appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

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. China’s ‘top puppet’ Elon Musk poses US national security risks: House Democrats
US House Democrats on Tuesday used a hearing on Chinese port investments in Latin America to blast billionaire Elon Musk and warn of potential national security risks from Republican plans to shut down the US Agency for International Development.
2. China’s stratospheric airship can detect F-35 fighter from nearly 2,000km: study
A stratospheric airship equipped with advanced infrared detection systems could identify stealth aircraft – such as the US-made F-35 fighter jet – from nearly 2,000km (1,240 miles), according to Chinese scientists.
3. Can China’s bet on home-grown jumbo jets challenge the Airbus-Boeing duopoly?

China has long held ambitions of turning global aviation into an “ABC” market: breaking the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing with the entry of world-class Chinese jets.
4. Hong Kong doctor dies, 2 others treated in suspected E coli cluster
One of three Hong Kong doctors showing symptoms of a highly toxic strain of E coli has died, with authorities investigating the possible cause of the cases inside the same department of a public hospital.
5. China’s DeepSeek shows failure of US chip controls as AI race ramps up: scholars
Geopolitical experts said the rapid rise of Chinese start-up DeepSeek could challenge American supremacy in artificial general intelligence (AGI) and proved the ineffectiveness of US export controls on semiconductors.
6. Japan ‘big stomach’ competitive eater, who ate 100 burgers at a meal, retires at 40

A world famous eating influencer from Japan has said she is set to quit competitive eating for health and age reasons. Her achievements include scoffing 600 fried chickens, or 100 burgers, or 5kg of steak, or 5kg of ramen in one sitting.
7. Troll takedowns: Facebook accounts of 4 pro-Duterte influencers go dark
When the Facebook pages of four major influencers suddenly became unavailable on February 7, online users immediately linked it to the raging feud between the country’s two most powerful political clans, those of former president Rodrigo Duterte and the incumbent Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.


TCM for a new generation, Dragon Boat Festival top picks: 7 Lifestyle highlights

PLA’s plan to destroy US carriers; world’s largest whale graveyard: 7 science highlights

Korean’s racist World Cup experience, India’s military revamp: 7 Asia highlights

Miss Hong Kong stirs Cantonese debate, China cuts degrees in AI push: 5 weekend reads you missed

SCMP Highlights

China’s stratospheric airship, Japan’s competitive eater: SCMP’s 7 highlights

Chinese researchers say they can detect the US-made F-35 fighter jet from more than 1,800km away via its engine exhaust plume. Photo: US Air Force


Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Japanese online sensation Yuka Kinoshita has announced her retirement from competitive eating at the age of 40. Photo: SCMP composite/IG@yuka_kinoshita

Trump unveils reciprocal blanket tariffs review of all major US trading partners

US President Donald Trump holds an executive order about tariffs increase. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump and commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick. Photo: Reuters

US Steel’s Mon Valley Works Clairton Plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania. Donald Trump is betting that the damage the tariffs inflict on trading partners will be greater than what the US will face. Photo: AP

How China is betting big on state-led research to drive a tech revolution

A prototype of the CR450 EMU, the world’s fastest commercial train with an operating speed of 400 kilometres per hour, is tested in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

The Chang’e 6 probe collects the first ever soil samples from the far side of the Moon in 2024. Photo: CNSA

Why South China Sea row is now an election hot-button issue for Philippines

 Protesters hold a rally to criticise agressive sea manoeuvres of Chinese defence units against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, outside China’s consular office in Makati City, Metro Manila, in June 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (centre) reacts during a rally in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, about 500km north of Manila, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

A Chinese coastguard boat sails around Sandy Cay in the South China Sea in January. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP

News

World

China

Science

People & Culture

Hong Kong

Economy

Tech

From identifying stealth aircraft to pro-Duterte influencers going dark online, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting


From identifying stealth aircraft to pro-Duterte influencers going dark online, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.


China’s stratospheric airship, Japan’s competitive eater: SCMP’s 7 highlights

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From identifying stealth aircraft to pro-Duterte influencers going dark online, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. China’s ‘top puppet’ Elon Musk poses US national security risks: House Democrats

From identifying stealth aircraft to pro-Duterte influencers going dark online, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting