46 m. ago Starbucks Draws Interest for Controlling Stake in China Unit

Starbucks Draws Interest for Controlling Stake in China Unit  Bloomberg.com

Politics

6 h. ago At least eight killed and dozens missing after floods on Nepal

At least eight killed and dozens missing after floods on Nepal-China border  Reuters

Events

9 h. ago ‘Treated like servants’: Taiwan on edge as US tariff deadline passes

Anxiety is running high in Taiwan as the island nervously awaits the outcome of its tariff negotiations with the United States, amid growing concern it could be hit with duties of 25 per cent or higher – well above the 10 per cent rate Taipei had hoped for. The worry stems from US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime, announced in April, which gave trade partners 90 days to negotiate new terms or face tariffs mirroring those imposed on US exports. With the grace period now over,...

Events

9 h. ago Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over travel ban on former senator

The Philippine foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian after Beijing hit the former Senate majority leader with a travel ban for his stance on the South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, a key ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, has been barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry last week. Beijing said the ban was the result of his “egregious conduct on China-related issues”. During a...

Politics

13 h. ago China Buzz: Beijing ports report over 10 million border crossings in H1 2025

China Buzz: Beijing ports report over 10 million border crossings in H1 2025  People's Daily Online

Politics

13 h. ago Malaysia’s Rosmah wins US$23,600 damages over black magic claims by TikTokker

Former Malaysian first lady Rosmah Mansor has won 100,000 ringgit (US$23,600) in damages in a defamation case against a TikTokker who uploaded a video claiming that she had dabbled in black magic. The Kuala Lumpur High Court said on Tuesday that Rosmah had proven her claim against 35-year-old Ku Muhammad Hilmie Ku Din. “This global award comprises general and aggravated damages,” Justice Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh said during the damages assessment hearing, according to a report by local daily...

Events

14 h. ago Bean there, done that? Starbucks’ Korean border outlet proves a smash hit

A Starbucks branch perched at the edge of one of the world’s most heavily militarised borders has brewed up a remarkable success, drawing more than 120,000 customers in just seven months thanks in part to its singular offering: sweeping views into North Korea. This outpost of the American coffee giant is not in any ordinary location. It sits atop the observatory at Aegibong Peace Ecological Park, a former military base transformed into an eco-sanctuary in Gimpo, South Korea. Here, visitors can...

Events

14 h. ago Vietnam, China agree to boost trade ties as Trump tariffs hit

Vietnam, China agree to boost trade ties as Trump tariffs hit  Reuters

Politics

15 h. ago Malaysian sisters wed foreigners, communicate with gestures, spark online hilarity

Three Malaysian sisters have caused online hilarity after they married men from different countries, forcing their family to break the language barriers by using gestures and facial expressions. The women's father, Razali Yusof, 85, from Perak in northwestern Malaysia, says they married men from Britain, Egypt and Pakistan, according to local media outlet Harian Metro. Razali said that neither he nor his wife speaks English, and none of his sons-in-law speak Malay. This means the family has to...

Politics

16 h. ago Thai PM’s suspension reignites debate, Malaysia’s new tax: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Malaysia’s new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts 2. PM’s suspension reignites debate on ‘judicial activism’ of Thailand’s courts 3. Philippines’ Duterte ends womanising era, leaving ‘13 to 27’ lovers behind 4. Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’...

Economics

16 h. ago Australia gets ‘unsolicited advice’; Indonesian mine concern: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Malaysia’s new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts 2. PM’s suspension reignites debate on ‘judicial activism’ of Thailand’s courts 3. Philippines’ Duterte ends womanising era, leaving ‘13 to 27’ lovers behind 4. Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’...

Politics

22 h. ago Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea

US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, on Monday slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or higher import taxes on several other nations ahead of a self-imposed Wednesday deadline. Analysts said the move shows that the mercurial American leader is using threats to jump-start negotiations. Trump sent two-page letters to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung saying the new...

