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Hong Kong, Macau police arrest 8 over HK$100m Vietnam coffee investment scam

Fun Coffee established presence in Hong Kong last year, claiming to be a coffee investment enterprise with assets of more than US$1 billion Hong Kong and Macau police have arrested eight people in a crackdown on an investment scam syndicate that cheated more than 200 people out of nearly HK$100 million (US$12.75 million) by promoting itself as a pioneer of “kinetic coffee philosophy”. The syndicate, operating under the name Fun Coffee, established a presence in Hong Kong last year. Fun Coffee says on its website that it is a coffee investment enterprise based in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, with assets of more than US$1 billion and a team of more than 5,000. On the English-language website, which remained live on Tuesday, Fun Coffee describes itself as a pioneer of “kinetic coffee philosophy” and promotes what it called the world’s first “sports-coffee-value ecosystem”, offering customised coffee-based nutritional support to runners. As of Monday, Hong Kong police said they had received 225 complaints from potential victims since last month, involving investments ranging from HK$3,000 to HK$9.63 million, totalling HK$94 million.

August 4, 2026

Business

Over 1,000 sign up for Hong Kong’s new taxi, ride-hailing test

Lawmakers say interest is likely to grow as the city prepares to fully launch its ride-hailing regulatory regime next year More than 1,000 applicants have registered for a new combined test for taxi and ride-hailing services in Hong Kong, with lawmakers expecting more people to sign up to meet demand for drivers once the city’s ride-hailing regulatory regime takes effect next year. The initial response came after the Transport Department replaced the stand-alone taxi driver exam with the new combined test, which allows successful candidates to apply for a taxi driving licence or a ride-hailing vehicle permit after attending relevant courses. The department said the response had been “positive”, with more than 1,000 online applications as of 6pm on Monday, the first day of registration. It said it would organise additional examination sessions depending on demand. Ben Chan Han-pan, chairman of the Legislative Council’s transport panel, said on Tuesday that he believed more people would sign up for the written test to meet the requirement for applying for a ride-hailing vehicle permit. “This test will allow them to drive taxi and ride-hailing vehicles legally ... I believe the number of candidates will gradually increase,” he said.

August 4, 2026

Business

Security at reservoir ramped up after trespassers enter spillway during discharge

Authorities warn of legal action against trespassers, after viral footage shows group entering Ho Pui Reservoir to pose for photos Hong Kong authorities have set up fences and surveillance cameras at a reservoir and warned they could take legal action against trespassers, after a group was filmed entering a spillway to take photos while the facility was discharging water. A South China Morning Post reporter observed on Tuesday that two barriers and a surveillance camera had been set up at Ho Pui Reservoir in Tai Lam. After footage of the trespassers went viral over the weekend, the Water Supplies Department said it was highly concerned about the alleged incident and warned it would prosecute offenders if there was sufficient evidence. “The department will seriously follow up on the video showing rule violations that is circulated on social media, and launch an investigation. If there is sufficient evidence, we will consult the Department of Justice and press charges,” a spokesman said. He added that the department had erected warning signs in the catchment area and other locations near the reservoir to remind hikers and other visitors not to enter the facility, and would boost law enforcement operations at the site.

August 4, 2026

Business

KMT accuses Taiwan’s government of failing to uphold South China Sea claims

Opposition figure calls on DPP administration to protest to Manila over Philippine attempt to chart a boundary around Scarborough Shoal “The government speaks loudly when confronting mainland China, but falls silent when Japan or the Philippines challenges Taiwan’s claims,” Kuomintang culture and communications committee director Chen I-hsin said on Sunday. The shoal is called Huangyan Island in mainland China, Minzhu Reef in Taiwan and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines – and claimed by all. Last week, Manila filed its official nautical chart for Scarborough Shoal with the United Nations. In the chart, the Philippines defines its claims to the shoal’s “territorial sea baseline”, along with the outer limits of its 12-nautical-mile (22km) territorial sea and 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone.

August 4, 2026

Business

North Korea advises citizens to eat dog meat to beat the summer heat

North Korea is promoting the consumption of dog meat as a patriotic way to beat the summer heat North Korea’s state media has recommended dog meat soup as protection against summer heat, reviving Pyongyang’s long-running effort to promote the controversial dish as record high temperatures grip both sides of the Korean peninsula. Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers’ Party newspaper, published health advice on Sunday offering tips for coping with the heatwave and first aid guidance for heat-related illnesses. In an interview with a senior doctor at Pyongyang General Hospital, the newspaper warned that “cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism can worsen due to heat exhaustion and heatstroke”. The paper recommended cooling foods such as watermelon, mung beans and cucumbers, along with “highly nutritious foods” including dog meat soup, fish porridge and red bean porridge. Dog meat soup, known locally as dangogi guk (sweet meat soup), has long been promoted by the North Korean government as a traditional health tonic, although it remains an expensive dish beyond the reach of many ordinary citizens.

August 4, 2026

Business

Why global migration data should recognise subgroups like the Teochew

Until our data systems see past broad labels like Asian or Chinese, and recognise subgroups, our picture of global migration is incomplete In countries like France and Norway, the government census strictly avoids asking about race and ethnicity. Governed by a desire for national unity, these states operate on a firm premise: categorising citizens by skin colour risks creating divisions and reinforcing prejudice. Across the Atlantic and in the Commonwealth, you find a different philosophy. The United States, United Kingdom and Canada measure race and ethnicity. In these societies, data collection isn’t seen as a wedge to divide people, but as an essential tool to spot discrimination, design better social safety nets and address health disparities. Yet both models are falling short. As global migration accelerates and people move fluidly between countries, our basic data buckets are failing to keep up. By lumping vast, highly diverse populations into monolithic labels like “Asian”, “Chinese” or “Indian”, standard census forms miss the rich subgroup dynamics that drive business, culture and community life. A single checkbox erases a complex identity, a deep history of migration and an economic network that spans the globe.

