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Diplomacy

Putin follows Trump to China, Xi hosts US president, Baidu earnings

This week: Putin set to visit China after Trump, China agrees to buy Boeing planes, US restates Taiwan position and April exports weather Strait of Hormuz shutdown. Next week: Baidu and Nvidia report earnings, April retail sales may accelerate, Europe-China space mission makes second take-off attempt, and more.

President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump in Beijing. Photo: AP

Europe

‘Stay inside’: Finland warns of drone scare near capital Helsinki

The early hours warning – the first for the capital city – said a drone could be heading towards an area on the south coast.

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A view of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. File photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Gunfire, farce and fugitive Philippine Senator Bato dela Rosa

‘Call me a coward’, ICC fugitive Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa told the cameras, as he holed up in the Senate in a bid to escape justice.

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A protester holds a placard of Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa during a rally calling for his arrest outside the Senate on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

China Economy

China to start certifying cities and workplaces as ‘birth-friendly’

Campaign aims to name 40 cities and 200 workplaces as being supportive of childbirth every three years.

A nurse feeds a neonatal patient at the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province in Kunming on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

The ‘real test’ for China and the US after Xi-Trump summit

True challenge will be finding ways to ‘cooperate constructively within an inherently competitive relationship’, Chinese analyst cautions.

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US President Donald Trump bids farewell to Chinese President Xi Jinping as he wraps up his state visit, in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Reuters
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China Opinion

Outside In | Xi-Trump summit aside, 2 meetings in Asia matter for global trade

As Trump travelled to Beijing for the kind of bilateral dealmaking he prefers, two groups have continued their multilateral efforts.

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US tech bosses and officials attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14 as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrive. Photo: AP

Science

Top Singapore-based physicist moves to China after superconductor breakthrough

Prominent young professor becomes doctoral supervisor at leading Chinese research university amid high-level recruitment drive.

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Stephen Lin Er Chow (right), pictured with colleagues from the research team that designed the new copper-free superconducting material. Photo: NUS Faculty of Science

Health & Environment

Thai researchers make huge discovery with Southeast Asia’s largest dinosaur

Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, named after a snake from folklore and the province where it was found, weighed as much as nine adult elephants.

An artist’s impression of the Cretaceous period sauropod dinosaur Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis. Photo: Patchanop Boonsai/AFP

K-drama

Review | The Wonderfools: Park Eun-bin lifts fun but flawed superhero K-drama

Korean drama The Wonderfools mixes comedy, romance and action as three misfits gain superpowers and grapple with a sinister conspiracy.

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Park Eun-bin as Eun Chae-ni, a terminally ill misfit who acquires superpowers, in a still from The Wonderfools. Photo: Netflix

Politics

In Malaysia, ex-ministers challenge Anwar’s attempt to project strength

Rafizi and Nik Nazmi are holding an event to announce a new ‘political direction’ on the same day as Anwar’s party meets.

Rafizi Ramli accompanies Anwar Ibrahim as he speaks during a news conference on October 26, 2022. Photo: AP
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Global Economy

Australian trade minister to visit China to secure fuel during Iran war crunch

Beijing tightened jet fuel exports after the war broke out, forcing Canberra to seek alternative suppliers.

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell attends a press conference following a meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in May 2023, in Beijing. Photo:

100 Top Tables

Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for May 15-17

Sip on CMYK cocktails at Mhp, enjoy regional bar takeovers at Sips by the Sea, and discover new distilleries at the Whisky Festival.

Sips by the Sea at K11 Musea Sky Bar. Photo: Handout

Society

‘Tell good stories of Hong Kong’ amid global turmoil, John Lee urges local media

Local media should not only record events, but also adhere to values that support interests of city and country.

SCMP publisher Tammy Tam (second from right), executive editor Zuraidah Ibrahim (back row, fourth from left) and the publication’s award-winning journalists. Photo: Elson Li

Law and Crime

Former Wang Fuk Court representative and wife held over fraud, money laundering

Man who testified at Tai Po fire inquiry and wife suspected of abusing Covid loan scheme with proceeds later withdrawn and partly transferred.

Jason Kong, a former management committee member of the owners’ corporation at Wang Fuk Court, has been arrested alongside his wife on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. Photo: Elson Li

Diplomacy

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, May 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China right after the Trump-Xi summit.

US President Donald Trump gestures towards Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to gardens in the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
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Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong urged to shift from role as ‘superconnector’ to ‘value-adder’

Leading think tank urges city to align with national development, diversify growth, boost innovation and deepen supply chain role.

