Sex assault claim throws key US Senate race into question

⁠Democratic Party leaders on Monday called on Graham Platner to withdraw as their nominee to run against Republican US Senator Susan Collins of Maine, after media reports that a woman accused him of forcibly having sex with her nearly five years ago.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement: “The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot”.

Earlier, Platner denied the ‌accusations and said in

Supporters cheer for Graham Platner at a campaign event. Photo: AP

Chinese tourist’s World Cup flag blunder in Malaysia goes viral

A still from a social media video showing a Chinese tourist interrogating a hotel worker in Kuala Lumpur about the absence of China’s national flag from a World Cup display. Photo: Threads

A video showing a Chinese tourist berating hotel staff in Malaysia for not flying China’s flag has gone viral after viewers pointed out the flags belonged to the nations competing in the Fifa World Cup finals.

The man, who was reportedly in Kuala Lumpur on business, confronted a staff member at his hotel’s breakfast restaurant after noticing flags from dozens of countries but not China

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Time bar saves Singapore WP’s Lim, Faisal from parliamentary action for lying under oath

The case stems from a false anecdote that former WP MP Raeesah Khan told in parliament in August 2021

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Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim and secretary-general Pritam Singh attend a press conference at their headquarters in Singapore on July 19, 2023. Photo: Reuters

No further action was necessary by Singapore ’s parliament against Workers’ Party (WP) politicians Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap over their lying under oath, as the case fell outside a legal time bar, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said on Tuesday.

“Had the timelines been different, I

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Minibus driver arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly knocking down elderly pedestrian

The 90-year-old victim was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong police have arrested a 74-year-old minibus driver on suspicion of dangerous driving after he allegedly ran over a 90-year-old man crossing a road in Kwai Chung.

Police said the accident was reported at about 7.24am on Tuesday on 188 Hing Fong Road.

The driver, surnamed Yan, was driving a public light bus towards Kwai Fong when he allegedly struck the elderly pedestrian, surnamed


More hardship in fuel-starved Cuba, hit by third nationwide blackout this year

Cuba’s president slams Washington’s ‘strangulation’ of communist island as grid collapse leaves 9.6 million without power

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A woman walks on a street in Havana carrying a fan as Cuba endures another power failure. Photo: Reuters

Cuba on Monday suffered its third nationwide power outage since the start of the year, causing mounting despair in the face of an energy collapse precipitated by a US fuel blockade.

The communist island was already struggling to keep the lights on before US President Donald Trump in January cut off its oil


Thai beer heir opens up, Philippine ube’s ‘purple gold rush’: 7 Asia highlights

From Hongkongers looking to Malaysia for housing to a Thai beer heir opening up, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting

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F-15SG fighters of the Singapore military perform during the National Day celebrations on August 9 last year. Photo: Xinhua

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing .
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Joy and tears as Hong Kong students receive secondary school allocations

Hong Kong’s Primary Six students received their secondary school results on Tuesday after years of hard work, with many elated and some already deciding what subject to major in at university or considering pathways to studying overseas.

Tears of joy and relief filled the school hall at Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road) as students and parents received their long-awaited secondary school allocation results.

Among them was 12-year-old Carmen Leung Ka-man, who collapsed into her mother’s arms, weeping from


Japan weighs Myanmar aid restart to counter China’s growing clout

This Week in Asia Politics

Activists urge Tokyo to reject the request, pointing to evidence that the military weaponised previous Japanese aid vessels

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An activist holds an image of Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi at an anti-coup rally in Tokyo in December 2021. Photo: AFP
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8 dead, 1 missing in China tornado, days after warning of extreme weather ahead

Eight people have died and one remains missing after rainstorms and tornadoes hit central China, while rescue parties in the south are continuing to evacuate residents amid flood warnings.

Meteorologists warn that China faces “complex” flood prevention challenges this year, with heavy rain, typhoons, flooding and other geological disasters happening across the country.

Parts of the central province of Hubei were hit with strong winds and rain on Monday night, according to the provincial Department of Emergency Management on Tuesday.

In its easternmost city Huanggang, 173 people


Singapore named world’s most expensive city for luxury spending for fourth year in a row

A small motor boat passes by luxury waterfront condominiums in Singapore’s Sentosa Cove. Photo: Getty Images

Singapore is the world’s most expensive city for luxury spending for a fourth consecutive year, as prices on items such as watches and jewellery surge around the globe.
Zurich climbed to second place, edging out London, while Monaco entered the top three for the first time since the survey began in 2020, according to an annual report by Swiss wealth
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