August 4, 2026

Business

Chinese woman, 20, survives 18th floor ‘impulsive’ jump after argument with boyfriend

Faced with overwhelming medical bills, Xiaoyi’s family has turned to the media for help as they navigate the aftermath of her life-altering decision A 20-year-old woman in eastern China miraculously survived after jumping from the balcony of her 18th-floor flat following a heated argument with her boyfriend. The woman, known by the alias Xiaoyi, had been quarrelling with her boyfriend for hours in their rented flat in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, before she impulsively jumped from the balcony at 4am on July 12. Miraculously, she survived the fall, thanks to a tree that broke her descent before landing on nearby brushwood, according to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald. Her boyfriend quickly rushed her to the hospital and paid 20,000 yuan (US$3,000) upfront for her medical treatment. Doctors discovered that Xiaoyi had suffered injuries to her head, lungs, liver, and spleen, along with fractures in her pelvis, pubis, and both legs. After undergoing two surgeries, she was scheduled for a third operation in late July.

August 4, 2026

Business

‘Folded like an umbrella’: Trump attacks ally prosecutor over Reflecting Pool case

US president fumes at DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro over a decision to abandon charges against a former Olympian US President Donald Trump sharply criticised ⁠US Attorney Jeanine Pirro ⁠on Monday for dropping ⁠a case of alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, saying she had “choked” under pressure from a judge and “folded like an umbrella”. “Instead of going after the people that did it, the judge went ‌after her and went after her department, and I guess she choked. I don’t know what the hell happened,” Trump told reporters. Pirro’s office said in a court filing on Friday that the damage resulted from shoddy construction, not vandalism, and moved to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of ⁠deliberately damaging the newly renovated pool ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration last ‌month. The renovated pool had quickly developed blooms of algae that tinted the water green, while pieces of the blue lining had peeled ‌off. Trump, facing criticism over the US$14.7 million renovation, had repeatedly blamed the ⁠problems on vandals ⁠he alleged had intentionally sabotaged the project.

August 4, 2026

Business

Malaysia’s Anthony Loke quits as Negeri Sembilan DAP chief after state poll loss

The DAP secretary general said it was the right time for new leadership to take over the state unit Loke announced his decision after a DAP central executive committee (CEC) meeting on Monday night, saying it was the right time for new leadership to take over the state chapter. “In the Negeri Sembilan state election that just ended, we managed to retain nine seats,” he said. “Comparatively, we are stronger than in 2004. So I feel this is the best time for someone else to take over Negeri Sembilan DAP.” Loke said his successor as state chairman would be chosen from among the current committee members. He added that his resignation as state chairman was a personal decision and not due to pressure from any quarters.

August 4, 2026

Business

China exit rules tightened to guard rare earth, battery secrets

Support us China will tighten its exit-entry regulation on September 15, 2026. Photo: Baidu China will tighten its exit-entry rules from September 15 to stop experienced engineers from leaking knowhow in industries subject to export controls and deter tourists from visiting “high-risk” nations such as Japan. The State Council’s new regulation, which spans 19 articles and was announced on July 31, sets up a coordinated system to warn citizens of overseas risks, verify the purpose of each exit-entry application and tighten restrictions on both citizens and foreigners. The export control clause does not name specific sectors, but Chinese commentators said it targets fields where Beijing has already imposed its own restrictions, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries, solar panels and rare earths. “There are many situations that could endanger national security and interests, and it is hard to spell out every one of them in legislation,” said Cheng Xiezhong, a legal scholar and professor at the China University of Political Science and Law.

August 4, 2026

Business

Why are Hong Kong delivery drivers unhappy about proposed payouts for injuries?

Unions and delivery riders say government’s proposed compensation scheme should also include logged-on waiting time Hong Kong delivery rider Raj Bhattarai* felt the pain – both physically and financially – after a vehicle rear-ended his motorcycle on the job about a year ago. Bhattarai, who is in his forties, spent a month on sick leave with a back injury and waited 10 months before he received compensation for the accident. The payout was a paltry HK$3,000 (US$382). “It is not enough at all,” said the father of one young child and the family’s sole breadwinner. “I used to earn around HK$30,000 a month, but I had no income for that whole month while I was recovering, and then I had to wait almost a year for this small amount.” Bhattarai’s experience is not uncommon, with other injured riders saying months-long claim delays and meagre compensation have left them out of pocket and struggling. As the gig economy grows, workers like Bhattarai and their unions are calling on the government to do more to protect their rights.

August 4, 2026

Business

South Korea tightens grip on high-risk ETFs as investor losses mount

Regulators are eyeing curbs such as reducing the leverage ratio of single-stock ETFs and raising the minimum investment requirement The proposals could include giving regulators the power to reduce the leverage ratio of single-stock ETFs and raising the minimum investment requirement to discourage inexperienced retail investors from taking excessive risks, according to local media reports. Single-stock leveraged ETFs allow investors to amplify their exposure to a company’s share price without owning the underlying stock, typically aiming to deliver twice the stock’s daily return. Unlike conventional ETFs, which track diversified baskets of shares, these products are tied to a single firm – such as Samsung Electronics or SK Hynix – and use derivatives to magnify both gains and losses. The products quickly gained popularity during South Korea’s stock market rally but have since come under scrutiny for amplifying market volatility. Many retail investors who bought leveraged ETFs linked to semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix near their peak have suffered steep losses after the shares tumbled sharply following record highs in June.

August 4, 2026