https://www.scmp.com/rss/91/feed All the latest breaking news from Hong Kong, China and around the world en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com dpa dpa A woman and her daughter died and 4,000 people had to be evacuated when a dam wall broke in Russia’s Dagestan republic in the south of the country following heavy rain, the Civil Protection Ministry reported on Monday. Another person died in a landslide, authorities said. Around 2,000 homes were flooded in the Derbent region on the Caspian Sea. The bodies of the woman and her daughter, a child, were found, but other people remain missing. Social media videos showed flooded villages and highways... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349173/floods-kill-3-russia-thousands-evacuated-after-dam-wall-breaks-dagestan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349173/floods-kill-3-russia-thousands-evacuated-after-dam-wall-breaks-dagestan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:46:31 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers are raising prices of new homes this week following sold-out launches in recent days, further testing the appetite of homebuyers amid geopolitical and interest rate uncertainties. Henderson Land Development put another 39 units at its Chester project in Hung Hom on sale on Monday, with 25 homes finding buyers as of 6.30pm, according to agents. With an average discounted price of HK$22,198 (US$2,831) per square foot, the units were priced 4.57 per cent higher than the 123... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:30:44 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,William Zheng Seong Hyeon Choi,William Zheng The rescue of a missing American crew member after Iran shot down an F-15E fighter jet shows the United States’ “comprehensive capability” for carrying out high-risk rescue operations, according to Chinese analysts. On Sunday, United States President Donald Trump confirmed that the missing crew member – one of two on the fighter jet shot down over the southern part of Iran on Friday – had been rescued amid the US-Israel war on Iran. Trump posted to social media that the US military had “pulled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349170/while-trump-hails-daring-airman-rescue-iran-chinese-experts-count-us-wins-and-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349170/while-trump-hails-daring-airman-rescue-iran-chinese-experts-count-us-wins-and-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:13:31 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong bus operator serving Tuen Mun commuters has warned it may cease operations after soaring oil prices pushed the company into the red, saying “every service is like pouring money into the sea”. ABC Touring Car Company, which runs non-franchised bus services linking Tuen Mun and urban centres, announced on Sunday it would reduce its services with immediate effect as the first step to cut costs. Fuel bills had more than doubled since late February, pushing business to the brink, the firm... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349168/tuen-mun-bus-operator-cuts-services-amid-soaring-fuel-prices-warns-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349168/tuen-mun-bus-operator-cuts-services-amid-soaring-fuel-prices-warns-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:06:55 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea will send five Korean-flagged ships to the Saudi Arabian Red Sea port of Yanbu to help establish alternative oil supply routes to avoid the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a ruling MP said on Monday. Oil prices have surged amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, raising growth and inflation risks for South Korea, which relies on Middle Eastern crude for around 70 per cent of its imports. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz – a critical route for global crude oil and gas –... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349167/iran-war-south-korea-aims-bypass-hormuz-send-ships-saudi-port-oil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349167/iran-war-south-korea-aims-bypass-hormuz-send-ships-saudi-port-oil?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:01:03 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan One of China’s most prestigious universities has apologised and withdrawn a mini-film made to celebrate its 130th anniversary amid accusations of gender bias. On March 31, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) released the film to mark its coming birthday. The institution was founded on April 6, 1896, by Sheng Xuanhuai, an important minister and an entrepreneur in the late Qing dynasty (1636–1912). The video, No 800 of Dongchuan Road, was named after the address of the vast Minhang campus of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3348778/renowned-china-university-apologises-mini-film-depicting-career-man-family-focused-woman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3348778/renowned-china-university-apologises-mini-film-depicting-career-man-family-focused-woman?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Life for Hong Kong-based Iranian biomedical researcher Behzad Nasiri Ahmadabadi is filled with anxiety as he spends each day waiting for a call from his family that may not come amid the conflict in the Middle East. The stress is similar for Iranian student Ali*, who spends his days scrolling through news reports from across the world to piece together events on the ground and lies awake at night thinking about what they mean. Young Iranians in Hong Kong are dealing with the conflict in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349165/anxious-days-sleepless-nights-young-iranians-hong-kong-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349165/anxious-days-sleepless-nights-young-iranians-hong-kong-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:30:41 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia is facing renewed pressure to expand the use of palm-based biodiesel as the Iran war drives up fuel costs, but industry and academic observers say high infrastructure costs and slow roll-out make it an unlikely source of quick relief. That tension has sharpened as the government confronts a swelling fuel subsidy bill and greater exposure to imported supply shocks. The finance ministry last month said petrol and diesel subsidies could reach 4 billion ringgit (US$903 million) a month with... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349159/can-palm-biodiesel-provide-quick-relief-malaysia-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349159/can-palm-biodiesel-provide-quick-relief-malaysia-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:33 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A doctor who posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a Hong Kong public hospital is no longer employed by the Hospital Authority, following an outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. The authority’s Kowloon West Cluster confirmed on Monday the doctor’s departure but did not say whether he had resigned or been dismissed. “The cluster had previously conducted a serious investigation and a comprehensive review of the incident. It confirmed that the individual involved is no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:30:57 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Israel and the United States carried out a wave of attacks on Iran on Monday, killing more than 25 people, and Iran responded with missile fire on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbours. US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz loomed as mediators circulated a new ceasefire proposal. Explosions rang out in Tehran and low-flying jets could be heard for hours as the capital was pounded. Thick black smoke rose near the city’s Azadi Square after one air strike hit... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349153/iran-and-us-receive-draft-proposal-45-day-ceasefire-attacks-continue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349153/iran-and-us-receive-draft-proposal-45-day-ceasefire-attacks-continue?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:18:19 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea’s jailed former president Yoon Suk-yeol has drawn sharp criticism for an Easter message from prison that opponents say amounted to comparing his downfall to the suffering of Jesus and showing his lack of remorse for his criminal acts. Yoon, who was removed from office a year ago after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024, released the message on Sunday through his lawyer, Bae Ui-cheol, urging the public to “hold onto the hope of salvation even if times are... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349150/south-koreas-yoon-slammed-invoking-jesus-his-message-sent-prison?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349150/south-koreas-yoon-slammed-invoking-jesus-his-message-sent-prison?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:09:31 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren A number of underperforming international car brands are likely to either exit the mainland Chinese market or scale down operations, as losses mount due to falling sales and shrinking market share. Carmakers delivering fewer than 1,000 units a month already faced a do-or-die situation in the world’s largest automotive market because the weak sales were not enough to cover their manufacturing and operating costs, according to analysts. Some carmakers are likely to follow Skoda, Volkswagen’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese tech companies are engaged in a public war of words as they compete to capitalise on US start-up Anthropic’s decision to pull its industry-leading Claude models from open-source AI agent tool OpenClaw. The development comes as AI agents have triggered a huge increase in demand for AI tokens – the core metric of AI usage – raising questions about the long-term ability of industry players to meet this demand amid a growing global crunch in computational power. On Sunday, Anthropic... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349146/chinese-ai-rivals-clash-over-anthropics-openclaw-exit-amid-global-token-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349146/chinese-ai-rivals-clash-over-anthropics-openclaw-exit-amid-global-token-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:58:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia X said on Monday it was raising ticket prices by as much as 40 per cent and cutting routes to cushion the impact of the war on Iran, but stressed demand for flights remained high. The Malaysia-based no-frills airline said about 10 per cent of its overall flights had been cut so far. It has raised fuel surcharges by about 20 per cent, while fare prices have increased between 31 per cent and 40 per cent. Average jet fuel costs have soared to about... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349143/airasia-x-hikes-ticket-prices-40-cut-capacity-10-iran-war-hits-fuel-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349143/airasia-x-hikes-ticket-prices-40-cut-capacity-10-iran-war-hits-fuel-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:41:39 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Surging oil prices are driving up costs for Hong Kong’s laundry sector, with the tripling of fuel prices forcing some operators to turn down new orders and freeze hiring. An industry representative said on Monday the price of industrial diesel, commonly known as “red diesel”, surged from about HK$6 (80 US cents) per litre in late February to as high as HK$17.50 in early April, an increase of more than 190 per cent. The sharp rise has significantly raised operating costs for laundry businesses,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349141/surging-oil-prices-push-hong-kongs-laundry-sector-freeze-hiring-halt-orders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349141/surging-oil-prices-push-hong-kongs-laundry-sector-freeze-hiring-halt-orders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:26:22 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng For marketing manager Wang Yuan, who sells electric heavy-duty cargo trucks in the rugged landscapes of Xinjiang in western China, business is riding a new and powerful wave. The commercial vehicle company he works for is a major player in the domestic market. The lion’s share of its electric heavy trucks are destined for coal-rich provinces including Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, apart from Xinjiang itself. In Xinjiang alone, according to Wang, sales across all brands reached around 16,700 units... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348742/chinas-electric-truck-revolution-powerful-painkiller-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348742/chinas-electric-truck-revolution-powerful-painkiller-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea appears to be distancing itself from long-time partner Iran and carefully managing its public messaging to preserve the possibility of a new relationship with the US after the Iran war, South Korean lawmakers have said, citing the spy agency. Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said North ‌Korea had not sent weapons or supplies so far to Iran since the conflict started on February 28, and did not issue public condolences upon the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349136/north-korean-silence-iran-signals-openness-us-talks-seouls-spy-agency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349136/north-korean-silence-iran-signals-openness-us-talks-seouls-spy-agency?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:32:16 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Danny Mok Matthew Cheng,Danny Mok An 81-year-old mainland Chinese man who went missing while hiking on Hong Kong’s MacLehose Trail over the weekend was found on Monday afternoon. Rescuers found He Chengan, conscious and able to walk, near Kwan Tai Temple in Tai Tong along Section 10 of the trail, where he had last been seen, police said. A government helicopter airlifted him to Tuen Mun Hospital. A team from the Fire Services Department, Government Flying Service, Civil Aid Service and police had been searching for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349134/search-81-year-old-hiker-who-went-missing-tuen-mun-enters-third-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349134/search-81-year-old-hiker-who-went-missing-tuen-mun-enters-third-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:07:13 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang In ancient China, women’s sumo was a popular form of entertainment in which participants wore minimal clothing that exposed their arms, backs, navels and lower abdomens, drawing significant attention. Sumo is widely known as Japan’s national sport, but forms of wrestling also existed in ancient China. Not only did men compete, but women also took part, making it a popular form of public entertainment. Even emperors would watch the “performances”. It is also believed that China has some of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348810/women-sumo-wrestling-was-popular-pastime-ancient-china-until-rise-confucian-ethics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348810/women-sumo-wrestling-was-popular-pastime-ancient-china-until-rise-confucian-ethics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Israel has assessed that Iran still has more than 1,000 missiles capable of reaching it, while Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon includes as many as 10,000 shorter-range rockets, according to military briefings cited by Israeli media on the weekend. In an interview with Channel 12, an Israeli air force officer provided the tally of remaining Iranian ballistic missiles in what appeared to be an official break from earlier refusals to disclose estimates of Tehran’s arsenal. The estimate of 8,000 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349128/israel-estimates-1000-iranian-missiles-threaten-it-war-grinds-second-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349128/israel-estimates-1000-iranian-missiles-threaten-it-war-grinds-second-month?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:43:00 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo The Japanese government is arranging summit talks with Iran, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday, with tensions mounting in the Middle East as US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz approaches. “We are preparing dialogues at the leadership level at an appropriate time,” Takaichi told a parliamentary committee when asked by an opposition lawmaker about Japan’s diplomatic efforts regarding the US-Israeli war with Iran. “Japan will make every effort... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349124/japans-takaichi-seeks-urgent-summit-iran-trumps-hormuz-deadline-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349124/japans-takaichi-seeks-urgent-summit-iran-trumps-hormuz-deadline-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:32:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Traffic at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge reached peak levels during the first two days of the extended holiday, with checkpoint queues sometimes exceeding an hour, raising concerns about whether clearance arrangements can handle surging demand. Passenger flows exceeded 192,000 over Friday and Saturday, while vehicle numbers surpassed 30,000, marking one of the busiest periods at the cross-boundary bridge in recent years, Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:13:10 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) is poised to report a loss of over HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) for March this week, its worst monthly loss in dollar terms since its inception 25 years ago. The sharp fall in global stock markets last month hit the MPF hard, while the uncertainties ahead stemming from the Middle East conflict have led the pension regulator and analysts to urge the 4.8 million members to adopt a diversified approach. The 378 MPF investment funds suffered a HK$103.3... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3348982/hong-kongs-mpf-set-report-worst-performance-3-years-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3348982/hong-kongs-mpf-set-report-worst-performance-3-years-march?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:08 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore police have confirmed that a body recovered from the sea off the Indonesian island of Karimun is that of a 37-year-old man who has been missing since March 27 after a collision between two boats. The police said on Sunday that Indonesian authorities had found the body of Chua Muhammad Syafidi floating in the sea off the island to the southwest of Singapore at about 3pm on March 30, according to The Straits Times. “The body, believed to be the missing person from the collision between a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349121/singapore-police-say-body-found-missing-man-boat-collision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349121/singapore-police-say-body-found-missing-man-boat-collision?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:48:58 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Iran points finger at Saudis and UAE after Chinese-made drone was shot down 2. Lead scientist reveals true purpose of China’s ultra-large underwater drone 3. Hongkongers crossing border for Easter break wowed by new Shenzhen tech museum 4. Australia’s 180-degree shift from 5 years ago: China in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3349117/chinese-made-drone-shot-iran-australias-diplomacy-pivot-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3349117/chinese-made-drone-shot-iran-australias-diplomacy-pivot-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:30:26 +0000 Clifford Lo Clifford Lo English-speaking con artists have targeted university students seeking summer internships, using a bogus 40-minute orientation session for one victim to make their dubious job offers appear genuine, Hong Kong police have warned. The force issued the alert after a 19-year-old first-year university student fell for a dubious job offer last month and lost nearly HK$190,000 (US$24,230), saying scammers had prepared detailed scripts to deceive her and conducted the fraudulent recruitment process in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349115/warning-issued-after-university-student-loses-hk190000-internship-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349115/warning-issued-after-university-student-loses-hk190000-internship-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Major powers are closely watching Hungary’s election next week – a vote seen as a referendum on Europe’s right and crucial for Chinese interests in the EU. Recent polls show self-styled “illiberal democrat” Viktor Orban’s Fidesz trailing challenger Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party by between 19 and 23 points among likely voters ahead of an election on Sunday that has been described as “Europe’s most consequential”. For China, Russia and the United States under President Donald Trump, an Orban defeat... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349109/orban-brink-could-hungarys-election-dent-chinas-influence-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349109/orban-brink-could-hungarys-election-dent-chinas-influence-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret to Pyongyang on Monday over drones sent into North Korea earlier this year, actions he called “irresponsible”. South Korea initially denied any official role in the January drone incursion – with authorities suggesting it was the work of civilians – but Lee said an investigation had revealed government officials had been involved. “Although this was not the intention of our government, we express our regret to the North that unnecessary... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349113/south-koreas-lee-regrets-drones-sent-north-irresponsible-and-reckless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349113/south-koreas-lee-regrets-drones-sent-north-irresponsible-and-reckless?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:12:19 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s housing authorities will expand the use of smart technologies, such as door sensors, in-home fall detectors and stair climbers, to enhance safety and convenience for elderly residents at public estates as the city’s population ages. Michael Hong Wing-kit, deputy director of housing overseeing estate management, said a pilot scheme to install sensors, which track door activity and send alerts, in public flats with elderly occupants would be expanded to include Tung Wui Estate in Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:00:15 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has launched an academy to nurture the next generation of female medical scientists, aiming to bridge a sex gap in which women make up just one-third of researchers globally. The Women in Science and Medicine Academy (Wise) aims to attract 100 early-career female researchers from the city and overseas in five years, supporting them with mentorship, leadership training and global exposure. Professor Siew Ng, an associate dean of CUHK’s medical school and... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3349097/hong-kongs-new-academy-female-medical-scientists-aims-bridge-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3349097/hong-kongs-new-academy-female-medical-scientists-aims-bridge-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Samira Muhammadi hopes an international investigation can “extinguish” her pain after a Pakistani bombing killed her son and hundreds of other Afghans in the capital Kabul last month. The March 16 attack hit a drug treatment centre and killed 411 people, according to Afghan officials. A United Nations source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had verified at least 250 killed, with more still missing. “There should be investigations on this … Like me, many mothers lost their sons,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349110/pakistani-strike-killed-her-son-rehab-now-afghan-mother-demands-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349110/pakistani-strike-killed-her-son-rehab-now-afghan-mother-demands-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:14:50 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Repeat short-haul visits by Chinese travellers to South Korea are expected to rise after Seoul eased multiple-entry visa rules, but analysts say the immediate impact may be limited because of growing competition from Southeast Asia and higher airfares linked to the US-Israeli war in Iran. The South Korean embassy in Beijing announced that Chinese nationals who had previously visited South Korea would now be eligible for a five-year multiple-entry visa. Those holding residency status in 14 major... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348904/south-korea-eases-chinese-travel-visas-southeast-asia-rivals-iran-war-cloud-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348904/south-korea-eases-chinese-travel-visas-southeast-asia-rivals-iran-war-cloud-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A terminally ill Chinese man left 300 million yuan (US$43 million) to his wife who is 28 years younger than him, causing a dispute with his ex-wife’s family. The 61-year-old from the southern Chinese island of Hainan, surnamed Hou, reportedly left all his fortune to his young wife, Liyuan, who is 33. Liyuan said she had been with him since she was 21. They married 10 years ago and have a five-year-old son. In November, the couple announced on their social media account, which has 44,000... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348767/dying-chinese-man-61-leaves-us43-million-fortune-young-wife-enrages-ex-wifes-family?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348767/dying-chinese-man-61-leaves-us43-million-fortune-young-wife-enrages-ex-wifes-family?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:00:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A US clampdown on visas for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students last May led to year-on-year declines of 42 per cent and 35 per cent in the number of permits granted, but a consultant has said the impact has been short-lived. One PhD student from the mainland said US President Donald Trump’s actions had led to him giving up an offer to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to enrol at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) last year after he found America’s once-vibrant... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The day that Taiki Hirokawa stabbed his former girlfriend to death in a Pokemon store in Tokyo had started like any other, his mother told police. She and her son had breakfast together and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Hours later, security camera footage caught 26-year-old Hirokawa walking straight into the store, pulling out a knife, going behind the counter where Moe Harukawa, 21, was serving customers, and repeatedly slashing her in the neck and chest before turning the knife on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348976/japans-knife-crime-wave-lays-bare-tragic-cost-youth-mental-burnout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348976/japans-knife-crime-wave-lays-bare-tragic-cost-youth-mental-burnout?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Democratic Republic of Congo will receive some migrants as part of a new deal under the Trump administration’s third-country programme, its government said on Sunday, the latest such African nation to receive migrants being deported from the United States. The deportees will start arriving in DR Congo this month, the Congolese Ministry of Communications said in a statement, without further details on the date or the number of deportees expected. It described the arrangement as a “temporary”... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349108/dr-congo-latest-african-nation-receive-third-country-deportees-us-under-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349108/dr-congo-latest-african-nation-receive-third-country-deportees-us-under-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:53:36 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Andrew Tilton, chief Asia-Pacific economist at Goldman Sachs, speaks to the South China Morning Post about the long-term future of China’s economy after the “two sessions” in Beijing and ahead of an expected Xi-Trump summit – all during an oil crisis sparked by the US-Israel war against Iran. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. What impact will the oil shock arising from the Iran war have on the growth of Asian economies this year? Asia is greatly affected by the war... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348903/andrew-tilton-chinas-growth-prospects-economic-trajectory-wake-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348903/andrew-tilton-chinas-growth-prospects-economic-trajectory-wake-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:00:29 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A US$656 million judgment against Palestinian authorities has been reinstated by appeal judges, following a US Supreme Court ruling in favour of Americans killed or wounded in attacks in Israel. The decision from the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals comes a decade after it first tossed out a verdict against the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority on the grounds that US courts could not consider lawsuits against foreign groups over overseas attacks that were not... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349107/appeal-court-reinstates-us656-million-judgment-against-plo-and-palestinian-authority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349107/appeal-court-reinstates-us656-million-judgment-against-plo-and-palestinian-authority?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:54:46 +0000 Zhang Zhipeng Zhang Zhipeng The US-Israeli strikes on Iran and ensuing conflagration offer a window into how the US-led order works. For all its contributions, it functions like an air conditioner – cooling the American centre by pumping hot air into the periphery. Aggressive interest rate hikes export inflation to emerging markets. Proxy wars outsource geopolitical risk to distant theatres. The United States stays cool while the Global South absorbs the brunt of the heat. But the vents are closing: developing nations are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348447/global-south-nations-are-insulating-themselves-heat-us-actions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348447/global-south-nations-are-insulating-themselves-heat-us-actions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukraine and Syria pledged greater security cooperation in talks on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said as Kyiv seeks to promote its military expertise across the region following the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran. Zelensky, continuing his tour of Middle East countries, ‌met with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus. “We agreed to work together to provide more security and opportunities for development for our societies,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. In a later post,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349106/zelensky-syria-discuss-security-cooperation-president-ahmed-al-sharaa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349106/zelensky-syria-discuss-security-cooperation-president-ahmed-al-sharaa?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:01:40 +0000 Reuters Reuters A cargo ⁠ship carrying wheat sank in the Sea of Azov after coming under attack from Ukrainian drones, a Russia-installed official said on Sunday, leaving one person dead and two ‌missing. Vladimir Saldo, Moscow-installed leader of the Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Kherson region, said the attack happened on Friday but crew members were unable to make known what had happened to them until Sunday. “It became known that the reason for the sinking ⁠of the Volgo-Balt in the Sea of Azov was a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349105/ukrainian-drones-attacked-cargo-ship-sank-killing-1-russian-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349105/ukrainian-drones-attacked-cargo-ship-sank-killing-1-russian-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:28:00 +0000 dpa dpa Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday appeared to suggest Ukraine was involved in planning an act of sabotage after Serbia reported finding explosives on a gas pipeline used to transport Russian natural gas to the two countries. Earlier on Sunday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said explosives “of devastating force” were found on the Balkan Stream pipeline near the village of Velebit on the Hungarian border. The pipeline transports Russian natural gas from Turkey via Bulgaria,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349104/orban-appears-blame-kyiv-serbian-gas-pipeline-explosives-find?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349104/orban-appears-blame-kyiv-serbian-gas-pipeline-explosives-find?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:46:53 +0000 Agencies Agencies US President Donald Trump did not take a break from his polarising rhetoric on Easter Sunday, delivering an expletive-laden attack on Iran that sparked criticism on Capitol Hill and beyond. “Open the F****n Strait, you crazy b******s, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!” the president wrote early on Sunday, renewing his threat to unleash heavy bombing on Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran refused to unblock the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “Praise be to Allah,” Trump added,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349103/trump-draws-criticism-fiery-expletive-laden-easter-message-attacking-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349103/trump-draws-criticism-fiery-expletive-laden-easter-message-attacking-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:45:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Drinks giants Pepsi and Diageo on Sunday pulled out of sponsoring a music festival in London headlined by US rapper Kanye West, who has a history of antisemitic outbursts. The disgraced 48-year-old hip-hop star - now known as Ye - is due to play three nights at the Wireless Festival in London in July as part of a European comeback tour. A spokesperson for Pepsi, the festival’s top sponsor, said on Sunday that the brand “has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival”, without... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349102/british-pm-slams-london-music-festival-booking-kanye-west-sponsor-pepsi-quits-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349102/british-pm-slams-london-music-festival-booking-kanye-west-sponsor-pepsi-quits-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:00:19 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Three people, including a 10-month-old girl, were killed on Sunday when high winds toppled a tree in northern Germany during an Easter egg hunt, police said. Around 50 people from a nearby residential facility for new mothers, pregnant women and children were attending the event in woods near the town of Satrupholm at around 11am when a 30-metre tree fell on the group, police said in a statement. Four people were pinned under the tree. A 21-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl were treated by... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349101/3-killed-including-baby-high-winds-topple-tree-during-easter-egg-hunt-germany?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349101/3-killed-including-baby-high-winds-topple-tree-during-easter-egg-hunt-germany?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:33:52 +0000 Reuters Reuters An Israeli air strike on Kfarhata, a village in south Lebanon, killed seven people on Sunday, including a four-year-old child, Lebanon’s health ministry said in a statement. Another Israeli attack on the Jnah neighbourhood in Beirut killed four people and injured ‌39 others, the ministry added. The strike on Kfarhata followed an overnight evacuation order by the Israeli military instructing residents to leave the village. As Lebanese Christians, who make up roughly a third of the population,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349099/israeli-strikes-kill-11-lebanon-israel-announces-security-buffer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349099/israeli-strikes-kill-11-lebanon-israel-announces-security-buffer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:14:58 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin A senior Chinese scientist has outlined the potential military applications of space-based solar power technology, offering a rare glimpse into how energy beamed from orbit could also support surveillance and electronic warfare. Duan Baoyan, a leading architect of China’s “Zhuri” space solar power initiative, wrote in a paper published in Scientia Sinica Informationis last month, that his team had revamped the design of the giant orbital infrastructure. In addition to energy transmission, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348871/china-reveals-military-capabilities-new-space-solar-power-plant-design?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348871/china-reveals-military-capabilities-new-space-solar-power-plant-design?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Afghanistan aims to increase trade with Central Asian countries to US$10 billion within the next three or four years, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Sunday. Trade with Central Asian countries to Afghanistan’s north came to about US$2.7 billion in 2025, itself a significant increase over previous years, Muttaqi said. He stated Afghanistan’s new trade goal with its neighbours at a “constructive dialogue” meeting in Kabul with representatives from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349095/afghanistan-wants-us10-billion-trade-deals-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349095/afghanistan-wants-us10-billion-trade-deals-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:26:29 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng A Chinese cargo plane powered by a hydrogen-fuelled engine has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a milestone in China’s push for green aviation. The 7.5-tonne uncrewed aircraft is powered by the world’s most powerful hydrogen turboprop of its kind, capable of generating more than 1 megawatt. The engine operated normally and remained in good condition throughout the 16-minute test flight on Saturday, state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the Aero Engine Corporation of China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3349086/chinas-push-hydrogen-powered-planes-takes-step-forward-amid-iran-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3349086/chinas-push-hydrogen-powered-planes-takes-step-forward-amid-iran-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hongkongers are more willing to discuss death including their own funeral wishes in the wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and the deadly Tai Po fire, amid a rapidly ageing population, a death education advocate says. Pasu Ng Kwai-lun, founder of Minimal Funeral and a practitioner of “life-and-death education”, said attitudes had changed and people had grown much more open to discussing death over the past five to 10 years. “People may not go as far as fully planning their funerals, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349079/talk-about-death-comes-alive-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349079/talk-about-death-comes-alive-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:30:12 +0000