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Southeast Asia

Philippine senators send Sara Duterte impeachment case back to lower house

The decision could grant Duterte a stay of execution as a likely contender for the next president. The trial could result in a lifetime ban from politics.

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte arrives to file her counter affidavit in response to a complaint over her alleged threat to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr at the Department of Justice in Manila. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Chinese children under 14 become latest targets of tougher US visa policies

Embassy in Beijing says that a rule that allowed children to apply for a visa without attending an interview has been scrapped.

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Children wanting a visa will now have to attend an interview along with their parents. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Policy

Chinese academy launches automated system to speed up chip design

The system, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, uses AI for semiconductor design, dispensing with the need for human developers.

Chips seen on a circuit board of a computer. Photo: Reuters

Racing

SCMP Best Bets: Punters can stand Witness to victory at the Valley

SCMP Best Bets: Punters can stand Witness to victory at the Valley

Europe

France’s Macron condemns deadly school stabbing after 14-year-old’s knife attack

The French president denounced the ‘senseless violence’ after the deadly attack on a teaching assistant in Nogent in eastern France.

French gendarmes control the access to a secondary school after a 31-year-old teaching assistant was stabbed with a knife by a pupil during a bag search in Nogent on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
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Big Tech

Tencent Music to buy Ximalaya, an audio app used by 300 million users

Ximalaya, a platform for podcasts, audiobooks and music, could enhance Tencent Music’s competitiveness in the audio content market.

Ximalaya is a popular Chinese online audio platform. Photo: Handout

South Asia

India’s ‘unbearable’ heatwave hits 47 degrees, sparking health emergency alerts

The severe heatwave has also led to soaring energy demand, which has strained power grids.

A volunteer distributes free drinking water outside a Sikh temple, during a hot day in the old quarters of Delhi on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

China

Beijing on ‘chaotic’ LA protests, US-China trade talks: SCMP daily highlights

From day 1 of US-China trade talks to Chinese state media pouncing on chaos in Los Angeles, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Police are seen through smoke on a motorway as protests rock downtown Los Angeles on June 8. Photo: AP

Economics

Eye on the prize: bags of rice, daily essentials up for grabs at Japanese arcade

The arcade’s manager says the goal is for residents in Kawagoe to have some fun even with the soaring rice prices.

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Two women try their luck at a claw machine. An amusement centre in the Japanese city of Kawagoe has offered bags of rice as a prize to be won at its claw machines. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Tech

Apple’s most sweeping software redesign disappoints mainland Chinese consumers

The hashtag ‘iOS26 Ugly’ was microblogging app Weibo’s top-trending topic on Tuesday, as thousands of netizens expressed their discontent.

Apple previews a new software interface design at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, on June 9, 2025. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
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China Economy

China’s film distributors pledge more imports to diversify market

As domestic releases dominate China’s box office, distributors have renewed calls for overseas titles to keep market fluid.

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China’s film distributors have called for the import of more titles to diversify the country’s market. Photo: AP

Middle East

Iran executes 9 Islamic State group militants linked to 2018

Meanwhile, two thieves have had their hands amputated under Sharia law, showcasing the country’s harsh judicial measures.

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The flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Photo: dpa

World Opinion

Opinion | Asia is becoming more multipolar but not because of US decline

The Trump administration’s unclear foreign policy aims are prompting US partners to look beyond security alignment with Washington alone.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

United States & Canada

Trump Jnr’s ‘reckless’ social media post slammed by Korean-Americans

Korean-Americans in Los Angeles criticised the US president’s son for exploiting the 1992 riots, urging respect for past trauma amid the current unrest.

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Donald Trump Jnr, son of US President Donald Trump, speaks on a panel during The Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas on May 25. Photo: EPA-EFE

Diplomacy

‘Chaotic era’: Chinese state media say LA protests are proof of a broken America

Xinhua and other state media highlight federal-state conflict sparked by Trump policies, as social media users gloat over ‘boomerang’ effect.

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Police are seen through smoke on a motorway as protests rock downtown Los Angeles on June 8. Photo: AP
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Economics

India expected to maintain robust growth despite Pakistan tensions, trade woes

Economy could grow by about 6.5 per cent this financial year, analysts say, with rate cut predicted to boost consumption, investment.

