Hong Kong’s national men’s rugby team received a harsh reality check on Friday when Japan A put nine tries past them in a 59-14 defeat at Kai Tak Stadium.

The visitors made a blistering start, with centre Yuya Hirose scoring in the fourth minute, and the game became largely one-way traffic from there.

By half-time Japan A had established a commanding lead thanks to further tries from wings Kazuma Ueda and Tomu Takamoto, as well as lock David van Zeeland.

After the break, hooker Shodai Hirao finished a catch-and-drive, centres Yuto Mori and Hirose added to the tally, and replacements Shuntaro Kihara and Ichigo Nakakusu also touched down.

Hong Kong’s two scores came from captain Josh Hrstich in the first half and hooker Calum Scott in the second, but head of technical rugby Andrew Douglas admitted his side had fallen short despite good preparation.

“I’m pretty disappointed, to be honest,” he said.

“We’ve come off a really good week in Japan, played two Japanese teams… but disappointed with that result.

I was expecting better.”

The margin and manner of defeat raise concerns about Hong Kong’s readiness as their next World Cup cycle nears.

While the team will take lessons from this outing, the result underscores the gap to high-level opposition and the need for sharper execution and resilience.

For Japan A, the performance reinforced their depth and intent ahead of future first-team engagements on the global stage.

Hong Kong’s life-insurance industry recorded a record HK$173.7 billion (US$22.3 billion) in new policies during the first half of 2025, an increase of fifty per cent from HK$115.9 billion a year earlier.

The figure, released by the Insurance Authority, marks the highest first-half-sales tally since the regulator’s establishment in 2016.

Industry executives attribute the surge to growing demand from high-net-worth individuals in Hong Kong and mainland China who are seeking savings, protection and estate-planning solutions.

In a recent comment, the chief executive of one major insurer observed that Hong Kong has “solidified its position as a leading international insurance and wealth-management hub.”

A survey by a joint team of insurers and auditors found that nearly sixty per cent of such affluent individuals in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan favour insurance policies as a vehicle to transfer wealth across generations.

The Hong Kong government’s goal of attracting 220 family offices by 2028, following 200 brought in between 2023 and 2025, is seen as supporting this trend.

The Insurance Authority did not separately disclose the breakdown of new-policy sales to mainland buyers versus local investors, but market analysts note a notable cross-border component and observe that the territory’s favourable regulatory regime and tax structure enhance its appeal for sophisticated insurance buyers.

Insurers also say that product innovation — particularly in health-protection, savings and longevity planning — and digital sales channels are further supporting growth.

Looking ahead, the industry expects the trend to extend into the second half of the year, although some firms caution that regulatory reforms scheduled for mid-2025 and competition could moderate growth.

Nonetheless, the first-half results reinforce Hong Kong’s standing as a centre for global insurance and wealth-management business.

Hong Kong has been identified as the fourth-least affordable city in the world for renters, according to a global review published by asset manager DWS.

The 2025 report, covering 80 major cities, finds that average net rent for a two-bedroom flat in Hong Kong accounts for around 61 per cent of median household disposable income, up from 55 per cent in the previous year.

The report notes that the five least affordable markets are concentrated in Asia, with Bangkok leading the list at 79 per cent followed by Mumbai at 66 per cent, Hong Kong at 61 per cent, then Mexico City and Johannesburg.

The cities were cited as being challenged by high rent burdens, constrained supply and slow income growth.

DWS analysts highlight that the rental strain is compounded by the inflow of overseas talent, foreign students and demand for international housing in Hong Kong, which has pushed private rents towards near record highs.

At the same time, median household incomes have failed to keep pace with rental escalation, driving the affordability squeeze.

The widening gap between income and housing cost has raised concerns among policymakers and social-housing advocates.

While Hong Kong has consistently featured among the world’s most unaffordable housing markets, this rental assessment underscores how the issue touches not just buyers but long-term renters as well.

The report’s findings may add pressure on local authorities to boost supply of rental units and provide stronger support for low- and middle-income households.

For comparative context, more affordable markets typically see rents consuming less than 30 per cent of disposable income—well below the levels observed in the least affordable cluster.

In many of those cities, strong wage growth, abundant housing supply or both enable greater balance.

In Hong Kong’s case, the interplay of tight land availability, high property prices and robust international demand continues to drive rental pressure despite government efforts to intervene.

The DWS report adds to an emerging consensus that housing affordability—in both ownership and rental markets—represents a major structural risk for urban economies in Asia-Pacific, and that Hong Kong remains among the most exposed.

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, has concluded a three-day delegation to Beijing and Hebei Province where he met Director Xia Baolong of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and toured the Beijing Municipal Administrative Centre and the Xiongan New Area to study mainland planning and financing practices that could inform Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis development.

Leading the forty-strong group, Chan described the visit as deeply inspiring, noting that both planning zones exhibited a “magnificent planning vision.” He stressed that the experiences observed on the mainland offer valuable reference points as Hong Kong advances the Northern Metropolis and other strategic infrastructure projects.

During the meetings in Beijing, Chan reported on the city’s economic and financial situation, thanked the central authorities for support in reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre, and emphasised the need to integrate the city’s development with the country’s broader modernisation agenda.

He also visited authorities such as the National Financial Regulatory Administration and the Beijing International Data Exchange, exploring cooperation in data infrastructure, talent flows and financial connectivity.

At Xiongan, the delegation examined financing models, land-use planning, infrastructure delivery mechanisms and integrated smart-city technologies.

Chan indicated that Hong Kong will study these mechanisms closely as it works to accelerate the Northern Metropolis initiative and enhance its infrastructure financing capacity.

Xia Baolong reaffirmed central government support for Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” framework and called on the city to seize opportunities, innovate and align with national development strategies.

The interactions reinforce the mutual commitment to integrate Hong Kong’s development with national goals.

The trip signals Hong Kong’s renewed emphasis on major infrastructure and cross-border integration as it seeks to revitalise growth amid macroeconomic headwinds.

Chan said that the insights gained will help inform the city’s next steps in planning, financing and execution of strategic developments.

Implementation of insights and actual adaptation of mainland models will now depend on further internal processing, and policy announcements are expected in the coming months as the Northern Metropolis evolves into a flagship urban-development blueprint for Hong Kong’s future.

Hong Kong’s police force has disclosed that at least two residents fell victim to a courier-impersonation scheme in which scammers sent falsified text messages about damaged parcels and then intercepted bank account details. One individual reportedly lost over HK$1 million (US$128,200) after responding to a message claiming a delivery through the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo. The suspect told the victim their package was damaged and that a refund would require them to provide banking information. After the transfer allegedly ‘failed’, the fraudster claimed account abnormalities and extracted further details.

The force’s CyberDefender social-media channel said more than 60 phishing cases were logged in the past two weeks alone, with combined losses exceeding HK$6 million. Officers cautioned that the volume and sophistication of courier-style SMS scams are increasing. As part of recent alerts, the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre listed warnings under “SMSs purportedly from couriers,” advising the public to reject unsolicited messages urging contact with a claimed delivery company.

Police emphasised that real delivery firms do not seek financial information such as account numbers or one-time passwords via SMS or phone calls. Staff also noted that when a transaction or refund claim involves asking for bank login credentials, verification via an independent channel is essential. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority recently launched its “Smart Seniors Anti-Scam Ambassador Programme” to bolster awareness, especially among older adults, of evolving phishing methods.

Authorities urge anyone targeted by such messages to cease communication immediately, refrain from transferring funds or providing credentials, and report the incident to their bank and the Hong Kong Police Force’s Crime Wing Information Centre at 2860 5012. Recovery of funds is often difficult once transfers are made. The police warned that these scams remain highly active and adaptable, and vigilance is critical.

China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is set to make its debut at the Dubai Airshow from 17–21 November 2025, signalling a push into Middle Eastern aviation markets.

The exhibitor list confirms COMAC will appear among some 1,500 firms at the landmark trade event.

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COMAC’s display will highlight its narrow-body C919 and regional C909 aircraft, both of which the company hopes to market internationally as it looks to expand beyond its Chinese home base.

Analysts say the move is a key step in its challenge to the longstanding duopoly of Airbus and Boeing.

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The timing is significant.

China’s trade and infrastructure ties with the Middle East have grown markedly in recent years, in part via the Belt and Road Initiative.

Observers note the region’s major carriers and leasing firms are coming under pressure as Airbus and Boeing face production constraints and certification issues.

COMAC’s entry comes amid a broader shift in global aviation power-balances.

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At the Dubai event, COMAC is expected to capitalise on its first-ever showing in the Gulf region by conducting flying displays and showcasing up to four aircraft, according to organisers.

While it faces certification hurdles—particularly outside China—the company is aiming to win regional orders and signal its readiness to serve international markets.

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For Middle Eastern airlines, the prospect of a Chinese alternative gains relevance amid congestion of A320 and 737 production slots and growing interest in broadening supply sources.

COMAC’s participation offers Gulf operators a potential new partner amid evolving fleet strategies.

Though COMAC is yet to secure major export orders from the Gulf, its Dubai Airshow appearance marks a strategic milestone in its overseas push and may lay the groundwork for future contracts and certifications in the region.

Hong Kong-based charitable organisation GX Foundation announced this week that it has signed two new memoranda of understanding in Cambodia, marking a major step in its public-health outreach within Belt and Road infrastructure projects.

On 21 October, the foundation entered agreements with Cambodia Airport Investment Co. and Funan Techo Coastal-Inland Waterways Co. to launch “Health Risk Prevention against Dengue Fever and Other Vector-Borne Diseases” initiatives.

