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Belgium

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Belgium. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

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Brussels

Head of State

King Philippe

Head of Government

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky after a press conference in Brussels on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

EU agrees US$106 billion loan for Ukraine, but without Russian assets

EU leaders reach a compromise after plans to use frozen Russian assets failed to gain backing.

1 hour ago

China-EU relations

Discriminatory and egregious: China blasts EU’s subsidy crackdown

18 Dec 2025 - 9:30PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

China’s youth-unemployment rate, Laos joins durian war: SCMP daily highlights

18 Dec 2025 - 9:15PM

Cambodia

Thai-Cambodia border dispute reignites with bombing claims of casino hub

Cambodia accuses Thailand of bombing Poipet amid escalating border disputes, prompting Asean emergency talks and global ceasefire appeals.

18 Dec 2025 - 4:26PMvideocam

A view of the closed Poipet international border checkpoint between Cambodia and Thailand in Poipet town in June. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

EU facing crunch talks over Ukraine, China and its economic future

EU leaders are set to meet amid growing concern in Brussels that the bloc’s divisions will impede meaningful action across a range of issues.

18 Dec 2025 - 2:07PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Putin vows victory in Ukraine as US and Russia prepare for Miami talks

Russian leader boasts of battlefield gains in Ukraine while his envoys prepare to meet the Americans this weekend.

18 Dec 2025 - 2:58PM

Science

China offers ‘wonderful opportunity’ for scientists: top European neurologist

Consciousness expert Steven Laureys has taken on a role at Hangzhou Normal University amid ‘challenging times’ for science in the US.

18 Dec 2025 - 12:02PM

Steven Laureys is working with researchers at Hangzhou Normal University. Photo: Handout

European Union

Opinion | As Doha Forum made clear, Europe is losing its seat at the table

Consumed by Ukraine, the EU has effectively retreated from global engagement. An urgent foreign policy recalibration is needed.

17 Dec 2025 - 5:30AM

Ukraine war

Zelensky demands justice as nations back Ukraine reparations; will Russia pay?

US$232 billion in frozen Russian assets are central to a new Hague-based commission managing Ukraine war damage claims.

16 Dec 2025 - 9:39PM

European Union

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:16AMvideocam

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas signs an agreement to transfer to Ukraine a tranche of proceeds from frozen Russian assets during a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, on May 9. Photo: AP

China-EU relations

China slaps anti-dumping duties on EU pork, but lowers final rates

Beijing goes ahead with tariffs of up to 19.8 per cent on pork products from the European Union after intense lobbying by several leaders.

16 Dec 2025 - 10:45PMvideocam

A customer purchases pork at a supermarket in China’s central Anhui province. China is the world’s largest pork consumer. Photo: Getty Images

Jimmy Lai trial

Jimmy Lai’s conviction in Hong Kong becomes flashpoint between China, West

Western nations unlikely to hit city with more sanctions as they need Beijing’s cooperation to offset unfair US trade practices, experts say.

16 Dec 2025 - 1:25AM

Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Hong Kong consumer watchdog finds 1 in 4 face washes fall short on ingredients

Consumers urged to try a small portion on skin beforehand as a precaution when using cleansers that are highly acidic.

15 Dec 2025 - 7:16PM

Jimmy Lai trial

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai found guilty on all charges in national security trial

City leader John Lee welcomes conviction, calls it an upholding of justice and a safeguard for Hong Kong’s core values.

15 Dec 2025 - 6:23PM

A Correctional Services Department vehicle carrying Jimmy Lai is escorted by police to the court. Photo: Karma Lo

My Take

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

14 Dec 2025 - 10:15PM

Ukrainians hold placards during a protest demanding the use of frozen Russian assets, on the sidelines of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting in Brussels, Belgium, December 12, 2025. Photo: EPA

Ukraine war

EU indefinitely freezes Russian assets so they can be used to help Ukraine

Hungarian PM Orban, a Putin ally, accused the European Commission, which prepared the decision, ‘of systematically raping European law’.

13 Dec 2025 - 3:33AM

China-EU relations

EU fears China’s role in Russia’s war on Ukraine is deepening

Multiple sources confirm increase in Beijing backing before China-Russia ties are discussed by ministers from the EU’s 27 members on Monday.

14 Dec 2025 - 4:47PMvideocam

China-EU relations

EU targets China’s Shein and Temu with new fees on low-value parcels

Tariffs’ impact may be limited given the Chinese e-commerce companies’ extensive warehouse and logistics networks across Europe.

13 Dec 2025 - 3:54AMvideocam

Both Shein and Temu have multiple distribution centres across Europe. Photo: Alarmy

Science

Flood expert Xu Chongyu leaves Europe for China as climate change speeds up

Scientist whose hydrological models have guarded European cities from rising tides returns to China to tackle critical water challenges.

12 Dec 2025 - 6:08PMvideocam

Greece

Greek minister takes over as Eurogroup president, marking historic turnaround

Kyriakos Pierrakakis’ election to head Eurogroup underscores Greece’s remarkable economic performance.

12 Dec 2025 - 1:19PM

India

India-EU trade pact nears finish line despite carbon tax dispute and Russia

Brussels is looking past India’s ties with Moscow to secure a vital economic win, with analysts predicting a deal within months.

10 Dec 2025 - 5:00PM

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic (left) shakes hands with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in India on Monday. Photo: X/MarosSefcovic

Britain

UK sanctions Russian and Chinese firms, warns of cyber threats, hybrid warfare

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper says dangers range from disinformation campaigns to physical attacks and sabotage.

