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SCMP

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Is gold medallist Vivian Kong ‘the perfect Hong Kong girl’?
Even as Hong Kong waits with excitement at the prospect of more medals for the city at the Paris Olympics, residents cannot seem to get enough of their current heroine, Vivian Kong Man-wai. The star fencer topped the list of biggest trending searches on Google on Saturday shortly after her historic triumph, as curious residents rushed to learn more about the 30-year-old épéeist.
2. China’s coastguard faces ‘unprecedented strain’ as tensions rise on 3 fronts

China’s coastguard has found itself embroiled in a series of intense confrontations in three major hotspots – with tensions simultaneously coming to a head in a two-week period in late June. In one of the most dramatic incidents, the Philippines accused China of acting like “pirates” and carrying out “aggressive and illegal” operations after one Philippine sailor lost a thumb when coastguards armed with axes and knives boarded resupply vessels.
3. Swimmer Zhang’s Paris Games bronze sparks sympathy, fury on Chinese social media

Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei’s bronze medal in the women’s 100m butterfly has been met with encouragement and cynicism on social media. United States swimmer Torri Huske clinched the gold medal, with compatriot and world-record holder Gretchen Walsh in second place.
4. Here are the 4 civilian aircraft behind China’s sky-high aviation ambitions

The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has put two types of civilian jets in the air and two bigger ones on the drawing board after 22 years of work. Comac aims to advance China’s goal of technological self-sufficiency and sell its aircraft overseas. The Shanghai-based manufacturer seeks to compete largely with Airbus and Boeing, because their aircraft have similar specs.
5. Singapore National Day banner with foreigner stirs xenophobia debate

A Singapore politician’s comments about a foreign girl featured in National Day posters have stirred debate on xenophobia in the city state, with experts saying the opposition is capitalising on anti-foreigner sentiment for political mileage.
6. US ‘has no right to intervene’: China urges Asean to resist ‘external’ meddling
Beijing has urged Southeast Asian countries to resist alleged US and Nato-led “external interference” in the South China Sea and other regional hotspots, stepping up pressure on its neighbours amid an escalating war of words with Washington. Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi hammered home the message on the sidelines of an Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Laos last week, saying that the United States had “no right” to intervene in the South China Sea.
7. Sad lice-infected China girl blossoms thanks to stepmother’s unconditional love

The story of an uncared-for little girl in China who became a different person thanks to the love of her stepmother has melted hearts on mainland social media.


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SCMP Highlights

‘Perfect Hong Kong girl’ Vivian Kong, China’s commercial jets, Singapore row: 7 highlights

Vivian Kong in Paris. She studied international relations at Stanford University in the US, and law at Renmin University of China and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Xinhua

Illustration: Henry Wong

China’s Yufei Zhang (right) won the bronze medal as United States pair Torri Huske (centre) won the gold and Gretchen Walsh the silver in the women’s 100m butterfly. Photo: Reuters

China’s C919 passenger jet debuted in May 2023 as part of China Eastern Airlines fleet. Photo: CAAC

Visitors enjoying the view at the Merlion statue in Singapore. The city state has been very welcoming of foreigners, but some segments in society, fearing threats to their lifestyles and livelihoods, are starting to resist. Photo: Xinhua

A sad and neglected little girl in China has undergone a remarkable change thanks to the love and care of her stepmother. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

China, Russia bombers enter Alaska, Philippines’ Chinese-infiltration fears: 7 highlights

A Chinese H-6 bomber, similar to the PLA warplanes, was detected along with Russian aircraft in the Air Defence Identification Zone off the coast of Alaska on Wednesday. Photo: Handout

Professor Franklin Tao, formerly of the University of Kansas, has had all four convictions relating to wire fraud and false statement overturned by US courts. Photo: science.org

The test of the Long March-10 moon rocket’s third-stage engine took place at a newly completed facility which is said to be the first of its kind in China and the largest in Asia. Photo: Weibo

Alice Leal Guo, the fugitive mayor of Bamban. Her case appears to be just the tip of the iceberg. Photo: Facebook/AliceLealGuo

A Japanese man who lived on simple food for years in order to save for an early retirement has been given a nasty shock. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/X.com

Chinese team on tracking US warships, abandoned cats in Hong Kong: 7 highlights

A US Navy aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. Photo: AFP/US Navy

US Navy ships transit the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Photo: AP/US Navy

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi arrive to attend the Central Committee’s third plenary session in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

The uniforms, designed by Mongolian fashion brand Michel&Amazonka, have been widely applauded. Photo: Photo: Instagram/michelamazonka

Smuggled cats crammed into a tiny cage, which can lead to the spread of diseases, the SPCA has warned. Photo: SPCA

Singaporean architect Cliff Tan in a still from one of his Instagram videos. Photo: Instagram/dearmodern

Leaked US F-35 and F-15 documents, Singapore approves insects as food: 7 highlights

Leaked American files include manuals for the F-35 jet, pictured, as well as documents relating to the F-15, the Switchblade drone and precision-guided missiles. Photo: Reuters

Singapore has approved 16 types of insects for food. Photo: Shutterstock

Medical equipment found during the raid on a Pogo-linked underground medical facility in Pasay City, the Philippines. Photo: Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission

A Netflix reality show has sparked an unholy culinary row over what the spicy side dish kimchi should be called in Chinese. Photo: SCMP composite/IMDb/Netflix/Shutterstock

Hong Kong airport upgrade, Singapore most expensive city to live ‘extremely well’: 7 highlights

Singapore retained the title as the world’s most expensive metropolis in terms of the ‘cost of living extremely well’, according to a Julius Baer report. Photo: AFP

A 17-year-old vocational school student from rural China became a celebrity on social media after reaching the final round of Alibaba’s annual maths competition. Photo: Weibo

Airport officials say they expect the new screening channels to each process 360 people every hour, compared with 240 under the old system. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

South China Sea collision, AI-powered sexbots, Malaysian ‘ghost marriage’: 7 highlights

China says a Philippine ship on a supply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre (pictured) “ignored multiple stern warnings from the Chinese side” and caused a collision with its vessel on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Sex doll producers in China are enhancing products with AI for an advanced user experience. Photo: Instagram/starperydollofficial

A cargo plane was forced to make an emergency return on Monday morning. Photo: Jelly Tse

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

The main entrance to the exclusive American Club’s country retreat in Tai Tam. Photo: Handout

The grieving families of an about-to-be-married Chinese couple killed in a car accident are to hold a “ghost marriage” for the pair. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/chinapress.com

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From Vivian Kong’s Olympic victory to a debate ahead of Singapore’s National Day, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting


From Vivian Kong’s Olympic victory to a debate ahead of Singapore’s National Day, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.


‘Perfect Hong Kong girl’ Vivian Kong, China’s commercial jets, Singapore row: 7 highlights

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}From Vivian Kong’s Olympic victory to a debate ahead of Singapore’s National Day, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. Is gold medallist Vivian Kong ‘the perfect Hong Kong girl’?

2. China’s coastguard faces ‘unprecedented strain’ as tensions rise on 3 fronts

From Vivian Kong’s Olympic victory to a debate ahead of Singapore’s National Day, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting