Manila exposes South China Sea note; Chinese coal mine farming plan: SCMP’s 7 highlights

1. Beijing has accused Philippine officials of "grandstanding and lying" after Manila's defense secretary read aloud a Chinese diplomat's note on the South China Sea that described their actions as "coercion, bullying and aggression."

2. Chinese scientists are proposing the transformation of abandoned coal mines into underground farms as part of their efforts to create a green, circular economy for the country's extensive mining industry.

3. Tung Chee-hwa, who passed away at the age of 89, is remembered for his leadership as the first Hong Kong chief executive, guiding the city through various challenges including economic, public health, and political crises during the post-handover period.

4. Chinese President Xi Jinping is gearing up for a summit with US President Donald Trump, just two weeks away, having recently traveled extensively for diplomatic meetings in countries like Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, and New Delhi for the Brics summit.

5. A Hong Kong restaurant has been prosecuted following the discovery of a live newborn rat in one of its takeaway lunchboxes, prompting food safety authorities to identify unsatisfactory hygiene conditions.

6. A Malaysian court has increased the sentence of a woman who stabbed her boyfriend to death over a demand for sexual favors, nearly doubling the original sentencing due to a perceived "over-sympathetic" ruling.

7. Indian powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji, who won a silver medal at a world championship, has expressed her frustration after being targeted with online harassment and objectification for her appearance, labeling it as "sexism at its finest."