Finance news

Japan wants pension whale GPIF to dive deeper into alternative investments

These underperforming trades could yield big returns over next six months

ETF Action's Mike Akins is encouraging investors to boost exposure to groups that underperformed compared with major artificial intelligence stocks.

Can Europe Beat the Heat Without More Air Conditioners?

With Europe facing more frequent and hotter heatwaves, the uptake of air conditioning systems has soared across the region in recent years. This trend is driving energy demand and making it more difficult for countries to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in favour of renewable alternatives. Several countries across Europe have made ambitious green transition pledges, which is why many governments, companies, and researchers are exploring alternative, less carbon-intensive methods for cooling. Res

+++ Football World Cup 2026 +++: South African national player Jayden Adams died

Norway coach criticizes Haaland +++ Merino redeems Spain in Belgian goalkeeping drama +++ Argentina legend Kempes rejects conspiracy theories +++ The World Cup blog.

Formal China-US G2 framework key to ‘guarantee’ world peace: top Beijing adviser

An “institutionalised” China-US G2 framework could offer a “structural guarantee” for global peace in a world beset by crises, a high-profile adviser to Beijing has said. Zheng Yongnian, a noted Chinese political scientist, said the world was faced with four intertwined challenges – geopolitical conflicts, increasingly “religionised” societies, imbalances in the global economy and the fading of the UN-centred governance system. He characterised this collective breakdown as a “crisis of...

Student of the Year Awards: past winners gather to celebrate decades of excellence

Generations of alumni returned to the stage on Saturday to mark the 45th anniversary of the Student of the Year Awards, celebrating a decades-long history of recognising high-achieving Hong Kong pupils who have gone on to become distinguished professionals, from medical experts and acclaimed musicians to Olympic athletes. Among the returning alumni was Dr Chan Mui-tong, a general surgeon in Hong Kong, who received the grand prize in 1985 while studying at Ying Wa College. He noted that the...

+++ USA +++: US government summons journalists after reporting

USA calls for an orderly transfer of power in Colombia +++ Bridge between USA and Canada to open at the end of July +++ Trump pushes members out of independent election commission +++ The news blog.

Vietnam tourist speedboat capsizes, killing 15 Indian tourists

A boat returning from an island trip in southern Vietnam capsized on Saturday, killing 15 Indian tourists less than half a kilometre (0.30 mile) from shore, as passengers shouted for help, officials and a witness said. The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members when it overturned on Saturday afternoon shortly after leaving Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, which is near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, authorities were quoted as saying. “The boat had not even gone half a...

‘Observatoly’ street sign error prompts Highways Department to review checks

Hong Kong authorities have said that a street sign mistakenly spelled as “Observatoly” was due to a contractor relying on an “old, scratched” marker to make the new one, a slip-up that has amused residents online. Images shared by residents on social media showed the street sign for Observatory Road in Tsim Sha Tsui erroneously written as “Observatoly”, prompting online comments poking fun at the mistake. “It will become ‘Lavatory Road’,” one user wrote with a pair of chuckling emojis. “Sorly!”.

Trump Accounts: Who is eligible, how $1,000 deposits work and how to open one

Trump Accounts officially launched in July, introducing a new tax-deferred investing option for children. Here are the key features.

Retirement: Financial psychologist Valentin Haas: “Retirement is glorified by society”

The planned pension reform is being passionately discussed. A psychologist explains why the debate is so emotional, which illusions prevail and what really matters.

What happened before Chinese semiconductor scientist Wang Danhao took his life in the US?

The ashes of Chinese researcher Wang Danhao have been returned to his home in China, nearly four months after he died by suicide following questioning by US law enforcement. The remains of the 31-year-old University of Michigan (UMich) semiconductor scientist – remembered by colleagues as a gifted, hard-working researcher with a bright future – are now with his mother, his only immediate family member, who raised him as a single parent, according to a source familiar with the matter. Both Wang’s

While Musk's Neuralink drills into skulls, China's BrainCo bets the future of brain tech is wearable

Interest in brain-computer interfaces is rising as it promises to help people with compromised neural abilities.

State election: The AfD and its 100-day plan for Saxony-Anhalt

Cheers for Ulrich Siegmund, accusations against the CDU and a 100-day plan with radical demands – what the AfD plans to do in Saxony-Anhalt after the state elections.

+++ Iran War +++: Mediators are apparently planning talks between Iran, the USA, Qatar and Pakistan

Supreme Iranian leader announces revenge for murdered father +++ Researchers suspect repairs to military research facility in Iran +++ Trump: Iran threatens to murder me +++ The news blog.

New housing law targets affordability — what it means for homebuyers and sellers

While the legislation is aimed at least partly at addressing affordability, experts say the benefits of the measure will take time to show up in the market.

Ukraine War: Russian glide bomb attack: dead and injured in Sumy

In the Ukrainian city of Sumy near the border with Russia, the dropping of glide bombs claims several victims. A minor is also among the dead.

Tech giants: Apple sues Open AI

The electronics company accuses the developer of ChatGPT of stealing trade secrets. According to the lawsuit, Open AI now employs more than 400 former Apple employees. Elon Musk also has something to say about the legal dispute.

Trump subpoenas journalists over Qatari Air Force One reporting

The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after their report on security concerns involving the new Air Force One, according to the paper. The new jet, which President Donald Trump received as a gift from Qatar, entered service last week. The subpoenas issued on Friday seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. Federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes. There was no immediate...

Berkshire Hathaway gains ground, but still trails the S&P 500 as '26 enters second half

With 2026 a bit more than half over, Berkshire Hathaway's B shares are down 1.8% year-to-date and 12.4 percentage points behind the S&P 500's 10.7% gain.

From booksmaxxing to looksmaxxing: Why the viral trends concern some mental health experts

People are self-optimizing everything — protein, skincare, fitness — to such a degree that "maxxing" is one of social media's most popular suffixes.

China’s Long March-10B rocket feat lights up social media: is SpaceX set to lose crown?

China’s landmark recovery of a reusable rocket has ignited heated debate on social media, with reactions ranging from awe at the rapid pace of Chinese space development to speculation over a more intense space race with the United States. This comes at a time of renewed optimism around the satellite sector, as commercial demand for internet constellations skyrockets. China made history on Friday by becoming only the second nation to achieve the controlled recovery of an orbital-class rocket...

In China, parents turn to AI to help children select a university degree

Zhang Qi, a ride-hailing driver based in Guangzhou, has turned to artificial intelligence this year to help his son make one of the most important decisions of his young life: choosing a university degree programme. Like millions of 18-year-olds across China, Zhang’s son recently received his university entrance exam results and had to navigate the country’s labyrinthine admissions system – choosing from thousands of programmes at hundreds of schools. Many middle-class families hire expensive...

These are America’s 10 worst states to live in for 2026

Some states may have low costs and light regulation, but high crime and lack of healthcare are among important factors when people choose where to live.

The best states to live in for 2026: No. 1 has a six-year winning streak

Return to office mandates and a decline in remote work have companies looking more closely at the quality of life in the place where they establish offices.

'Funflation' hits home: Why staying in isn't the cost-saver it used to be

Following a wave of price hikes, at-home pastimes like streaming movies or playing video games are pinching pocketbooks.

Climate policy: Air conditioning is no longer taboo - heat is forcing France to change course

The heat waves have sparked a discussion about air conditioning in France. Until now, these were frowned upon as they warm up the cities. Now luxury becomes a simple necessity.

Cryptocurrencies: Trading without work – why Hyperliquid is becoming a trendy exchange

Hyperliquid makes trading possible around the clock - and companies that are not yet on the stock exchange can be invested. Investors can profit with a cryptocurrency.

Living with stocks: The AI ​​winner that you definitely don't know yet

More chips, more power, more heat: new bottlenecks are emerging in data centers - and an old industrial group becomes a surprising profiteer.

Student of the Year Awards: 40 pupils lauded as organiser reveals expansion plan

A Ying Wa College pupil who took home the Student of the Year Awards’ grand prize was among 40 outstanding peers who received top honours on Saturday, as the event organiser announced a major expansion to mark its 45th anniversary. Starting next year, the awards scheme will feature a new category for artificial intelligence (AI) literacy to underscore the responsible use of the technology by students. The initiative will also extend its reach to recognise student excellence in places beyond Hong