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F-16V fighter jets ordered by Taiwan are undergoing ground tests in the United States, as Washington and the American contractor come under pressure to speed up deliveries following criticism of repeated delays.Photos circulating online in recent days showed at least one Taiwan-bound F-16V Block 70 two-seat aircraft during taxi and systems checks at a US airfield, offering the clearest public indication yet that the long-delayed programme had entered a substantive testing phase.Images of the jet bearing the tail number 6831 taxiing at Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina were first posted over the weekend by US-based aviation photography page Owen’s…
Copper prices climbed to a fresh record high on Monday, supported by speculative buying and following news of a zero-fee processing deal involving a Chinese smelter, which underscored mine disruptions and the risk of supply shortages. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 0.6% to $11,955 per metric ton by 11:00 GMT, after touching a record high of $11,996. Copper on the LME has surged about 36% so far this year, driven largely by concerns over mine-related issues that could lead to a supply deficit next year. Those supply concerns were reinforced on Friday,…
One of Hong Kong’s oldest lenders is stepping up its push into digital finance, teaming up with newly listed digital asset exchange HashKey Exchange to launch a co-branded credit card in the first half of next year.Shanghai Commercial Bank (SCB), which marked its 75th anniversary this year, will partner with HashKey Exchange to issue a Visa credit card exclusively for investors trading on the digital asset platform, according to chief executive Wallace Lam Wing-ted.HashKey, one of 11 licensed virtual asset trading platforms in Hong Kong, raised HK$1.6 billion (US$206 million) in the city’s first crypto-native initial public offering and was…
The Japanese government is floating the idea of requiring anyone applying for permanent residency to have reached a certain standard of Japanese language skills and undergo instruction on how to be a good citizen.Media reports on the proposals from the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have provoked fierce online debate among both Japanese and foreign residents.While many insist it is a fair and reasonable commitment for anyone planning to live in the country long term, others are accusing Sanae Takaichi’s conservative administration of throwing up additional barriers to immigration at a time when Japan requires more workers.“Japan remains…
Copper prices climbed to a fresh record high on Monday, supported by speculative buying and following news of a zero-fee processing deal involving a Chinese smelter, which underscored mine disruptions and the risk of supply shortages. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 0.6% to $11,955 per metric ton by 11:00 GMT, after touching a record high of $11,996. Copper on the LME has surged about 36% so far this year, driven largely by concerns over mine-related issues that could lead to a supply deficit next year. Those supply concerns were reinforced on Friday,…
Activity in Hong Kong’s ultra-luxury residential market is picking up, with Swire Properties selling two homes in Deep Water Bay for a whopping HK$2.2 billion (US$283 million).The two three-storey units at 6 Deep Water Bay Road had saleable areas of about 9,600 sq ft and 5,300 sq ft, with the transactions set to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, the developer said. Both units were acquired by the same buyer.On a per square foot basis, the deal works out to HK$147,010, “one of the highest achieved in recent years for luxury residential properties in Hong Kong”, according to…
A Chinese combat robot tore through the competition at the Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 on Sunday, sealing the Battle of the Robots title in a shower of sparks after slamming its rival into the glass wall of the arena.The robot, dubbed Deep-Sea Shark 3, was built by a China-based student team calling itself Fierce Roc, which was crowned champion, according to organisers.The contest was staged as part of a multi-sport festival of so-called “phygital” games – sport that blends real-world competition with digital or esports-style components – running from December 17-23.Fierce Roc reached the final after a…
Soybean prices on the Chicago Board of Trade edged slightly higher on Monday, as the market caught its breath after last week’s losses that pushed prices to their weakest levels since late October, amid uncertainty over demand from China, the world’s largest importer. Wheat continued to post additional gains, supported by buying on dips, although abundant global supplies are likely to cap prices. A Singapore-based trader said: “Chinese buying was largely driven by the US-China trade agreement. Chinese demand for imported soybeans remains limited due to ample supplies in the domestic market.” Uncertainty over when China will fulfill…
All eyes are on how Beijing’s “Chinese dream” of eventual Taiwan reunification will unfold at a time when the leader of the United States – Taipei’s top international backer – appears less likely to intervene in case of a cross-strait conflict. In the first of a three-part series, Amber Wang looks at how recent moves signal a recalibration of Beijing’s Taiwan policy – outlining post-unity governance visions, ramping up messaging to the island’s public and scaling back military intimidation.Orbiting high above the Earth, Jilin-1, a commercial satellite operated by a mainland Chinese company, recently captured crystal-clear images of Taiwan’s streets,…
The Federal Communications Commission said on Monday it is adding China’s DJI, Autel and all foreign-made drones and components to a list of companies determined to pose unacceptable risks to US national security and will bar approvals of new types of drones for import or sale in the United States.The addition to the FCC’s “Covered List” means that going forward, DJI, Autel and other foreign drone companies will not be able to obtain FCC approval to sell new models of drones or critical components in the United States, which is required.The move is a significant escalation in Washington’s battles to…