary weather satellite to track severe thunderstorms over Nepal and deliver real-time intelligence as the two countries continue search and rescue operations following last month’s devastating glacier collapse. The Fengyun‑4C satellite – launched in December 2025 and now positioned 36,000km (22,000 miles) above the equator – carries a Lightning Mapping Imager (LMI) that captures 500 frames per second, sifting through 30 gigabits of data every...

There is little in common between Daron Acemoglu and Xi Jinping. As a strong advocate of the Western model of liberal democracy, Acemoglu, co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in economics, may be considered the ideological opposite of the Chinese president. But on a crucial point about China’s future, the two may, strangely, be on the same page: an across-the-board introduction of cutting-edge technology may enhance productivity and maintain economic growth. It may counteract the negative...

Comments by US Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh at its annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole last month have reinforced expectations of an impending interest rate rise in the world’s largest economy, which would have significant impacts on assets and investors around the world. While the Fed kept its target rate in the range of 3.5 to 3.75 per cent at its meeting in July, Warsh’s comments last month about it having work to do in controlling inflation have heightened expectations...

Indonesia halted operations at its main international airport outside Jakarta on Sunday after ash spewed from the Anak Krakatoa volcano more than 150km (93 miles) away, impacting thousands of passengers. Mount Anak Krakatoa erupted on Saturday, producing a fountain of lava and booming sounds that could be heard up to a few hundred kilometres away, the geology agency said in a statement. Two new eruptions were recorded on Sunday, the volcanology agency warned. Ash from the volcano was detected in...

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to improve residents’ livelihoods through long-term strategies in the city’s first five-year plan, with concrete measures to be set out in the coming policy address. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday that the administration would continue to uphold its people-oriented governance philosophy, focus on residents’ needs and push Hong Kong forward. His remarks came ahead of September 16, when he will unveil Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and deliver the...

Hong Kong labour authorities are open to classifying heatstroke as an occupational disease, the city’s labour chief has said, acknowledging the revamped heat warning system would have triggered stronger alerts on two exceptionally hot days last month. Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum said retrospective modelling showed the revised system would have issued a black warning on August 8 and a red alert on August 9, when the Observatory recorded 36.9 degrees Celsius (98.4 Fahrenheit) at its...