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United States & Canada

Hegseth grilled over LA troop deployment, estimated to cost US$134 million

The Pentagon chief defended the decision to send in the National Guard and the Marines amid protests over immigration raids.

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Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Middle East

Syria decrees women must wear burkinis, ‘decent’ clothing at public beaches

The order drew concerns among some Syrians about their personal freedoms under the country’s new Islamist authorities.

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A woman in a bikini sits at a pool in Freiburg, Germany. Syrian authorities unveiled new clothing rules on Tuesday. Photo: dpa

Football

Westwood delight after Pereira penalty secures dramatic Asian Cup win over India

Stefan Pereira nets from spot in stoppage time to give city team vital three points in Saudi Arabia 2027 quest.

Sun Ming-him lets fly during Hong Kong’s dramatic late victory over India at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

Americas

At least 4 killed as Colombia hit with wave of bombings and gun attacks

The bombings came as the country was already on edge after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogotá.

A view of the wreckage of a car after it exploded in front of the City Hall in Corinto, Colombia. Photo: AFP

Transport

Hong Kong needs route for taxis, ride-hailing firms to co-exist: lawmakers

Owners blame ride-hailing services for their taxi licences falling in value but legislators say there is more to it.

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The number of taxi licences has remained constant at 18,138 since the government stopped issuing them in 1994. Photo: Jelly Tse
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Middle East

UK, Canada sanction Israeli ministers for ‘inciting violence against Palestinians’

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich face asset freezes and travel bans from five different countries.

Hungry displaced Palestinians rush to food distribution kitchen and extend their empty containers to receive food in Gaza. Photo: TNS

World

World Bank warns of slowest global growth since 1960s amid Trump tariffs

Global growth is projected to fall to 2.3 per cent due to trade tensions and policy uncertainty, with rising inflation risks requiring urgent action.

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US President Donald Trump makes an announcement about a trade deal with the UK at the White House on May 8. Photo: Reuters

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
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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

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
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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

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 attack

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
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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

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

Hong Kong huff and puff their way past India, but attacking questions remain

Stefan Pereira’s injury-time penalty 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
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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.

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‘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

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