![\"The](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/07/20/8fbe35e7-9e83-4704-a79b-695c9bf9caa0_d5301715.jpg\")
By Jean Iau
Singapore\u2019s acting minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim resigned within a month of the prime minister learning about his improper interactions with a woman, a move observers say shows Lawrence Wong\u2019s swift handling of the first scandal under his watch to contain any political fallout.
They told This Week in Asia that while there was no affair in Faishal\u2019s case, it made sense for the party to deal with the consequences quickly in case of leaks as the woman was a member of the public, not a party member whom the ruling People\u2019s Action Party (PAP) could counsel or discipline.
Furthermore, Faishal\u2019s position as acting minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs meant Wong had to be sensitive to the community\u2019s reaction \u2013 and potential embarrassment \u2013 if the matter was not swiftly extinguished and a replacement sought for the post.
On Monday, Faishal resigned from the cabinet and parliament after inappropriate interactions he had with a woman that resulted in harassment accusations by both parties became known to the prime minister.
No criminal action was found but Faishal, 58, who was also senior minister of state for home affairs, reflected and accepted that his conduct fell short of the standards \u201cexpected of a political office holder and MP\u201d, Wong said in a statement on Monday.
Wong revealed that most of their interactions took place through online messages and they also met on the sidelines of public events. Both parties later made allegations of harassment against each other, and the matter was referred to police.
", "summary": "By Jean Iau
Singapore\u2019s acting minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim resigned within a month of the prime minister learning about his improper interactions with a woman, a move observers say shows Lawrence Wong\u2019s swift handling of the first scandal under his watch to contain any political fallout.
They told This Week in Asia that while there was no affair in Faishal\u2019s case, it made sense for the party to deal with the consequences quickly in case of leaks as the woman was a member of the public, not a party member whom the ruling People\u2019s Action Party (PAP) could counsel or discipline.
Furthermore, Faishal\u2019s position as acting minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs meant Wong had to be sensitive to the community\u2019s reaction \u2013 and potential embarrassment \u2013 if the matter was not swiftly extinguished and a replacement sought for the post.
On Monday, Faishal resigned from the cabinet and parliament after inappropriate interactions he had with a woman that resulted in harassment accusations by both parties became known to the prime minister.
No criminal action was found but Faishal, 58, who was also senior minister of state for home affairs, reflected and accepted that his conduct fell short of the standards \u201cexpected of a political office holder and MP\u201d, Wong said in a statement on Monday.
Wong revealed that most of their interactions took place through online messages and they also met on the sidelines of public events. Both parties later made allegations of harassment against each other, and the matter was referred to police.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T04:12:03Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T22:30:01Z", "authors": ["Jean Iau"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3361240/hamas-lead-negotiator-ceasefire-talks-elected-groups-new-chief?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3361240/hamas-lead-negotiator-ceasefire-talks-elected-groups-new-chief?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Hamas\u2019 lead negotiator in ceasefire talks elected as group\u2019s new chief", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced on Monday that it had elected Khalil al-Hayya, the group\u2019s lead negotiator in indirect ceasefire talks with Israel, as the new head of its political bureau.
\u201cThe Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announces the election of brother mujahid Khalil al-Hayya as head of the movement\u2019s political bureau, succeeding the martyred leader Yahya al-Sinwar,\u201d Hamas said in a statement.
Sinwar, whom Israel accused of being one of the principal architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza a year later.
Since his death, Hamas has been led by a five-member leadership council headed by long-time senior official Mohammed Darwish.
Born in 1960, Hayya survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha last year, though one of his sons was killed in the strike.
Hayya defeated former Hamas chief and veteran leader Khaled Meshaal in the leadership contest.
", "summary": "Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced on Monday that it had elected Khalil al-Hayya, the group\u2019s lead negotiator in indirect ceasefire talks with Israel, as the new head of its political bureau.
\u201cThe Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announces the election of brother mujahid Khalil al-Hayya as head of the movement\u2019s political bureau, succeeding the martyred leader Yahya al-Sinwar,\u201d Hamas said in a statement.
Sinwar, whom Israel accused of being one of the principal architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza a year later.
Since his death, Hamas has been led by a five-member leadership council headed by long-time senior official Mohammed Darwish.
Born in 1960, Hayya survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha last year, though one of his sons was killed in the strike.
Hayya defeated former Hamas chief and veteran leader Khaled Meshaal in the leadership contest.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T04:11:49Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T22:30:06Z", "authors": ["Agence France-Presse"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361239/czech-legislators-testing-waters-china-visit-after-years-tension?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361239/czech-legislators-testing-waters-china-visit-after-years-tension?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Czech legislators \u2018testing the waters\u2019 with China visit after years of tension", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Alyssa Chen
A group of Czech lawmakers are visiting China in the first high-level engagement between the two countries since 2019, a move Chinese analysts described as \u201ctesting the waters\u201d rather than representing a more substantive thaw.
Tomio Okamura, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and head of the delegation, told local media he was hoping to secure agreements on more direct flights, an increase in Chinese tourist numbers and visa-free travel for Czech citizens.
Representatives from 40 Czech firms \u2013 representing sectors such as energy, mechanical engineering and industrial technology \u2013 are also taking part in the five-day visit in the hope of exploring fresh business opportunities.
It is the first high-level exchange between the two sides since former president Milos Zeman, who was known for his China-friendly stance, made a state visit in 2019.
After years of frosty relations between the two countries as a result of issues such as Taiwan and Tibet, there have been signs of a shift following a change of government in December.
But Shi Zhiqin, a professor of international relations at Tsinghua University, warned that the impact of the visit should not be overstated because of deep divisions over China among Czech politicians.
", "summary": "By Alyssa Chen
A group of Czech lawmakers are visiting China in the first high-level engagement between the two countries since 2019, a move Chinese analysts described as \u201ctesting the waters\u201d rather than representing a more substantive thaw.
Tomio Okamura, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and head of the delegation, told local media he was hoping to secure agreements on more direct flights, an increase in Chinese tourist numbers and visa-free travel for Czech citizens.
Representatives from 40 Czech firms \u2013 representing sectors such as energy, mechanical engineering and industrial technology \u2013 are also taking part in the five-day visit in the hope of exploring fresh business opportunities.
It is the first high-level exchange between the two sides since former president Milos Zeman, who was known for his China-friendly stance, made a state visit in 2019.
