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Southeast Asia

Japan’s women-only carriages turn 25

Japan’s women-only carriages turn 25

Diplomacy

Why East Asia could be the new centre for peace and economic growth

Chinese political scientist Yan Xuetong notes that the foundations of peace in the region ‘are stronger than those in Europe’.

East Asia could become the world’s “best” region for maintaining overall peace and sustaining economic growth, according to a Chinese political scientist. Photo: AFP

China Personalities

‘Imitation genius’: China influencer overcomes abusive dad to self-fund US education

Zhong’s drive is to become his family’s pillar and protect his mother and younger sister.

Viral Douyin star Zhong Meimei, 19, announced his admission to Boston University, which he will entirely self-fund using his content earnings. Photo: Weibo

Racing

Eustace banking on Colourful King to bounce back on return to the Sha Tin straight

Talented sprinter bids to rebound from a lacklustre 11th at Happy Valley last start when he contests Saturday’s Class One.

Colourful King wins up the Sha Tin straight in November. Photos: Kenneth Chan

World

Video | Major rescue effort under way for survivors in Venezuela

Hundreds remain missing after back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes.

Web thumbnail for China among countries to offer aid to Venezuela following massive earthquakes
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Business

Penthouse in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels sells for US$48.5m, sets pricing benchmark

The record per square foot pricing for new homes this year highlights the growing momentum in the city’s luxury property market.

CK Asset has now sold four mansions at 21 Borrett Road for a combined HK$1.05 billion. Photo: May Tse

Football

Australia join USA in World Cup knockout stage, Paraguay made to wait

Socceroos will face a team from Group G, comprising Egypt, Iran, Belgium and New Zealand, while US play Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Australia’s Milos Degenek (left) and Harry Souttar celebrate advancing as runners-up in Group D after the match against Paraguay. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Malaysia’s Umno pulled into royal row ahead of Johor vote

Supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi has quit Umno, saying that the party ‘is controlled by the palace in making decisions’.

Mohd Puad Zarkashi gives a speech on June 19. Photo: Facebook/DrPuad Zarkashi

Transport

Hong Kong police arrest minibus driver after cyclist killed in collision

Cyclist found unconscious after crash in Ta Kwu Ling on Friday and later pronounced dead in North District Hospital.

The cyclist was found unconscious after the accident. He was later pronounced dead at North District Hospital in Sheung Shui. Photo: Roy Issa

Health & Environment

Hong Kong to raise share of Medical Council lay members to 31%, set inquiry time

Proposal aims to foster more diverse participation, while time frame for complaints to be made public will also be set, health minister says.

Hong Kong’s health chief has provided some details on proposed changes to the Medical Registration Ordinance. Photo: Karma Lo
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Food & Drink

This Chinese caviar company fought stereotypes to star at top global restaurants

Hermes Gehnen, the half-Chinese, half-German founder of N25 Caviar, talks about the company’s rise and its new, more approachable brands.

Hermes Gehnen at his caviar processing facility in Munich, Germany. Photo: N25 Caviar

Health & Environment

Exclusive | Why having more foreign-trained doctors in Hong Kong won’t threaten local ones

Health minister Lo Chung-mau says city lacks doctors trained in certain branches but hospitals will always prioritise local hires.

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“The existing restriction hindered our talent recruitment," Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau says. Photo: May Tse

Health & Environment

Hong Kong downgrades red rainstorm warning to amber after class suspensions

Observatory switches signals three times in 90 minutes with schools told to stay open but dismiss students only when safe.

The Hong Kong Observatory has issued a red rainstorm warning as education authorities announced the suspension of afternoon classes. Photo: Dickson Lee

China

Breakthrough in US-Iran talks; Japan visa hike to affect Chinese: 7 highlights

From deadly school shooting in Philippines to a Chinese man jailed for breeding 300 snakes, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Chinese tourists pose for photographs while dressed in kimonos at the Sensoji Temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. Photo: AFP

Big Tech

China’s Zhipu AI sparks new ‘DeepSeek moment’ in Silicon Valley

While other Chinese releases have made significant gains, GLM-5.2 is the first model to rank in the top three globally on a major benchmark.

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Zhipu AI, known internationally as Z.ai, made the GLM-5.2 model available on June 13. Photo: Shutterstock
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Diplomacy

Can China’s strict policing model ‘silence the guns’ in Africa?

