8 h. ago Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’ advice for Australia raises eyebrows

The Chinese ambassador to Canberra has urged Australia not to be “incited” by Nato’s support for demands by the US to raise defence spending sharply and instead should cooperate with Beijing to resolve regional disputes. Analysts say the “unsolicited advice” is unlikely to sway Canberra and could backfire by reinforcing distrust of Beijing, ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China and amid an ongoing debate in Australia over its defence spending. In an opinion article published...

Politics

13 h. ago Chinese government officials ban LDS Church activities in Beijing

Chinese government officials ban LDS Church activities in Beijing  ABC4 Utah

Politics

19 h. ago Chinese captain in Baltic sea cable damage case appears in Hong Kong court

Chinese captain in Baltic sea cable damage case appears in Hong Kong court  Reuters

Events

21 h. ago PM’s suspension reignites debate on ‘judicial activism’ of Thailand’s courts

The suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has reignited debate over the Constitutional Court’s growing influence in Thailand’s democratic system, amid concerns electoral mandates risk being curtailed by judicial and conservative power centres. While the court’s decision on Tuesday to suspend Paetongtarn over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen was framed as a procedural response to an ethics complaint, observers say it fits into a broader trend of...

Events

24 h. ago Indonesian can leave Hong Kong pending decision to drop fallen tumbler case

A Hong Kong court has allowed an Indonesian tourist to return home while awaiting authorities’ decision on whether to continue with his prosecution over a fallen tumbler that hit another visitor at The Peak. Merchant Satnauli Bangun, 44, was not required to enter a plea on a count of allowing an object to fall from a height when he first appeared at Eastern Court on Friday. Court prosecutor Jennifer Cheung Toi-ling said the Department of Justice needed time to decide whether to press on with...

Politics

25 h. ago Sri Lankan man caught at Thai airport with 3 snakes in his underwear

A Sri Lankan man has been arrested at an airport in Thailand after allegedly trying to smuggle three snakes out of the country by concealing them in his underwear. The man was stopped at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday after a body search revealed three ball pythons, stored in net bags, hidden on his person. The suspect, identified only as Shehan, was apprehended by the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network (WEN), authorities said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Authorities received...

Events

25 h. ago Chinese model lured to Myanmar with scam job rescued after sister raises alarm

A Chinese model from the southern province of Guangdong has been rescued from Myanmar after he was lured with the pretext of an overseas work opportunity last month, according to the Chinese embassy in Thailand. “The Chinese citizen surnamed Zhong has been rescued under the collaborative efforts of all parties,” the embassy said in a statement on Friday. “We once again warn Chinese citizens to beware of overseas ‘high-paying job’ scams. Foreign nationals need proper work permits for employment...

Events

26 h. ago US aircraft carrier marks South China Sea focus but also ‘crowded’ region

The presence of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier in the South China Sea this week and its port call at Manila signals renewed American commitment to the Philippines, though observers warn that Beijing could view the move as a “containment” effort and ramp up its own naval activity in the disputed waters. Flight deck operations were opened to the media aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered vessel, with commanding officer Captain Timothy Waits telling reporters his ship’s mission...

Transport

26 h. ago USS George Washington’s Manila visit signals US commitment amid ‘crowded’ seas

The presence of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier in the South China Sea this week and its port call at Manila signals renewed American commitment to the Philippines, though observers warn that Beijing could view the move as a “containment” effort and ramp up its own naval activity in the disputed waters. Flight deck operations were opened to the media aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered vessel, with commanding officer Captain Timothy Waits telling reporters his ship’s mission...

Politics

26 h. ago As China, EU eye warm ties, Brussels aims to protect its manufacturing base

Hopes for a long-awaited recovery of factory activity in Europe’s manufacturing powerhouse were uplifted this week as a key indicator of the sector’s health surged to a 34-month high in Germany. But the fact that the country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index for June still remained at 49.0 – when a reading below 50 suggests a contraction in the sector – underscores the uphill challenge that Germany is facing in trying to regain growth and past glory in its manufacturing activities. The...

Politics

27 h. ago Hong Kong court rules dance studio must compensate paralysed Mirror dancer Mo Li

A Hong Kong court has found a dance studio liable for compensation after one of its dancers was seriously injured by a giant screen that collapsed during a concert by Cantopop boy band Mirror three years ago. The District Court on Friday ruled in Mo Li Kai-yin’s favour after finding “clear suspicion” that his employer, Studiodanz, evaded civil liability under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance by failing to appear at court proceedings. Judge Phillis Loh Lai-ping said the compensation lawsuit...

Events

28 h. ago Chinese national missing in Thailand rescued, embassy warns of shady job offers, China News

Chinese national missing in Thailand rescued, embassy warns of shady job offers, China News  AsiaOne

Events

37 h. ago Exclusive: US lifts license suspensions for GE jet engines to China's COMAC

Exclusive: US lifts license suspensions for GE jet engines to China's COMAC  Reuters

Politics

43 h. ago Thailand: 2025 Thai Festival held in Beijing to enhance bilateral people

Thailand: 2025 Thai Festival held in Beijing to enhance bilateral people-to-people exchanges  Global Times

Politics

45 h. ago Armenia seeks deeper Chinese ties, Apple’s China story: 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. Has Apple been trapped by China? Not so fast, analysts say A new book contending that Apple went too far in consolidating its operations in China is prompting debate among analysts of the country – some of whom say the company may have had no realistic alternatives. 2. Armenia looks to deepen ties with China for foreign policy beyond Russia The Armenian...

Politics

45 h. ago From rocket ballet to space fireworks: China’s aerospace innovators push boundaries

A start-up company in southwestern China has revealed its latest innovations in rocket technology, highlighting how the country’s cutting-edge aerospace capabilities are expanding into the civilian sector. Lingkong Tianxing Technology unveiled its self-developed reusable liquid rocket with an animated video simulation posted to its official website on Tuesday. The clip showcased advanced flight control technologies, including mid-air flips and in-flight reignition. The clip shows the VTVL...

Events

49 h. ago Hong Kong court quashes government decision to refuse permits to 2 Uber drivers

A Hong Kong court has quashed a government decision to refuse hire car permits to two prospective Uber drivers seven years ago, rejecting authorities’ contentions that the move could open the floodgates for ride-hailing services and private vehicles to operate as “pseudo-taxis”. In a written judgment handed down on Thursday, the High Court found the Commissioner for Transport’s dismissal of two litigants’ requests for a permit in 2018 to be based on an “impracticable, illogical and unworkable”...

Politics

50 h. ago Hong Kong lawmakers may face suspension, pay cut under proposed misconduct rules

Hong Kong’s legislature is expected to investigate evidence-based, real-name complaints about lawmakers’ conduct through a committee with an expanded scope, as part of a proposal to revamp current guidelines and regulations. Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of the Legislative Council, said on Thursday that those found in violation could face the maximum penalty of suspension from office and salary deductions, but stopped short of naming specific standards to categorise “minor, serious and...

Economics

52 h. ago China urges pupils to dance when studying to boost brains, morale, ease pressure

Secondary schools in China have urged pupils to dance while studying in a bid to activate their brains, boost morale and relieve heavy academic pressure. Several schools across the nation have applied the “passionate morning reading” method with their pupils. In video clips posted online, teenagers can be seen wiggling their bodies and waving their arms wildly while reading textbooks. In some schools, pupils stand still while studying but are encouraged to chant the text loudly. The activity...

Events

55 h. ago Sabah bribery scandal: Singapore firm comes under Malaysian scrutiny

Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is now targeting a Singapore-registered mining company as part of its investigation into a bribery scandal in Sabah that has already seen two state lawmakers and a businessman charged in court on Monday. The case captured public attention after the businessman, Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, released covert videos showing state lawmakers engaged in bribe negotiations with him, implicating several prominent figures in Malaysia’s second-largest state. Despite claiming...

Politics