After years of frosty relations between the two countries as a result of issues such as Taiwan and Tibet, there have been signs of a shift following a change of government in December.
But Shi Zhiqin, a professor of international relations at Tsinghua University, warned that the impact of the visit should not be overstated because of deep divisions over China among Czech politicians.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T04:07:38Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T22:30:11Z", "authors": ["Alyssa Chen"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3361237/taiwan-reviews-papua-new-guinea-lng-imports-after-economic-offices-forced-closure?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3361237/taiwan-reviews-papua-new-guinea-lng-imports-after-economic-offices-forced-closure?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Taiwan reviews Papua New Guinea LNG imports after economic office\u2019s forced closure", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Taiwan is reviewing liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Papua New Guinea after the Pacific nation said it would close Taipei\u2019s unofficial representative office.
PNG announced last week that it would immediately shut down the office, with Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko saying the move reflected the government\u2019s \u201cunwavering commitment to the one-China policy\u201d ahead of the 50th anniversary of the country\u2019s diplomatic ties with Beijing.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian swiftly welcomed the decision, saying Beijing \u201chighly commends\u201d the closure of the Taipei Economic Office. He described it as further proof that adherence to the one-China principle \u201creflects the will of the international community and the prevailing trend of the times\u201d.
Lin said Beijing would continue to support Port Moresby on issues concerning each other\u2019s \u201ccore interests\u201d while deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Taipei criticised the move, saying it had not been consulted beforehand and would keep its office open while negotiating with Port Moresby.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the government had launched a review of bilateral economic ties, including long-term LNG imports.
", "summary": "Taiwan is reviewing liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Papua New Guinea after the Pacific nation said it would close Taipei\u2019s unofficial representative office.
PNG announced last week that it would immediately shut down the office, with Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko saying the move reflected the government\u2019s \u201cunwavering commitment to the one-China policy\u201d ahead of the 50th anniversary of the country\u2019s diplomatic ties with Beijing.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian swiftly welcomed the decision, saying Beijing \u201chighly commends\u201d the closure of the Taipei Economic Office. He described it as further proof that adherence to the one-China principle \u201creflects the will of the international community and the prevailing trend of the times\u201d.
Lin said Beijing would continue to support Port Moresby on issues concerning each other\u2019s \u201ccore interests\u201d while deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Taipei criticised the move, saying it had not been consulted beforehand and would keep its office open while negotiating with Port Moresby.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the government had launched a review of bilateral economic ties, including long-term LNG imports.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T04:00:20Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T22:30:16Z", "authors": ["Lawrence Chung"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3361187/eus-china-trade-deficit-widens-germany-changes-tack-join-frances-beijing-pushback?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3361187/eus-china-trade-deficit-widens-germany-changes-tack-join-frances-beijing-pushback?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "As EU\u2019s China trade deficit widens, Germany changes tack to join France\u2019s Beijing pushback", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Xiaofei Xu
Facing Europe\u2019s ever-widening trade deficit with Beijing, Berlin is increasingly singing the same tune as Paris. The two nations displayed a united front at this year\u2019s Franco-German Ministerial Council, which will soon be put on paper in a joint road map due by September at the request of Germany.
\u201cOur work between Germany and France is indispensable at a time when Russia threatens our security, when the People\u2019s Republic of China challenges our economy, and when the transatlantic partnership has lost its self-evident character,\u201d German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told journalists after the meeting on Friday.
His language was milder than that of French President Emmanuel Macron \u2013 who denounced China\u2019s \u201cgreat trade aggressiveness\u201d \u2013 but the direction of travel was impossible to miss: a German chancellor, side by side with the French president, ranking China\u2019s threat to Europe\u2019s economy alongside Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine and the waning alliance with the US.
The EU\u2019s top two economies jointly called for swift and systematic use of the bloc\u2019s existing tools while they pledged to press Brussels \u201cto promptly submit concrete proposals on how to strengthen our trade defence toolbox, industrial policy as well as economic security\u201d, according to the joint statement.
\u201cWe had a very good discussion; I think we had never been so convergent on the question of China,\u201d Macron said during the press conference.
Macron insisted that neither France nor Germany were anti-China. But the numbers, he stressed, speak for themselves: every day, Europe adds \u20ac1 billion (US$1.14 billion) to its trade deficit with China and loses thousands of jobs.
", "summary": "By Xiaofei Xu
Facing Europe\u2019s ever-widening trade deficit with Beijing, Berlin is increasingly singing the same tune as Paris. The two nations displayed a united front at this year\u2019s Franco-German Ministerial Council, which will soon be put on paper in a joint road map due by September at the request of Germany.
\u201cOur work between Germany and France is indispensable at a time when Russia threatens our security, when the People\u2019s Republic of China challenges our economy, and when the transatlantic partnership has lost its self-evident character,\u201d German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told journalists after the meeting on Friday.
His language was milder than that of French President Emmanuel Macron \u2013 who denounced China\u2019s \u201cgreat trade aggressiveness\u201d \u2013 but the direction of travel was impossible to miss: a German chancellor, side by side with the French president, ranking China\u2019s threat to Europe\u2019s economy alongside Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine and the waning alliance with the US.
The EU\u2019s top two economies jointly called for swift and systematic use of the bloc\u2019s existing tools while they pledged to press Brussels \u201cto promptly submit concrete proposals on how to strengthen our trade defence toolbox, industrial policy as well as economic security\u201d, according to the joint statement.
\u201cWe had a very good discussion; I think we had never been so convergent on the question of China,\u201d Macron said during the press conference.
Macron insisted that neither France nor Germany were anti-China. But the numbers, he stressed, speak for themselves: every day, Europe adds \u20ac1 billion (US$1.14 billion) to its trade deficit with China and loses thousands of jobs.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T04:00:14Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T22:30:22Z", "authors": ["Xiaofei Xu,Huizhao Huang"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3361233/eu-fines-aliexpress-us630-million-over-illegal-products?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3361233/eu-fines-aliexpress-us630-million-over-illegal-products?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "EU fines AliExpress US$630 million over illegal products", "content_text": "", "content_html": "The EU on Monday slapped a \u20ac550 million (US$630 million) fine on online retailer AliExpress for allowing the sale of illegal products, including unsafe toys and cosmetics.
The European Union said AliExpress also did not do enough to stop the sale of counterfeit products and that when the platform detected illegal goods were on sale, many remained online for several weeks.
The EU found some of the products sold on the platform did not meet the bloc\u2019s strict environmental and safety standards during its investigation into AliExpress launched in March 2024.
\u201cRisks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online. Today, we are holding AliExpress to this standard and request it to take action,\u201d EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.
It is the largest fine ever imposed under the EU\u2019s powerful Digital Services Act (DSA), part of the bloc\u2019s legal armoury to police big tech that entered into force in 2022.
Elon Musk\u2019s X social media platform received a \u20ac120 million fine in December last year, while the EU slapped e-commerce giant Temu with a \u20ac200 million fine in May.
", "summary": "The EU on Monday slapped a \u20ac550 million (US$630 million) fine on online retailer AliExpress for allowing the sale of illegal products, including unsafe toys and cosmetics.
The European Union said AliExpress also did not do enough to stop the sale of counterfeit products and that when the platform detected illegal goods were on sale, many remained online for several weeks.
The EU found some of the products sold on the platform did not meet the bloc\u2019s strict environmental and safety standards during its investigation into AliExpress launched in March 2024.
\u201cRisks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online. Today, we are holding AliExpress to this standard and request it to take action,\u201d EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.
It is the largest fine ever imposed under the EU\u2019s powerful Digital Services Act (DSA), part of the bloc\u2019s legal armoury to police big tech that entered into force in 2022.
Elon Musk\u2019s X social media platform received a \u20ac120 million fine in December last year, while the EU slapped e-commerce giant Temu with a \u20ac200 million fine in May.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T03:23:53Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T21:30:01Z", "authors": ["Agence France-Presse"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3361181/systemic-leap-chinas-drug-innovation-push-yields-bumper-crop?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3361181/systemic-leap-chinas-drug-innovation-push-yields-bumper-crop?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "\u2018Systemic leap\u2019: China\u2019s drug innovation push yields bumper crop", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Julie Zhang
Domestically produced novel drugs accounted for more than 80 per cent of market approvals in China in the first half of the year, reflecting a \u201cleap\u201d in the quality of the country\u2019s pharmaceutical innovation, according to a government spokesman.
A total of 38 innovative drugs were cleared for sale in the six-month period, of which 31 were home-grown medicines, said Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesman Tao Qing, at a media briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The approvals, along with a record high of about US$110 billion in out-licensing deals over the period, fully demonstrated that \u201cthe innovation quality of China\u2019s pharmaceutical industry has achieved a systemic leap\u201d, Tao said.
Among the most closely watched approvals was Satri-cel, a personalised cell therapy that uses a patient\u2019s own immune cells to attack cancer cells, developed by Shanghai-based CARsgen Therapeutics. It became the world\u2019s first chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatment cleared for solid tumours, according to the company\u2019s filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Approved on June 22, the therapy targets patients with late-stage stomach cancer who have not benefited from at least two earlier rounds of treatment, a group with few remaining options. CAR-T therapies involve engineering the patient\u2019s own immune cells in a lab to target specific cancer proteins, then placing them back into the body.
CARsgen\u2019s Hong Kong-traded stock dropped about 9 per cent over the past month.
The Chinese drug regulator also cleared an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) system developed by Neuracle Medical Technology in March. It is designed to restore hand motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries.
", "summary": "By Julie Zhang
Domestically produced novel drugs accounted for more than 80 per cent of market approvals in China in the first half of the year, reflecting a \u201cleap\u201d in the quality of the country\u2019s pharmaceutical innovation, according to a government spokesman.
A total of 38 innovative drugs were cleared for sale in the six-month period, of which 31 were home-grown medicines, said Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesman Tao Qing, at a media briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The approvals, along with a record high of about US$110 billion in out-licensing deals over the period, fully demonstrated that \u201cthe innovation quality of China\u2019s pharmaceutical industry has achieved a systemic leap\u201d, Tao said.
Among the most closely watched approvals was Satri-cel, a personalised cell therapy that uses a patient\u2019s own immune cells to attack cancer cells, developed by Shanghai-based CARsgen Therapeutics. It became the world\u2019s first chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatment cleared for solid tumours, according to the company\u2019s filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Approved on June 22, the therapy targets patients with late-stage stomach cancer who have not benefited from at least two earlier rounds of treatment, a group with few remaining options. CAR-T therapies involve engineering the patient\u2019s own immune cells in a lab to target specific cancer proteins, then placing them back into the body.
CARsgen\u2019s Hong Kong-traded stock dropped about 9 per cent over the past month.
The Chinese drug regulator also cleared an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) system developed by Neuracle Medical Technology in March. It is designed to restore hand motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T03:00:08Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T21:30:06Z", "authors": ["Julie Zhang"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3361227/mentally-disabled-hong-kong-waiter-gets-28-months-inciting-subversion?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3361227/mentally-disabled-hong-kong-waiter-gets-28-months-inciting-subversion?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Mentally disabled Hong Kong waiter gets 28 months for inciting subversion", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Fiona Chow
A Hong Kong court has sentenced a man with an intellectual disability to two years and four months in prison for inciting subversion, promoting a pro-Taiwan party and disseminating anti-Communist Party messages, with the judge noting his condition had affected his moral judgment.
District Court Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi on Monday handed the sentence to Chan Ho-hin, a 23-year-old waiter, who had earlier pleaded guilty to publishing 118 subversive messages on his social media accounts between June 27, 2024, and April 24, 2025.
The defendant repeatedly posted messages suggesting the Taiwanese government could \u201cliberate\u201d Hong Kong if it were to regain power in mainland China.
The posts advocated revolution to overthrow the Communist Party and promoted Hong Kong independence, violating the national security law.
In April last year, the defendant also sought to disseminate his views offering to mail letters to like-minded individuals locally and attempting to send leaflets to Thailand to promote the Chinese Pro-Taiwan Anti-CCP Restoration Party, which is based on the self-ruled island.
Despite denying being a party member, evidence showed that the defendant had frequent exchanges with a person claiming to be Cheng Kai-li, the party\u2019s secretary general.
", "summary": "By Fiona Chow
A Hong Kong court has sentenced a man with an intellectual disability to two years and four months in prison for inciting subversion, promoting a pro-Taiwan party and disseminating anti-Communist Party messages, with the judge noting his condition had affected his moral judgment.
District Court Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi on Monday handed the sentence to Chan Ho-hin, a 23-year-old waiter, who had earlier pleaded guilty to publishing 118 subversive messages on his social media accounts between June 27, 2024, and April 24, 2025.
The defendant repeatedly posted messages suggesting the Taiwanese government could \u201cliberate\u201d Hong Kong if it were to regain power in mainland China.
The posts advocated revolution to overthrow the Communist Party and promoted Hong Kong independence, violating the national security law.
In April last year, the defendant also sought to disseminate his views offering to mail letters to like-minded individuals locally and attempting to send leaflets to Thailand to promote the Chinese Pro-Taiwan Anti-CCP Restoration Party, which is based on the self-ruled island.
Despite denying being a party member, evidence showed that the defendant had frequent exchanges with a person claiming to be Cheng Kai-li, the party\u2019s secretary general.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T02:43:38Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T21:00:01Z", "authors": ["Fiona Chow"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3361228/hong-kong-palace-museum-partners-uzbek-cultural-centre-future-projects?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3361228/hong-kong-palace-museum-partners-uzbek-cultural-centre-future-projects?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Hong Kong Palace Museum partners with Uzbek cultural centre for future projects", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Ambrose Li
The Hong Kong Palace Museum signed a deal with Uzbekistan\u2019s Islamic Civilisation Centre on Monday to collaborate on future exhibitions, academic research and other projects.
The signing ceremony on Monday also marked the first official reciprocal visit by a Central Asian cultural institution since Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a delegation to the region last month.
Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa, director of the Palace Museum and a member of the delegation, said the memorandum of understanding would pave the way for joint exhibitions, academic research and professional training and development.
\u201cDuring my trip to Uzbekistan, I had the privilege of meeting [the centre\u2019s director] to discuss potential collaborative opportunities. I am delighted to see those initial conversations translate so quickly into this present here in Hong Kong today,\u201d he said.
\u201cThis swift follow-up [in just a month] is a powerful testament to how eagerly the people of both Uzbekistan and Hong Kong wish to work together to promote cultural exchange and dialogue.\u201d
Dr Firdavs Abdukhalikov, director of the Islamic Civilisation Centre, said through an interpreter that the goal of the memorandum was to establish ties with the museum.
By Ambrose Li
The Hong Kong Palace Museum signed a deal with Uzbekistan\u2019s Islamic Civilisation Centre on Monday to collaborate on future exhibitions, academic research and other projects.
The signing ceremony on Monday also marked the first official reciprocal visit by a Central Asian cultural institution since Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a delegation to the region last month.
Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa, director of the Palace Museum and a member of the delegation, said the memorandum of understanding would pave the way for joint exhibitions, academic research and professional training and development.
\u201cDuring my trip to Uzbekistan, I had the privilege of meeting [the centre\u2019s director] to discuss potential collaborative opportunities. I am delighted to see those initial conversations translate so quickly into this present here in Hong Kong today,\u201d he said.
\u201cThis swift follow-up [in just a month] is a powerful testament to how eagerly the people of both Uzbekistan and Hong Kong wish to work together to promote cultural exchange and dialogue.\u201d
Dr Firdavs Abdukhalikov, director of the Islamic Civilisation Centre, said through an interpreter that the goal of the memorandum was to establish ties with the museum.
By Brian Wong
A Hong Kong court has ordered the release of 14 defendants charged over the alleged murder of a former triad gangster five years ago, finding that prosecutors had failed to prove the deceased sustained fatal head injuries as a result of deliberate assaults rather than from boxing bouts at his gym.
The High Court on Monday directed a jury to acquit the defendants of all charges after ruling the evidence was too weak to draw any inference regarding the circumstances of the alleged offence between June 25 and 26, 2021.
Prosecutors had accused 12 men and a woman, now aged 26 to 34, of being part of a joint enterprise to kill Luk Wing-ho, 27, at his gym in the Rodeo Centre, an industrial building in Tai Kok Tsui.
Tse Ka-chai, Chow Man-hong, Tsui Chun-yin, Mabo Lee, Choi Hung, Kwok Yiu-ki, Lai Ka-po, Lam Chun-hong, Ng Ting-fu, Wong Shing-kwan, Shek King-sang, Anthony Ho Tsan-ue and Leung Cheuk-yung pleaded not guilty to a joint count of murder.
Tse, Shek, Ho and Leung were further charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by erasing evidence relating to Luk\u2019s death.
Lee\u2019s father, Lee Chi-ki, 57, also stood trial on a charge of assisting an offender for allegedly renting a flat in Fanling for his daughter to use as a hideout.
", "summary": "By Brian Wong
A Hong Kong court has ordered the release of 14 defendants charged over the alleged murder of a former triad gangster five years ago, finding that prosecutors had failed to prove the deceased sustained fatal head injuries as a result of deliberate assaults rather than from boxing bouts at his gym.
The High Court on Monday directed a jury to acquit the defendants of all charges after ruling the evidence was too weak to draw any inference regarding the circumstances of the alleged offence between June 25 and 26, 2021.
Prosecutors had accused 12 men and a woman, now aged 26 to 34, of being part of a joint enterprise to kill Luk Wing-ho, 27, at his gym in the Rodeo Centre, an industrial building in Tai Kok Tsui.
Tse Ka-chai, Chow Man-hong, Tsui Chun-yin, Mabo Lee, Choi Hung, Kwok Yiu-ki, Lai Ka-po, Lam Chun-hong, Ng Ting-fu, Wong Shing-kwan, Shek King-sang, Anthony Ho Tsan-ue and Leung Cheuk-yung pleaded not guilty to a joint count of murder.
Tse, Shek, Ho and Leung were further charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by erasing evidence relating to Luk\u2019s death.
Lee\u2019s father, Lee Chi-ki, 57, also stood trial on a charge of assisting an offender for allegedly renting a flat in Fanling for his daughter to use as a hideout.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T02:12:15Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T20:30:01Z", "authors": ["Brian Wong"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3361224/chinas-military-mouthpiece-issues-full-page-warning-japans-growing-drone-power?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3361224/chinas-military-mouthpiece-issues-full-page-warning-japans-growing-drone-power?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "China\u2019s military mouthpiece issues full-page warning on Japan\u2019s growing drone power", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Albee Zhang
China\u2019s military mouthpiece on Monday dedicated a full page to warning about Japan\u2019s expanding offensive drone capabilities, which it said threatened regional peace and security.
PLA Daily said Japan\u2019s right-wing political forces had long sought to bypass Tokyo\u2019s constitutional ban, adopted after World War II, on offensive combat capabilities.
Unmanned platforms have allowed Japan to circumvent these constraints on military development, according to one of four PLA Daily articles on the topic in Monday\u2019s paper.
\u201cJapan is seeking to build asymmetric advantages on future battlefields by relying on unmanned combat capabilities, thereby advancing its broader agenda of \u2018remilitarisation\u2019 \u2013 a trend whose potential risks should not be underestimated,\u201d another article stated.
It said Japan\u2019s three key national security documents, passed in 2022, had identified \u201cunmanned defence capabilities\u201d as a priority to establish Japan\u2019s counterstrike ability.
According to the documents, integrating unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and manned platforms is \u201ca game changer\u201d for Japan to build asymmetric advantages.
In its 2022 Defence Build-up Programme, Japan said it would invest 1 trillion yen (US$6.2 billion) in unmanned systems over the five-year period starting in 2023.
", "summary": "By Albee Zhang
China\u2019s military mouthpiece on Monday dedicated a full page to warning about Japan\u2019s expanding offensive drone capabilities, which it said threatened regional peace and security.
PLA Daily said Japan\u2019s right-wing political forces had long sought to bypass Tokyo\u2019s constitutional ban, adopted after World War II, on offensive combat capabilities.
Unmanned platforms have allowed Japan to circumvent these constraints on military development, according to one of four PLA Daily articles on the topic in Monday\u2019s paper.
\u201cJapan is seeking to build asymmetric advantages on future battlefields by relying on unmanned combat capabilities, thereby advancing its broader agenda of \u2018remilitarisation\u2019 \u2013 a trend whose potential risks should not be underestimated,\u201d another article stated.
It said Japan\u2019s three key national security documents, passed in 2022, had identified \u201cunmanned defence capabilities\u201d as a priority to establish Japan\u2019s counterstrike ability.
According to the documents, integrating unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and manned platforms is \u201ca game changer\u201d for Japan to build asymmetric advantages.
In its 2022 Defence Build-up Programme, Japan said it would invest 1 trillion yen (US$6.2 billion) in unmanned systems over the five-year period starting in 2023.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T02:10:06Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T20:30:06Z", "authors": ["Albee Zhang"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3361207/chinas-ev-industry-rose-aid-tax-breaks-what-happens-when-they-end?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3361207/chinas-ev-industry-rose-aid-tax-breaks-what-happens-when-they-end?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "China\u2019s EV industry rose with the aid of tax breaks. What happens when they end?", "content_text": "", "content_html": "As China is ending tax exemptions that helped fuel the rise of its electric-vehicle (EV) and solar industries, analysts said it could add to the cost of producing an EV and put pressure on manufacturers, as Beijing steps up efforts to curb overcapacity and price wars.
The levy could add about 1,000 yuan (US$147) to the cost of producing an EV, analysts estimated \u2013 a modest increase per car, but a fresh squeeze on carmakers\u2019 already razor-thin margins.
China will levy a consumption tax on lithium-ion batteries and solar cells for the first time in more than a decade, the Ministry of Finance announced on Friday. The tax would be set at 2 per cent for lithium-ion batteries \u2013 used in electric vehicles and energy storage \u2013 from September 1. Solar cells, however, would not be taxed at 2 per cent until April 1. Both rates are scheduled to rise to 4 per cent a year after their respective start dates.
China introduced a 4 per cent consumption tax on batteries in 2015, but made lithium-ion batteries and solar cells exempt to support the nascent industries.
\u201cSubsidies were needed at the start. They are not needed now,\u201d said Jia Xinguang, a veteran analyst of China\u2019s auto industry, who saw the move as a sign of Beijing\u2019s confidence that the sectors had outgrown preferential tax treatment.
The policy change would come at a cost to manufacturers, analysts said.
A typical electric car in China carries a battery pack with 50 to 100 kilowatt-hours of energy. With battery cells currently priced at around 0.35 to 0.40 yuan per watt-hour, the initial levy would lift that to roughly 0.36 to 0.41 yuan per watt-hour, adding as much as US$147 per car once the rate reaches 4 per cent, according to calculations by Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
", "summary": "As China is ending tax exemptions that helped fuel the rise of its electric-vehicle (EV) and solar industries, analysts said it could add to the cost of producing an EV and put pressure on manufacturers, as Beijing steps up efforts to curb overcapacity and price wars.
The levy could add about 1,000 yuan (US$147) to the cost of producing an EV, analysts estimated \u2013 a modest increase per car, but a fresh squeeze on carmakers\u2019 already razor-thin margins.
China will levy a consumption tax on lithium-ion batteries and solar cells for the first time in more than a decade, the Ministry of Finance announced on Friday. The tax would be set at 2 per cent for lithium-ion batteries \u2013 used in electric vehicles and energy storage \u2013 from September 1. Solar cells, however, would not be taxed at 2 per cent until April 1. Both rates are scheduled to rise to 4 per cent a year after their respective start dates.
China introduced a 4 per cent consumption tax on batteries in 2015, but made lithium-ion batteries and solar cells exempt to support the nascent industries.
\u201cSubsidies were needed at the start. They are not needed now,\u201d said Jia Xinguang, a veteran analyst of China\u2019s auto industry, who saw the move as a sign of Beijing\u2019s confidence that the sectors had outgrown preferential tax treatment.
The policy change would come at a cost to manufacturers, analysts said.
A typical electric car in China carries a battery pack with 50 to 100 kilowatt-hours of energy. With battery cells currently priced at around 0.35 to 0.40 yuan per watt-hour, the initial levy would lift that to roughly 0.36 to 0.41 yuan per watt-hour, adding as much as US$147 per car once the rate reaches 4 per cent, according to calculations by Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T02:00:11Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T20:30:11Z", "authors": ["Huizhao Huang"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3361218/hong-kong-bourse-operator-weighs-longer-trading-hours-sharpen-hub-edge-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3361218/hong-kong-bourse-operator-weighs-longer-trading-hours-sharpen-hub-edge-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Hong Kong bourse operator weighs longer trading hours to sharpen hub edge, sources say", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Enoch Yiu
Bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is considering extending trading hours to align with moves by global peers and sharpen the city\u2019s competitiveness as an international financial centre.
