Crop outputs grew up to 100% in China’s big agricultural experiment: scientists

South China Morning Post - Oct 2, 2026

Large-scale field trials across China show that irrigation water treated with natural minerals radiated by sunlight could dramatically increase the yields of several crops, according to Chinese scientists behind the experiments. The team said the trials, including on rice, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, sugar cane and vegetables, improved photosynthetic efficiency. Their study, conducted from Heilongjiang province in northeastern China to Hainan province in the south, recorded yield...

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Step inside this healing spot inside Civilian Control Line in Paju

“Please prepare for a brief security check.” As the bus doors open, a soldier in combat gear boards and collects the identification cards of each passenger. The soldier looks to be in his early 20s, but the scene, reminiscent of something from a movie, is enough to make passengers slightly tense. After collecting all the IDs from the roughly 10 passengers, the soldier gets off the bus. “The IDs will be returned when we come back,” the guide explains, putting everyone at ease again. This is a checkpoint on the Civilian Control Line, the northernmost point that civilians can freely travel to. If you see a chartered bus crossing the line into the Civilian Control Zone and assume that the passengers are taking part in a security tour or academic research, you would be wrong. They are vacationers. They are heading into the forest beyond the Civilian Control Line to relax and recharge — walking on moss, picking up fresh chestnuts and meditating to the sounds of insects and birds. A new opportunity is opening for individuals to visit the Civilian Control Zone for leisure, a place that h

Step inside this healing spot inside Civilian Control Line in Paju

Panama auditor targets ex-port regulators and CK Hutchison’s executives in canal probe

Panama’s comptroller general said on Friday that his office would send prosecutors more audit material on former executives of CK Hutchison’s local subsidiary next week, as part of a criminal investigation into the Hong Kong conglomerate’s annulled Panama Canal ports concession. Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Anel Flores said prosecutors had requested documents concerning Panama Ports Company (PPC), the operator of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals at either end of the canal...

Panama auditor targets ex-port regulators and CK Hutchison’s executives in canal probe

Taiwan coastguard uses water cannons to warn off mainland Chinese fishing vessel

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) used water cannons to expel a mainland Chinese fishing vessel near Dongsha Island, authorities said on Friday. The incident occurred on October 1, 27 nautical miles east of the Taiwanese-controlled Dongsha Island, also called Pratas Island, in the South China Sea, the agency revealed. The CGA’s patrol vessel Yunlin directed its water cannon towards the fishing boat Jin Sha’s wheelhouse for about 90 seconds after initially spraying water into the air for...

Taiwan coastguard uses water cannons to warn off mainland Chinese fishing vessel

Off-duty senior ambulanceman dies after abseiling fall on Kowloon Peak

An off-duty senior ambulanceman has died after falling from a cliff while abseiling in Hong Kong. The Fire Services Department said on Friday that it had received a report at 2.33pm that a man had fallen from Kowloon Peak in Wong Tai Sin while abseiling. Rescuers and a government helicopter searched the area and found an unconscious man at a nearby cliff. Another man with minor injuries was found on a nearby trail. The department mobilised its mountain and high-angle rescue teams during the...

Off-duty senior ambulanceman dies after abseiling fall on Kowloon Peak

2 Hongkongers held in Philippines for months after prison terms end

The Chinese embassy in Manila has expressed concern over the cases of two Hongkongers who have remained in custody in the Philippines for months despite being discharged from prison, according to the Immigration Department. The department confirmed on Friday night that it was handling the two cases following an appeal from a former lawmaker and a Hong Kong man who returned to the city on Tuesday after serving 26 years in a Philippine prison for drug offences. The returned Hongkonger, Tang...

2 Hongkongers held in Philippines for months after prison terms end

Hong Kong could overtake London as top arbitration hub in decade: Bar Association head

Hong Kong could dethrone London as the top choice for arbitration within the next decade given the Asian city’s status as a global fundraising capital for businesses in mainland China and beyond, the head of the Bar Association has said. Jose-Antonio Maurellet, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, told the South China Morning Post on Friday that the city had enjoyed rapid growth in arbitration work, with high-stakes cases attracting elite international legal talent. Hong Kong tied with...

Hong Kong could overtake London as top arbitration hub in decade: Bar Association head

Donald Trump is planning trip to the Philippines for Asean summit

US President Donald Trump is planning to attend the Asean summit next month, the South China Morning Post understands, as Washington vies with Beijing for influence in the region. If the trip happens, Trump’s appearance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, expected to run from November 16-18 in Manila, will be his second consecutive appearance at the gathering during this term. Trump was in Kuala Lumpur for Asean last year and in Manila for the meeting in 2017. Sources told the...

Donald Trump is planning trip to the Philippines for Asean summit

If young US people accept Xi’s invitation to China, what will Beijing show them?

China is ramping up its efforts to bring young Americans to China, and ready to be seen as a country concerned with environmental protection, lifting people out of poverty, protecting minority cultures and building the technology of the future. During his trip to the United States last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country aimed to welcome 100,000 young Americans on exchange or study trips over the next five years. That builds on an earlier target announced in 2023 that set the...

If young US people accept Xi’s invitation to China, what will Beijing show them?

‘America is back’, AI ‘conspiracy’, China’s Laos deal: 7 global relations reads

We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump condemns ‘sick conspiracy’ against AI, says he is only guardrail needed US President Donald Trump downplayed growing concerns about artificial intelligence, claiming America already has guardrails to regulate the industry and warning that casting doubt on development only benefits...

‘America is back’, AI ‘conspiracy’, China’s Laos deal: 7 global relations reads

Cutting New World ties over 11 Skies averts ‘lose-lose’ deal: Airport Authority

The Airport Authority has averted a “lose-lose situation” by terminating a nearly 50-year contract with Hong Kong developer New World Development for the 11 Skies commercial project, with most facilities now set to open in 2028, the statutory body’s directors have said. Julian Lee Pui-hang, the authority’s executive director for finance, said on Friday that it could no longer work with a debt-ridden partner on the ambitious development and that the project needed to be brought forward. He said...

Cutting New World ties over 11 Skies averts ‘lose-lose’ deal: Airport Authority

MTR Corp pays out HK$2.25 billion for high-speed rail construction delays

The MTR Corporation will hand over HK$2.25 billion (US$287 million) to the Hong Kong government as a one-off settlement for the delayed completion of the high-speed rail line, while reaching a consensus to avoid a payout over hurdles affecting the Sha Tin to Central Link. While the transport firm oversaw the design, construction, testing and operation of the two projects, both are owned by the government and involved public funds. Under the arrangements announced on Friday, the MTR Corp will pay...

MTR Corp pays out HK$2.25 billion for high-speed rail construction delays

China’s PLA sets up new military academy colleges for AI, drones and discipline

China has set up several new institutions at military academies to train specialists in hi-tech and discipline inspection as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) works towards its centennial modernisation goals. The College of Unmanned and Intelligent Engineering, the College of Combat Support NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers) and the College of Equipment Support NCOs were established within the PLA Army Engineering University on Wednesday. On the same day, the National Defence University (NDU),...

China’s PLA sets up new military academy colleges for AI, drones and discipline

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