8 h. ago China’s Xi calls for oversight, Trump’s Golden Dome: 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. Trump’s Golden Dome: will the numbers add up to deter China in the Indo-Pacific? The planned defence system could make it harder for the PLA to strike US bases like those in Guam and Okinawa, or warships trying to defend Taiwan. 2. Beijing sanctions South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino China has sanctioned the former Senate majority...

Politics

9 h. ago Man arrested over arriving in Hong Kong with HK$1.5 million of cannabis

Hong Kong customs has arrested a man after he was allegedly caught in possession of HK$1.5 million (US$191,000) worth of suspected cannabis buds inside his luggage. The Customs and Excise Department said on Tuesday that the 37-year-old had flown from Thailand’s capital Bangkok, the previous day. During the customs clearance, officers discovered 7kg (15lbs) of suspected cannabis in his checked-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous...

Economics

9 h. ago Hong Kong customs arrests passenger from Bangkok over HK$1.5 million of cannabis

Hong Kong customs officers have arrested a man after he was allegedly caught with HK$1.5 million (US$191,000) worth of suspected cannabis buds in his luggage at the airport. The Customs and Excise Department said on Tuesday the 37-year-old had flown from Bangkok the previous day During customs clearance, officers discovered 7kg (15lbs) of suspected cannabis in his checked-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case is...

Economics

14 h. ago Malaysia faces judicial void as chief justice set to retire without successor

Malaysia’s judiciary faces a leadership vacuum as Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat prepares to step down on Wednesday without a successor named – a gap lawyers warn could undermine judicial independence and public trust. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has opted not to extend the tenure of Tengku Maimun or Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, the president of the Court of Appeal, both of whom reach the mandatory retirement age of 66 this week. The constitution allows for a six-month...

Politics

14 h. ago Thai court suspends PM over leaked phone call as political crisis deepens

Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday pending an investigation into a leaked call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen – a move analysts say could destabilise the government, heighten divisions within the ruling coalition and embolden opposition forces. The court agreed to hear a petition filed by 36 senators accusing Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards in violation of the constitution following the leak of the...

Events

14 h. ago Chinese President Xi calls to regulate exercise of power to fight corruption

President Xi Jinping has called for a “clear, transparent and traceable” mechanism to regulate the exercise of power in China’s anti-corruption drive and boost supervision by the people and the media to better rein in disciplinary and legal violations. Xi made the remarks while presiding over a group study session of the 24-seat decision-making Politburo in Beijing on Monday, a day before the 104th anniversary of the party’s founding, according to Xinhua. Xi spoke on enforcing party discipline...

Politics

16 h. ago Why China insists on selecting the next Dalai Lama: Bloomberg

Why China insists on selecting the next Dalai Lama: Bloomberg  Nation Thailand

Politics

19 h. ago Smaller Hong Kong developers face defaults amid mounting debts: analysts

Hong Kong developer Emperor International Holdings’ inability to repay HK$16.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) in loans highlights a growing debt crisis among small and medium-sized developers in the city, prompting analysts to warn of more defaults. “High debt ratios have become a mainstream condition among Hong Kong developers, particularly mid-sized developers” amid dropping valuations, low demand, high vacancy rates, falling rental income and high interest rates, said Glen Ho, national turnaround...

Politics

19 h. ago Emperor’s US$2 billion debt woes reflect Hong Kong’s property market risks

Hong Kong developer Emperor International Holdings’ inability to repay HK$16.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) in loans highlights a growing debt crisis among small and medium-sized developers in the city, prompting analysts to warn of more defaults. “High debt ratios have become a mainstream condition among Hong Kong developers, particularly mid-sized developers” amid dropping valuations, low demand, high vacancy rates, falling rental income and high interest rates, said Glen Ho, national turnaround...

Economics

21 h. ago ‘I’d rather be an arduous reformer than complacent idler’: Hong Kong’s John Lee

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 marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events start with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will...

Politics

21 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary

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 marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

21 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary – as it happened

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 marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

30 h. ago Cafe de Coral manager arrested after window pane falls onto Hong Kong street

Hong Kong police have arrested the manager of a major fast-food outlet after a window pane fell from the first floor and landed on a Kwun Tong street, injuring two pedestrians. The pane, measuring two metres by 1.5 metres, detached from the first-floor Cafe de Coral outlet in the Champion Court building on Hong Ning Road at about 3pm on Monday. The glass, along with some food items, landed on the pavement below and shattered. Two male pedestrians, aged 68 and 51, sustained limb injuries from the...

Events

31 h. ago Will Trump visit China for WWII victory parade? Optimism as speculation swirls

Speculation that US President Donald Trump may visit Beijing in September has sparked “cautious optimism” among some Chinese analysts about a possible diplomatic breakthrough as trade ties between the rival powers teeter on the edge of a fragile truce. A Kyodo report on Sunday citing unnamed sources said that China was planning to invite Trump to its Victory Parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. When asked to comment on the report on...

Politics

31 h. ago China’s energy security and ambiguity in the Middle East crisis

China’s energy security and ambiguity in the Middle East crisis  Middle East Monitor

Events

31 h. ago From mayor to ‘usurper’: Philippine court rules Alice Guo is a Chinese citizen

A Philippine court has ruled that Alice Guo – a former town mayor who rose to national infamy over her alleged ties to foreign criminal syndicates and questions about her true identity – was never qualified to hold office, declaring her “undoubtedly a Chinese citizen” who had “usurped” her post. The Manila Regional Trial Court ruled on Friday that Guo’s election and assumption of office in Bamban, Tarlac, from 2022 to 2024 were “null and void”. Agreeing with a petition by the Office of the...

Events

32 h. ago ‘Risky choice’: why Canada’s tough stance towards US and China may backfire

The Canadian government appears to be caught between “a rock and a hard place” after trying to introduce tough measures targeting both American and Chinese companies last week, analysts said. Ottawa raised eyebrows by ordering a high-profile Chinese company to cease operations in the country due to national security concerns on Friday – the same day that US President Donald Trump announced he was breaking off trade negotiations with Canada over its proposed digital services tax. But Canada has...

Events

36 h. ago China’s Communist Party tops 100 million members but growth is slowing

China’s Communist Party had more than 100 million members by the end of 2024, an increase of about 1 per cent from the previous year, according to official data released ahead of the party’s 104th anniversary. However, the rate of membership growth has continued to slow, with one insider attributing this to stricter screening by the Central Organisation Department (COD), the party’s top personnel office. In keeping with tradition, the membership data for the previous year was released a day...

Politics

53 h. ago Last bite for diners before popular City’super food court closes in Hong Kong

Diners got their fill one last time as a decades-old food court in high-end supermarket City’super in Hong Kong’s Times Square shopping centre served its final customers on Sunday. The closure of the Amazing Food Hall, located in the basement of the upscale Causeway Bay shopping and office complex, marked the end of an era for the premium supermarket chain’s dining ventures. The food court, popular for its offerings of sushi, grilled meats, noodle dishes, a well-stocked wine and sake cellar, and...

Events

56 h. ago Golden Harvest closes its 4 remaining cinemas amid industry upheaval in Hong Kong

Golden Harvest shut down all four of its remaining cinemas in Hong Kong on Sunday, including one that will not be leased to a new operator, leaving residents disappointed by the loss of another venue. GH Galaxy in Shau Kei Wan ceased operations, while Golden Harvest’s other three cinemas, Sky at Olympian City, StagE in Tuen Mun and GH in Tai Po will all be leased to a new operator from Monday. On its final day, GH Galaxy offered six showings across its two screens. By 5.30pm, the only sold-out...

Politics