The projects will cover Cambodia’s new Techo International Airport and the Funan Techo Integrated Water Resources Management Project—a China-Cambodia infrastructure venture spanning some 180 kilometres.

Under the agreements, GX will donate and install mosquito-control equipment—such as mosquito lamps, bed nets and sticky fly traps—in construction camps, terminals and office zones.

It will also deploy educational materials on disease prevention for construction workers, airport staff and local communities.

GX Chairman Leung Chun-ying said the collaboration “reflects the evolving scope of the Belt and Road Initiative—progressing from building infrastructure to safeguarding human health, and from creating economic corridors to jointly building a global community of health for all.”

The foundation emphasised that the projects are conducted on a pro-bono basis and designed to benefit local populations.

At the Techo water-management site, GX will focus along the canal, flood-control and irrigation infrastructure from Phnom Penh Port through Kandal, Takéo, Kampot and Kep provinces.

At the Techo Airport, the charity will target high-risk zones inside the terminal where passengers, staff and nearby communities converge.

GX said this intensifies its work in Cambodia—building on earlier dengue-control collaborations with the Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway and cataract-treatment programmes in other provinces.

Leung explained that many large infrastructure corridors in the region can become vectors for mosquito-borne diseases, especially during construction phases when standing water accumulates or work-forces are temporarily resident.

He said Chinese infrastructure corporations were “seriously considering the social dimension” of their operations and GX’s role is to supply health-risk control in tandem.

The partnerships illustrate how humanitarian organisations and infrastructure firms can co-operate to preserve health while delivering large-scale projects.

With the expansion of these programmes, GX Foundation is advancing its mission of “people-to-people connectivity” within the Belt and Road framework, particularly in public-health and humanitarian assistance.

The groups involved view the new MOUs as reinforcing ties between China and Cambodia and promoting the communities that work and live around major infrastructure developments.

The next phase will emphasise deployment of equipment and local training, with results expected to be reported over the coming months.

The United States Trade Representative has announced a formal investigation into China’s adherence to the 2020 ‘‘Phase One’’ trade agreement signed under President Donald Trump’s first term.

The probe, announced on Friday, cites China’s alleged failure to fulfil commitments on purchasing U.S. goods and services, intellectual-property protection, forced technology transfer and market access reforms.

The agreement, signed in January 2020, obligated China to increase its purchases of U.S. exports by approximately two hundred billion dollars over two years, alongside structural reforms in technology and services.

China has since fallen significantly short of the targets, with some estimates suggesting it met only around sixty percent of its agreed purchases.

The investigation is being conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and will include a public comment period starting on October 31 through December 1, followed by a public hearing scheduled for December 16. The move gives the Trump administration another tool to consider new tariffs or other trade remedies if non-compliance is confirmed.

The timing adds leverage ahead of President Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.

U.S. negotiators hope the investigation will sharpen Beijing’s incentives to address long-standing trade and technology-policy concerns.

In his statement, the U.S. Trade Representative emphasised that “this investigation underscores the Trump administration’s resolve to hold China to its Phase One Agreement commitments, protect American farmers, ranchers, workers and innovators, and establish a more reciprocal trade relationship for the benefit of the American people.”

China Rare Earth Group, a state-backed conglomerate formed in 2021 and among the country’s largest producers of rare-earth elements, has publicly committed to “strictly enforcing government guidance” on newly expanded export controls for critical minerals.

The pledge came amid heightened U.S. disapproval of Beijing’s October export-licensing measures and underscores the alignment of major industry actors with national strategic priorities.

In a statement published on 24 October 2025, the group said that in a “complex and challenging external environment” all its operations must conform to national laws and policies and identified regulatory compliance as a “key operational focus” for the fourth quarter.

The move is seen as real-time support from a major industrial entity at a moment when China is consolidating its global influence over rare-earth supply chains.

Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce announced on 9 October an expanded export-control framework that covers rare-earth metals, processing technologies and components, including products made abroad with Chinese origins or technology.

The controls target sectors such as defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, and bar licences for overseas defence users.

The timing — ahead of a scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping — has been interpreted as a deliberate strategic signal.

The United States has reacted sharply.

Officials have condemned China’s measures as an attempt to weaponise global supply chains and have threatened countermeasures, including tariffs and export-licensing restrictions on critical technology.

At the same time, Beijing continues to defend its actions as legitimate regulation of exports in the interest of national security and industrial sovereignty.

Analysts say the industry pledge reinforces that China’s rare-earth policy is entering a sustained phase in which leading domestic firms will act as front-line enforcers of state strategy.

For global supply-chain stakeholders, the question now is not just whether licences will be issued, but how long waits will be, how non-Chinese firms will be treated and how downstream dependencies will adjust.

