78 m. ago Chinese sellers bracing as Amazon Prime Day sale and tariff pressure to collide

Ahead of Amazon’s annual Prime Day sales event, Chinese sellers are already walking a tightrope as they try to strike a balance between staying competitive and adjusting to Washington’s tariffs. Gloria Gu, an Amazon seller based in Zhejiang province, said her outlook for this year’s summer event – extended this year to a record four days, July 8-11 – was “not optimistic”. Her company mainly sells household consumables – low-margin products that are highly price-sensitive. “Depending on the item,...

Politics

2 h. ago Communication expert Julian Cheng leaves Canada career for China university

Julian Cheng Zhizhen, a global expert in optical and radio frequency wireless communication, has left his position in Canada to join the newly established Great Bay University (GBU) in southern China. Cheng, previously an electrical engineering professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), will be chair professor and dean of the school of information science and technology, GBU announced in a post on its official social media account on June 23. The announcement came just four days...

Politics

2 h. ago Thai minister Phumtham set to become acting PM after predecessor’s one

Phumtham Wechayachai is poised to take over as Thailand’s acting prime minister, as the Pheu Thai-led government grapples with deepening political uncertainty following the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. He will replace Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who held the position for just one day. Phumtham’s assumption of the role hinges on his formal swearing-in as interior minister, scheduled for Thursday, following a royal decree approving a cabinet reshuffle....

Politics

2 h. ago Why Silicon Valley signing up to nationalism puts Asia on edge

A day before the controversial military parade in Washington celebrating the US Army’s 250th anniversary (which, coincidentally, fell on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday), a more discreet yet significant event took place. On June 13, the US Army swore four C-suite technologists into its reserve ranks with the launch of Detachment 201, its executive innovation corps. The newly commissioned lieutenant colonels are Shyam Sankar, Palantir Technologies’ chief technology officer; Andrew...

Politics

3 h. ago China could be about to attempt a landmark satellite refuelling test

China’s first satellite-to-satellite refuelling test appears to be imminent after a second round of close-proximity operations between two probes in high orbit on Monday. The landmark Chinese mission will be one of the most ambitious attempts at autonomous satellite servicing in geostationary orbit, which rival the United States has yet to achieve. On Monday, the Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 spacecraft – both orbiting at an altitude of 35,786km (22,236 miles) above the equator – came within...

Politics

4 h. ago James Bond museum in Thailand misfires, closing after only 1 day

The closure of a US$1.2 million James Bond museum aimed at wooing more tourists to southern Thailand after opening for only one day has prompted a lawmaker to call it a pointless project “dressed up to impress” and demand accountability from officials. The state-funded attraction in Phang Nga, a tribute to The Man with the Golden Gun for showcasing the kingdom’s multiple locations in the 1974 film, was built a year ago. But the museum has since become an eyesore, with its leaky roofs, broken...

Events

5 h. ago Beijing says Dalai Lama’s succession plan breaks tradition, tensions set to rise

Beijing said the succession of the Dalai Lama should be in accordance with tradition and Chinese law, in a swift rejection of a plan announced by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The comment was made hours later after the 14th Dalai Lama said his office – the Gaden Phodrang Trust – held the sole authority to recognise the next Dalai Lama. On Wednesday, four days ahead of his 90th birthday, he posted a statement to X discussing the future of the Tibetan spiritual leadership, particularly his...

Events

5 h. ago Indonesia and Malaysia set model for dispute resolution with Ambalat pact

The decision by Indonesia and Malaysia to jointly develop the resource-rich Ambalat sea block signals a pragmatic step towards defusing a decades-old territorial stand-off, even as legal uncertainties over sovereignty remain unresolved. The agreement was announced last week during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Indonesia, where he met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to discuss maritime and land border disputes, investment, and regional conflicts, among...

Politics

6 h. ago China’s aviation power bank ban catches travellers off guard

An emergency ban on some power banks imposed by China’s aviation regulator over the weekend caught travellers off guard, many of whom arrived at airports only to be told that such portable devices could not be taken onto their flights. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) began enforcing the strict ban on lithium-based power banks over safety risks on Saturday, two days after issuing the notice. The ban applies to devices without proper safety and quality certifications or those...

Politics

6 h. ago China’s emergency power bank ban catches domestic fliers off guard

An emergency ban on some power banks imposed by China’s aviation regulator over the weekend caught travellers off guard, many of whom arrived at airports only to be told that such portable devices could not be taken onto their flights. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) began enforcing the strict ban on lithium-based power banks over safety risks on Saturday, two days after issuing the notice. The ban applies to devices without proper safety and quality certifications or those...

Politics

6 h. ago China invites President Lee to attend diplomatically touchy Victory Day celebration in Beijing

China invites President Lee to attend diplomatically touchy Victory Day celebration in Beijing  Korea JoongAng Daily

Politics

7 h. ago Chinese FM responds to Israeli envoy’s remarks about China’s influence on Iran

Chinese FM responds to Israeli envoy’s remarks about China’s influence on Iran  Global Times

Politics

8 h. ago Boy, 12, sent to hospital after alleged cutter attack at Hong Kong school

A 12-year-old boy has been taken to hospital after a fellow pupil allegedly slashed him with a cutter at their Hong Kong primary school. Police said they received a report at around 10.47am on Wednesday that a girl attending Tang Shiu Kin Primary School in Tuen Mun had been involved in an altercation with another pupil. The boy sustained an injury to his right arm after the girl allegedly attacked him with the cutter. He was transported to Tuen Mun Hospital. It remains unclear whether the two...

Events

8 h. ago Boy, 12, sent to hospital after girl allegedly cuts him at Hong Kong school

A 12-year-old boy has been taken to hospital after a fellow pupil allegedly slashed him with a cutter at their Hong Kong primary school. Police said they received a report at around 10.47am on Wednesday that a girl attending Tang Shiu Kin Primary School in Tuen Mun had been involved in an altercation with another pupil. The boy sustained an injury to his right arm after the girl allegedly attacked him with the cutter. He was transported to Tuen Mun Hospital. It remains unclear whether the two...

Politics

8 h. ago Potential cyclone to set temperatures soaring in Hong Kong in coming days

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong is set to be hit by inclement weather this week with the city’s observatory forecasting the potential development of a tropical cyclone near Luzon by Thursday. The forecaster also said on Wednesday that temperatures would soar over the next couple of days to a maximum of 33 degrees...

Sport

8 h. ago China’s Laopu Gold surges 15% as investors devour newly available shares

A surge in the supply of Laopu Gold shares after the end of a lock-up period turned out to be a buying opportunity for investors who missed out on the luxury jeweller’s 14-fold surge since its 2024 debut. The Beijing-based company’s shares jumped 15 per cent to a record of HK$1,008 on Monday, bucking concerns of a pullback after 69 million shares – a 40 per cent stake – became free-floating, allowing pre-listing investors including founder Xu Gaoming to sell without restrictions a year after the...

Economics

10 h. ago Hong Kong restaurant Super Star closes last branch, leaving 50 workers in limbo

A 36-year-old Hong Kong seafood restaurant chain has abruptly shut down its last remaining branch, leaving about 50 employees in limbo as they seek to recover their unpaid wages. A notice announcing the closure of Super Star Seafood Restaurant was posted at its Moko shopping centre branch in Mong Kok on Wednesday. “In recent years, the catering industry in Hong Kong has been facing structural challenges. The local consumer market has continued to be weak and there has been a fundamental change...

Politics

11 h. ago Israel asks China to influence Iran's military and nuclear ambition

Israel asks China to influence Iran's military and nuclear ambition  The Jerusalem Post

Events

14 h. ago ‘Unprecedented’: Taiwan to test war fitness, urban survival under 24/7 live fire

For the first time, Taiwan’s largest annual military exercise will combine conventional war games and urban survival drills under “unprecedented” live-fire conditions when it gets under way next week. The move signals growing concerns in Taipei that Beijing could trigger a prolonged conflict requiring both military defence and civilian resilience. The 41st Han Kuang exercise from July 9 to 18 would test joint operational readiness under “unprecedented 10-day, round-the-clock live-fire...

Events

16 h. ago “China Unleashes Invisible Firepower”: Newly Revealed Stealth Missiles Could Radically Transform the Future of Modern Warfare

“China Unleashes Invisible Firepower”: Newly Revealed Stealth Missiles Could Radically Transform the Future of Modern Warfare  Sustainability Times

Events