Chinese tourists flock to Seoul, child shoved in Tokyo crossing: SCMP’s 7 highlights

South China Morning Post · Feb 27, 2026 · Collected from RSS

Summary

Full Article

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 light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. Is China flexing its intelligence muscle by tracking US military moves near Iran?A Chinese private company has drawn the attention of security watchers after detailing US military deployments near Iran, a move experts say underlines Beijing’s intelligence abilities.2. ‘Chinese everywhere’: why tourists ditch Tokyo for Seoul as Japan ties sourVisitors wear traditional Korean attire in Seoul on February 17. South Korea saw a sharp influx of Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year holiday period that ended on Monday. Photo: EPA3. Empty shops, falling rents: commercial property suffers in China retail slumpChina’s shop rents have slid back to 2018 levels as subdued consumer spending continues to weigh on the retail sector, with analysts expecting the pressure to persist for another one to two years.4. Budget reveal: Hong Kong government plays a stronger hand in shaping economy

Share this story

Read Original at South China Morning Post

South China Morning Postabout 2 hours ago

Paul Chan vows Hong Kong can handle debt of bond-driven growth

Hong Kong’s finance chief has assured the public that the city can manage its debt after proposing the issuance of more bonds to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, expressing confidence in the long-term investment returns from the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po sought to reassure the public during a radio programme on Friday after a university student voiced concerns that his generation might suffer if the city failed to repay the growing number of bonds...

South China Morning Postabout 3 hours ago

Malaysian politician Fahmi Zainol charged with hurting wife in domestic dispute

Penang’s youngest executive councillor Fahmi Zainol has been charged at the Magistrate’s Court in the Malaysian state with voluntarily causing hurt to his wife. The 35-year-old, who is the Pantai Jerejak assemblyman, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Chia Huey Ting. Based on the charge sheet, he is charged with purposely causing injury to his wife, Nur Hidayah Abd Jabar, 35, at a house in Bayan Lepas at around 10pm on Sunday. The charge was framed under...

South China Morning Postabout 3 hours ago

Germany’s Merz meets China’s tech vanguard, including Alibaba and Unitree CEOs

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited China’s eastern tech hub of Hangzhou on Thursday and met leading figures including those from Alibaba Group Holding and Unitree Robotics, signalling growing international recognition of the country’s robotics and artificial intelligence technologies. Merz had lunch and took group photos with local entrepreneurs, including Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu Yongming and Unitree founder and CEO Wang Xingxing, according to a social media account run by Chinese state...

South China Morning Postabout 4 hours ago

When did our ancient ancestor Homo erectus first arrive in China out of Africa?

A direct ancestor of modern humans may have arrived in China much earlier than previously thought, according to a study that may rewrite our understanding of how early hominid species spread around the world. An analysis of Homo erectus fossils found in modern-day Hubei province using new techniques concluded that the remains were almost 1.8 million years old – pushing back their arrival date by around 600,000 years and suggesting the species may have spread across continents earlier and more...

South China Morning Postabout 4 hours ago

Japan trans woman, 64, enjoys slow-paced life with lover, 86, wears princess dresses on dates

A 64-year-old trans woman in eastern Japan is embracing a quiet, slow-burn romance with a boyfriend 22 years her senior, often showing up to dates in princess dresses. Kuboyama, a retired information technology (IT) engineer from Kawasaki City who also goes by the name Catherine, was once known for her handsome looks and high-paying job before the sex reassignment surgery, TV Tokyo reported. She says she was drawn to women’s clothes and make-up from childhood and felt little interest in...

South China Morning Postabout 4 hours ago

Indonesia’s bid to execute 6 cargo ship crew in drug case sparks liability debate

When 22-year-old Fandi Ramadhan phoned home from detention last May, he told his mother he did not know there were drugs on the ship where he had recently started work as an engine-room oiler. Indonesian prosecutors, however, allege he was aware of the illicit cargo and are now seeking the death penalty for him and five other crew members of the Thai-flagged vessel Sea Dragon, after authorities said they found nearly two tonnes of methamphetamines on board in what officials described as the...

Chinese tourists flock to Seoul, child shoved in Tokyo crossing: SCMP’s 7 highlights

Full Article

Related Articles

Paul Chan vows Hong Kong can handle debt of bond-driven growth

Malaysian politician Fahmi Zainol charged with hurting wife in domestic dispute

Germany’s Merz meets China’s tech vanguard, including Alibaba and Unitree CEOs

When did our ancient ancestor Homo erectus first arrive in China out of Africa?

Japan trans woman, 64, enjoys slow-paced life with lover, 86, wears princess dresses on dates

Indonesia’s bid to execute 6 cargo ship crew in drug case sparks liability debate

Chinese tourists flock to Seoul, child shoved in Tokyo crossing: SCMP’s 7 highlights

Full Article

Related Articles

Paul Chan vows Hong Kong can handle debt of bond-driven growth

Malaysian politician Fahmi Zainol charged with hurting wife in domestic dispute

Germany’s Merz meets China’s tech vanguard, including Alibaba and Unitree CEOs

When did our ancient ancestor Homo erectus first arrive in China out of Africa?

Japan trans woman, 64, enjoys slow-paced life with lover, 86, wears princess dresses on dates

Indonesia’s bid to execute 6 cargo ship crew in drug case sparks liability debate

Related Articles

South China Morning Postabout 2 hours ago
Paul Chan vows Hong Kong can handle debt of bond-driven growth
Hong Kong’s finance chief has assured the public that the city can manage its debt after proposing the issuance of more bonds to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, expressing confidence in the long-term investment returns from the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po sought to reassure the public during a radio programme on Friday after a university student voiced concerns that his generation might suffer if the city failed to repay the growing number of bonds...

South China Morning Postabout 3 hours ago
Malaysian politician Fahmi Zainol charged with hurting wife in domestic dispute
Penang’s youngest executive councillor Fahmi Zainol has been charged at the Magistrate’s Court in the Malaysian state with voluntarily causing hurt to his wife. The 35-year-old, who is the Pantai Jerejak assemblyman, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Chia Huey Ting. Based on the charge sheet, he is charged with purposely causing injury to his wife, Nur Hidayah Abd Jabar, 35, at a house in Bayan Lepas at around 10pm on Sunday. The charge was framed under...

South China Morning Postabout 3 hours ago
Germany’s Merz meets China’s tech vanguard, including Alibaba and Unitree CEOs
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited China’s eastern tech hub of Hangzhou on Thursday and met leading figures including those from Alibaba Group Holding and Unitree Robotics, signalling growing international recognition of the country’s robotics and artificial intelligence technologies. Merz had lunch and took group photos with local entrepreneurs, including Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu Yongming and Unitree founder and CEO Wang Xingxing, according to a social media account run by Chinese state...

South China Morning Postabout 4 hours ago
When did our ancient ancestor Homo erectus first arrive in China out of Africa?
A direct ancestor of modern humans may have arrived in China much earlier than previously thought, according to a study that may rewrite our understanding of how early hominid species spread around the world. An analysis of Homo erectus fossils found in modern-day Hubei province using new techniques concluded that the remains were almost 1.8 million years old – pushing back their arrival date by around 600,000 years and suggesting the species may have spread across continents earlier and more...

South China Morning Postabout 4 hours ago
Japan trans woman, 64, enjoys slow-paced life with lover, 86, wears princess dresses on dates
A 64-year-old trans woman in eastern Japan is embracing a quiet, slow-burn romance with a boyfriend 22 years her senior, often showing up to dates in princess dresses. Kuboyama, a retired information technology (IT) engineer from Kawasaki City who also goes by the name Catherine, was once known for her handsome looks and high-paying job before the sex reassignment surgery, TV Tokyo reported. She says she was drawn to women’s clothes and make-up from childhood and felt little interest in...

South China Morning Postabout 4 hours ago
Indonesia’s bid to execute 6 cargo ship crew in drug case sparks liability debate
When 22-year-old Fandi Ramadhan phoned home from detention last May, he told his mother he did not know there were drugs on the ship where he had recently started work as an engine-room oiler. Indonesian prosecutors, however, allege he was aware of the illicit cargo and are now seeking the death penalty for him and five other crew members of the Thai-flagged vessel Sea Dragon, after authorities said they found nearly two tonnes of methamphetamines on board in what officials described as the...