With rare-earths foundational to motors, electronics, magnets, defence systems and clean-energy deployment, the interplay between state-industry alignment in China and international responses may shape competitive-advantage dynamics for years to come.

China’s universities are facing growing scrutiny over science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education amid concerns that students are being trained on curricula decades old and ill-suited to emerging technologies.

Robotics entrepreneur Wang Xingxing — founder of leading firm Unitree Robotics — criticised the system as fostering “a stark gap” for those entering university only to study materials he said were two decades behind frontier knowledge.

Despite China’s official claim to have risen to second globally in STEM education development, a recent analysis shows that while freshmen score well in STEM and critical-thinking assessments, progress stalls or even reverses during their university years.

In one study, students in major engineering fields made negligible gains over two years and then regressed, raising questions about whether curricula are sufficiently practical and forward-looking.

Industry and academic voices say the problem lies in a persistent emphasis on theory and traditional textbook content, relative to hands-on training, interdisciplinary work and rapidly evolving fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and new energy systems.

One commentary warned a mismatch between supply and industrial demand could create a structural challenge for China’s ambition to lead in innovation.

Institutions are responding.

China’s top universities are expanding STEM-related intake and launching new degree programmes in fields such as integrated circuits, biomedicine and new energy.

Meanwhile, reform advocates call for curricula that emphasise real-world problem-solving, project-based learning and closer ties to industry partners.

Yet observers caution that the speed and scale of reform may struggle to keep pace with China’s broader technological ambitions.

With the stakes high — including innovation leadership, global competitiveness and economic transformation — the quality of STEM education will be considered a key determinant of China’s next phase of development.

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Thailand’s Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas highlighted the nation’s 300-billion-baht investment in digital infrastructure and innovation during the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting.

He underscored that the initiative aims to strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness, promote inclusive economic growth, and position the country as a regional leader in digital transformation across both public and private sectors.

Thailand’s aromatic coconut industry is facing a severe downturn as Vietnamese producers gain dominance in the lucrative Chinese market.

Farmers report prices dropping below three baht per coconut, leading to an estimated five hundred million dollars in losses nationwide.

Growers accuse the government of neglecting the crisis, while analysts point to Vietnam’s lower logistics costs and higher export volumes as key factors behind the shift in market preference.

Khanom Jeen, often mistranslated as a ‘Chinese snack,’ is in fact a uniquely Thai creation that highlights the country’s rich history of culinary adaptation.

Made from fermented rice noodles and served with a variety of flavorful curries, the dish showcases how Thai cuisine has absorbed linguistic and cultural influences while maintaining its own distinct identity.

Food historians say its name reflects ancient trade connections, but its preparation and taste remain entirely Thai.

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is advancing its ‘Medical Economy’ initiative by focusing on South Asian markets with millions of high-spending clients.

The move is designed to strengthen Thailand’s position as a regional hub for international healthcare, with the private sector reporting continued growth in medical tourism and cross-border health services.

Dhanarak Asset Development has unveiled plans to transform Thailand’s Government Complex into a sustainable ‘green city’ that integrates workspace, recreation, and community living.

The initiative was highlighted through the inaugural ‘Green City Fun Run’ event, signaling a shift toward making the area a vibrant public hub rather than a purely administrative zone.

Thailand and Cambodia are poised to sign a long-awaited border agreement during the upcoming ASEAN Summit, focusing on demining operations and the withdrawal of armed forces along the Sa Kaeo border.

Thai officials expressed confidence that the accord will strengthen bilateral cooperation and contribute to long-term stability in the region.

Thailand’s Commerce Minister held a virtual summit with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to enhance bilateral trade and digital cooperation.

The two sides discussed finalizing a rice trade pact, expanding agricultural exports, and accelerating the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework, reaffirming their shared commitment to sustainable regional growth and innovation.

Cambodia has aligned with China to oppose a Thai-led resolution on combating transnational scams during the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Geneva.

The move effectively sidelined Thailand’s proposal, underscoring shifting diplomatic alignments and intensifying regional competition over influence in international policymaking.

Thailand’s film sector is receiving a significant boost with $395 million in new investments as Hollywood studios expand their production presence in Bangkok.

Industry leaders from the Motion Picture Association and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment hailed Thailand’s growing role as a global filmmaking destination and praised the country’s ongoing crackdown on digital piracy.

Singapore’s Prime Minister has cautioned that the world is entering a potentially turbulent transition period as global influence shifts away from the United States.

He urged nations to work toward a more stable and cooperative international framework, warning that missteps in adapting to a post-American order could lead to instability and geopolitical fragmentation.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force has conducted joint training operations with the United States Air Force in the Idaho desert, focusing on advanced aerial maneuvers and tactical coordination.

The exercises underscore the enduring defense partnership between Singapore and the U.S., aimed at enhancing regional security and operational readiness in complex combat environments.