China’s art-market rebound gives way to mood of uncertainty as economic challenges mount
A surge in enthusiasm among Chinese art collectors early this year may already be waning, as investment confidence is undermined by poor global economic growth and weak domestic consumption, industry insiders say. ⌘ Read more

Google’s ‘fast track to surveillance’ sparks backlash from European consumer groups over ‘deceptive’ practices
The Regional consumer organisation BEUC accused Google of using ‘deceptive design, unclear language, misleading choices and missing information’ for extensive data collection. ⌘ Read more

Chinese team implants brain sensor without cracking skull
The less-invasive technique is a new way of capturing electrical neural signals, lead scientist says. ⌘ Read more

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warns Nato of China’s rising assertiveness
New Zealand has in recent years tried not to antagonise China, its largest trading partner, at times choosing not to co-sign statements from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance criticising Beijing. ⌘ Read more

In 1 word: how 25 people describe Hong Kong, a city close to their hearts
As Hong Kong marks the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, we ask people with close ties to the city to describe it in one word. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong U-turns on tightening pollution rules for classic cars, keeping exemptions for vehicles aged 30 years or more
In a statement, Environmental Protection Department says it has considered views from stakeholders. ⌘ Read more

Fewer billionaires in mainland China as ultra-wealthy feel pain of Beijing’s tech, property crackdowns, study says
The ranks of the ultra-wealthy in mainland China slipped slightly last year as wealth creation was subdued by Beijing’s crackdowns on the technology and property sectors, according to a study by New York-based Wealth-X. ⌘ Read more

What Chinese President Xi Jinping told Hong Kong in 2017 and key messages he can be expected to deliver on 25th anniversary of handover
In 2017, Xi delivered a tough but tempered message warning of red lines but also speaking of opportunities, and analysts expect him to delve again into sovereignty, national resilience and economic integration. ⌘ Read more

Russia fights to encircle Ukraine’s last eastern stronghold
Moscow’s forces are pushing towards the city of Lysychansk in a bid to wrest the entire Donbas region from Kyiv’s control. ⌘ Read more

Coal-rich, gas-poor China needs more carbon capture and energy storage tech for new power system, analysts say
Coal-rich and natural gas-poor China must place bigger gets on both carbon capture and energy storage technologies, as it navigates a decarbonisation route that includes a huge renewable energy buildout while ensuring energy security, analysts said. ⌘ Read more

Vladimir Putin says Russia will respond if Nato deploys troops in Finland and Sweden
The president says Moscow will ‘create the same threats for the territories from which threats towards us are created’. ⌘ Read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping repeats call for tech self-reliance, innovative talent
Remarks come as country gears up for Communist Party’s national congress, where the president is expected to deliver a report on strategy for the next five years. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology gets approval for Guangzhou campus, in time for handover anniversary
The HKUST Guangzhou campus aims to open its doors to students in September this year. ⌘ Read more

US protectionism hits China hardest, and Chinese are more averse to trade because of it, study finds
If China makes trade concessions to US in the face of strong domestic opposition, it ‘would risk a potentially destabilising domestic backlash’, according to a PIIE study that cites ‘worrying implications’ for open trade. ⌘ Read more

R&B star R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years for sex crimes
The singer was earlier convicted of leading a decades-long effort to recruit and trap teenagers and women for sex. ⌘ Read more

Lone surviving attacker in Paris massacre guilty of murder, jailed for life
Islamic State extremist Salah Abdeslam was given the most severe sentence possible for his role in the deadly 2015 bombings and shootings that killed 130 people. ⌘ Read more

Forever Covid-19? Reinfections more likely as virus evolves, experts warn
Some people are bound to get hit more than twice, and repeat cases could mean higher risk for health problems, new research is showing. ⌘ Read more

Croatia’s China-built, EU-funded bridge to open over troubled waters
Beijing’s way of doing business and its rigid Covid-19 response have damaged its relationships in key belt and road corridor, experts say. ⌘ Read more

Beijing’s human rights policies drive unfavourable views of China, Pew survey finds
Negative views of China rise in most of 19 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Centre, setting record highs in nations including the US, Canada, Germany and South Korea. ⌘ Read more

US sanctions 25 more Chinese entities, including firm that touted its technology could help Russia monitor Ukraine’s submarines, frogmen
Marine technology company Highlander, one of the 25 new Chinese entities sanctioned by Washington, allegedly acquired US-origin items for use in military applications. ⌘ Read more

Nato leaders say China is a ‘systemic challenge to Euro-Atlantic security’
For the first time, the Western military alliance singles out China by name in its strategy document, which had not been updated for 12 years. ⌘ Read more

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth meets Scottish leader Sturgeon amid new independence vote push
The monarch met Nicola Sturgeon at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh a day after Scotland’s First Minister announced plans for a 2023 referendum. ⌘ Read more