HKEX and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) confirmed that they were discussing the matter, but did not give details.
The discussion was in an early stage and options included extending the afternoon close to 5pm or even 8pm, two separate sources told the South China Morning Post. Scrapping the one-hour lunch break was not being actively considered, they added.
\u201cHKEX is in an early discussion to explore the idea of extending the trading hours and it would consult the market before making any changes on a long-term basis,\u201d one source said.
Pressure has mounted on the bourse operator after global peers stretched their sessions. Nasdaq, home to tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft and Amazon, planned to expand to 23 hours a day, five days a week, up from 16 hours a day now, according to its website.
The London Stock Exchange Group also weighed 24-hour trading to meet demand from retail investors, the Financial Times reported in July last year, citing sources. The London bourse is now trading from 8am to 4.30pm.
HKEX currently trades for five and a half hours on weekdays, from 9.30am to 4pm, with a one-hour lunch break. That compares with four hours in Shanghai and Shenzhen, five in Tokyo, six and a half in Toronto, eight and a half in London and 14 hours in Frankfurt.
", "summary": "By Enoch Yiu
Bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is considering extending trading hours to align with moves by global peers and sharpen the city\u2019s competitiveness as an international financial centre.
HKEX and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) confirmed that they were discussing the matter, but did not give details.
The discussion was in an early stage and options included extending the afternoon close to 5pm or even 8pm, two separate sources told the South China Morning Post. Scrapping the one-hour lunch break was not being actively considered, they added.
\u201cHKEX is in an early discussion to explore the idea of extending the trading hours and it would consult the market before making any changes on a long-term basis,\u201d one source said.
Pressure has mounted on the bourse operator after global peers stretched their sessions. Nasdaq, home to tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft and Amazon, planned to expand to 23 hours a day, five days a week, up from 16 hours a day now, according to its website.
The London Stock Exchange Group also weighed 24-hour trading to meet demand from retail investors, the Financial Times reported in July last year, citing sources. The London bourse is now trading from 8am to 4.30pm.
HKEX currently trades for five and a half hours on weekdays, from 9.30am to 4pm, with a one-hour lunch break. That compares with four hours in Shanghai and Shenzhen, five in Tokyo, six and a half in Toronto, eight and a half in London and 14 hours in Frankfurt.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T02:00:07Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T20:30:21Z", "authors": ["Enoch Yiu"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3361098/chinese-student-accepted-top-university-without-tutoring-sparks-widespread-debate?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3361098/chinese-student-accepted-top-university-without-tutoring-sparks-widespread-debate?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Chinese student accepted into top university without tutoring, sparks widespread debate", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Alice Yan
A girl in China, who was recently admitted to the prestigious Tsinghua University with an extremely high score on the national university entrance exam, has gone viral on social media after it emerged that her parents had never sent her to after-school tutoring classes, choosing instead to provide a relaxed home environment.
Xu Yifang graduated from Xuchang High School in central China\u2019s Henan province this summer. In mid-July, she received an admission notice from Tsinghua after she achieved a score of 694 out of a possible 750 points, Dahe News reported.
She will study nuclear technology, the report said.
What sets Xu apart from most elite students in China is that she never received private tutoring. She just finished her homework as required by school teachers.
The national university entrance exam, known as gaokao in Chinese, is regarded as the most important test in the country, with many young people seeing it as a fate-changing opportunity.
![\"As](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/07/19/ab5139a7-4fc6-4baf-9f98-646edb060363_e7d6bfb3.jpg\")
By Alice Yan
A girl in China, who was recently admitted to the prestigious Tsinghua University with an extremely high score on the national university entrance exam, has gone viral on social media after it emerged that her parents had never sent her to after-school tutoring classes, choosing instead to provide a relaxed home environment.
Xu Yifang graduated from Xuchang High School in central China\u2019s Henan province this summer. In mid-July, she received an admission notice from Tsinghua after she achieved a score of 694 out of a possible 750 points, Dahe News reported.
She will study nuclear technology, the report said.
What sets Xu apart from most elite students in China is that she never received private tutoring. She just finished her homework as required by school teachers.
The national university entrance exam, known as gaokao in Chinese, is regarded as the most important test in the country, with many young people seeing it as a fate-changing opportunity.
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]
Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong (YCIS Hong Kong) celebrates the remarkable achievement of 2026 cohort in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This year, 2 students obtained a perfect score of 45 points; 2 students and 4 students achieved 44 points and 43 points respectively. Apart from the mentioned, 24 of YCIS students achieved a score of 40 or above among a total of 123 students registered, and 67 students received a bilingual diploma, underscoring the strength of Yew Chung\u2019s unique multicultural and bilingual educational approach. Guided by the Careers and University Guidance Office (CUGO), graduates have already secured offers from many of the world\u2019s leading universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, Tsinghua, and Peking University, among others. Notably, 51% of all offers were from QS Top 50 universities, while 74% were from QS Top 100 universities, reflecting the strong academic achievements and global competitiveness of the Class of 2026.
![\"YCIS](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/styles/660w/public/d8/images/2026/07/16/2026YCISHKTopScorers.jpg?itok=qJqll3XZ\" "\\"YCIS")
Highlights of YCIS Hong Kong\u2019s 2026 IBDP results:\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 2 students accomplished the perfect score of 45\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a02 students achieved 44, 4 students achieved 43\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a024 students scored 40 or above\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a067 students (55 %) received the IB Bilingual Diploma \u00a0
![\"YCIS](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/styles/660w/public/d8/images/2026/07/16/Amos_Cheng.jpg?itok=6tXowzkP\" "\\"YCIS")
![\"YCIS](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/styles/660w/public/d8/images/2026/07/16/Hilary_1.jpg?itok=edoP194W\" "\\"YCIS")
Reflecting on her journey, Hilary credits her English teacher for guiding her through an abrupt change of Extended Essay subject and the diversified learning experiences. \u201cBeyond academics, debate and Model UN sharpened my public speaking\u00a0skills for university interviews, while the neurodiversity group connected me with the wider YCIS community,\u201d she shared. With a grateful heart and a clear vision for the future, Hilary is determined to remain passionate and ambitious, applying her knowledge and skills to make a meaningful difference for animals and society at large.
