Ukrainians threaten to destroy Russian bridge to Crimea ‘target number one’
Ukraine appeared to threaten to target a key Russian bridge across the Kerch Strait to Crimea by publishing details of its construction. ⌘ Read more

Why Ukraine’s request to join is big test for EU
The European Commission will meet Friday to give its fast-tracked opinion on Ukraine’s bid for EU candidacy, a step closer to membership for the country. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: crackdown under way on patrons, operators in Hong Kong nightlife sector to enforce new rapid-test rule at bars and clubs
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department director urges businesses not to provide test kits at the door for customers, after reports surface of such acts. ⌘ Read more

Explosion at pesticide firm in northwestern China leaves at least 8 hurt and 6 missing, cause still unknown
More than 300 fire and rescue personnel and 47 rescue vehicles were sent to the scene of the explosion in the Lanzhou company’s sewage treatment workshop. ⌘ Read more

WTO strikes landmark deals after tense Geneva talks, prompting cheers
The World Trade Organization concluded hard-won deals on fishing subsidies, food insecurity and Covid-19 vaccines in a landmark bundle of agreements secured through hectic round-the-clock talks in Geneva. ⌘ Read more

Malaysia’s economic challenge shows how politics has become a bottleneck for growth
Even as emerging market economies like Malaysia grapple with the repercussions of the pandemic and Ukraine war, they tend to put off the more difficult structural adjustments necessary for growth. In Malaysia, meagre private-sector investments stems from a lack of confidence in government policies. ⌘ Read more

China launches Fujian, PLA Navy’s 3rd aircraft carrier
After at least two delays, the Type 003 warship has left the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai, according to Chinese state media. ⌘ Read more

New railway completes 2,700km loop of Taklamakan Desert in move to integrate Xinjiang with rest of China
China State Railway Group says new 825km Hotan-Ruoqiang railway will ‘play a role in boosting ethnic unity, strengthening national defence’. ⌘ Read more

Thai influencers charged with royal insult over Lazada adverts
Criticism of the monarchy is taboo in Thailand, where King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family are protected by some of the world’s toughest royal insult laws, with each charge carrying a prison term of up to 15 years. ⌘ Read more

Zelensky hologram references Star Wars: ‘We will defeat the empire too’
Ukraine’s president referenced Star Wars and World War II as he sought aid from big tech firms, appearing as a hologram at a conference in Paris. ⌘ Read more

How J.Y. Pillay helped Lee Kuan Yew turn Singapore Airlines into a global giant
With no domestic market and limited aviation experience, Singapore’s dream of owning a world-class international airline seemed far-fetched, but Pillay believed it was achievable. ⌘ Read more

How Hong Kong’s ‘Covid-19 heroes’ rose to the challenges they faced
The Post talks to some of Hong Kong’s ‘Covid-19 heroes’, people who have risen to the challenges thrown at them by the virus over the past two years. ⌘ Read more

South Korea and Japan look to move forward and ‘normalise’ information-sharing by keeping their tense history in the past
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin wants to settle old disputes and revive a military information agreement thought to have lost steam under Seoul’s previous government. ⌘ Read more

Protesters in India burn trains over military jobs plan
Protesters were angry over new short-term military scheme, where a majority of recruits will be compulsorily retired after four years with no pension benefits. ⌘ Read more

China appoints international affairs expert as new consul general in Brisbane
Ruan Zongze, 56, is the former vice-president of the CIIS, a think tank run by the foreign ministry. ⌘ Read more

China’s beauty slimness obsession highlighted after woman’s weight drops to 25kg in a year with multiple organ failure and refuses treatment
In a culture that views thinness as the epitome of female beauty the case of a Chinese woman with anorexia nervosa ignoring medical advice spurs debate about beauty standards in China. ⌘ Read more

