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AdvertisementHong Kong societyHong KongSocietyHong Kong strives to be ‘fortress’ that safeguards digital security, I&T minister saysCity will respond to national initiatives, Sun Dong says, noting that today’s cyber warfare is a ‘full-spectrum contest’ that integrates AI
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPHarvey KongPublished: 2:28pm, 20 Jan 2026Hong Kong is striving to become a “fortress” that safeguards digital security, the city’s innovation and technology (I&T) minister has said, noting that cyber warfare is not just a confrontation of technologies but a “full-spectrum contest” that transcends geographical boundaries and integrates artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at a conference organised by the Digital Policy Office at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Tuesday, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong also said the city would actively respond to national initiatives.
Citing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks during ..

AdvertisementDonald TrumpWorldEuropeTrump threatens 200% wine tariff to push France to join ‘Board of Peace’US president targets France after it was lukewarm about the US$1 billion invitation to join his new global body
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMP1ReutersPublished: 2:21pm, 20 Jan 2026Updated: 2:23pm, 20 Jan 2026US President ‌Donald Trump said he will impose a 200 per cent tariff ‍on French wines and champagnes, a move he claimed would push French President Emmanuel Macron to join Trump’s Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.
When ⁠asked by a reporter about Macron saying he will not join the board, Trump said: “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon.”
“I’ll put a 200 per cent ‍tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he ‍doesn’t have to join,” Trump said.
AdvertisementFrance intends to decline the invitation to join the initiative, at this stage, ‌a source close to Macron said on Monday.
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Dubai’s RTA pilots a luxury shared transport service for students, offering 15% cheaper fees / AI Generated Image The traditional big yellow bus is getting a high-tech makeover. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially rolled out a pilot program that lets students trade the standard bus seat for a luxury SUV. Launched in mid-January 2026, this “pooled transport” initiative is designed for students aged 14 and above who attend schools in high-traffic clusters.Instead of a fixed, long-winded bus route that stops at every corner, these high-end vehicles use smart data from Yango Group and Urban Express to pick up students living in the same neighborhood. By grouping children heading to nearby schools into one premium vehicle, the RTA hopes to slash the number of private cars clogging up school gates every morning.How does it work?Dubai’s pooled system is a shared ride model designed to be efficient, safe and modern:Shared Rides with Tech-Enabled SUVs: Instead of every fa..

Source: X Lara Trump has recently bestowed upon social media participants a rare treat with a glimpse into the less familiar, more personal side of the Trump family. Through the sharing of just a few images on X, she has reached the hearts of many with this intimate family picture involving her young daughter's fun-filled golf game with her grandfather, US President Donald Trump himself, with whom she gets to spend quality time while playing their favourite game, golf. This is one instance where the family, known for its political fervour, has been accepted with such fervour not for their political ideology but for this common family experience that speaks volumes about their humanity despite their fame and power.Lara Trump shares viral golfing photos with Donald Trump and granddaughterThe photographs depicted Donald Trump behind the wheel of a golf cart, with his granddaughter sitting alongside him, looking happy and carefree. Moreover, there were no signs of poses or dramatic se..

AdvertisementPakistanAsiaSouth Asia11 dead, over 60 missing after Pakistan shopping centre fire smoulders for 24 hoursPolice say the market’s layout and presence of flammable materials such as carpets and blankets kept the blaze going throughout the weekend
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPReutersPublished: 2:36pm, 19 Jan 2026Firefighters in Karachi began searching on ‌Monday for more than 60 missing people after a massive fire destroyed a shopping centre in Pakistan’s most populous city, while the death toll from the disaster rose to 11.The fire started late on Saturday at the sprawling, multi-storey Gul Plaza in the city’s business district and ⁠burned for more than a day, hampering rescue efforts in the densely packed area.
After more than 24 hours of firefighting, crews moved to cooling and debris clearing on Sunday, although concerns grew that more victims could still be trapped inside.
AdvertisementPolice surgeon Summaiya Syed said the death toll had risen to 11, while..