Zero capital, 116 projects: AI spots the devils in the details of China corruption case

South China Morning Post - Nov 14, 2026

Disciplinary staff in Wuhan, provincial capital of Hubei in central China, were going about their routine workday when a red alert landed. It was from a large data model – flagging a possible case of corruption. “A company took on more than 10 projects this year. Its registered capital reduced from 50 million yuan (US$7.5 million) to 10 million, yet it’s paid-in capital is still zero,” the alert said. “Moreover, over 80 per cent of the projects it took were [residential] communities from...

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With only 20,000 Korean War veterans still alive, gov't steps up efforts to preserve their stories

PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi Province — When a group of Korean War veterans visited Camp Humphreys on Nov. 5, the emotional meeting with a new generation of American soldiers offered a rare moment of recognition. However, for the roughly 20,000 Korean veterans of the 1950-53 war still living — now averaging 94 years old — the more urgent question is whether the government can provide adequate care, medical support and financial assistance in their remaining years. Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Yun-jin, who accompanied them, said the visit brought back memories of her earlier work promoting exchanges between Korean and American veterans. Watching the veterans receive a warm welcome from U.S. soldiers was particularly moving, she said. But beyond such occasions, Kang said the government’s priority must be ensuring that veterans receive proper care and recognition while they are still alive. “What matters most is ensuring that veterans can spend their remaining years in good health and comfort, with the pride and honor they deserve for their service to the country,”

With only 20,000 Korean War veterans still alive, gov't steps up efforts to preserve their stories

[COVER STORY] 'It feels like coming home': Korean War veterans revisit US Army base after 70 years

PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi Province — More than seven decades after the 1950-53 Korean War, a group of Korean veterans returned to a U.S. Army base where they once served — this time as honored guests of a new generation of American soldiers. “It feels like coming home,” said Kang Ku-kon, who was 15 when he volunteered and began helping care for wounded American soldiers at an Eighth Army field hospital. “I served here 70 years ago. The moment I walked in, even the smell was the same.” Kang was among a group of Korean War veterans welcomed to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 5. As their bus arrived at the Van Fleet Hall, a U.S. Army band began playing. For many of the visitors, now in their 90s, the trip offered a chance to see a place tied to their wartime service and meet the soldiers stationed there today. The visit grew out of a request from the veterans themselves. Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Yun-jin said several veterans, including Ryu Jae-sik, head of the Korean War Veterans Association’s Seoul branch, raised the idea at a mem

[COVER STORY] 'It feels like coming home': Korean War veterans revisit US Army base after 70 years

As Apec looms, China’s Shenzhen wraps up preparations for its toughest stress test ever

Drones are banned, security cameras bristle at intersections and some residents have been asked to vacate their homes as the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen counts down to the Apec meetings. Thousands of government officials, journalists, tourists and entrepreneurs are expected to descend on the city next week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, where President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as he chairs the 33rd Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting from...

As Apec looms, China’s Shenzhen wraps up preparations for its toughest stress test ever

17,000 Hong Kong Disneyland ticket QR codes stolen, online sales suspended

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has reported to police the theft of 17,000 ticket QR codes from its online ticketing system and suspended sales through its website, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said on Saturday that an IT worker at the amusement park on Lantau Island had detected anomalies in the resort’s computer system, only to discover the QR code theft. Police have classified the case as access to a computer with a criminal or dishonest intent, and the Lantau district crime...

17,000 Hong Kong Disneyland ticket QR codes stolen, online sales suspended

China, South Korea vow to deepen ties at Apec summit as Seoul pushes North Korea talks

China and South Korea have agreed to use next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen to advance bilateral ties, according to their top diplomats. The pledge by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun after talks in Beijing on Friday comes as Seoul seeks Beijing’s help to revive stalled dialogue with Pyongyang. The Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 18 to 19 is expected to mark the third summit talks between South Korean President...