Soaring interest rates: Hong Kong’s new mortgage borrowers and highly leveraged buyers are most at risk in the property market
Topping off the higher rates is a bulging pipeline of new flats – estimated at 12,646 in 2022 by JLL – waiting to find buyers. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong’s biggest health crisis in 25 years: why did city stumble over Covid-19? Experts say it was too slow to change tactics, inflexible, put politics first
Insistence on ‘zero infections’ left authorities unable to act swiftly when Omicron variant of coronavirus arrived, experts say. ⌘ Read more

Omicron less likely to cause long Covid, UK study finds
But despite the reduced risk, more people have been infected with the variant, meaning the number of patients with lingering symptoms has actually increased. ⌘ Read more

Protests and pandemic will be Carrie Lam’s legacy, but she deserves to be remembered for much more
While the focus as Lam concludes her term will no doubt be on her toughest moments, they shouldn’t define her leadership. Lam has been a champion of art, innovation and heritage conservation, and has taken on seemingly intractable issues like housing and waste management. ⌘ Read more

China’s youth league to tackle graduate job pressure with advice, aid and a chance to ‘toughen’ up
As concern grows about the labour market, China’s Communist Youth League says it will help at least 100,000 graduates find jobs this year, including through volunteer missions to impoverished regions. ⌘ Read more

White House adviser calls relationship with India ‘most important for the United States’
Kurt Campbell, US President Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific adviser, discusses plans to offer more security guarantees to New Delhi and also hints at developments in the Aukus pact. ⌘ Read more

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to cut flights over busy summer
Thousands of travellers are likely to be affected each day, as the Netherland’s busiest airport struggles with a surge in demand as the Covid-19 demand eases. ⌘ Read more

Why is China’s inflation rate low compared to the US, Europe and Britain?
Global inflation is soaring, reaching a 40-year high in the US, thanks to sky-high food and energy prices that have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Why is it a different story in China? ⌘ Read more

Nicholas Burns, US ambassador to China, stresses need to find common ground amid tense relations
Nicholas Burns also counters the claim that US policy is designed to keep China down and prevent it from developing. ‘The evidence doesn’t bear that out,’ he says ⌘ Read more

Can polar bears survive climate change? Scientists see hopeful signs with discovery of new group
The species is threatened by the loss of sea ice, but an isolated population found in Greenland suggests they could change their hunting practices to adapt. ⌘ Read more

US pressures Iran by targeting Hong Kong and UAE firms
Penalties over petrochemical exports were also imposed on Chinese citizen Jinfeng Gao and Indian national Mohammed Shaheed Ruknooddin Bhore. ⌘ Read more

US security adviser says hard line on Russia is needed to dissuade China from similar moves
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says an unchallenged invasion of Ukraine would embolden ‘other would-be aggressors, like China’. ⌘ Read more

More than 90 per cent of oil slicks threatening global marine life caused by humans, US and Chinese scientists find
Study published in Science reveals major shift from 1990s estimate showing roughly 50-50 split in human and natural sources. ⌘ Read more

Who can fill the shoes of China’s Iron Lady Sun Chunlan on Politburo?
For two years she has ruled the country’s Covid-19 response with an iron fist, but at 72 the vice-premier is expected to step down at this year’s party congress. ⌘ Read more

WTO talks down to the wire with no major deals yet in sight, India holds its ground
First meeting for four years wrapped up without solutions to issues such as food security, overfishing and access to Covid vaccines. India said it was a voice for developing countries resisting high-handed Western demands. ⌘ Read more

Western-style democracy behind wars, chaos and human misery, Chinese president tells top officials
Some Western nations use democracy and human rights as a pretext to meddle overseas, Xi Jinping told Politburo study session in February. ⌘ Read more

Chinese scientists take ‘important step’ in stem cell therapy to treat Parkinson’s disease
Chinese Academy of Sciences team discovered a new technique they say improved efficacy and safety in study on mice. ⌘ Read more

US, China economic policies like night and day as Fed pushes interest rate skyward and PBOC eyes stabilisation
As the US Federal Reserve announces the largest hike to its benchmark interest rate in 28 years, China is pushing for stabilisation and shying away from headline rate reductions to stimulate the economy. ⌘ Read more

Incoming Hong Kong leader John Lee relies mostly on incumbent officials to fill ranks of his governing team
Among 21 principal officials tipped to be recruited by Lee, only six not from current administration. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong courts propose remote hearings for certain criminal trials, punishments for recording or broadcasting sessions
Consultation paper by city’s judiciary suggests expanding use of remote hearings beyond civil cases, with proposed bill open to public input until September 22. ⌘ Read more

Taiwan admits paying American lobbyists to help establish closer US ties amid rising pressure from Beijing
Island’s foreign ministry says it hired PR firms to help US government and others ‘have a better understanding of Taiwan’, saying lobbying transparency is key. ⌘ Read more

Amazon, Cartier slap Chinese social media influencer, 8 others with lawsuits over trademark infringement, false advertising
The legal action reflects more signs of trouble for merchants belonging to the ‘made in China, sold on Amazon’ community. ⌘ Read more

Climate Change: Greater Bay Area holds the key to Hong Kong’s climate goals, delegates say at SCMP’s inaugural environmental summit
Guangdong province has ample land and offshore areas for the development of wind farms and nuclear power stations, experts said during SCMP’s inaugural Climate Change Hong Kong Summit. ⌘ Read more

China vows private firms will receive ‘equal treatment’ in charm offensive to prop up struggling sector
Regulatory crackdowns and zero-Covid controls have had an outsized impact on the nation’s private firms, and many investors remain wary amid an uncertain outlook. ⌘ Read more

Covid-19 in China: latest Beijing outbreak ‘easing’ after millions tested
Cluster linked to Heaven Supermarket bar emerged days after the city had begun lifting curbs. ⌘ Read more

Elimination of nuclear weapons an urgent need, UN chief warns
UN’s Antonio Guterres said it is important to ‘focus on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons’. There are concerns Moscow will follow through on threats and about China and North Korea expanding their nuclear capabilities. ⌘ Read more

Shanghai reopening: Disneyland ready for visitors once more as theme park awaits green light after Covid-19 lockdown
A partial reopening of Shanghai Disney Resort, which comprises Disneyland, Disneytown, two themed hotels, Wishing Star Park and the Blue Sky Boulevard, attracted hundreds of local visitors on Thursday. ⌘ Read more

Suspects started clash between residents and protesters that led to elderly cleaner’s death, injured witness tells Hong Kong court
Two young men on trial at High Court face charges of murder, wounding with intent and taking part in a riot. ⌘ Read more

How would a US recession impact Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand amid surging inflation?
If the US were to enter a recession, export-reliant Singapore and Malaysia would be among the worst hit, while remittances to the Philippines may decline, analysts say. ⌘ Read more

Company owned by Hong Kong justice chief Teresa Cheng’s husband sued for price fixing, bid-rigging over air-conditioning works worth HK$2 billion
Competition Commission begins legal action against ATAL Building Services Engineering, set up by Teresa Cheng’s husband Otto Poon, and Shun Hing Engineering Contracting Company. ⌘ Read more

Kevin Spacey granted bail after ‘strenuously’ denying sex charges
The actor is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. A plea hearing is scheduled for July 14. ⌘ Read more

South Korea’s nuclear expansion plans in bid to meet climate targets
President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government says nuclear energy should be part of country’s net-zero path along with renewable sources, while maintaining the target of the previous administration to cut emissions by 40 per cent. ⌘ Read more

World Cup 2022: tents in desert, no air cons, for fans as Fifa guests hog Qatar’s hotel rooms. An ‘opportunity’ to get an ‘authentic taste of Qatari camping’, official says
An ‘opportunity’ to get an ‘authentic taste of Qatari camping’, the World Cup hosts’ head of accommodation says as he unveils a solution to Qatar’s shortage of hotel rooms, most of which are reserved for Fifa guests. ⌘ Read more

Married Chinese and Asians are 15 per cent less likely to die of any cause than unmarried counterparts, survey finds
China-Asia study of more than half-a-million people concludes that marriage has the potential to make you live longer. ⌘ Read more