For the first time in its history, Hong Kong is preparing to draw up a five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has asked all policy bureaus to help draft proposals by the end of the year. Janice Tse Siu-wah has come out of retirement to lead the exercise.
Jin Lei was appointed as Shenzhen's Communist Party chief last month. His arrival coincides with Beijing’s push to accelerate the Northern Metropolis megaproject. The project aims to transform 30,000 hectares of land along the border with Shenzhen into a dual engine for economic growth and housing.
Taiwan needs to overhaul its civil defence and rethink its energy strategy to withstand a potential blockade, experts warned at a tabletop exercise. The two-day 2026 Political, Economic, Military and Societal Tabletop Exercise simulated a 2030 scenario in which shifting global alliances and regional conflicts left Taiwan's energy and social systems acutely exposed.
Hong Kong is set to announce on Monday a new batch of "strategic enterprises" establishing a presence in the city. The new partners are in high-growth sectors, including life and health technology, the low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence (AI), new energy materials and fintech. They will conduct clinical research in Hong Kong.
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EU exports of aluminum and copper to the US increased during the last quarter of 2025. Copper and aluminum exports show where tariffs fail. Tariffs can weaken business investment and manufacturing production and negatively affect the profits of companies with a significant volume of exports, which is a potential drag on economic growth.
Beijing has stepped up its health diplomacy across the continent. It recently gave South Africa a US$3.49 million grant to fund HIV prevention for 54,000 students and drug users. China has sent more than 30,000 healthcare workers to over 75 countries, with a main focus on Africa. Beijing's focus on infrastructure and trade is a supplement to the traditional US aid model.
Qiu's father, 58, is looking for a job in Shanghai. His search coincides with Shanghai's new government initiative to mobilise the elderly and stave off a worsening demographic crisis. By the end of 2025, China’s population aged 60 and above had reached 323 million, accounting for 23 per cent of the 1.4 billion population.
S&P 500 earnings are expected to grow about 12% year over year in the first quarter. Strength in technology and resilience in various sectors continue to underpin the rally. This week comes with an intense results schedule that will test that narrative. Key reports include 3M, Boeing, Tesla, IBM, ServiceNow, Texas Instruments, Intel, American Express, Procter & Gamble and others. Geopolitics remains in focus.