Blog Band – Fridayeveryday

Saving what’s left of Western liberalism

The geopolitical editor at the Economist, David Rennie, recently interviewed Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland, where they discussed Mr Stubb’s “plan to save the liberal world order” (link). Richard Cullen pens a brief report card highlighting some of the challenges facing this worthy rescue mission. WE KNOW THAT the enduring heartland of liberalism is…

1 day ago0Comments ByRichard Cullen

China news Culture

Scientists in China create chip that bridges optic and wireless systems

SCIENTISTS IN CHINA found a way to transmit huge amounts of data instantly over distances at world record speeds, a paper published in Nature magazine said this week. They tested it by streaming a mega-high resolution 8k movie to 86 channels at once. Their success moves the world closer to the fabled 6G, not due…

February 25, 20260Comments ByNury Vittachi

China news Chinese medicine Culture

Scientists find treasure trove of antibodies in paediatricians’ blood

BREAKING NEWS: Paediatricians don’t catch colds. So scientists decided to investigate their blood—and found a “treasure trove” of 56 antibodies, it was revealed today. These will be developed to create treatments to help everyone fight respiratory diseases, including severe ones that can kill small children and older people. Hui Zhai and his team at the…

February 24, 20260Comments ByNury Vittachi

News

Toilet troubles cause problems on Iran-bound warship

[Note: this report went viral on social media, with more than 4 million views in less than 24 hours] THE PLANNED U.S. ATTACK ON IRAN has a problem: most of the crew on the biggest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, are too busy queuing for the toilet. This is not a joke. A…

February 24, 20260Comments ByNury Vittachi

Hong Kong News News

Panama storms Hong Kong company after US threats of invasion

BREAKING NEWS: THE PANAMA AUTHORITIES stormed the Hong Kong-run port terminals in its country and ordered staff to leave immediately, workers revealed yesterday. The strong-armed takeover of the pair of terminals follows threats from US President Donald Trump that his country’s armed forces would invade Panama unless the area was rid of “Chinese soldiers”. The…

February 24, 20260Comments ByNury Vittachi

Features News Opinion

Truth trumps fiction, as Donald trumps expectations

Evelyn Waugh was an exceptional English novelist. His best political satires were very good. Truth, though, can still outwit the best fiction, says Richard Cullen A LIVELY SHORT STORY published by Evelyn Waugh in late 1932, entitled “Incident in Azania” discussed events that unfolded on an imaginary, colonial island off the East Coast of Africa. …

February 3, 20260Comments ByRichard Cullen

News Opinion

The U.S. openly threatens judges around the world: sorry, but you just can’t do that

Threatening judges for simply doing their jobs is an extremely serious crime. Unfortunately, one nation is doing exactly that, and is getting away with it. Top legal mind Grenville Cross reports. THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES (IAJ) was founded in Salzburg, Austria, in 1953. It is a professional, nonpolitical organization that promotes judicial independence worldwide.…

January 29, 20260Comments ByGrenville Cross

Hong Kong News News Opinion

David Webb and the Quiet Power of an Unbought Voice

WHEN NEWS BROKE that David Webb had passed away, the reaction in Hong Kong’s financial circles was strikingly divided. Some felt genuine loss. Others fell into an uneasy silence. That contrast alone says much about his place in the city’s capital markets. Webb was never a celebrity investor in the conventional sense. He did not…

January 22, 20260Comments ByKen Ip

China news Culture News

China, Brazil, Germany, become Guardians of the High Seas

CHINA, BRAZIL, AND several other countries this week became legal guardians of the creatures of the High Seas. Leave that giant squid alone! But the United States and Russia declined to sign to join them. After 20 years of legal tinkering, the United Nations this weekend launched can international agreement to protect marine life—and the…

January 19, 20260Comments ByNury Vittachi

News Opinion

Decoding ‘Trump QE’ – a stealth liquidity injection bypassing the Fed

LATE INTO THE NIGHT on January 9, 2026, global financial markets witnessed a seismic moment. U.S. President Trump posted a seemingly routine but ultimately explosive tweet: he ordered the Federal Housing Finance Agency to make use of the balance sheets of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to immediately purchase US$200 billion in Mortgage-Backed Securities. This…

January 16, 20260Comments ByAaron Lai