The American Express Times
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Vigil leaders found guilty of inciting subversion
A Hong Kong court convicted former Hong Kong Alliance leaders Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung of inciting subversion under the national security law for their roles in organizing Tiananmen Square vigil events. The ruling underscores the city's intensified crackdown on dissent and sets a precedent that peaceful political expression can be criminalized, raising concerns about…
★ Featured Stories
Dressed to conquer: the fashion of 1066
The Bayeux Tapestry will be displayed at the British Museum starting September 10, marking its first return to England since it was created nearly 1,000…
Olive oil price rise illustrates pressures on shoppers
The price of olive oil in the UK has more than doubled since July 2019, rising 108 percent due to poor harvests and higher energy…
The beauty favourites that simplify life
Nigella Lawson reduces daily decision fatigue by sticking to a simplified skincare and wardrobe routine, combining trusted products with occasional new additions. Her approach highlights…
Ride Is Not a Thrill for All
Universal Studios Hollywood opened a new roller coaster designed to be quiet but has faced complaints from nearby residents about loud rider screams disturbing their…
★ All Stories
Canada urged to keep fighting in US trade feud
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew criticized US President Donald Trump as unreliable amid final efforts to secure a Canada-US trade agreement that would prevent threatened tariffs…
Guotai unit hit with 52.5m yuan in penalties
Guotai Haitong Securities Asset Management was fined 52.5 million yuan for violations of foreign exchange rules related to its offshore investments under the QDII program.…
PLA space capabilities make gains
China achieved key milestones in rocket booster recovery by LandSpace and CASC, advancing efforts toward reusable launch vehicles that could enable rapid satellite deployment. This…
Children too much time and money for Singaporeans today
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will introduce new initiatives on August 23 to ease family burdens amid Singapore’s record-low fertility rate of 0.87, addressing challenges like…
Alibaba set to see faster payoffs from AI spending
Alibaba has reached the halfway point in its 380 billion yuan investment plan to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure, reporting a 45 percent revenue…
Geely eyes landmark satellite IoT test
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has granted Zhejiang Geespace Technology a two-year permit to conduct the country’s first private-sector commercial trial of satellite…
American AI firm pivots to Kimi K3 model
US legal tech start-up Harvey has developed its first proprietary AI model, Harvey Tenet, by post-training a Chinese open-weight system called Kimi K3. This shift…
Targeted measures to boost economy follow louder calls for policy support
China's government has launched new financial incentives, including reduced interest rates and increased subsidies, to boost consumer spending on big-ticket items and support micro, small,…
Harry’s View: On affluent Hongkongers working beyond retirement age
A growing number of affluent older adults in Hong Kong are working beyond traditional retirement age due to financial concerns, personal choice, and socio-economic pressures.…
Quota set for visitors to popular Sai Kung coastal attraction
Starting next month, authorities will limit daily visitors to 2,000 at the Po Pin Chau section of Sai Kung East Country Park through a real-name…
Former Deloitte IT manager jailed for 22 months for HK$1.2m theft of laptops
Ho Man-tik, a former IT manager at Deloitte, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for stealing 423 laptops worth around HK$1.2 million and reselling…
Death toll from Maysak jumps to 159 with flooding affecting 1.65m people
The death toll from flooding caused by Typhoon Maysak in southern China's Guangxi region has risen to 159, with 10 people still missing and over…
The ugly side of beauty sales in Hong Kong
Authorities in Hong Kong have arrested two managers of Opatra London’s local distributor amid multiple complaints of coercive and aggressive sales tactics in the beauty…
Deng’s wise words resonate loudly
In 1979, Deng Xiaoping initiated China’s reform and opening-up policy, using Hong Kong as a key intermediary to connect mainland production with global markets. This…
The message to US trading partners: do as I say, not as I do
The United States and Japan jointly intervened in currency markets by selling euros to stabilize the yen, which had fallen to a 40-year low after…
US urges China to back latest bid to isolate Iran
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to support American efforts to impose economic sanctions on Iran following failed negotiations to reopen the Strait of…
Rare mineral exports to US show uptick
China's exports of strategic minerals to the United States increased in July, while shipments to Japan declined sharply, reflecting changing trade policies amid geopolitical tensions.…
CUHK breakthrough in pelvic surgery
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong performed the city’s first robot-assisted pelvic fracture surgery using a novel orthopedic robotic system at Prince of…
MTR Corp manager loses HK$74m in bond scam
A senior manager at Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation lost HK$74 million over two years after being tricked by a scammer impersonating an HSBC UK employee…
Study reveals anti-Japan role of leading Korean
New research presented in Seoul identifies Sin Kyu-sik as a key architect of Korea’s provisional government in exile and a central leader in the independence…
Wang seeks to boost Seoul ties
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Seoul to promote strategic autonomy and urged South Korea to balance its relations with both China and the United…
Lima pledges to apply HK trade deal this year
Peru’s government announced plans to implement its free-trade agreement with Hong Kong by 2026, aiming to strengthen its role as a trade hub between South…
Fighting dog policy review after attack on handler
Hong Kong authorities are reevaluating regulations on fighting and large dog breeds after a mixed-breed dog with possible fighting dog ancestry fatally attacked its owner…
Embrace AI to stay competitive, finance chief says
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po called on residents to adopt artificial intelligence technologies to stay competitive during the 22nd Hong Kong Computer and…
AI becomes the latest regional battleground
The United States and China are intensifying their efforts to recruit Southeast Asian nations into competing AI alliances, with China’s Waico and the US-led Pax…
The unseen hand in a seamless tradition
Family members, especially older women, have traditionally managed the complex coordination behind East Asian festival gatherings, ensuring the preservation of these cultural rituals. However, demographic…
The importance of remembering Jiang
China held a memorial ceremony in Beijing to mark the 100th anniversary of former leader Jiang Zemin’s birth, with President Xi Jinping highlighting Jiang’s pivotal…
How Evergrande scored an own goal
Hui Ka-yan, former chairman of China Evergrande Group, was sentenced to life imprisonment as his sports empire, including the once-dominant Guangzhou FC football club, collapsed…
Old wind turbines get new spin on life in recycling scheme
China Resources Recycling Group has launched its first large-scale project to refurbish retired wind turbines in Gansu province, aiming to extend their operational life using…
Beijing rejects US tariff report for ‘ignoring facts’
China has rejected U.S. accusations that it circumvents American tariffs by routing goods through Mexico and other countries, calling the claims misleading and accusing the…
Carmakers hit with rising costs to keep edge on intelligence
Chinese smart vehicle makers are facing soaring costs and shortages of critical components like PCBs and MLCCs due to increased global AI demand. This supply…
More time given to apply for HK listings
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has extended the IPO listing application window from six to twelve months for the next three years to alleviate a…
Hyundai Motor union stages first full strike in 10 years
The Korea Metal Workers Union at Hyundai Motor initiated its first full-scale strike in ten years on August 21, demanding a higher retirement age, increased…
Germany reports 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer
Germany experienced a record-breaking 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer, largely driven by a severe heatwave in late June, according to the Robert Koch Institute. This…
Lower-income households in north-east to get free warm meals
OCBC and the North East Community Development Council have launched Warm Meals @ North East, a program providing $500 worth of meal credits redeemable for…
Korea Artiz Studio premises taken back by hotel after shop stops operations over unpaid wages
Korea Artiz Studio, a Singapore-based bridal service provider, abruptly ceased operations on August 14 due to unpaid staff wages and rent, leading Carlton Hotel to…
Japan’s core inflation accelerates in July, bolstering argument for rate hike
Japan’s core consumer inflation rose 1.8% year-on-year in July, driven by higher import costs from a weaker yen and Middle East tensions. This trend increases…