‘Western hegemony is over’; lessons from Ukraine war: SCMP daily highlights

1. Beidaihe meeting signals start of summer break for China’s political elite

The appearance of President Xi Jinping’s chief of staff at the Beidaihe resort on Sunday indicates that senior Chinese leaders have started their annual summer break.

2. ‘It’s all changed’: how the trade war turbocharged an American rare earth mine

USA Rare Earth is receiving a surge in investment as America rushes to reduce its reliance on Chinese rare earth magnets.

3. ‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

The American economist sees China as key to the global energy transition to zero-carbon energy, especially in markets outside US and Europe.