South China Morning Post

11 hours ago | scmp.com | Biman Mukherji

As Southeast Asian leaders focus on navigating trade tariffs and the US-China rivalry, a growing threat to the region’s economic resilience is being largely overlooked: the rise of billion-dollar cyber scam centres operating with impunity. These operations not only endanger financial stability and investor confidence, but are also eroding national sovereignty – all while exploiting the region’s young, tech-savvy populations who are increasingly dependent on digital services.

16 hours ago | scmp.com | Bochen Han

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday said Washington would refrain from imposing tariffs on natural resources the country does not hold in abundance amid tough questioning by House lawmakers about American consumers facing rising prices. “In our trade deals, our expectation is … we will not have tariffs on unavailable natural resources, but we will have market access for our farmers and our ranchers,” said Lutnick in testimony at a budget hearing of the House Appropriations Committee.

22 hours ago | scmp.com | Paul McNamara

A furious Ashley Westwood said supporters who called for his head after Hong Kong drew 0-0 with Nepal on Thursday “know nothing about football”. Head coach Westwood was jeered before kick-off by a section of the 6,092 crowd unhappy with his decision to exclude striker Lau Chi-lok from the squad. The mood turned uglier at full-time, as fans chanted ‘Westwood out’ after Hong Kong drew a blank for only the third time in the Englishman’s 10 matches in charge.

23 hours ago | scmp.com | Paul McNamara

Hong Kong drew a heated friendly 0-0 with 10-man Nepal on Thursday, extending their record unbeaten run to nine matches – although the best that could be said for the home side’s performance was that they did not lose. While the hosts were largely dominant, head coach Ashley Westwood was booed by the home supporters before and after the game, and the Englishman will be left to ponder his team’s inability to break down the world’s No 175-ranked team.

1 day ago | scmp.com | Paul McNamara

Sun Ming-him said the Chinese Super League (CSL) had taught him “how to deal with the psychological side of football”, as he looked forward to a crucial week for the Hong Kong team. Left-back Sun quickly became a regular starter for Cangzhou Mighty Lions after his transfer from Eastern in February 2024. The 24-year-old’s career was temporarily thrown up in the air, however, when Cangzhou’s financial issues saw them slung out of the Chinese leagues for 2025.