Singapore minister’s apology, China’s tourists cancel Japan trips: SCMP’s 7 highlights

21 November, 2025 admin 0 Comments 0 categories

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. 491,000 Japan-bound air tickets cancelled as China warns people to avoid travel

Chinese airlines have recorded about 491,000 cancellations of tickets to Japan since Saturday – roughly 32 per cent of their total bookings to the typically popular destination – after Beijing advised citizens to avoid travelling there amid a diplomatic spat, according to a veteran aviation analyst.

2. Singapore minister sorry for derogatory remarks on Hong Kong football team

Singapore’s Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo speaking to Singapore’s national football team in a locker room after their win over Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifier match on Tuesday. Photo: Facebook/David Neo

Singapore’s acting sports minister has conceded he “should have been more respectful” after calling Hong Kong football fans and players “idiots” in a locker room pep talk to his side, following the city state’s historic win on Tuesday night in Hong Kong.

3. Mathematician Qian Hong, son of top scientific clan, leaves US for China

A renowned mathematician who is also part of China’s Qian clan – a surname linked in the annals of Chinese scientific history to national pioneers in science and engineering – has become the latest US-based scientist to return to China.

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