New Chinese students barred from Harvard, how birds conquered skies: SCMP daily highlights
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The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, citing the institution's failure to address national security risks on campus.
Russia's fresh bid to revive a strategic triangle with China and India as a counterbalance to the Western-led international order faces headwinds given the deep-seated distrust between the two Asian powers, according to observers.
Fossils preserved in amber offer a unique opportunity to study soft structures, as objects stuck in the hardened tree resin remain trapped in time. Photo: AP/Science
Dinosaur feathers found trapped in Burmese amber have shed new light on the evolution of flight feathers, an essential step that allowed early birds to surpass their dinosaur relatives in conquering the skies, a Chinese study has found.
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South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Small businesses, big tariffs: young Hong Kong entrepreneurs amid US-China trade war
When Hong Kong teen Darren Lee launched his sock company six months ago, he was eager to support the underprivileged artists behind his products' designs. But after a few roller-coaster months of the US trade war with China, Lee is facing massive hurdles that are causing him to reconsider his target markets. According to Lee, who is the 19-year-old founder of Sababu Socks, about 30 per cent of his customers are from the United States, meaning he has been dealing with the country's tariffs on Hong Kong goods. 'Our product is a sock, so, obviously, the jump in price can't be too significant,' said Lee, who runs his business while studying at the University of Hong Kong. Tariffs are taxes imposed on imports, and they are typically used to regulate trade and protect domestic industries. In April, US President Donald Trump sent companies and governments across the world into a frenzy after proposing increased tariffs on goods from every country. This set off a diplomatic tug of war between the United States and many of its largest trading partners. The US and China have temporarily agreed to roll back most of the massive hikes in a truce that is set to end in mid-August. Still, US tariffs on many Chinese goods remain higher than they were before April. The situation remains volatile, and small businesses in Hong Kong – like Lee's Sababu Socks – are just a few of the victims caught in the crosshairs. Hong Kong students criticise US visa changes A shift in focus Amid the instability of the US-China trade war, Lee found that he had to become a more adaptable entrepreneur. In response to Trump's tariffs, Sababu's original delivery option, the Hongkong Post, stopped taking parcels with goods destined for the United States. Not only did Lee have to find a new delivery service, but he also adjusted to the tariffs by increasing shipping fees for small US orders and notifying customers that the delivery timing could be unpredictable. But his company has swallowed the cost of free international shipping for bigger orders. Lee said he had also shifted his company's plans because he expected US-China tensions to affect sales. '[Americans are] less likely and less inclined to buy Chinese products. So I think definitely there is an impact if I were to [say] everything is made in China,' he said, adding that he had been advised to avoid running ads in the United States for now. Lee realised the importance of not putting 'all my eggs in one basket'. Now, he is trying to target other markets, such as Europe. Despite the unstable situation, Lee thinks that many customers continue supporting him because he is a young entrepreneur and his business supports artists in various African countries. 'People want to support small businesses even more,' he said. Darren Lee is the founder of Sababu Socks. Photo: Handout Opportunities elsewhere Sababu is not the only small Hong Kong-based company that has shifted priorities in recent months. Mir Kash is a vegan bag company founded by 29-year-old Rajul Daga. The business is based in Hong Kong and its products are made on the mainland, but its sales target Western markets, including the US. 'The West was a very lucrative space,' she said. 'I had started putting a lot of money in the US for my ads and Instagram content.' But her sales have since been threatened by the trade war. If Trump had kept the April tariffs, Daga said this would have hurt Mir Kash's US sales by at least 75 per cent, and shipping costs would have increased threefold. 'If you're buying a handbag, which is US$200 [HK$1,570], why would you pay over US$100 just for shipping?' Daga said. 'It is very unattractive for any consumer.' Trump tariffs: Hongkong Post halts US-bound airmail parcels The young entrepreneur is adjusting by focusing on the situation's silver lining. 'I think a lot of my suppliers lost their US clients ... So I have more of their time and more of their energy,' she said. Now, Daga is in the process of shifting Mir Kash to India, in hopes of targeting the vegan-friendly market there. While the move is for personal reasons, she noted that it posed an 'excellent opportunity' for her business. This flexibility, she said, was crucial for any entrepreneur. 'As an entrepreneur, you should always be ready for change – whether it's externally something's happened or internally, within the company,' Daga said. Mir Kash makes vegan luxury bags. Photo: Handout Weather the storm Other small businesses that sell entirely to US customers do not have the same flexibility in dealing with the tariffs. Lang is a clothing shop founded in 2023 by Kayla Wong, who grew up in Hong Kong and is now based in the US city of Los Angeles. 'Lang is a ... self-exploration of my own heritage through fashion and design,' said Wong, 32. While the company first focused on bringing Hong Kong brands to the North American market, Wong said they expanded to also include Asian-American brands. Lang, which has a store in the heart of Los Angeles' Chinatown, sells most of its products to US customers. Since most of the shop's goods are from Hong Kong and China, Wong said the tariffs 'affect me directly'. 'There has definitely been a frantic energy among designers and suppliers alike – the most immediate challenge is delays in deliveries. We have taken the strategy of 'wait and see',' Wong said. The entrepreneur said her shop might have to increase its prices, but she hoped consumers would continue supporting small businesses over fast fashion. While Wong is worried about the constant changes, she is ready to stay true to her brand's mission. 'I ran a lot of different scenarios of how we could pivot as a business if things don't change,' she said. 'Ultimately, I don't feel like it would be right to abandon my core brands from Hong Kong.' Kayla Wong hopes to stay loyal to her company's dedication to Hong Kong brands. Photo: Rigo Villordo Additional reporting by Associated Press Stop and think: How has the US-China trade war affected Sababu Socks, Mir Kash and Lang? Why this story matters: The decisions of world leaders have consequences for everyday people. Small businesses have an especially hard time adapting to changes in trade policy because they do not have the resources that international conglomerates do.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Spark Deep Dive: Hong Kong's gig workers want the industry regulated
Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what's happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. News: Hong Kong's gig economy workers want industry regulation Although the gig economy is on the rise, better protection for workers is needed Delivery workers have urged for more employment protection in a series of strikes Hong Kong food delivery rider John Lam* is careful while delivering orders on his motorcycle. The 40-year-old knows that if he has a work-related accident, he will receive few benefits and minimal compensation. 'While consistent food delivery work can lead to a very good income, the major downside is that it leaves couriers like me without essential basic and labour protections,' he said. Lam delivers food for the city's two online platforms, Foodpanda and Keeta. 'It would be nice if the government regulated the industry, granting us employee status and entitling us to annual leave, sick leave and a pension.' Lam earns an average of HK$45,000 to HK$50,000 monthly, working 10 hours a day, six days a week. He said he was fully aware of the risks when he started working with online food delivery platforms five years ago. Still, the money was too good to pass up. Lam is among the thousands of Hongkongers making a living in the so-called gig economy. He is also not alone in calling for the industry to be regulated. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told lawmakers in May that the government would introduce proposals to enhance platform workers' rights and benefits within the year. Authorities would consider reinforcing protections for them through legislative means. Sun's remarks came shortly after several strikes by Keeta workers. Their demands included increasing their pay per order, better protections and higher safeguards against illegal workers. In Hong Kong, those working for food delivery and ride-hailing platforms are among the most visible members of the gig economy. The city had as many as 64,000 online delivery couriers and 50,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in 2023, according to calculations by the Legislative Council Secretariat's research office. A survey commissioned by the Labour Department and conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 found that nearly 13,000 people had worked for food and goods delivery digital platforms in the previous year. The city does not have legislation specifically covering digital platform workers. They are usually classified as self-employed. This means they are normally not entitled to benefits such as paid annual leave and sick leave as stipulated under the Employment Ordinance, payouts for work-related injuries under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, or minimum wage protection. Staff writers * Name changed at interviewee's request Question prompts 1. According to the news, which of the following statements are true? (1) John Lam supports government regulation of the food delivery industry to improve workers' rights and protections. (2) Gig economy workers in Hong Kong are automatically entitled to benefits such as sick leave and paid annual leave. (3) The Hong Kong government is considering legislation to improve conditions for platform workers. (4) There were more than 64,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in Hong Kong as of 2023. A. (1), (2) only B. (2), (4) only C. (1), (3) only D. (3), (4) only 2. List TWO demands that striking delivery workers had in regard to employment benefits. 3. Why might Hong Kong workers want the government to regulate the gig economy, and what issues could it address? Explain using the news and your own knowledge. Illustration Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen Question prompts 1. List TWO changes that gig workers hope the government will implement to improve their working conditions. 2. What do the roadblocks labelled 'Labour Protections' and 'Pay rates' in the illustration represent about the gig economy? Glossary gig economy: a labour market commonly characterised by temporary or freelance work, usually through digital platforms such as Uber and Foodpanda minimal compensation: Without legislation specifically covering digital platform workers, they are not normally entitled to payouts for work-related injuries under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance minimum wage: the lowest hourly or daily pay that employers are legally required to offer workers. The statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong is HK$42.10 per hour, effective May 1, 2025. Sample answers News 1. C 2. Striking delivery workers have demanded better protections, including employee status, annual leave, sick leave, and a pension. (accept any two answers) 3. Food delivery workers like Lam want the government to regulate the gig economy so they can gain access to basic employment protections such as annual leave, sick leave, and pension benefits. Currently, most gig workers are classified as self-employed, which means they are not entitled to protections under laws like the Employment Ordinance or the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. This leaves them vulnerable, especially in the case of work-related accidents, despite often working long hours and earning relatively high incomes. Illustration 1. Delivery workers hope the government will require companies to offer full-time contracts with clear terms on pay and injury compensation and create a legal framework that deters illegal workers and provides basic labour protections, such as a minimum wage and holiday pay. 2. The roadblocks symbolise the major challenges and uncertainties faced by gig workers, such as food delivery riders. 'Labour Protections' refers to the lack of basic rights such as sick leave, injury compensation, and paid holidays, while 'Pay rates' represents declining earnings and the unstable income structure after events like Deliveroo's exit from Hong Kong. These obstacles make it difficult for gig workers to move forward securely in their careers.
RTHK
3 hours ago
- RTHK
Trump hints at regime change in Iran with MIGA slogan
Trump hints at regime change in Iran with MIGA slogan US President Donald Trump made the comment on social media. File photo: AFP US President Donald Trump hinted on Sunday at interest in regime change in Iran, despite several of his administration officials earlier stressing that US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites did not have that goal. "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. (AFP)