As Beijing partners with the UN and the African Union to train officials on small arms control, analysts question its impact.

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Liu Bin, China’s assistant foreign minister, speaks at the opening ceremony of the China-UN-Africa training programme at the People's Public Security University in Beijing on June 16. Photo: Handout

People

Too young to ride, Malaysian teen pedals dream by building fake Yamaha motorbike

A viral video of the 13-year-old showing off his refurbished bicycle to police offices has won hearts on the internet.

A 13-year-old boy shows off his modified bicycle to police officers. Photo: Threads/hafizul.akmal

China Business

Hang Seng Index heads for worst week in over a year in tech sell-off

A more than 8 per cent slump in South Korea’s Kospi index, which is at the centre of the AI trade in Asia, further unsettles investors.

A view of Exchange Square in Central, site of the headquarters of bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Photo: Jelly Tse

Football

Japan manager believes team ‘have chance to win’ against Brazil in World Cup

Hajime Moriyasu also says that making the last 32 at the tournament is good for Asia and ‘proof in the growth of Japanese football’.

Japan manager Moriyasu Hajime (centre) says the first victory against Brazil last year shows the team’s progress. Photo: Xinhua

Travel & Hotels

Review | Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing pays homage to the city’s hutong heritage

Even French President Emmanuel Macron recently enjoyed the hotel’s Cantonese restaurant Yan Garden by Chef Fei, which – along with the rest of the property – sits amid 8 alleyways.

The courtyard lobby of Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, is a haven of serenity. Photo: Handout
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East Asia

2 storms barrelling towards Japan spark over 100 flight cancellations

Mekkhala and Higos threaten Japan with floods, triggering evacuations and factory shutdowns.

Passengers wait at Haneda airport in Tokyo on June 3. Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

New York City freezes rents for 1 million flats in win for Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s democratic socialist mayor, called the decision ‘a historic victory’ for tenants.

People celebrate following the final New York City Rent Guidelines Board vote on rent-stabilised flats. Photo: Reuters

Society

Labour authorities probe case of worker fatally crushed by construction vehicle

Man run over in industrial accident at Kowloon Bay Sports Ground on Friday morning.

The worker was crushed under the vehicle on the running track at Kowloon Bay Sports Ground. Photo: Dickson Lee

China Insider

Hong Kong’s big economic dreams: what’s the reality and where do poor fit in?

Experts and industry leaders say thriving stock market and other robust macroeconomic indicators point to success but mask pain points.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Lifestyle & Culture

Will Dear You’s smash success push Singapore to ease dialect film policies?

Extra Teochew shows of the indie hit signal ‘increasing liberalisation’ towards dialect films, but long-term changes will take time, analysts say.

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A woman takes photos during the special screening of “Dear You” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 18. Photo: Xinhua
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China Economy

At Chinese supply chain expo, executives look to tech as geopolitical insulation

As wars and tariffs disrupt trade, experts at China International Supply Chain Expo focus on potential of frontier technologies.

The Hainan province pavilion in the healthy life exhibition area at this week’s China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Football

Dutch ease past Tunisia to win Group F, draw sends Japan, Sweden into last 32

Japan will face Brazil in the next round, while the Netherlands take on Morocco. France test lies ahead for Sweden.

Netherlands’ Brian Brobbey celebrates after Ellyes Skhiri’s own goal. Photo: AP

Trending in China

Chinese man sells random vacant flat to trusting couple for US$103,000

The case sparks outrage on mainland social media, with many calling Sun conscienceless and ungrateful.

Shanghai local Sun hired a locksmith to rekey a vacant unit, then sold it to a couple he had known for decades. Photo: Shutterstock

Science

In China’s 6G smart city, every wall and pipe can be a sensor

Chinese innovation boosts wireless data rates, reduces dead zones and can track people and objects, even underground.

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Chinese scientists have developed technology designed for 6G and future networks, which can reduce dead zones and boost wireless data rates up to 400 Mbps. Photo: Getty

China Business

How 156 new car models could trigger a ‘do-or-die’ crisis in China’s EV market

A record wave of launches – mostly EVs – threatens to overwhelm demand, forcing smaller players into a fight for survival.

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BYD displays one of its luxury models at Auto China in Beijing on April 24. Photo: Reuters