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]
Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong (YCIS Hong Kong) celebrates the remarkable achievement of 2026 cohort in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This year, 2 students obtained a perfect score of 45 points; 2 students and 4 students achieved 44 points and 43 points respectively. Apart from the mentioned, 24 of YCIS students achieved a score of 40 or above among a total of 123 students registered, and 67 students received a bilingual diploma, underscoring the strength of Yew Chung\u2019s unique multicultural and bilingual educational approach. Guided by the Careers and University Guidance Office (CUGO), graduates have already secured offers from many of the world\u2019s leading universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, Tsinghua, and Peking University, among others. Notably, 51% of all offers were from QS Top 50 universities, while 74% were from QS Top 100 universities, reflecting the strong academic achievements and global competitiveness of the Class of 2026.
Highlights of YCIS Hong Kong\u2019s 2026 IBDP results:\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 2 students accomplished the perfect score of 45\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a02 students achieved 44, 4 students achieved 43\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a024 students scored 40 or above\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a067 students (55 %) received the IB Bilingual Diploma \u00a0
Reflecting on her journey, Hilary credits her English teacher for guiding her through an abrupt change of Extended Essay subject and the diversified learning experiences. \u201cBeyond academics, debate and Model UN sharpened my public speaking\u00a0skills for university interviews, while the neurodiversity group connected me with the wider YCIS community,\u201d she shared. With a grateful heart and a clear vision for the future, Hilary is determined to remain passionate and ambitious, applying her knowledge and skills to make a meaningful difference for animals and society at large.
By Wynna Wong
Hong Kong customs officers arrested more than a dozen people and seized counterfeit merchandise worth over HK$159 million (US$20.3 million) during the World Cup period, with authorities warning of a rise in young people seeking to make \u201cquick money\u201d from selling such items.
The Customs and Excise Department said on Monday that it had detected 50 infringements during an eight-week operation from May 26 to Sunday, arresting 13 people and confiscating about 240,000 suspected counterfeit items, including football jerseys, shoes and footballs.
\u201cThe involvement of young people in online infringement activities is something that deserves the attention of customs and all sectors of society,\u201d said Ng Ka-chun, commander of customs\u2019 intellectual property technology crime investigation division.
Twelve of those arrested were suspected of selling counterfeit football jerseys online, including four people aged 18 or below.
The number of young people arrested over similar online offences had risen from one in 2024 to two last year.
The suspects were not believed to be connected, with each offering between one and 40 shirts for sale, Ng said.
Customs was still investigating the sources of the goods.
", "summary": "By Wynna Wong
Hong Kong customs officers arrested more than a dozen people and seized counterfeit merchandise worth over HK$159 million (US$20.3 million) during the World Cup period, with authorities warning of a rise in young people seeking to make \u201cquick money\u201d from selling such items.
The Customs and Excise Department said on Monday that it had detected 50 infringements during an eight-week operation from May 26 to Sunday, arresting 13 people and confiscating about 240,000 suspected counterfeit items, including football jerseys, shoes and footballs.
\u201cThe involvement of young people in online infringement activities is something that deserves the attention of customs and all sectors of society,\u201d said Ng Ka-chun, commander of customs\u2019 intellectual property technology crime investigation division.
Twelve of those arrested were suspected of selling counterfeit football jerseys online, including four people aged 18 or below.
The number of young people arrested over similar online offences had risen from one in 2024 to two last year.
The suspects were not believed to be connected, with each offering between one and 40 shirts for sale, Ng said.
Customs was still investigating the sources of the goods.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T01:50:36Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T20:00:06Z", "authors": ["Wynna Wong"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361215/china-us-talks-ahead-xi-jinpings-planned-september-visit-maintained-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361215/china-us-talks-ahead-xi-jinpings-planned-september-visit-maintained-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "China-US talks ahead of Xi Jinping\u2019s planned September visit \u2018maintained\u2019: Beijing", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Yuanyue Dang
China and the US have stayed in communication on leader exchanges this year, Beijing said on Monday, hours after America\u2019s top diplomat downplayed whether Donald Trump\u2019s accusation of Chinese election meddling would derail high-level engagement.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Monday said the Chinese and American sides had \u201cmaintained communication regarding the arrangements for the heads of state\u2019s interactions later this year\u201d.
\u201cHead-of-state diplomacy provides irreplaceable strategic guidance for US-China relations,\u201d Lin said.
The statement came days after Trump delivered a prime-time address on Thursday in Washington in which he accused China of interfering in US elections, a move some worried might derail Chinese President Xi Jinping\u2019s coming visit to the US.
After the American leader\u2019s remarks, China\u2019s foreign ministry dismissed Trump\u2019s allegations as having \u201cno factual ground\u201d.
On Sunday in Washington, before flying to the Philippines to attend a meeting of Asean\u2019s foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism when asked whether Trump\u2019s remarks would affect Xi\u2019s visit to the US.
", "summary": "By Yuanyue Dang
China and the US have stayed in communication on leader exchanges this year, Beijing said on Monday, hours after America\u2019s top diplomat downplayed whether Donald Trump\u2019s accusation of Chinese election meddling would derail high-level engagement.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Monday said the Chinese and American sides had \u201cmaintained communication regarding the arrangements for the heads of state\u2019s interactions later this year\u201d.
\u201cHead-of-state diplomacy provides irreplaceable strategic guidance for US-China relations,\u201d Lin said.
The statement came days after Trump delivered a prime-time address on Thursday in Washington in which he accused China of interfering in US elections, a move some worried might derail Chinese President Xi Jinping\u2019s coming visit to the US.
After the American leader\u2019s remarks, China\u2019s foreign ministry dismissed Trump\u2019s allegations as having \u201cno factual ground\u201d.
