China retaliates on US sanctions; North Korea’s dog meat advisory: SCMP’s 7 highlights

1. China has retaliated to US sanctions by imposing targeted counter-sanctions on American entities and tightening export controls on the drone supply chain, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

2. Analyst Lyle Goldstein noted that China's military is closing the gap with the US at a surprising rate, urging Beijing to avoid the temptation of turning the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a "hammer looking for a nail".

3. North Korea's state media recommended eating dog meat soup as a way to combat the summer heat, continuing the country's long-standing promotion of the controversial dish amid record-high temperatures affecting both Korean peninsulas.

4. In Hong Kong, police are investigating a woman who allegedly splashed a "cream-like" liquid on the six-year-old son of actress and beauty queen Grace Chan Hoi-lam during a movie screening in Admiralty, following a dispute over the child's behavior.

5. China's largest hotpot chain, Haidilao International Holding, is expanding beyond hotpot by launching burger stores inspired by American chains McDonald's and KFC, as well as opening additional sushi outlets to capitalize on new growth opportunities, as its core hotpot business experiences a slowdown.

6. Alexandra Eala, a Filipino woman, has become the country's first WTA singles title winner after defeating a grand slam champion, an Olympic gold medallist, and the defending champion, showcasing her unstoppable spirit and sporting pedigree.

7. A woman from eastern China, who was abandoned at birth, reunited with her birth family after 23 years of being adopted by a Swedish couple, marking an emotional return home.