3 h. ago China pushes trilateral currency swap, new drone sighted: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China eyes currency swap with Japan and South Korea amid trade tensions: source China is in talks with Japan and South Korea – both US allies – about a possible trilateral currency swap to bolster the region’s financial safety net and deepen economic cooperation amid US President Donald Trump’s trade war, according to a source familiar with the issue. 2....

Events

6 d. ago China opposes UK sanctions on Chinese entities linked to Russia

China opposes UK sanctions on Chinese entities linked to Russia  ecns.cn

Politics

2 w. ago Lithuania’s Vilnius Airport suspends traffic over balloons in airspace

Lithuania has suspended air traffic at Vilnius Airport due to balloons possibly flying in its airspace, and flights have been diverted, the airport’s operator said late on Saturday. European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen and Munich. “Attention: the airspace over Vilnius Airport is closed,” the airport said in a statement on its website, adding that the closure was expected to last until...

Politics

2 w. ago Lithuania’s Vilnius airport reopens after suspension over balloons in airspace

Lithuania reopened to air traffic at its largest and busiest Vilnius airport early on Sunday after several hours of flight suspensions and diversions over balloons possibly flying in its airspace, the airport’s operator said. European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen and Munich. Air traffic at Vilnius was restored at 4.50am local time (9.50am Hong Kong time) on Sunday after a decision was...

Politics

2 w. ago Putin: China's initiative on global governance linked to Russia's vision for Eurasian security

Putin: China's initiative on global governance linked to Russia's vision for Eurasian security  chinadailyasia.com

Politics

2 w. ago Munich airport shut again over drone scare amid suspected Russian activity

Munich airport was forced to halt operations for the second day in a row on Friday over drone sightings, with dozens of flights and more than 6,000 passengers affected. Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones, while Romania and Estonia have pointed the finger at Russia, which has brushed off the allegations. Munich airport said in a statement that on Friday “from 9.30pm air traffic was restricted and then cancelled due to drone...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine’s Zelensky warns Europe that Russia is looking to ‘escalate’ war

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Europe on Thursday recent drone incursions showed Russia was looking to “escalate” its aggression, as he offered his country’s war-honed expertise to help counter the threat. The warning came at a summit of European leaders from just under 50 countries, who converged on a conference centre in Copenhagen under tight security after mystery drone flights rattled Denmark last month. The drone sightings in Denmark and high-profile aerial incursions by...

Events

3 w. ago Denmark calls in Nato aid for EU summit after drone incursions

Denmark is receiving security help from Nato allies ahead of a high-level meeting of European leaders in Copenhagen this week after a wave of drone incursions disrupted civilian and military sites. Germany, France and Sweden are sending reinforcements, with troops, anti-drone capabilities, radar systems and a helicopter among the support dispatched to the Danish capital after a string of drone incidents across airports and airbases over the past week. The sightings of large, professional-grade...

Politics

3 w. ago Denmark bans all civilian drone flights this week for EU summit

Denmark will ban all civilian drone flights across the country this week to ensure security as Copenhagen hosts an EU summit gathering heads of government, the transport ministry said on Sunday. Mysterious drone sightings across Denmark since Monday have prompted the closure of several airports, with Denmark hinting at possible Russian involvement, charges Moscow has rejected. Drones were observed over Danish military sites overnight for the second straight day, Denmark’s army said on...

Politics

3 w. ago Danish airport closes again after suspected new drone sightings linked to Russia

A sighting of a suspected drone briefly closed a Danish airport on Friday for the second time in a few hours, after the country’s prime minister said the flights were part of “hybrid attacks” that may be linked to Russia. Drones have been seen flying over several Danish airports since Wednesday, causing one of them to close for hours, after a sighting earlier this week prompted Copenhagen Airport to shut down. That followed a similar incident in Norway, drone incursions in Polish and Romanian...

Events

3 w. ago Man, 54, charged over swimming at closed Hong Kong beach during Ragasa

A 54-year-old man has been prosecuted for allegedly swimming at a closed public beach in Hong Kong while a No 10 signal was in force under Super Typhoon Ragasa, the second instance in as many days of storm thrill-seekers falling foul of the law. Police said on Friday that the force was alerted at noon on Wednesday that a man was suspected of swimming at a closed public beach on Castle Peak Road in Tuen Mun while the No 10 warning signal was in effect. Officers arrived at the scene and issued a...

Society