Politics

29 h. ago Surge in Hongkongers visiting Japan expected after manga ‘megaquake’ fears fade

Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for visiting Japan is expected to rebound “explosively” in the coming days and months after fears of a “megaquake” predicted in a manga proved unfounded, an industry leader has said. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said on Monday that rumours of a July 5 earthquake had earlier caused significant concern among some Hongkongers. Many residents had shelved trips to Japan, leading to a sharp decline in tour group bookings. He said his agency normally...

Politics

32 h. ago Hong Kong lawmakers call for facial recognition system at upgraded land crossing

Hong Kong legislators have called for facial recognition technology to be adopted at the upgraded Huanggang land crossing while giving an initial green light to a HK$1.75 billion government proposal to site border clearance facilities in the complex. At a meeting of the Legislative Council’s security panel on Monday, some lawmakers also expressed concern that the expanded Huanggang checkpoint, which was designed to handle 200,000 passengers and 15,000 vehicles every day between Hong Kong and...

Politics

35 h. ago China dad carries disabled son to school for 12 years, vows to do same at university

A father in China who has been carrying his disabled son on his back to school every day for the past 12 years has touched millions of hearts in the country. Chuan Zhuyu, a recent graduate from a secondary school in Tengchong, Yunnan province, southwestern China, scored 624 out of 750 in this year’s university entrance exam, known as “gaokao” in China. The relatively high score came as a relief to his father, who has shown dedicated care for his son, the news outlet The Cover reported. “My...

Culture

39 h. ago Retail rents in Hong Kong under pressure after vacancy rate hits 4½

Retail rents in Hong Kong are expected to remain under pressure, as the trend of residents travelling to the mainland for leisure has led many businesses to opt for short-term leases, experts have said after the vacancy rate in the city’s busiest districts hit a 4½-year high. Analysts on Monday also attributed the mounting vacancies to shifting consumer preferences and the difficulty landlords faced in securing high-value tenants once luxury goods shops, such as watch and jewellery stores, had...

Events

40 h. ago Cyclist injured after Hong Kong tour bus crashes into road dividers

A cyclist has been injured after a tour bus lost control and hit road divider fences in Hong Kong’s Sha Tin. According to police, the cyclist reported the traffic accident at the junction of Fo Tan Road and Tai Chung Kiu Road at around 6.08am on Monday. The 48-year-old sustained injuries to his face and hands and was sent to a nearby hospital, while the bus driver, 63, was unharmed. A dashcam video circulating online showed that the bus was turning right onto Fo Tan Road from Tai Chung Kiu Road....

Events

57 h. ago Chinese naval officers praise Hong Kong visitors – and feeling is mutual

Naval officers on Chinese warships visiting Hong Kong have praised residents touring their vessels for their behaviour and warmth, while revealing that they had enjoyed some local delicacies in neighbourhood cafes and were impressed by the city’s beauty and prosperity. The officers proved to be popular photo subjects for residents enjoying a rare opportunity to sing and dance with them on the second and final day of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong’s public opening on Sunday. The fleet,...

Events

59 h. ago Chinese scavenger donates tonnes of supplies to flood victims, keeps nothing

A polio-suffering man has once again moved the mainland public by donating tonnes of supplies to the victims of a flood in southwestern China. Hu Lei, 32, who has been dubbed the Kneeling Giant, bought 5,000kg of rice, 500 boxes of instant noodles, 500 bottles of mineral water, 100 torches and 2,000 pairs of gloves at a combined cost of 55,000 yuan (US$8,000). His friends also bought items worth 20,000 yuan (US$3,000). They drove a truck loaded with supplies to flood-hit Rongjiang County in...

Events

61 h. ago Hong Kong rejected 12,452 visitors in first 5 months of this year: official

Hong Kong rejected more than 12,000 visitors from entering the city in the first five months of 2025, according to a top immigration official, who has said the move signals his department’s firm stance on border control. Director of Immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung also said on Sunday that the 12,452 rejected visitors represented about 0.062 per cent of the nearly 20 million inbound travellers recorded over the same period. “There are a few reasons – for example, we might suspect their purpose...

Politics