A leading think tank has urged Hong Kong to boost innovation and diversify beyond finance. Photo: Sam Tsang

Football

Tickets for rare North v South football clash in Korea sell out in 12 hours

The two sides meet in the semi-finals of the Women’s Asian Champions League in the city of Suwon; national flags and anthems will not be used.

Suwon FC and Naegohyang FC will face each other in South Korea in the AFC Women’s Champions League. Photo: YouTube/The AFC hub

Health & Environment

Turning over a new leaf: why UK’s green mandate is a win for Asia

The Green Party’s record-breaking gains in UK council elections are a sign voters are taking climate change seriously, analysts say.

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Members of the Green Party celebrate a win in Bellingham in south London on May 9. Photo: EPA

Europe

‘King of the North’ takes first step to challenge UK’s Starmer

UK lawmaker resigns his seat, clearing a path for leadership challenger Andy Burnham.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester who is also known as the ‘King of the North’. Photo: AP

Science

On This Day | In 2021, China becomes the third country to land a rover on Mars – SCMP archive

On this day five years ago, China became the third country in the world to safely land a rover on Mars after months of space travel.

Personnel at the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre celebrate after the Tianwen-1 probe’s lander successfully descended to Mars, carrying the Zhu Rong rover. Photo: Xinhua
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Southeast Asia

Anwar says Malaysia won’t oppose Jho Low’s Trump pardon bid

The Malaysian businessman, indicted in the US, has denied wrongdoing but remains at large.

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American fashion model Gigi Hadid and Jho Low (centre) attend an event in New York City in 2014. Photo: Getty Images for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation/AFP

Trending in China

China blogger drives 1,300km overnight to help schoolmate see dead mother

Physical education student downs large volume of energy drinks to stay alert while driving on trip with friends filled with ‘warmth and love’.

A popular Chinese blogger drove 1,300km overnight to help a schoolmate see her recently deceased mother. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Politics

To cut reliance on China, Japan eyes bespoke ship for rare earth extraction

Tokyo also aims to become a major global supplier despite the project facing technological, cost and geopolitical hurdles.

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A Japanese research vessel leaves a port in Shizuoka prefecture to collect rare earth mud off Minamitorishima Island in January. Photo: Kyodo

Entertainment

Review | Parallel Tales: Asghar Farhadi misfires with latest French excursion

This tale of voyeurism in Paris, starring Vincent Cassel, Virginie Efira and Isabelle Huppert, lacks any tension or romantic intrigue.

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Isabelle Huppert as Sylvie (left) and Adam Bessa as Adam in a still from Parallel Tales, directed by Asghar Farhadi.

Law and Crime

Hong Kong inquest finds rare gastroscopy complication caused man’s death

Coroner rules death caused by brain swelling after procedure at Queen Mary Hospital in 2024, with rapid deterioration limiting treatment options.

The Coroner’s Court ruled that Lui Pak-to died of cerebral oedema following a gastroscopy at Queen Mary Hospital on February 29, 2024. Photo: Jelly Tse
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China Business

Chinese margin traders raise wagers to record in tech stock rally

Outstanding value of bets passes US$420 billion amid seven-day record run, as investors drive indices to new highs.

A large screen shows stock exchange data in Shanghai on May 6, 2026. Photo: EPA

Diplomacy

‘We’ll be back’: the latest takeaways from the Xi-Trump talks

Chinese and US leaders chat as they stroll through the grounds of Zhongnanhai as Trump again dangles the idea of a ‘G2’.

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Xi Jinping and Donald Trump take a walk through the garden at Zhongnanhai in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Evan Vucci/Pool Reuters via AP

Hong Kong Economy

Tourist arrivals up 10% year on year in April, driven by Hong Kong Sevens

City welcomed 4.21 million visitors in April, taking total in first four months to 18.52 million – 15 per cent higher than in same period last year.

Tourists at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront during the Easter holiday in April. Photo: Eugene Lee

Tech

Meet Zhou Qunfei: the woman seated between Cook and Musk at China state banquet

The chairwoman of manufacturing giant Lens is one of the country’s richest self-made women, working her way up from Shenzhen’s factory floors.

Lens Technology chairwoman Zhou Qunfei seated between Apple’s Tim Cook and Tesla’s Elon Musk at China’s state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday night. Photo: CCTV

Southeast Asia

‘I got really scared’: how the Philippine Senate shoot-out unfolded

Witnesses recount a night of chaos unleashed during an attempt to arrest ICC-wanted Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

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Soldiers stand guard inside the Philippine Senate complex on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua