Hong Kong’s economy of the future: plugged into Greater Bay Area, but still a global financial centre?
Some are bullish about city’s prospects, others fear its global city status will diminish in future. ⌘ Read more

G7 infrastructure plan to rival Belt and Road Initiative could force Chinese firms to ‘match global standards’
The G7’s Global Investment and Infrastructure Partnership, which is seen as an alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative, is likely to force Beijing to pay greater attention to the standards of its own investments, analysts say. ⌘ Read more

At least 52 die in Colombia prison riot fire after mattresses set alight
Officials said inmates had set mattresses on fire without considering the consequences. ⌘ Read more

Philippine news site Rappler ordered to shut down ahead of Duterte’s exit
The site co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa has had to fight for survival after being accused of tax evasion and violating a foreign-ownership ban. ⌘ Read more

Instagram hides some posts mentioning abortion with ‘sensitive content’ label
After accounts run by abortion rights advocacy groups found their stories hidden, the Meta-owned platform described the issue as a ‘bug’. ⌘ Read more

Majority of Australians support defending Taiwan against invasion, survey finds
A Lowy Institute Poll found 51 per cent were in favour of Australia using its military forces to defend Taiwan. Just 12 per cent of those surveyed said they trust Beijing to act responsibly in global affairs. ⌘ Read more

Shenzhen tightens security ahead of Chinese president’s trip to Hong Kong
Covid-19 prevention measures also increased despite small number of community infections. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: faced with mounting costs, some ask whether China can afford to maintain mass testing
Extensive mass testing for Covid-19 is extracting a huge toll on regional finances, raising questions over the long-term sustainability of China’s zero-Covid policy. ⌘ Read more

Police in China arrest twin sisters who used each other’s passports more than 30 times to travel the world
Police in northern China arrested twin sisters under suspicion of swapping passports to visit various countries to skirt visa rules. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: Indonesia urged to tighten curbs during 4th wave as cases of Omicron subvariants rise
On Tuesday, Indonesia had 2,167 new infections, with at least 143 cases of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 – a number health experts said was ‘the tip of the iceberg’ due to a lack of testing. ⌘ Read more

Is Chinese University of Hong Kong head Rocky Tuan a patriot? Vice-chancellor addresses criticism, vows CUHK will link China and West
Vice-chancellor, whose term has been extended by another three years, says his institution aims to link China and the West, and is committed to joint projects with mainland. ⌘ Read more

Singapore’s US$40 billion mega-port aims to solve shipping chaos
The world’s largest automated port, to be completed by 2040, will double the existing space and feature drones as well as driverless vehicles. ⌘ Read more

2 Indian women arrested for trying to smuggle more than 100 live animals at Bangkok airport
The creatures, including two armadillos, 35 turtles and 50 chameleons, were found in a pair of bags belonging to the women. ⌘ Read more

US ‘smart city’ tech highlights contrasts with China over privacy and control
American communities try to balance the benefits of new technology with the threats of a surveillance state. ⌘ Read more

Türkiye lifts its objections to Sweden, Finland joining Nato – triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their nonaligned status – Turkish president objected to their stance on Kurdish rebel groups his country considers terrorists. ⌘ Read more

Ronald Reagan shooter says sorry for wounding former president and injuring 3 others
The assassination attempt paralysed Reagan’s press secretary James Brady, who died in 2014. It also wounded a police officer and a Secret Service agent. ⌘ Read more

Donald Trump tried to strangle Secret Service agent in attempt to reach Capitol on day of riots, aide testifies
‘The president had a very strong, very angry response to’ being told that he was not being taken to the Capitol that day, Cassidy Hutchinson said. Trump lunged towards Secret Service agent Bobby Engel. ⌘ Read more

China-Australia relations: chance for ‘thaw’, but can Beijing, Canberra mend fractured trade ties?
Canberra and Beijing have been at odds for two years, but a leadership change in Australia presents an opportunity for at least a ‘thawing’ of trade ties and diplomatic exchanges with China. ⌘ Read more

Amid heatwaves and floods, time is running out for rich nations to fulfil climate pledges and avert catastrophe
The current pledges of financial and policy support are nowhere near enough to meet the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Instead of protecting carbon-emitting industries, the world needs economic diversification and green jobs for a just, sustainable transition. ⌘ Read more

US seeks China pressure on Russia to end Ukraine war as it weighs economic options against Beijing
‘China cannot evade responsibility, given its relationship with Russia, for speaking more clearly to them,’ says US national security adviser ahead of Nato summit. ⌘ Read more

Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years for helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls
The British socialite was convicted for grooming 4 girls to have sexual encounters with Epstein, then her boyfriend. Trial was seen as the reckoning Epstein – who killed himself in a Manhattan prison cell – never had. ⌘ Read more

More than 10 journalists denied permission to cover Hong Kong handover anniversary events due to security reasons, reporters’ group says
Post photographer among those denied permission to cover celebratory events on July 1. Other rejected applicants include photographer from Information Services Department and journalists from Reuters and Agence France-Press. ⌘ Read more

G7 to back Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’, explore cap on Russian oil price
The Group of Seven leaders said they are considering barring service providers such as shippers or insurers from dealing with Russian oil priced above a fixed level. ⌘ Read more

Quarter of world’s population at risk from once-in-a-century floods
Around 1.8 billion people face a “significant” risk, including hundreds of millions in the world’s two most populous countries – India and China. ⌘ Read more

Chinese breakthrough lets human brains beam radio waves
Researchers say new technology could be used for mind-controlled military radar and other devices. ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: Hong Kong could cut hotel quarantine to 5 days, with another 2 in home isolation, incoming health minister says
Professor Lo Chung-mau, who will be new secretary for health on July 1, reveals ‘5+2’ option among possibilities being considered to help shorten quarantine ⌘ Read more

Chinese video gaming billionaire plans relocation with family abroad after draconian Shanghai lockdown
XD co-founder and CEO Huang Yimeng has told colleagues he is making preparations to move out of China, as a rising number of Chinese middle-class families are contemplating relocation to escape strict Covid-19 control measures. ⌘ Read more

2 arrested after armed jewel heist at art fair in Netherlands
Four smartly dressed suspects raided The European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht and threatened people with what appeared to be handguns. ⌘ Read more

Maritime authorities yet to announce Jumbo Floating Restaurant’s fate as Hong Kong expert says sinking it might not be possible
Maritime authorities look into what actions may be taken according to local and international rules. ⌘ Read more

Supermarket boss says Britons buying more cheap frozen food as cost of living crisis worsens
Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts said shoppers were visiting stores more often but buying less on each trip as after UK’s inflation reached new highs. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong Palace Museum ‘ready to be fully opened’ on July 2, with security checks in place
Visitors to pass through metal detectors at entrance and belongings to be scanned; daily shuttle service around West Kowloon Cultural District available. ⌘ Read more

China, Nato and how the Ukraine war is spilling over into the Asia-Pacific
Indo-Pacific partners are joining the bloc’s summit for the first time as the US seeks to counter China’s influence. ⌘ Read more

Australia says committed to Southeast Asia’s stability, allays fears over Aukus nuclear submarines
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who wrapped up the last leg of her regional tour in Malaysia, said the new Labor government is ‘listening’ to the concerns of its neighbours. ⌘ Read more

China’s vice-president to attend Marcos inauguration in Philippines
Wang Qishan will be Xi Jinping’s special representative at event on Thursday. ⌘ Read more

Taiwanese drinks shop owners jailed for up to 7 months over social media posts calling on others to flout Hong Kong’s Covid-19 curbs
Social media posts published by pair said official endeavours to curb spread of Covid-19 were either politically motivated or driven by bad faith. ⌘ Read more

Taiwan slams Beijing for blocking UN Ocean Conference delegates
Taipei vows to oppose mainland’s ‘malign influence’ in organisation following latest diplomatic snub. ⌘ Read more

Love and courage in China: woman proves children don’t get in the way of goals, 12-year-old helps minor get home and son builds 700kg bust to honour father
This week in ‘love and courage in China’, we highlight stories that celebrate the human spirit featuring a woman graduating with her toddler, a boy helping a minor home and a university student building a bust to honour his dad. ⌘ Read more

Africa would welcome G7’s US$600 billion infrastructure push – if it happens
Mega spending plan Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment aims to counter influence of China’s belt and road strategy. ⌘ Read more

China pledges aid for Afghanistan after deadly quake but also seeks action from Taliban on terrorism
During call between foreign ministers, Wang Yi describes China as a ‘true friend’ to its neighbour and promises tents and beds among US$7.4 million aid package. ⌘ Read more

Which tech firms qualify as ‘little giants’? Beijing releases criteria for the ideal industrial enterprise
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published detailed criteria for determining which industrial enterprises qualify as ‘little giants’, the term given to small tech firms that dominate their niche. ⌘ Read more

Philippines’ Marcos Jnr will take presidential oath at venue linked to father’s brutal legacy
At noon on Thursday, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr will take his presidential oath on the steps of the Philippines’ former legislature, where his late father-president was once confronted by student activists with a black paper-mache coffin and a crocodile. His inauguration as the nation’s 17th president will be “very solemn and simple … ⌘ Read more

Carrie Lam makes final comments on social media as Hong Kong’s leader, will shut down accounts after stepping down on Thursday
She says in her final social media posts that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit and speech will set a direction for Hong Kong. ⌘ Read more

Divers angered by Vietnam ban to protect damaged coral reefs, blaming fishing boats for the problem
Divers are unhappy with a decision to ban swimming and diving around Hon Mun island, a popular spot off Nha Trang, while officials evaluate damage to the area’s coral reefs and associated ecosystem. ⌘ Read more

Australian PM warns China to learn from Russia’s ‘strategic failure’ in Ukraine
Anthony Albanese said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had brought democratic nations together and ‘shown attempts to impose change by force on a sovereign country meet resistance’. ⌘ Read more

Police in China hunt for dirty dancing woman filmed in ‘too hot’ routine performed in front of little boy on train
Chinese police are seeking a mystery woman filmed dancing provocatively in a train carriage in front of a small boy after the video went viral on social media and prompted a public outcry. ⌘ Read more

No-fly zone above high-speed rail terminus part of area lockdown, as Hong Kong rolls out security blanket for Xi Jinping’s visit to mark 25th anniversary of handover
Other measures include multiple patrol posts lining perimeter of railway station, high-rise observation spots nearby and restricted area at Victoria Harbour. ⌘ Read more

First-ever Hong Kong Science Fair Supports Hong Kong’s Innovation Development
[Sponsored Article]

The Hong Kong Government is committed to promoting the development of innovation and technology and to grow Hong Kong as an international technology hub. Scientific work and technology has helped humankind in amazingly creative and innovative ways. Last year, the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation (HKIF) launched the first-ever Hong … ⌘ Read more

Thailand tops 2 million tourists this year, as it longs for absent Chinese visitors
Thailand’s tourism ministry voiced hopes that Chinese holidaymakers – who made up nearly 30 per cent of the country’s 40 million foreign tourists pre-pandemic – may return before the end of the year. ⌘ Read more

‘Died as they danced’: Speculation swirls in South Africa over tragic teen party
South African authorities were still seeking answers after 21 underage teenagers partying after the end of school exams died in a mysterious incident at a bar. ⌘ Read more

Evergrande crisis: embattled developer could face liquidation as creditor files winding-up petition in Hong Kong
The embattled developer received a winding-up petition from a creditor reportedly owned by a member of Hong Kong’s leadership election committee, for failing to pay US$109.91 million. ⌘ Read more