On Sunday in Washington, before flying to the Philippines to attend a meeting of Asean\u2019s foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism when asked whether Trump\u2019s remarks would affect Xi\u2019s visit to the US.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T01:39:28Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T20:00:11Z", "authors": ["Yuanyue Dang"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3361151/can-hong-kong-mega-arts-event-hkpax-2026-meet-targets-tough-economic-times?utm_source=rss_feed", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3361151/can-hong-kong-mega-arts-event-hkpax-2026-meet-targets-tough-economic-times?utm_source=rss_feed", "external_url": null, "title": "Can Hong Kong \u2018mega\u2019 arts event HKPAX 2026 meet targets in tough economic times?", "content_text": "", "content_html": "By Enid Tsui
Hong Kong\u2019s Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX), a HK$40 million (US$5 million) event scheduled for October 2026 to boost the city\u2019s international image as a cultural centre, has cut ticket prices and diversified its programming to attract attendance during a tough global economic climate, its new leadership says.
Launched by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) in 2024, the biennial five-day event aims to match the delegate numbers from two years ago without increasing the amount it pays on inviting guests and covering their expenses.
\u201cIt is industry practice to invite some guests,\u201d says Anne Chan, co-director of HKPAX and previously the ADC\u2019s arts space, research and development director. \u201cLast time, we covered the flight and hotel expenses of 5 per cent of the 1,600 delegates, and the ratio is likely to remain the same this time.\u201d
Funded by Hong Kong\u2019s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the event\u2019s HK$40 million budget is slightly less than the HK$43 million in 2024.
Though listed as a \u201cmega-event\u201d on the CSTB website, HKPAX does not receive additional funding from the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund, which the city launched in April 2023 to support and attract large-scale international arts and cultural events.
![\"HKPAX](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/07/20/bcacedbd-99c4-4bab-a9d2-2d115aa8207c_fc23c0fc.jpg\")
By Enid Tsui
Hong Kong\u2019s Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX), a HK$40 million (US$5 million) event scheduled for October 2026 to boost the city\u2019s international image as a cultural centre, has cut ticket prices and diversified its programming to attract attendance during a tough global economic climate, its new leadership says.
Launched by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) in 2024, the biennial five-day event aims to match the delegate numbers from two years ago without increasing the amount it pays on inviting guests and covering their expenses.
\u201cIt is industry practice to invite some guests,\u201d says Anne Chan, co-director of HKPAX and previously the ADC\u2019s arts space, research and development director. \u201cLast time, we covered the flight and hotel expenses of 5 per cent of the 1,600 delegates, and the ratio is likely to remain the same this time.\u201d
Funded by Hong Kong\u2019s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the event\u2019s HK$40 million budget is slightly less than the HK$43 million in 2024.
Though listed as a \u201cmega-event\u201d on the CSTB website, HKPAX does not receive additional funding from the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund, which the city launched in April 2023 to support and attract large-scale international arts and cultural events.
Malaysia is stepping up surveillance on its eastern flank, pushing ahead with plans for a long-range radar at a frontline South China Sea outpost and launching newly operational drones.
The upgrades reflect Kuala Lumpur\u2019s bid to improve its ability to detect threats as the Philippines revives its claim over Sabah state in Malaysian Borneo and Chinese patrols persist near its offshore energy fields.
Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Sunday that the radar would be installed on Swallow Reef, known as Pulau Layang-Layang in Malay, to give the armed forces a clearer picture of aircraft movements around the Spratlys.
\u201cFrom a security perspective, as we all know, we have strengthened our position on Pulau Layang-Layang,\u201d Khaled told reporters after an election campaign launch event in Negeri Sembilan. \u201cWe will also install a radar system there so that we have stronger surveillance capabilities.\u201d
The announcement came as Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan disclosed that Malaysia had recently sent a \u201cvery strong\u201d diplomatic note to an unnamed country claiming part of Malaysian territory.
![\"Malaysia\u2019s](\"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2026/07/20/787ebf37-9e7a-45fd-897c-8e073b8ef256_4b2f6889.jpg\")
Malaysia is stepping up surveillance on its eastern flank, pushing ahead with plans for a long-range radar at a frontline South China Sea outpost and launching newly operational drones.
The upgrades reflect Kuala Lumpur\u2019s bid to improve its ability to detect threats as the Philippines revives its claim over Sabah state in Malaysian Borneo and Chinese patrols persist near its offshore energy fields.
Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Sunday that the radar would be installed on Swallow Reef, known as Pulau Layang-Layang in Malay, to give the armed forces a clearer picture of aircraft movements around the Spratlys.
\u201cFrom a security perspective, as we all know, we have strengthened our position on Pulau Layang-Layang,\u201d Khaled told reporters after an election campaign launch event in Negeri Sembilan. \u201cWe will also install a radar system there so that we have stronger surveillance capabilities.\u201d
The announcement came as Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan disclosed that Malaysia had recently sent a \u201cvery strong\u201d diplomatic note to an unnamed country claiming part of Malaysian territory.
Veteran Hong Kong actor, film director and producer Patrick Tse Yin has died at the age of 89.
His daughter Jennifer announced the star\u2019s death in a Facebook post, writing: \u201cWith profound sadness, our family announces the passing of our beloved father, Patrick Tse.
\u201cHe passed away peacefully at the hospital, surrounded by the love of his family, after a period of declining health.
\u201cOur father lived a remarkable and accomplished life, not only as an actor and artist, but as someone who brought joy to everyone around him with his unmistakable spirit.\u201d
She said his passion, charisma and contributions to Hong Kong cinema had touched generations, and that he would be \u201cremembered fondly by so many\u201d.
His daughter also asked for privacy as the family navigated \u201cthis difficult time together\u201d, while expressing her gratitude for the \u201coverwhelming love, support and condolences\u201d they had received.
", "summary": "Veteran Hong Kong actor, film director and producer Patrick Tse Yin has died at the age of 89.
His daughter Jennifer announced the star\u2019s death in a Facebook post, writing: \u201cWith profound sadness, our family announces the passing of our beloved father, Patrick Tse.
\u201cHe passed away peacefully at the hospital, surrounded by the love of his family, after a period of declining health.
\u201cOur father lived a remarkable and accomplished life, not only as an actor and artist, but as someone who brought joy to everyone around him with his unmistakable spirit.\u201d
She said his passion, charisma and contributions to Hong Kong cinema had touched generations, and that he would be \u201cremembered fondly by so many\u201d.
His daughter also asked for privacy as the family navigated \u201cthis difficult time together\u201d, while expressing her gratitude for the \u201coverwhelming love, support and condolences\u201d they had received.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-07-20T00:57:53Z", "date_modified": "2026-07-19T19:00:06Z", "authors": ["Ng Kang-chung"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}]}