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Transport

AirAsia plans Hong Kong connectivity expansion and potential stock market listing

Parent company, Capital A, wants to tap into city’s position as a major financial hub to attract new investors, carrier’s executive says.

Malaysian budget airline AirAsia is looking to expand its network connectivity in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong Authentic

Video | Why Hong Kong was once known as ‘Toy Town’

Collections offer a nostalgic look back at how Hong Kong became the world’s largest toy exporter in the 1970s, before manufacturing shifted northwards to mainland China.

From watermelon balls and rubber ducks to action figures: when Hong Kong was ‘Toy Town’
11:36

People & Culture

China hotel offers guests dog companions for US$70 a night, with bite compensation

Overnight canine companion service splits opinion on social media, sparks legality warning from legal expert.

A hotel in China is offering a unique service to guests in which they can “employ” a dog to accompany them during their stay. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Middle East

14-year-old Palestinian boy killed by falling aid package in Gaza airdrop

The airdrops have been criticised as unreliable and dangerous, with aid groups saying far more supplies could be safely delivered if Israel allowed it.

People scramble to collect parachuted aid supplies, at the site where a Palestinian boy died after he was struck by a box of airdropped aid, in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Food & Drink

How a Hong Kong chilli sauce became a sandwich favourite 8,000km away

Réunion Island’s famous bouchon gratiné, made from a baguette, dumplings, chilli sauce and cheese, reflects the island’s mix of inhabitants.

The bouchon gratiné is a favourite snack on Réunion Island, made with a baguette, chilli sauce, siu mai and melted cheese. Photo: X/ LudovicShooter
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Economics

Tariffs and truces: how Southeast Asia bargained with erratic US economic might

Most nations ended up with tariffs reflecting a ‘baseline of sorts’, but not without major concessions – and two were singled out.

US President Donald Trump holds up a “reciprocal” tariff chart while speaking at the White House on “Liberation Day” earlier this year. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

United States & Canada

US$7,000 worth of Labubu dolls stolen from Los Angeles store

Thieves in hoodies and masks made off with the shop’s entire inventory of the popular collectible toys.

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A customer shows off a new Labubu during the opening of Germany’s first shop for the dolls in Berlin in July. Photo: AP

Comment

Editorial | Hong Kong online shoppers should heed warning on cross-border goods

Differing standards and regulations on the mainland may lead to disputes over quality and return policies, not to mention possible health and safety risks.

People pick up parcels delivered from across the border at a shop in Hong Kong’s Lok Fu district, on July 23. Photo: Jelly Tse

Comment

Editorial | Employers must abide by the rules of Hong Kong’s labour import scheme

The banning of a company from importing workers for a year after it flouted the rules shows that the regulations have teeth.

Waiters work in a restaurant at Diamond Hill on August 18, 2024. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong Opinion

Opinion | Dry June, wet July: climate whiplash is on Hong Kong’s doorstep

Climate change fuelling extreme weather is no longer a future we must prepare for. It’s happening now and Hong Kong must pull out all the stops.

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A cyclist moves through a flooded pedestrian tunnel in Tseung Kwan O district on August 5. Parts of Hong Kong were brought to a standstill by flooding caused by heavy rains on August 5, after the highest-tier rainstorm warning was issued for the fourth time in eight days. Photo: AFP
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Diplomacy

China-Japan ties are improving. Could a Taiwanese official test that trend?

The head of the island’s economic office attended commemorations in Japan for the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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Taiwan’s Lee Yi-yang attended commemorative events in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Photo: CNA

Culture

What to do in Hong Kong, August 10-16

Take in some classic crime movies, try some new cocktails at Caprice, taste a Cantonese cuisine collaboration from two top restaurants, and get some comic relief.

Infernal Affairs starring Andy Lau Tak-wah (left) and Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Photo: Media Asia Films

SCMP Explains

Video | Why China’s rare earth dominance faces global pushback

New investments by other countries target Beijing’s grip on critical minerals, but industry analysts expect China to maintain its lead for years.

Why China’s rare earth dominance faces global pushback
08:58

Russia & Central Asia

Europe and Ukraine press US ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

US Vice-President Vance is in the UK for talks, as European officials present their own proposals for ending the conflict with Russia.

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An exploding Russian drone lights up the sky over Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Celebrities

Meet Joy Sunday, who plays Bianca on Netflix’s Wednesday alongside Jenna Ortega

The 28-year-old was raised in New York and went to the same school as Timothée Chalamet and Nicki Minaj, but says Hollywood is still biased.

Joy Sunday, who plays Bianca Barclay on Netflix’s Wednesday, is a rising star. Photo: @joysunday/Instagram
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Celebrity Style

Rachel Zoe’s career-defining styling moments – from Kate Hudson to Eva Mendes

Zoe is set to join Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 15 – we take a look back at her best styling moments to date, from Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé to Jennifer Garner in Valentino.

Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway and Lindsay Lohan have all been styled by Rachel Zoe. Photos: @noglitterbeforenoon/Instagram; Getty Images

United States & Canada

US CDC shooter believed Covid vaccine made him suicidal, father says

Patrick Joseph White was armed with five guns and tried to get into the health agency headquarters before being stopped by guards.

Police block a road near Emory University and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention after a shooting incident on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Society

Hong Kong authorities launch probe after highways contract worker dies

Man, 63, collapsed while carrying out cleaning work on a footbridge and was rushed to hospital, where he later died.

The worker was later certified dead at Caritas Medical Centre. Photo: Edmond So

Law and Crime

Bogus shop used for HK$4 million theft of Patek Philippe, Richard Mille watches

Hong Kong police arrest two men after luxury watches stolen from mainland Chinese merchants in elaborate scam.

Police display evidence seized in their investigations into the robbery. Photo: Handout

Europe

French inmates struggle in overcrowded prisons as heatwave persists

Cells have twice as many inmates, while heat can create security risks, with fights becoming ‘more frequent’ as temperatures rise.

French left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party MP Hadrien Clouet inspects a cell as he visits the detention center in Seysses, south-western France, on Thursday. Photo: AFP
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Diplomacy

Trump’s overhaul of State Department may play into Beijing’s hands for decades

US foreign service has lost more than 3,000 employees and dozens of bureaus, leaving China with largest diplomatic corps.

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Illustration: Brian Wang

Europe

London police arrest 365 pro-Palestinian demonstrators defying new law

Backers of Palestine Action have staged a series of protests since early July, when Parliament banned the group as a terrorist organisation.

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Police officers arrest an 89-year-old protester in London on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Opinion

My Take | More must be done to crack down on the sickening abuse of cats

Videos of animal cruelty have spread from mainland China across the world. Yet laws to punish such acts are often insufficient or outdated.

A British Blue cat. File photo: Getty Images

Diplomacy

Putin keeps Xi in loop on Trump summit but little hope for Ukraine ceasefire

China may publicly endorse next week’s meeting in Alaska but the talks are not expected to end the Ukraine war, analysts say.

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The call between Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday underscored a high level of coordination between Beijing and Moscow in their approach to Washington. Photo: RIA Novosti via Reuters

Hong Kong Economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong eases seafood, fruit and electric car rules to tackle US tariff war

Customs chief Chan Tsz-tat says new measures are among his department’s efforts to further remove trade barriers.

Fresh seafood and fruit products arriving by air for re-export can undergo customs clearance checks and quarantine in Zhuhai. Photo: Dickson Lee
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Southeast Asia

3 Thai soldiers injured by landmine following ceasefire with Cambodia

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to allow observers from Asean to inspect disputed border areas and prevent further hostilities.

Thai soldiers inspect a border area in Ubon Ratchathani province, where the Royal Thai Army said two anti-personnel landmines were found, on July 20. Photo: AP

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police seize HK$45 million of suspected drugs in 2 cases on same day

105kg of suspected cocaine and cannabis buds confiscated in Yuen Long and Tsing Yi busts, leading to the arrests of three men.

105kg of suspected cocaine and cannabis buds, worth an estimated HK$45 million, was confiscated in two separate busts in Yuen Long and Tsing Yi. Photo: Dickson Lee

South Asia

India downed 6 Pakistani aircraft in May clash, air force chief says

Most of the aircraft were downed by India’s Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system, citing electronic tracking data as confirmation.

A Rafale fighter jet taxis on the tarmac during its induction ceremony at an air force station in Ambala, India, on September 10, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Other Martial Arts

Grace Lau’s ‘stand-out performance’ gold win at World Games also fulfilled a vow

Karateka made a promise to her grandmother and delivered on it in Chengdu on Friday to win Hong Kong’s first medal at the Games.

Grace Lau on her way to a gold medal in the women’s karate kata event at the World Games in Chengdu, China on Friday. Photo: World Karate Federation

Politics

Pandas and table tennis: China’s national icons fall victim to toxic fan culture

Panda conservation centre and table tennis star speak out about cyberbullying, internet rumours and the dark side of online fandom.

Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong says he suffered “significant psychological trauma” after a fan broke into his hotel room in 2023. Photo: Xinhua