Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang touch down in the US under new loan deal

South China Morning Post - Sep 27, 2026

Two giant pandas have arrived in Atlanta to take up residency at the southern US city’s zoo. The pandas, male Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang, left Chengdu in China’s southwest on Sunday, within days of Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapping up his three-day state visit to the United States. During the visit, Xi said the pandas would arrive “in a few days”. Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, whose names mean peace and double blessings, arrived at Atlanta International Airport on a chartered flight, state...

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Xi Jinping demands ‘safer’ China as Communist Party prepares for leadership reshuffle

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President Xi Jinping has ordered China’s security and legal apparatus to relentlessly eliminate risks and build a “safer” country a year ahead of the pivotal 21st Communist Party congress, which will usher in a major leadership reshuffle. The latest instruction, published by state news agency Xinhua on Monday night, is also the Chinese leader’s first major domestic directive since his state visit to Washington last week, signalling a pivot back to the domestic agenda – especially stability. In a...

Strong AI demand prompts Hong Kong trade body to raise export growth forecast

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Stronger-than-expected global demand for artificial intelligence-related products has prompted the Trade Development Council to sharply raise its full-year forecast for Hong Kong export growth in 2026 to as much as 47 per cent. The latest revision follows the council in June raising its midyear forecast to 20 per cent growth, from an earlier estimate of 8 to 9 per cent. Its latest survey of the city’s major exporters also found that their business confidence and market expectations had remained...

Hong Kong checkpoints to handle 7.44 million passenger trips for National Day break

Hong Kong checkpoints to handle 7.44 million passenger trips for National Day break

Hong Kong’s checkpoints are expected to handle about 7.44 million passenger trips over mainland China’s National Day “golden week” break, while people movements are anticipated to peak this weekend. The Immigration Department said on Monday that the figure would include inbound and outbound trips by Hongkongers and visitors travelling via the city’s sea, land and air control points between October 1 and 7. The department also said it anticipated that the most popular control points would be...

Hong Kong wage index rises 3.4% in June, with government expecting further gains

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At least 21 Hong Kong-Bangkok flights delayed amid flooding in Thai capital

At least 21 Hong Kong-Bangkok flights delayed amid flooding in Thai capital

At least 21 flights connecting Hong Kong and Bangkok were disrupted on Sunday and Monday, with passengers on one service leaving the Thai capital facing a nearly 24-hour delay after the Southeast Asian city was hit by its worst flood in 15 years. Heavy rainfall lashed Bangkok – a top travel destination for Hongkongers – between Thursday and Monday, prompting Thai officials to declare the city a disaster zone. Despite the flight disruptions, Hongkongers in the Thai capital said the central...

Chinese commercial reactor achieves nuclear fusion with clean hydrogen-boron fuel

Chinese commercial reactor achieves nuclear fusion with clean hydrogen-boron fuel

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Hong Kong launches 1-month consultation on arbitration law reforms

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China is no longer just the world’s factory. It’s the HQ

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Excessive questions from relatives top list of Chuseok irritations

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Plan to serve airline meals to deportees divides immigration officials

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S. Korea voices 'strong regret' over Ukraine's denial of nondisclosure pact on NK POWs

S. Korea voices 'strong regret' over Ukraine's denial of nondisclosure pact on NK POWs

The South Korean presidential office on Sunday voiced "strong regret" over what it called Ukraine's denial of an agreement with Seoul not to disclose the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea. The presidential office "expresses strong regret over Ukraine's unilateral disclosure (of the transfer) and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a nondisclosure agreement," Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a released statement. The Cheong Wa Dae official added the country is considering taking additional measures regarding the issue, if necessary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a United Nations address last week that Ukraine has sent the two North Korean soldiers captured last year to South Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his office have since said Ukraine breached a nondisclosure agreement aimed at keeping the transfer a secret to safeguard the soldiers from dangers they could face if their transfer were to be disclosed, citing international law and humanitarian p

Gov't, ruling party vow harsher sanctions on companies over collusive practices

Gov't, ruling party vow harsher sanctions on companies over collusive practices

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