China, South Korea vow to deepen ties at Apec summit as Seoul pushes North Korea talks

Fake Toyota airbag recall notices circulating on WhatsApp, Hongkongers warned

Hong Kong residents have been warned about fake vehicle airbag safety recall messages circulating widely on WhatsApp, with the Chinese-language notices bearing the Transport Department’s name. A department spokesman said on Saturday that the case had been referred to police for follow-up action. It urged residents not to provide any personal information in response to unofficial messages purportedly from the government. “At present, the department only sets out safety recall information provided...

Fake Toyota airbag recall notices circulating on WhatsApp, Hongkongers warned

Antitrust fines to hit brokerage, bank earnings but leave capital buffers intact: KIS report

Korea’s largest-ever antitrust fine will cut into this year’s earnings at the brokerages and banks that underwrite government debt, but it is unlikely to weaken their capital buffers, according to Korea Investors Service (KIS), a Moody’s affiliate. In a report released earlier this week, the credit rating agency said the penalties imposed by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will make “a short-term decline in profitability unavoidable,” especially at the firms facing the largest penalties. It added that their capital strength and the earnings they built up in the first half should be enough to absorb the cost, creating a formidable yet manageable financial hurdle for the country's primary financial institutions. The regulatory crackdown stems from an investigation into primary dealers in Korea's sovereign debt market. The FTC issued corrective orders on Wednesday and imposed roughly 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in combined fines on 15 financial institutions — all designated primary dealers responsible for underwriting Korea Treasury bonds — for restricting competit

Antitrust fines to hit brokerage, bank earnings but leave capital buffers intact: KIS report

ICT ministry to inspect domestic disruptions after Microsoft services outage

The ICT ministry said Saturday it will inspect disruptions to domestic companies' operations following a global outage of tech giant Microsoft's services. Microsoft 365 services experienced disruptions earlier this week, with some companies in the country reporting difficulty accessing their emails Friday. The Ministry of Science and ICT said it plans to check the restoration of the company's services and possible damage to users in South Korea by working with Microsoft Korea. It added that it will form a joint emergency response team with the company to continue monitoring the situation.

ICT ministry to inspect domestic disruptions after Microsoft services outage

Wearing briefs boosts erectile dysfunction risk, 26,000-man study in China finds

From A-list underwear campaigns to everyday wardrobe staples, tight briefs are often hailed as the ultimate symbol of masculine appeal. However, a major new study out of China suggests that choosing tight underwear over classic boxer shorts could lead to higher rates of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and prostatitis. A snug fit also impairs sperm quality, according to the findings published in the Asian Journal of Andrology last month. Loose underwear may offer a simple alternative...

Wearing briefs boosts erectile dysfunction risk, 26,000-man study in China finds

Hong Kong police to activate AI facial recognition across surveillance network

Hong Kong police will activate artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition across their expanding smart surveillance network on Monday, the force’s commissioner has said. Speaking after attending a police passing-out ceremony, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said the technology could help identify people even if they wore masks or used other methods to evade detection. “No matter what methods you use, if you commit a crime, we actually have the capability to arrest you. I believe...

Hong Kong police to activate AI facial recognition across surveillance network

Hong Kong to test electronic proxy voting platform to curb bid-rigging at estates

Hong Kong will launch a trial scheme next year to handle proxy voting via an electronic platform, a move designed to pave the way for a cap on proxies and curb rampant bid-rigging in private housing estates. Announcing the plan on Saturday, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said the government had decided against an immediate limit on proxy votes under proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance. The reforms follow the deadly Tai Po fire almost a year ago,...

Hong Kong to test electronic proxy voting platform to curb bid-rigging at estates

China should share its renewable energy expertise

China is updating a law that has underpinned one of the most remarkable industrial transformations of our time. After two decades of rapid renewable-energy development, China is preparing to rewrite the rules that have guided, supported and guarded its energy revolution. The draft revision to China’s Renewable Energy Law was released on November 6 for public comment until December 5. Twenty years ago, China, having just joined the World Trade Organization, saw energy consumption surge as...

China should share its renewable energy expertise

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