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Shipping vessels sit anchored in Muscat, Oman. The country, which shares control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, has no plans to impose fees on ships passing through the strait. Photo: Reuters

Yuan tokens and oil-linked fees? China experts propose ‘innovative’ Hormuz tolls

Analysts warn Trump’s ‘joint venture’ plan with Iran could formalise grey zone, while Beijing balances roles as mediator, energy importer.

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Global renewable-energy pivot amps up as Hormuz uncertainty shatters security

US-Israel war on Iran
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Diplomacy

How can Beijing prepare for Trump’s ‘drunken boxing’ style before he meets Xi?

As Trump loomed large in both Iran war and subsequent pause, analysts weigh the importance of rhetoric vs results in his talks with China.

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Global Economy

Conflict catalyst: China’s yuan settlements hit record amid Middle East tensions

Single-day transactions via China’s Cross-border Interbank Payment System surge past 1 trillion yuan as Beijing’s moves to expand the yuan-payment network show signs of paying off.

Diplomacy

China sidelined: EU shelves rare debate as Middle East crisis takes priority

Delay risks entrenching a policy vacuum as member states diverge and Brussels struggles to evolve its approach.

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Science
“Gangtie Jiliang“ weighs about 500 tonnes and measures 8.1 metres wide. Photo: CRCC

China’s 500-tonne ‘underground carrier’ tunnels a kilometre to mine ore

China Economy

China strengthens oversight of state-owned assets overseas amid global tensions

A new department will guide state-owned enterprises expanding overseas, as China’s firms look outwards for growth opportunities.

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Chinese investments in Venezuela have faced uncertainty since the United States’ seizure of former president Nicolas Maduro in January. Photo: Getty Images
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Science

China deploys new battlefield AI in command tent. It outsmarts everyone

With over 90 per cent accurate recall, system delivers decisions in seconds, outperforming human commanders and traditional software alike.

China Business

China amps up battery buildout to ‘10 times US 2025 capacity’

China’s battery expansion plans highlight a widening gap with the US, as renewable energy demand fuels rapid growth in storage systems.

Business

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

In partnership with:
Standard Chartered
Sebastian Hia (left), Standard Chartered’s global head of SME Banking sales and head of SME Banking in Singapore, with Chiang Siang Yong (centre), co-founder and managing director of engineering solution provider TFE, and Roxie Wang, Altios’ head of business development for Southeast Asia.

Hong Kong Economy

Japanese band One OK Rock cancels Hong Kong concerts in May

Axing of shows on May 2 and 3 due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ follows cancellation of May 9 concert in Shanghai.

Japanese band One OK Rock has abruptly cancelled the Hong Kong leg of its highly anticipated “Detox” Asia Tour. Photo: Handout

Gingle Wang’s rise, Hong Kong chef’s Canadian bakery: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From a colon cancer survivor’s fitness to an exhibition on Chinese-British exchanges, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Europe

Greenland hits back at Trump, says ‘we’re not ‌some piece of ‌ice’

Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen defended his nation against Trump’s remarks, emphasising global unity and Nato’s importance.

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Middle East

Why US-Iran truce may not end high airfares and flight disruptions

According to airline bosses, it will still take months for jet fuel supplies and prices to normalise.

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An Emirates A380 aircraft is parked at Cornwall Airport Newquay in southwest England on Monday. Photo: AFP

Politics

Hong Kong spent HK$1.13 billion on Legco poll, up by 35% over figure for 2021

Authorities point to rising technology expenses, staff salaries and venue rentals for increased expenditure.

HK$149 million was spent on promoting the December election. Photo: Jelly Tse

Diplomacy

The Strait of Hormuz is closed again. Could the Iran-US truce fail at any moment?

Much of what happens next may depend on ‘wild card’ Israel, observers say.

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Politics

Taiwan should learn from mainland AI, KMT head Cheng Li-wun says

The Taiwanese opposition leader was delivered milk tea by a drone at the headquarters of internet giant Meituan.

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Tech

Alibaba cloud growth forecast to climb with AI push, higher charges: analysts

The company’s cloud and AI businesses are gaining speed, with token usage and pricing changes fuelling growth, analysts say.

The Alibaba building in Xuhui Binjiang Park, also known as “AI Park”, in Shanghai. Photo: EPA

Tech

Unitree to debut cheapest humanoid robot globally via Alibaba: sources

The international launch of the company’s cheapest humanoid robot next week is expected to cover North America, Europe, Japan and Singapore.

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Unitree Robotics’ R1 is one of the world’s most affordable humanoids. Photo: Handout

Basketball

Ex-NBA star Yao Ming adds financial support to Asian University Basketball League

Other notable investors include Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, plus owner of Philadelphia 76ers and former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Europe

US$3 million Faberge egg heist at London pub ends in jail for thief

The rare item remains missing as police continue their investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward.

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OPINION
Marco Vicenzino

Opinion | For Asia, US-Iran ceasefire offers little relief – and much uncertainty

Marco Vicenzino
Chenjie Song

Opinion | China’s role in the Iran-US ceasefire reflects its strategic distance

Chenjie Song
Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | Why investors should beware China safe haven narrative amid Iran crisis

Nicholas Spiro
Matteo Giovannini

Opinion | Hong Kong’s global future depends on diverse talent

Matteo Giovannini
Letters

Letters | Policy support is needed to create Asia-specific mental health safety nets

Letters
Harry’s View | 10 Apr 2026
April 9, 2026
MORE COMMENT
LATEST

Europe

Greenland hits back at Trump, says ‘we’re not ‌some piece of ‌ice’

Society

Workplace sexual harassment complaints jump by 38% in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong seeks to raise bond issuance ceiling to HK$900 billion

Global Economy

Yuan tokens and oil-linked fees? China experts propose ‘innovative’ Hormuz tolls

Other Sport

Table tennis star Fan Zhendong skips China’s World Team Championships title defence

Politics

Hong Kong spent HK$1.13 billion on Legco poll, up by 35% over figure for 2021

MORE LATEST NEWS
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SCMP Series
Trump’s 2026 trip to China
AI's impact on Hong Kong
‘Two sessions’: China’s economic agenda
China Inc. goes global
Challenges and pathways in the South China Sea
Traditional Russian wooden dolls depict Chinese President Xi Jinping, then US president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a souvenir shop in St Petersburg, Russia, on November 21, 2024. Photo: AP
SCMP SeriesTrump’s 2026 trip to China

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

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Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

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Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

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Open Questions series

China Economy

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China Economy

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

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10

China Economy

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
China Future Tech
China Future Tech
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Tech Trends

Chinese AI rivals clash over Anthropic’s OpenClaw exit amid global token crunch

Chinese companies are competing to offer the cheapest alternatives to premium US services from the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic.

A lobster-shaped cutout representing OpenClaw stands outside the Baidu offices in Beijing, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

China Business

China amps up battery buildout to ‘10 times US 2025 capacity’

China’s battery expansion plans highlight a widening gap with the US, as renewable energy demand fuels rapid growth in storage systems.

Tech

Alibaba cloud growth forecast to climb with AI push, higher charges: analysts

The company’s cloud and AI businesses are gaining speed, with token usage and pricing changes fuelling growth, analysts say.

Banking & Finance

Mainland China and Hong Kong IPOs drive Citic to the top of banking fee rankings

Citic leads Asia-Pacific in fees in the first quarter as IPOs in Hong Kong and mainland China offset weaker debt and M&A activity.

Citic Securities led Asia-Pacific with a 6.4 per cent share of the total investment banking fee pool in the first quarter: Photo. Reuters

Politics

What next for the struggling rural mothers in China who helped to build AI?

Data-labelling workshops once hailed as a solution in the country’s poverty alleviation campaign face a painful reckoning.

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Illustration: Brian Wang

Society

Is it time to call an end to Hong Kong’s boar war?

Wild boar numbers have dropped by half in recent years, prompting calls from experts for an end to aggressive control measures such as culling.

Science

Inside the shadowy practices plaguing China’s science awards

Beijing has rolled out new rules for investigating violations in scientific activities. So why are critics still pessimistic?

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Diplomacy

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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