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Outdoor

More waves, moving aid stations; meet the scientist changing the Boston Marathon

With more than 32,000 runners expected to take part in Monday’s race, organisers have been getting creative in managing time and space.

Runners approach the finish line for the 2025 Boston Marathon. Photo: AP

Economics

Rover and out? Japan pivots after US puts Lunar Gateway on ice

Japan’s space agency has invested at least US$78.5 million to build components for the project, now been put on hold by Nasa.

JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa speaks next to a replica of Resilience, a moon lander built by Japan-based start-up ispace, on June6, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE

Science

Low-cost ‘paper antenna’ paves way for big 5G upgrade on Chinese warships: study

Paper-based antenna devised by Chinese team is positioned as a low-cost, scalable ‘last-mile’ communication solution.

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Chinese scientists say their “paper antenna” could ultimately be “suitable for the complex environment of ships”. Photo: AFP

Video | Chinese humanoid robot beats human world record by 6 minutes

The Lightning humanoid developed by Chinese firm Honor competed against more than 100 other robots and thousands of much-slower humans.

The winner of a robot half-marathon held in Beijing on April 20, 2026, smashed the human world record by more than six minutes in the latest display of the industry’s rapid development. The humanoid device, known as Lightning, was developed by the Chinese smartphone and gadget company Honor, which only entered the sector last year.
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Law and Crime

Tai Po fire probe: new committee failed to tackle abuse of proxy votes

New committee elected in September 2024 under leadership of chairman Tony Tsui failed to reform voting practice, member says.

Wang Fuk court in Tai Po. Photo: Jelly Tse
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Politics

Iran war escalates as Houthis threaten to sever Saudi oil exports

Targets reportedly include a Saudi pipeline to the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and a UAE export terminal at Fujairah, outside the Gulf.

Armed Houthi loyalists attend a rally in Yemen last month demanding a resumption of attacks against Red Sea shipping. Photo: Xinhua

East Asia

‘Dragon Ball’ diplomacy: Japan’s Takaichi builds rapport with personal touches

Japan’s first female prime minister uses expressive gestures, thoughtful gifts and music to connect with foreign leaders.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron strike the “Kamehameha” pose from the “Dragon Ball” manga after a joint press conference at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1. Photo: Kyodo

Society

‘It feels complicated’: Wang Fuk Court residents return home to bid last farewell

Residents seek to recover belongings including a laptop with family photos, with one bringing a metal detector to search for melted gold.

Residents have returned to pack their belongings from their Wang Fuk Court flats. Photo: Eugene Lee

China Business

Hong Kong reasserts role as safe haven in global finance amid Iran conflict

The city’s safe-harbour appeal for capital and investments grows as China’s support strengthens its edge while Dubai faces pressure.

Helping boost Hong Kong are a pegged exchange rate, free capital flows and support from China’s economic strength. Photo: Jelly Tse

Australasia

Singapore tycoon sues banks for US$1 billion from collapse of Australian NewSat

The Oxley Holdings founder claims that the lenders failed to honour loan agreements, preventing NewSat from building its satellites.

People queue to enter the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne. Photo: AFP
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Fashion News

Style Edit: Stars reveal what’s in their bag for Louis Vuitton’s new campaign

Leading men like rapper Future and NBA’s LeBron James reveal the personal essentials they carry daily in their Speedy P9s, conceived of by Pharrell Williams.

Victor Wembanyama and LeBron James are two of the celebrities revealing what’s in their bag for the new Speedy P9 campaign. Photo: Handout

Jewellery

Style Edit: Graff’s butterfly motif evolves dazzling new wings

The new collection features a fluttering favourite, refined by Anne-Eva Geffroy and captured by Liz Collins.

Model Xinyue Guo wears the latest iteration of Graff’s iconic butterfly motif in the new campaign photographed by Liz Collins. Photo: Handout

China Economy

‘Not compromising quality’: why China’s C919 is falling behind on deliveries

Deliveries of the home-grown airliner billed to take on US, European competitors have been slow, with just three dispatched in the first quarter.

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A domestically-produced C919 lands at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Photo: Handout

Politics

South Korea targets India, Vietnam in ‘co-prosperity’ push for trade and tech

President Lee embarks on a strategic trip to New Delhi and Hanoi, boosting economic ties and supply chains amid the Middle East chaos.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a ceremony at the National Cemetery in Seoul on Sunday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap

Hong Kong Opinion

Opinion | Patriotism is not a business plan for the Northern Metropolis

Beijing has upped the ante with help and pressure, including calling upon the business community’s patriotism, but the Hong Kong government must still sell the business plan.

A view of Kwu Tung North Area 29, where a world-class fencing hall and swimming pool are planned for the Northern Metropolis, on April 7. Photo: Eugene Lee
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China Personalities

China woman returns home to raise 60,000 snakes, earns US$146,000 a year

‘Unafraid’ university graduate tends to reptiles on father’s farm, makes money selling their venom for medical research.

A young Chinese university graduate returned to her hometown to raise more than 60,000 venomous snakes, surprising many people online. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

Education

20 Hong Kong couples each get HK$60,000 triple baby bonus but disbursement lags

Only HK$1.31 billion or 57.5 per cent of HK$2.28 billion allocated for baby bonus scheme used as of February, with three-year scheme set to end this October.

The scheme, which launched in October 2023, provides a one-off HK$20,000 bonus to eligible parents for newborns. Photo: Jelly Tse

Business

‘Kidults’ and nostalgia drive Toys ‘R’ Us pivot as Hong Kong retail evolves

The retailer is refining its operations with smaller outlets and lifestyle products to capture new demand from Gen Z and young adults.

Toys and collectibles are no longer bought only by children but increasingly by adults, says Leo Tsoi. Photo: Jonathan Wong

HK Sevens

Philippines-born, Hong Kong-trained, Santos achieves ‘lifelong Sevens dream’ with US

Ryan Santos, who is juggling rugby with a job as a business operations analyst, is targeting the podium at the LA 2028 Olympics.

Ryan Santos achieving his dream of playing at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens for USA. Photo: Elson Li

Science

China warns strong El Nino this year may worsen global fossil fuel crisis

National Climate Centre says higher temperatures and extreme weather could create ‘damaging loop’ that hits the climate and the economy.

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A strong El Nino can increase the risk of floods and other extreme weather events. Photo: AFP
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Economics

Why Iran war is making petrol cars an unwanted luxury in Asia

From Nepal to Vietnam, soaring fuel costs are making petrol cars a luxury as Asia outpaces Europe in the race to go electric.

A man looks at an EV from a Chinese carmaker at an auto expo in Shanghai. Photo: AP

Banking & Finance

Cash holdings rise amid war, but Asia remains key for wealthy: Schroders CEO

High-net-worth clients continue to seek opportunities in Asia, taking a longer-term view despite global uncertainties, Richard Oldfield says.

Schroders Group CEO Richard Oldfield at the company’s Hong Kong office in Admiralty on April 15. Photo: Eugene Lee

Food & Drink

Hong Kong’s famous Oi Man Sang dai pai dong opens dessert shop

At Oi Sweet by Oi Man Sang, a former Michelin-star-restaurant pastry chef makes sweet treats that honour Hong Kong culinary heritage.

Oi Sweet serves its banana sago pudding in a clay pot, in an ode to the classic Hong Kong dish, clay pot rice. The new dessert shop in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po neighbourhood blends nostalgia with modern patisserie techniques. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Opinion

Editorial | Chinese yuan slowly but surely cutting into US dollar dominance

Kazakhstan’s issuance of yuan-denominated debt shows developing nations can use ‘panda bonds’ as stepping stones into global capital markets.

An employee counts 100-yuan notes at a bank in Beijing on November 14, 2024. Photo: AFP

Opinion

Editorial | Hong Kong’s civil service accountability push is long overdue

Efforts to ensure accountability can nurture a more proactive culture and tackle problems before they spill into public view.

The Central Government Offices in Tamar on January 26. Photo: Jelly Tse
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United States & Canada

LA woman charged in US with trafficking arms to Sudan for Iran

Shamim Mafi is accused ‘brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition’.

Los Angeles International Airport, where Iranian national Shamim Mafi was arrested on Saturday. Photo: AP

HK Sevens

South Africa end nearly 30 years of hurt to finally grab Hong Kong Sevens crown

Victory over Argentina gives Blitzboks a first title in the city since first playing in 1997.

South Africa players celebrate winning the Hong Kong Sevens for the first time. Photo: Sam Tsang

Diplomacy

Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Celebrities

Meet Martha Kelly, who plays Laurie on Euphoria – which earned her an Emmy nod

Kelly is a series regular on Euphoria Season 3 as drug lord Laurie, who Zendaya’s Rue must pay debts to.

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Martha Kelly reprises her role as Laurie in Euphoria, which earned her an Emmy nomination in 2022. Photos: Reuters/@euphoria/Instagram

Hong Kong Opinion

Opinion | Why Hong Kong is hitting pause on basketball betting

As prediction platforms rise, the problem is not so much gambling but sports corruption. Unregulated betting offers temptingly large sums.

An advertisement for the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s eWin app at a betting branch in Sheung Wan on February 26. Photo: Eugene Lee