China recovers reusable rocket used in the maiden launch of Long March 10B

Soon after launch, the first stage of the rocket returned vertically and was recovered via a sea platform: state media

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China has succeeded in recovering the reusable rocket used in the maiden launch of the Long March 10B. Photo: Weibo/萌虎鲸

Victoria Bela in Hong Kong and Ling Xin in Ohio

China succeeded in recovering part of its Long March 10B reusable rocket on its maiden launch on Friday, marking the country’s first controlled orbital-

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China sets July 4 precedent with US; Cathay plane triggers Nato alert: SCMP’s 7 highlights

From Hong Kong’s top IB scorers to China’s role in Cabo Verde’s Fifa journey, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

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Fireworks explode during Salute to America, an Independence Day event, at the National Mall in Washington on July 4. Photo: AP

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed

Why the Philippines is losing out in Southeast Asia’s investment boom

Fishermen paddle past a cargo ship unloading containers at the Manila international port in the Philippines in December 2025. Photo: AFP

The Philippines still lags behind its neighbours in attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) after its inflows remained stagnant in 2025, even as a financing influx swept the region.

This has cast the spotlight on a corruption scandal that has roiled the country and dented investor confidence to some extent, on top of long-standing systemic issues, analysts say.

Manila ranked sixth in Southeast Asia after capturing just US$9 billion of the

Former top prosecutor in Hong Kong court over injuring man while drink-driving

A Hong Kong prosecutor turned barrister is facing criminal charges over allegations that he seriously injured a man while driving under the influence of alcohol earlier this year.

Franco Kuan Bak-on, 45, appeared in Sha Tin Court on Friday to face charges of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and driving a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration in breath above the prescribed limit.

Police arrested Kuan at around 1.50am on January 11 after he allegedly drove recklessly along Hung Mui Kuk Road in Tai Wai, causing serious


‘Extremely hot’ weather in Hong Kong over the weekend as Typhoon Bavi subsides

Hong Kong will be “extremely hot” and hit by occasional showers as Typhoon Bavi moves across the seas east of Taiwan towards Guangdong on the weekend, with unstable offshore weather already disrupting a number of flights.

The city’s Observatory said that as Bavi moved across Taiwan and then towards the vicinity spanning northern Fujian and southern Zhejiang, its outer airstream would subside, resulting in “mainly fine and extremely hot weather” in Guangdong from Friday to Sunday.

“High temperatures may also trigger showers,” the forecaster said on

Waves crash near the coast of Keelung as Typhoon Bavi approaches the northern Taiwanese city on Thursday. Photo: AP

US lawmakers urge justice agency to fully investigate Tiananmen display break-in

The heads of a US Congressional committee and a commission focused on China have called on the Justice Department to fully investigate a break-in and reported vandalism at a California museum commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown .

“The Justice Department and FBI should investigate vandalism at the [June 4th Memorial Museum] to protect the inalienable rights of the Chinese diaspora seeking freedom in the United States,” said a three-page letter delivered to the agency on Thursday.

The note was signed by John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan and

Michigan Republican John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select committee on China. Photo: AFP

Quake-hit Venezuela faces looming health threats as survivors crowd shelters

Disease outbreaks, poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and disruptions to basic medical care could pose the greatest health risks to the tens of thousands of survivors of Venezuela’s deadly earthquakes, the Americas branch of the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

Venezuela has opened more than 80 shelters for those whose homes were destroyed in twin quakes ‌on June 24, with the number of displaced reaching 17,907 by Thursday.

Poor shelter conditions could leave many survivors especially vulnerable, the


How a remark about Najib’s pardon just blew Malaysia’s Johor state election wide open

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak, jailed for corruption in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, is escorted by prison guards at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in 2025. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia ’s Barisan Nasional (BN), the dominant political coalition in Johor, might have expected to cruise to an easy victory come Saturday when the southern state goes to the polls – until a single remark from the son of jailed former prime minister Najib Razak suddenly gave its rivals political ammunition.

On July 3, Nazifuddin Najib, who heads BN in

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AI, science and the risks in China’s reliance on imported precision equipment

China is heavily dependent on imports for the best precision scientific equipment. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s reliance on imports for the most sophisticated scientific instruments could hold back the country’s use of AI in science, according to a leading Chinese researcher.

Advanced equipment such as mass spectrometers was essential for generating the high-quality experimental data needed to develop, validate and improve advanced scientific models, Weinan E, a professor at Peking University’s mathematical sciences school, said at the “AI for Science” conference in Shanghai


Flights disrupted as weakened Bavi still packs a punch on its way towards China

Flights have been cancelled and airlines are offering refunds in at least 10 airports, as a weakened Typhoon Bavi nears China’s coast, where it is expected to land between Fuqing in Fujian province and Wenling in Zhejiang.

Zhoushan airport said in a social media post that 14 flights to and from the island city in Zhejiang province, eastern China were cancelled for Friday. In Wenzhou, 17 inbound flights have been cancelled.

Multiple airlines – including Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines