Breakthrough in US-Iran talks; Japan visa fee hike to affect Chinese: SCMP’s 7 highlights

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. A crisis ‘defused’ as blockade lifted, assets to be returned to Iran after Swiss talksStatements from the US and Iran following talks in Switzerland have cooled tensions that nearly derailed the peace process, signalling an intention to continue negotiations even as key issues remained unresolved, according to analysts.2. Dutch semiconductor giants join delegation to China as US pushes curbs: sourceRepresentatives from semiconductor giants ASML and NXP will be among the 17 business executives expected to join Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma on his trip to China in early July – though Nexperia will not be part of the delegation, a source familiar with the planning told the South China Morning Post.3. Japan’s visa fee jump to hit Chinese tourists hard, straining tense tiesChinese tourists pose for photographs while dressed in kimonos at the Sensoji Temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. Photo: AFPChinese tourists are expected to be among the hardest hit by Japan’s fivefold visa fee increase, a move analysts warned could further strain already tense relations between Beijing and Tokyo.4. After Philippines’ worst school shooting, a familiar hunt for easy answersA security guard uses a metal detector to check students’ bags at a high school in Quezon City, the Philippines, on Tuesday, a day after the school shooting in Tacloban. Photo: ReutersAfter two teenagers opened fire at a Philippine high school this week, the first question lawmakers asked was not about gun control, but the internet.5. Doctor boyfriend of sacked Hong Kong medical intern also fired for misconductThe case has been linked to the firing and arrest of a 24-year-old intern doctor originally working at Caritas Medical Centre. Photo: Dickson LeeA doctor at Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong has been fired for conducting an unauthorised procedure on a patient, in an incident linked to his medical intern girlfriend who was earlier dismissed and arrested for allegedly accessing patient data without permission.6. US delegation snubs Apec meeting in Macau due to China visa requirements rowThe United States did not send high-level officials to an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) tourism ministerial meeting in Macau, citing China’s restrictions on American diplomats’ ability to provide emergency consular help.7. Chinese man jailed after flat’s high electricity usage exposes breeding of 300 snakesA man living alone in eastern China was sentenced to jail for breeding over 300 pythons at home. Photo: CCTVA man living alone in eastern China was sentenced to jail for breeding over 300 pythons at home. This shocking incident was revealed by state media CCTV in late June as a case of “serious” harm to rare and endangered wildlife.Further Reading