10 Dec 2025 - 7:05AM

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Locarno Treaties in London on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

United States

‘A threat to Europe’s political life’: EU reels from new US security strategy

Brussels warns Washington against interference as Trump’s outline accuses Europe of decline and backs far-right movements across the bloc.

9 Dec 2025 - 5:45PMvideocam

Ukraine war

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

9 Dec 2025 - 9:16AM

China manufacturing

Are US, EU and Japan banking on defence spending for an economic boost?

As advanced economies ramp up military expenditures, they have multiple goals - including a reduced reliance on China in defence supply chains.

9 Dec 2025 - 5:28PMvideocam

China-EU relations

China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock

Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.

8 Dec 2025 - 8:58PM

Labourers work on an assembly line at a factory in Chongqing, China, in May. Beijing has pressed German carmakers to help resolve disputes over the European Union’s anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-Germany relations

Why top German diplomat’s China trip aims to manage rivalry but won’t reset ties

Critical minerals and Ukraine war expected to be top priorities as Germany’s foreign minister travels to China.

7 Dec 2025 - 11:14PM

Banking & finance

Exclusive | Mainland bank apps beat those in Hong Kong and Singapore, study says

Strong competition from non-bank players in mainland market forces banks to improve continuously, consulting firm Sia says.

7 Dec 2025 - 9:30AM

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Belgium

EU agrees US$106 billion loan for Ukraine, but without Russian assets

EU leaders reach a compromise after plans to use frozen Russian assets failed to gain backing.

Discriminatory and egregious: China blasts EU’s subsidy crackdown

China’s youth-unemployment rate, Laos joins durian war: SCMP daily highlights

Thai-Cambodia border dispute reignites with bombing claims of casino hub

Cambodia accuses Thailand of bombing Poipet amid escalating border disputes, prompting Asean emergency talks and global ceasefire appeals.

EU facing crunch talks over Ukraine, China and its economic future

EU leaders are set to meet amid growing concern in Brussels that the bloc’s divisions will impede meaningful action across a range of issues.

Putin vows victory in Ukraine as US and Russia prepare for Miami talks

Russian leader boasts of battlefield gains in Ukraine while his envoys prepare to meet the Americans this weekend.

China offers ‘wonderful opportunity’ for scientists: top European neurologist

Consciousness expert Steven Laureys has taken on a role at Hangzhou Normal University amid ‘challenging times’ for science in the US.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | As Doha Forum made clear, Europe is losing its seat at the table

Consumed by Ukraine, the EU has effectively retreated from global engagement. An urgent foreign policy recalibration is needed.

Zelensky demands justice as nations back Ukraine reparations; will Russia pay?

US$232 billion in frozen Russian assets are central to a new Hague-based commission managing Ukraine war damage claims.

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

China slaps anti-dumping duties on EU pork, but lowers final rates

Beijing goes ahead with tariffs of up to 19.8 per cent on pork products from the European Union after intense lobbying by several leaders.

Jimmy Lai’s conviction in Hong Kong becomes flashpoint between China, West

Western nations unlikely to hit city with more sanctions as they need Beijing’s cooperation to offset unfair US trade practices, experts say.

Hong Kong consumer watchdog finds 1 in 4 face washes fall short on ingredients

Consumers urged to try a small portion on skin beforehand as a precaution when using cleansers that are highly acidic.

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai found guilty on all charges in national security trial

City leader John Lee welcomes conviction, calls it an upholding of justice and a safeguard for Hong Kong’s core values.

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

EU indefinitely freezes Russian assets so they can be used to help Ukraine

Hungarian PM Orban, a Putin ally, accused the European Commission, which prepared the decision, ‘of systematically raping European law’.

EU fears China’s role in Russia’s war on Ukraine is deepening

Multiple sources confirm increase in Beijing backing before China-Russia ties are discussed by ministers from the EU’s 27 members on Monday.

EU targets China’s Shein and Temu with new fees on low-value parcels

Tariffs’ impact may be limited given the Chinese e-commerce companies’ extensive warehouse and logistics networks across Europe.

Flood expert Xu Chongyu leaves Europe for China as climate change speeds up

Scientist whose hydrological models have guarded European cities from rising tides returns to China to tackle critical water challenges.

Greek minister takes over as Eurogroup president, marking historic turnaround

Kyriakos Pierrakakis’ election to head Eurogroup underscores Greece’s remarkable economic performance.

India-EU trade pact nears finish line despite carbon tax dispute and Russia

Brussels is looking past India’s ties with Moscow to secure a vital economic win, with analysts predicting a deal within months.

UK sanctions Russian and Chinese firms, warns of cyber threats, hybrid warfare

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper says dangers range from disinformation campaigns to physical attacks and sabotage.

‘A threat to Europe’s political life’: EU reels from new US security strategy

Brussels warns Washington against interference as Trump’s outline accuses Europe of decline and backs far-right movements across the bloc.

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

Are US, EU and Japan banking on defence spending for an economic boost?

As advanced economies ramp up military expenditures, they have multiple goals - including a reduced reliance on China in defence supply chains.

China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock

Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.

Why top German diplomat’s China trip aims to manage rivalry but won’t reset ties

Critical minerals and Ukraine war expected to be top priorities as Germany’s foreign minister travels to China.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Mainland bank apps beat those in Hong Kong and Singapore, study says

Strong competition from non-bank players in mainland market forces banks to improve continuously, consulting firm Sia says.

Opinion | As Doha Forum made clear, Europe is losing its seat at the table

Exclusive | Mainland bank apps beat those in Hong Kong and Singapore, study says