South China Morning Post

Chinese unicorn Moonshot AI is pursuing a $50 billion fundraising round to prepare for a potential Hong Kong IPO by year-end, according to sources. The company is dismantling its offshore structure to facilitate the IPO process.

A new batch of officers have assumed leadership roles in key People’s Liberation Army bodies following an anti-corruption drive. South China Morning Post analysis of official insignia and protocol seating in state media suggests these officers are positioning to lead the military.

Two Hong Kong fire service contractors linked to the city’s deadliest blaze in decades are still operating and open to new contracts, despite ongoing investigations and concerns from lawmakers over public safety and potential project abandonment. The Fire Services Department recently concluded its investigation into the incident.

Transiting through mainland China for long-haul Europe trips from Hong Kong has become an alternative to Middle East stopovers due to safety concerns from the US-Israel war on Iran. Travel agents report an expected 3% annual increase in such tours despite initial declines.

Rosewood Hotel Group in Hong Kong will proceed with a plan to take over operations at the Town Club in Central from August 8, despite growing opposition from Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA) members. The Carlyle & Co private club, owned by Rosewood, is set to replace HKGTA as the operator of the Town Club, though some HKGTA patrons continue to resist the change.

A 59-year-old triathlete went missing during the swimming leg of a triathlon in Hong Kong amid an amber rainstorm warning. Emergency services are searching for the man, who failed to resurface after entering the water at the Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre in Tai Po.

A patrolling robot at Hong Kong International Airport's Terminal One fell down a staircase during a test run, causing partial damage. The Airport Authority Hong Kong confirmed the incident, stating no injuries were reported.

Hong Kong police will not charge basketball coach Yung Kam-wah for slapping a secondary student at Hon Wah College in Siu Sai Wan, citing insufficient evidence despite his arrest in June this year.

Super Typhoon Dolphin is expected to bring very hot weather to Hong Kong in the latter part of next week. The typhoon, currently over the western North Pacific, may move toward waters south of Japan, though its future path remains uncertain.

The July Politburo meeting read-out was translated into English using Alibaba’s Qwen3.7-Plus and verified by a South China Morning Post journalist. The translated report is for reference only and not the official English version of the original Chinese document.

Chinese scientists used satellite imagery analysis to assess damage to US military bases in the Middle East, challenging US claims about Iran's involvement. The analysis revealed discrepancies in Washington's reported incidents.

ByteDance is restructuring its enterprise collaboration unit by integrating Lark's product team into the Doubao AI chatbot team, focusing on AI for corporate clients. The company's annualized AI revenue of US$4 billion positions it as a leader in China's AI market.

BYD will debut its first humanoid robots in August at its Di Space experience centers. The robots are designed to interact with visitors and are part of China's electric car makers' push into embodied AI. This move comes as competition with Tesla intensifies.

Chinese regulators are intensifying a crackdown on corporate insiders, imposing severe fines, criminal sentences, and market bans. This effort aims to restore confidence in China's stock markets, with 21 executives from 20 listed companies investigated in the first half of 2026 according to a South China Morning Post analysis.

Pokemon Go launched in Hong Kong on July 25, 2016, sparking excitement but also prompting warnings against trespassing and road safety. The city buzzed with enthusiasm over the augmented reality game.

Hong Kong's new Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance, effective July 31, allows terminally ill patients to reject life-sustaining treatments. The law was passed by the Legislative Council in November 2024 and grants patients authority to decline specific medical interventions.

HSBC Holdings will relocate its group chief people and governance officer, Aileen Taylor, from London to Hong Kong as part of efforts to expand its Hong Kong and Asia operations. The move aims to strengthen the presence of senior executives in Hong Kong, HSBC’s biggest market.

Hong Kong’s export surge is expected to continue due to the global AI boom, with economists predicting GDP growth may exceed official forecasts. Billy Mak Sui-choi noted sustained global demand for AI will drive exports.

A Hongkonger in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture described being 'quite scared' during a 7.1-magnitude earthquake. The city's travel authority confirmed the safety of about 200 tour group members in the region. Leon Chan, 18, recounted the experience to the South China Morning Post.

Hong Kong parents are urgently taking their infants for medical check-ups after a batch of Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 infant formula was found to contain excessive lead levels. Macau authorities flagged the affected batch (1W07KPJ), prompting hospital observation for a five-month-old baby who consumed it.

Hong Kong man known as 'Mr Ho' (Ho Huen) died at 79, a week after being sentenced to two months in prison for stabbing his wife. A source and former Hong Kong Journalists Association chairman Ronson Chan Ron-sing confirmed his death in a public hospital.

Wu Chi-wai has appealed the UK government's decision to grant him temporary admission requiring departure by Wednesday, with potential judicial review if the appeal fails. The British Home Office is being asked to reconsider the decision.

Tara Fung's eight-month-old Munchkin cat, Yuen Yuen, died from an allergic reaction to a sedative during a spaying procedure at a Hong Kong clinic in March 2025. Fung reported receiving no proper explanation or surveillance footage from the clinic after the incident, highlighting concerns over veterinary service quality amid a backlog of complaints.

A 20-year-old man surnamed Hui was arrested for posting bomb threats in comments on the South China Morning Post's Instagram account. The comments were under a post about Hong Kong Disneyland and included threats of violence.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) will implement its largest listing reforms in 8 years, allowing confidential submissions for IPOs and lowering market-capitalisation requirements for start-ups and international firms. The changes, confirmed after a South China Morning Post report, aim to boost Hong Kong's appeal as a listing hub.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) will allow all listing applications to remain confidential and reduce market-capitalisation requirements for start-ups and international firms, marking its largest set of listing reforms since 2018. The changes, confirmed by HKEX in response to a report by the South China Morning Post, aim to facilitate more IPOs by easing access for emerging and global companies.

In the first half of 2026, the number of PLA fighter jets detected near Taiwan dropped to a three-year low of 1,334, more than halving year-on-year. The South China Morning Post, citing Taiwan’s defense ministry data, reported an increase in days with no PLA jet detections, marking the lowest operational tempo since 2023.

Hong Kong’s chief justice will reprimand judge Wilson Chan for plagiarism again, marking at least his sixth instance. The judiciary confirmed a serious reprimand and training requirement for Chan, citing extensive copying in judicial submissions.

Hong Kong's rainfall this month has exceeded typical July levels by 23 per cent, with meteorologists linking the trend to global warming. The Hong Kong Observatory warned of more rainstorms as a tropical cyclone approaches the city.

A 26-year-old investment manager at Chief Securities in Hong Kong was arrested for making unauthorized investments that caused an estimated HK$150 million loss. The suspect, who worked as a trader for six months, faces theft charges.

HKEX plans to implement listing reforms allowing confidential filings and reducing market capitalisation requirements for start-ups to enhance international competitiveness. The reforms follow months of consultations with market participants starting in March and are expected to be announced by month-end.

HKEX plans to allow confidential filings and lower market capitalisation requirements for start-ups to enhance international competitiveness, according to sources cited by the South China Morning Post. The reforms follow consultations with market participants and are expected to be announced soon.

Hong Kong’s first-time lawmakers have raised fewer questions than their veteran counterparts but recorded a higher attendance rate, according to a South China Morning Post check. Alan Chan Chung-yee and Vivian Kong Man-wai were among those who submitted the fewest questions to the government. Political observers attributed the trend to newcomers seeking to balance respect for the executive-led system with their roles.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is considering extending trading hours to align with global peers and enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international financial hub. HKEX and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) confirmed discussions about the proposal, though details remain unspecified. Options under review include closing at 5pm or 8pm.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is considering extending trading hours to align with global peers and enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international financial center. Discussions, confirmed by HKEX and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), include options such as closing at 5pm or 8pm, though details remain unspecified.

Small firms in mainland China are adopting AI more than large enterprises, with experts highlighting market agility and power supplies as key factors in the global AI race, as discussed at the Nusa Dua Forum in Bali. The forum was organized by the South China Morning Post and Danantara Indonesia.

A long-discussed plan for an ASEAN power grid is gaining momentum, driven by surging demand from AI and data centers and the region’s energy transition. Investors and Indonesian policymakers at the Nusa Dua Forum in Bali expressed optimism about the initiative.

Hong Kong Investment Corporation CEO Clara Chan emphasized that official support and private capital collaboration are crucial for sovereign wealth fund success, highlighting partnerships as key to achieving high returns. The comments were made at the Nusa Dua Forum organized by South China Morning Post and Indonesia's Danantara.

An independent committee investigating Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court fire has delayed its final report submission to late October, a month later than the original September deadline, due to the need for additional document review. The judge-led panel will submit its findings to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, as confirmed by a source to the South China Morning Post.

Hong Kong delivery company Lalamove and professional services firm EY have partnered to develop the 'low-altitude economy' in the Greater Bay Area, aiming to expand their reach and transform traditional business through logistics and advisory services. The collaboration will utilize Lalamove’s logistics platform and EY’s expertise in planning, risk advisory, governance, and tax and customs advisory.