Containers are unloaded at the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram. The State Bank of India estimated in a recent report that the economy would grow by 6.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent this financial year. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

My Take | US risks soft power by alienating Chinese students

America can guard its core technologies, but relinquishing its status as an international education hub will undermine its global influence.

Students cheer during the 374th Harvard Commencement on May 29. The school has been a frequent target of US President Donald Trump as he pushes for strict oversight on admissions and hiring. Photo: AFP

Football

Late Stefan Pereira penalty earns Hong Kong dramatic win against India

Injury-time winner ends Hong Kong’s goal drought and earns side crucial win in Asian Cup bid.

Hong Kong’s Sun Ming-him lets fly from just outside of the box while India captain Sandesh Jhingan tries to move his arm out of the way during the Asian Cup qualifier at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

Law and Crime

Hongkongers warned not to download mobile game ‘promoting secessionist agenda’

Individuals who download Reversed Front: Bonfire may be considered in possession of a seditious publication, police warn.

‘Reversed Front: Bonfire’ was developed by a Taiwanese company, ESC. Photo: reversedfront.tw

Law and Crime

Hong Kong court convicts couple of child cruelty, murdering newborn son

High Court jury also rejects parents’ defence that infant’s head trauma and rib fractures were inflicted by his brother out of jealousy.

A High Court jury passed a unanimous guilty verdict. Photo: Warton Li
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Society

National Games ticketing to start in August for Hong Kong, 3 months before event

Yeung Tak-keung, head of local coordination office, says city’s ticket sales will start at same time as Macau and mainland China.

Fencing is among the sports contests set to be hosted by Hong Kong for the National Games. Photo: Edmond So

K-drama

Good Boy: Park Bo-gum is a former boxer in police action-comedy

Korean drama series that follows a police task force comprising former medal-winning athletes gets off to a slow start.

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Park Bo-gum as ex-boxer turned police officer in a still from K-drama Good Boy.

Politics

Pro-Marcos Jnr Philippines-originated ChatGPT accounts banned over AI misuse

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, said the banned accounts were used to influence views favourable towards the Philippine president.

OpenAI’s ban on a number of ChatGPT accounts originating from the Philippines shows how artificial intelligence could be misused to conduct influence operations. Photo: Shutterstock

Society

What are Hong Kong’s best deals, discounts for this year’s July 1 celebrations?

Free MTR tickets, Ocean Park discounts and dining deals among the offers available on anniversary of city’s return to Chinese rule.

From July 1 to 3, trams trips will be free of charge. Photo: Jelly Tse

Tech Trends

A quantum leap: Chinese institute begins photonic chip production

Photonic chips are a critical hardware component for quantum computing and high-speed optical communications.

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The campus of Shanghai JiaoTong University. One of its affiliated institutes has begun production of photonic chips. Photo: AFP
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Global Economy

Explainer | US trade officials mull further rollback of port fee rules – what’s different now?

Proposed policy shift could ease pressure on domestic exporters and benefit global players such as China.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R) and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer attend a press conference in the Swiss city of Geneva following trade talks with China on May 12, 2025. Photo: Kyodo

Business

First flats in NWD-led Deep Water Pavilia go on sale on Saturday

Prospective buyers have submitted 2,500 cheques for 138 flats priced at an average of US$2,680 per square foot.

NWD owns 50 per cent of the Deep Water Pavilia project, which it has co-developed with Empire Group, CSI Properties, Lai Sun Development and MTR Corp. Photo: Handout

China

Hong Kong to host its biggest esports event, first to receive ‘M’ Mark status

Blast Premier Hong Kong Rivals will see teams compete for US$1 million at the AsiaWorld-Expo in November.

Blast Premier is heading to Hong Kong in November. Photo: Dickson Lee

Travel & Leisure

Londoners make fast mates at weekly chess club, an offline meeting place

Volunteer-run Knight Club is a space to connect, drawing over 100 players each Tuesday who bond over chess games as DJs play dance music.

Young adults play chess at Knight Club, a diverse chess club that has grown to almost 1,000 members within a year, in London, Britain. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong football fans flock to Kai Tak Sports Park for historic India match

Hundreds arrive early for first international at the new 50,000-seat stadium with a record crowd expected for Asian Cup qualifier.

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Fans have gathered early for Tuesday night’s game at Kai Tak. Photo: Sam Tsang