27-member apparently bloc willing to pay 10 per cent higher levies on many of its exports as Canada drops 3 per cent digital services tax
The apparent concession by the EU follows a decision by Canada to drop a 3 per cent digital services tax that the US president did not like.
The administration had added that it would decide without any consultation with Ottawa what forthcoming US tariff levels Canada would face.
Planned defence system could make it harder for PLA to strike US bases like those in Guam and Okinawa, or warships trying to defend Taiwan
America’s view of China as a “pacing threat” has shaped its defence priorities as the military seeks to maintain an edge over a rapidly modernising PLA. In the first of a three-part series on how US budget tensions will affect efforts to deter China, we look at the Golden Dome missile defence system.
Analysts say that if it gets built, the multibillion-dollar shield could bolster the US’ capacity to protect itself from long-range missiles while also deterring China’s military in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the event of a conflict near the Taiwan Strait.
But questions remain over the feasibility and cost of the project, which would rely on a network of satellites and space-based sensors to intercept missiles.
The project was announced days after Trump was inaugurated in January, when he issued an executive order calling for an “Iron Dome for America” – borrowing the name of Israel’s vaunted missile defence system.
China’s coffee consumption has been increasing by double-digits annually, and many new ‘rural cafes’ are trying to brew success as the risk of homogenisation looms
She seldom visits the same suburban cafe twice. Asa Jin has her cuppa, takes in the view, snaps her share of pictures for social, and then considers which among the rising number of coffee shops she will visit next.
“Most rural cafes are leaning into a trendy, influencer-driven vibe, but it’s not sustainable,” said the 37-year-old freelancer from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, explaining that many shops try to lure customers with “unique natural settings” – perfect for coffee-sipping social media users like herself.
“But after one visit, the sense of novelty has already faded,” she said.
Fortunately for Asa, there is probably another cafe just around the corner. Or closer, in many cases.
While tea has long been the drink of choice for Chinese people, a coffee culture has boomed and is now spreading to the countryside. Citing customs data, Xinhua said: “China’s net coffee imports increased by 130,800 tonnes from 2020-2024, representing 6.53-fold growth, with an average annual compound growth rate of 65.7 per cent.”
China now has 300-billion-yuan (US$42 billion) coffee industry, and consumption is expected to rise by double-digits again this year, according to the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs.
City is celebrating the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty
Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday.
The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu gave a speech to mark the anniversary.
Residents, meanwhile, are enjoying discounts at more than 3,800 restaurants as part of the July 1 celebrations, as well as free museum visits and tram rides, and cheap tickets for some of the city’s major attractions.
On Monday, the city marked the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed national security law. The legislation changed the city’s political landscape, with the annual July 1 march organised by the opposition bloc last held in 2019.
Follow the Post’s updates on the day’s events.
More from our July 1 anniversary coverage:
Reporting by Jeffie Lam, Jess Ma, Oscar Liu, Harvey Kong, Leopold Chen, Denise Tsang, Jiang Chuqin, Joshua Kwok, Lorraine Chiang, Timon Johnson and Willa Wu.
Police accuse Wang Likun, 27, of posing as other students and using miniature microphones and smart glasses to feed answers to test-takers
Wang Likun, a 27-year-old studying artificial intelligence at Kyoto University, was first arrested in May when he attempted to enter a TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) venue while impersonating another candidate.
Police reportedly found a miniature microphone hidden in his face mask and smart glasses connected to a mobile phone, which they suspect he intended to use to feed answers to test-takers equipped with wireless earpieces.
Wang was arrested again on Monday on suspicion of using forged identification to pose as another person at a different exam venue. Police had already linked him to a TOEIC test taken under a pseudonym in March, where he scored 945 out of a possible 990 points, according to the Mainichi newspaper.
The Institute for International Business Communication, which administers the TOEIC exam in Japan, had earlier reported a suspicious surge in high scores among Chinese test-takers and received complaints of some candidates “murmuring in Chinese” during the exam.
After being arrested, Wang reportedly told police that he had been looking for a part-time job and received an online message in Chinese saying he would be paid for taking exams for other people and also for communicating with other test-takers at the same time.
Chinese study finds naturally occurring compound produced during exercise prevents inflammation and ageing of organs
Led by Liu Guanghui and Qu Jing from the zoology institute and Zhang Weiqi from the genomics institute, the researchers reported their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Cell on June 25.
However, the Chinese researchers noted the fundamental molecular mechanisms between exercise and longevity remained poorly understood, as did other questions such as how various exercise patterns differed in their beneficial effects on health.
Despite significant physical challenges, Jiang remains unwavering; he completes high school entrance exam while lying on a yoga mat
A university student, known as China’s “folded boy” due to his spinal condition, has inspired countless people online after undergoing a series of complex surgeries and achieving the remarkable milestone of straightening his body and lying flat in bed for the first time in his life.
Jiang Yanchen, 21, hailing from Shandong province in northern China, has fought against ankylosing spondylitis – a form of arthritis causing severe inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine – since his primary school years.
This rare condition left his neck bent backward, creating barely a hand’s width between his head and buttocks, reducing his height to just one metre.
His mother, Yu Meiying, recalled their daily challenges: “His head was facing up; he could barely see when putting on socks or pants, and had to rely on touch.”
Despite these overwhelming physical obstacles, Jiang never wavered in his determination. In 2022, he completed his high school entrance exam while lying on a yoga mat and was accepted into Dezhou University, majoring in Energy and Power Engineering.
In August last year, Jiang sought treatment from Liang Yijian, a leading expert in severe spinal correction based in Chengdu. Over the following months, he underwent a series of gruelling surgeries.
On June 25, after enduring four exceptionally complex procedures – including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar osteotomies, along with hip joint release surgery – during which his bones were broken and realigned, Jiang’s condition finally improved.
‘Folded boy’ takes big step to standing up straight
Japan’s top envoy flew to Washington for last-ditch talks, but Trump’s ‘Dear Mr Japan’ remarks signal a tough road ahead
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief trade envoy on the issue, flew into the US capital on Thursday and spoke twice to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by phone over the weekend. But he failed to secure a meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent or make any clear progress.
Trump announced earlier this year that he would increase the tariff on imported vehicles from 2.5 per cent to 27.5 per cent – a move that was temporarily paused for 90 days to allow negotiations. That window closes on July 9, and signs suggest Trump is prepared to let the tariff take effect.
In an interview on Fox News broadcast on Sunday, Trump said he had no plans to scale back the tariffs and that letters detailing his administration’s demands would be sent to Japan and other trade partners “starting pretty soon”.
“I could send one to Japan. Dear Mr Japan, here’s the story. You’re going to pay an extra 25 per cent tariff on all your cars,” Trump said on Fox.
“They won’t take our cars and yet we take millions and millions of their cars into the United States,” he complained.
Emperor International struggles with US$2.1 billion debt, as JPMorgan notes deteriorating risk profile among small, medium-sized developers
Hong Kong developer Emperor International Holdings’ inability to repay HK$16.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) in loans highlights a growing debt crisis among small and medium-sized developers in the city, prompting analysts to warn of more defaults.
“High debt ratios have become a mainstream condition among Hong Kong developers, particularly mid-sized developers” amid dropping valuations, low demand, high vacancy rates, falling rental income and high interest rates, said Glen Ho, national turnaround and restructuring leader at consulting company Deloitte.
“Bank borrowings with carrying amounts of HK$16.6 billion in aggregate have become overdue and/or the group has breached certain terms of the loan agreements,” Emperor said on Friday in its annual results for the year ended March 31.
“Banks may request immediate repayment of these bank borrowings,” it said, adding that the borrowings had been classified as current liabilities as of March 31.
Meanwhile, the group had pledged assets with a carrying value of HK$31.19 billion as security for banking facilities, according to its annual report.
“These events and conditions may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern,” said Deloitte, the independent auditor of the report.
Move comes one day after the former Philippine Senate leader’s term ended and bars him from entry to the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau
Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended on Monday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
“For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines have adopted a series of malicious words and deeds on China-related issues for their own selfish interests, undermining China’s interests and damaging China-Philippines relations,” it said, in a statement released on Tuesday.
“The Chinese government’s determination to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering,” it added.
Tolentino was a principal author of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, legislation that asserts Manila’s claims in the South China Sea and was signed by Marcos in late 2024, and which Beijing has strongly pushed back on.
He also led a Senate investigation into alleged Chinese espionage activities within the Philippines.