British MPs call for sanctions on Hong Kong, Chinese officials over breaches of handover agreement
A cross-party group of backbenchers questions why Britain has not joined the United States in imposing sanctions over the national security law and other challenges to Hong Kong’s autonomy. ⌘ Read more

It’s a wrap for China’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission, but rover and orbiter still ready to work
China’s space agency marks completion of Tianwen-1 mission with new photos of red planet volcano and polar cap. ⌘ Read more

Nato invites Sweden and Finland to join, calls Russia a ‘direct threat’
Russia, previously classed as a strategic partner of Nato, is now identified as the 30-nation bloc’s main threat. ⌘ Read more

UK’s Johnson says don’t boycott Indonesia G20 summit if ‘pariah figure’ Putin attends
Boris Johnson said snubbing the November event in Bali would hand a ‘propaganda opportunity to others’. ⌘ Read more

How old are our earliest human ancestors? A million years older than we thought, study finds
Discovery could alter our understanding of hominid history, which is ‘more complex than linear evolution’, says scientist. ⌘ Read more

China jobs: ‘arduous’ task to stabilise employment and boost economy, Premier Li Keqiang says
Premier Li Keqiang urged action to curb rising unemployment to aid the struggling economy with China’s headline urban unemployment rate standing at 5.9 per cent last month. ⌘ Read more

South China Sea: Philippines protests over Taiwan’s live-fire drills
Manila condemns military exercises near Taiping Island as ‘unlawful’. ⌘ Read more

Seoul ranked world’s second-best city for studying abroad, while Hong Kong climbs 3 spots to 12th place in annual QS report
South Korean capital comes in at second place for the first time in global list ranking 140 cities, while London takes top spot. ⌘ Read more

Japan eyes restart of nuclear plants offline since 2011 Fukushima disaster as temperatures soar
Soaring temperatures and a looming power crunch have prompted Japan to speed up reviews of the dozens of nuclear reactors that were shut down in the wake of Fukushima disaster. Nuclear power used to account for about 30 per cent of Japan’s energy mix before 2011. ⌘ Read more

China tells UN expansion of Nato, or a Nato-like body, into the Asia-Pacific will stir up conflict
Beijing is concerned US is building an Asian version of Nato as Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea join the Nato meeting for the first time. ⌘ Read more

China’s first lady Peng Liyuan expected to join Xi Jinping on two-day visit to Hong Kong this week for July 1 celebrations
She is likely to visit the Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera after arriving on Thursday, says government source. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong could issue No 1 typhoon warning signal on Wednesday night, forecaster says, ahead of expected visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping
Hong Kong Observatory warns strong winds and showers are possible with tropical depression heading towards west of Hong Kong and Guangdong province. ⌘ Read more

Hong Kong’s resilient SMEs have weathered every storm since handover, but can they bounce back from Covid-19?
Some find it hard to be optimistic, others bank on city’s proven record of thriving despite crises. ⌘ Read more

China’s easing of zero-Covid restraints set to release stocks into bull-market territory for first time in three years
A change in quarantine rules comes as the CSI 300 Index is within about 2 per cent of bull-market status, but opinions differ over how heavily Beijing’s zero-Covid policy still weighs on the market ⌘ Read more

Coronavirus: Hong Kong business leader calls for quota boost in quarantine-free ‘Return2HK’ scheme in light of mainland China easing rules for arrivals
Allen Shi of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong says he expects more residents to travel to mainland China as a result of Beijing relaxing its policy. ⌘ Read more

Six arrested by Hong Kong police after two cars alleged to be involved in illegal racing crash
Six drivers arrested on suspicion of illegal road racing after Hong Kong police launch blitz ⌘ Read more

South Korean workers resort to shop-bought snacks as ‘lunch-flation’ starts to bite
Sales are surging at South Korea’s convenience stores as office workers seeks ways to cut costs amid the biggest jump in the price of restaurant dishes for 24 years. ⌘ Read more

Pro-China agents posed as activists to protest US, Canada mines: security firm
A pro-China propaganda campaign used fake social media accounts to try to stir up opposition against mining firms that challenge China’s business interests, cybersecurity firm Mandiant said. ⌘ Read more

Russia’s Putin visits ‘friendly’ Central Asia on first trip abroad during war
Russia has been at pains to show it’s not under international isolation despite unprecedented US and European sanctions imposed over its attack on Ukraine. ⌘ Read more

Scotland takes fight for independence vote to UK’s top court
Scotland’s government drew the battle lines for a historic tussle with London as it announced plans to hold a second independence referendum on October 19, 2023. ⌘ Read more

Hindu man beheaded in India over support for Prophet Mohammed remarks
The victim was a tailor who shared a social media post supporting former BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma, according to local media. A video of the attack was widely shared online. Two men have been arrested. ⌘ Read more

China to start building giant telescope to monitor solar winds that can knock out satellites and power grids
Researchers say work will start soon to assemble the three antennas that will make up the Mingantu telescope in Inner Mongolia. ⌘ Read more

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