Representatives from Google and Boeing will be included in the United States’ business delegation at next week’s Apec CEO Summit in Shenzhen, the event organiser has confirmed. But a source familiar with the arrangements said Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang was unlikely to attend at this stage, with many high-profile executives yet to confirm their participation. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the summit’s organiser, said Google, Boeing, UBS and the Thai...

A mainland Chinese tourist was asked to sign a declaration recognising Taiwan as an independent state to obtain an entry permit for the island, sparking controversy over Taipei’s entry requirements. Beijing condemned the demand on Wednesday, accusing Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of imposing politically motivated restrictions to obstruct cross-strait tourism and exchanges. “The DPP authorities stubbornly cling to their separatist stance on Taiwan independence and have...

A large-scale adult entertainment expo billed as Hong Kong’s first has abruptly been cancelled after nearly 30 Japanese adult-video (AV) performers were refused entry upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport. Organisers of the “Mega Fans Expo 2026” (MFE) released a statement on Wednesday announcing with regret the immediate cancellation of the three-day show, scheduled for Friday to Sunday at the Regal Airport Hotel, as well as a preview event on Thursday. The statement did not give a...

Iran has again pointed out the potential role of China in ending its “neither war nor peace” impasse with the United States and pledged concrete steps to deepen ties with Beijing ahead of an expected meeting between the Chinese and American leaders next week. Tehran has underscored its growing reliance on Beijing as Washington doubles down on economic sanctions, according to experts who note that China’s role in regional diplomacy is, and will remain, significant. In an article published online...

Hong Kong police aim to train 1,000 officers per year and bolster the city’s ties with overseas law enforcement agencies through a new international academy, which opened on Wednesday. At the opening ceremony for the Hong Kong International Academy of Policing, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the institution was an investment in collective security that would bolster the city’s international partnerships. “By bringing new enforcement leaders together, it would strengthen Hong Kong’s...

Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s plan to return from exile in India could fuel renewed unrest and test Dhaka’s ability to maintain stability and pursue national reconciliation, analysts have warned. The prospect of her return has raised questions about how Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would handle a potential confrontation between supporters of Hasina’s Awami League and those who backed the student-led uprising that toppled her government in 2024. Tensions have intensified...

Price volatility in critical minerals, largely shaped by China’s market, is delaying or derailing nearly one in four energy-storage investments worldwide, according to a new report, highlighting the extent to which strategic materials have become a growing geopolitical flashpoint. Some 23 per cent of investors, lenders, developers and producers said otherwise viable energy-storage projects had been deferred or scrapped because of unpredictable pricing, said a report published by law firm DLA...