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Ancient China lavish toilet routines: nobles used silk, Empress Cixi had 28 maids

During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), public toilets charged usage fees, and some even featured novels and advertisements to attract patrons.

In ancient China, commoners used scrap paper for toilet hygiene while nobles opted for silk. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu

Society

Mural celebrates Thai culture in Hong Kong under renovation scheme

Pilot scheme includes seven murals, with one already created on Jenford Building in the heart of city’s ‘Little Thailand’.

A digital rendering of the Thai-themed mural on Jenford Building in Kowloon City. Photo: Handout

Military

Indonesian fisherman nets surprise catch – a Chinese underwater drone

The device was discovered near the Lombok Strait, a strategically vital deepwater passage closely watched by the US and Australia.

Local police haul the item ashore. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong Economy

New research institute to ramp up efforts as Hong Kong pursues ‘AI for all’

Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute’s first meeting will be held as early as this month to formulate city’s AI road map.

A panoramic view of the San Tin Technopole and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Northern Metropolis. Photo: Eugene Lee

Politics

Why Cambodia’s new law may do little to combat its scam centres

Analysts warn the lack of provisions addressing the role officials and networks play in enabling scams may limit the law’s effectiveness.

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Computers and workstations seized by police during an online scam crackdown at a hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in March. Photo: Reuters
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Outdoor

Law urges caution over Hong Kong Marathon route change, 2-day event proposal

Organisers considering moving finish line to Kai Tak Sports Park with recommendation expected this month.

Runners make their way through Sheung Wan after passing through the Western Harbour Crossing during the 2026 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. Photo: Karma Lo

Banking & Finance

Barclays boosts Hong Kong presence to tap thriving IPO market

C.S. Venkatakrishnan said the bank is increasing its outlay on talent and technology across its investment banking and trading units.

Asia and Hong Kong are very important areas for Barclays, according to group CEO C. S. Venkatakrishnan. Photo: Edmond So

Big Tech

China taps offshore wind, subsea data centres to ease AI computing bottleneck

The underwater data centre, located 10 kilometres off Shanghai’s eastern coast, was built by Shanghai HiCloud Technology.

An underwater data centre being developed by Highlander is seen under construction at a shipyard in Nantong, Jiangsu province on September 11, 2025. Photo: AFP

Arts

Sold-out auctions suggest Hong Kong’s art market is back. But is it?

‘White glove’ sales at Christie’s and Sotheby’s March Hong Kong auctions are cause for optimism, but must be put into perspective.

Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild is on its way to being sold for HK$92.1 million at Christie’s 20th/21st Century art evening sale in Hong Kong on March 27, 2026. Photo: Christie’s

Opinion

Editorial | Hong Kong must diversify and adapt to changing tourism market

Amid shifting cross-border travel and spending patterns, local businesses face challenging times as more residents leave the city during holidays.

Tourists pack the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui on April 5 during the Easter holiday weekend. Photo: Eugene Lee
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Special Reports

Hong Kong’s live art auctions are thriving thanks to Picasso and Nara

A shift in 2025 saw collectors driving demand for rare, high-quality pieces while millennials and Gen Z bidders helped broaden participation.

Can’t Wait ’til the Night, by Yoshitomo Nara, was sold by Sotheby’s for HK$79.9 million (US$10.19 million). Photo: Handout

Opinion

Editorial | Supporting women in research helps Hong Kong’s gender equality push

Providing women with mentorship opportunities and work-life balance arrangements sets a good example in the march towards inclusion.

Chinese University of Hong Kong associate dean of medicine Siew Ng (left) conducts research with her assistants at the Prince of Wales Hospital on March 24. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Military

As the war on Iran continues, what is it teaching China about US resilience?

Washington is providing a real-time laboratory of modern warfare and Beijing is paying close attention to the lessons.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Celebrities

Meet Sophia Meloni, Christopher Meloni’s daughter, who directed his new film

Sophia debuts as writer/director with Chop Cheese, a New York coming-of-age film starring her father, Law & Order actor Christopher Meloni.

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Christopher Meloni and his daughter, Sophia, who has directed a film that features her father. Photo: @chris_meloni/Instagram

Asia Opinion

Opinion | To beat Cambodia’s scam gangs, US must work with China – not blame it

Taking down the deeply rooted, well-connected syndicates would require both Washington’s economic leverage and Beijing’s operational efforts.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
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US

Only virtual talks, no new investment push before Xi-Trump summit: Greer

US Trade Representative underscores US seeks substantial tariffs, unhindered rare earth access, and a stability-preserving leaders’ meeting.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks to reporters outside the White House. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

Brazil blacklists China EV giant BYD for its slave labour conditions

Government officials said staff were working excessively long hours while being kept in degrading circumstances in their accommodation.

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BYD’s electric vehicle factory’s construction site in Camaçari, Brazil, in December 2024. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Pro-Iran group says will release US journalist kidnapped in Iraq

Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in Baghdad, must leave Iraq immediately, the Kataib Hezbollah militia says.

US journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad in March. Photo: AFP

World

Russia and China veto UN resolution aimed at reopening Strait of Hormuz

Beijing and Moscow blocked Gulf-backed resolution hours before the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

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The 15-member Security Council voted 11 in favour of the resolution presented by Bahrain, with two against - China and Russia - and two abstentions. Photo: Lev Radin/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

United States & Canada

Artemis crew snaps historic Earthset photo on way home from moon

The image is a nod to the iconic Earthrise picture taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders in 1968.

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An image captured by the Artemis II crew shows the Earth setting behind the moon. Photo: Nasa via dpa
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Football

Iran awaiting Fifa response on venue switch before making decision on World Cup

Country’s football body has been pushing to move team’s group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico, citing ongoing war in region.

Iran’s national team before their 5-0 win over Costa Rica in a friendly in Antalya, Turkey last week. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

Hong Kong doctor axed for posting resuscitation photo faces Medical Council case

Kowloon West Cluster says it terminated doctor’s contract and ‘passed relevant case to Medical Council for follow-up’.

Jensen So had posted an Instagram story showing himself performing a resuscitation procedure in what appeared to be a public hospital ward. Photo: Handout

Southeast Asia

Ostrich escapes animal cafe, sprints down Thai highway

The six-month-old male ostrich was later returned safe to its enclosure at the animal-themed cafe.

An ostrich running along a highway in Thailand’s Chonburi province. Photo: AFP courtesy of Chairat Sompong

Middle East

Iran allows 2 French former detainees to leave country

The green light for them to leave Iran, long sought by France, signalled how Iran is differentiating between nations amid the Iran war.

Portraits of Cecile Kohler (left) and her partner Jacques Paris along with a placard reading “Freedom for Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris arbitrarily detained in Iran for over two years in appalling conditions” outside the Palais Bourbon, France’s National Assembly in 2025. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Developing | Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz under 2-week ceasefire deal with Trump

Washington receives ‘10-point proposal from Iran’ with US president claiming it could serve as ‘a workable basis on which to negotiate’.

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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he warns of potential escalation ahead of a deadline for Iran to accept a peace deal. Photo: AP
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Diplomacy

‘Paper tiger’: what’s behind Trump’s renewed Greenland threat?

Europe is likely to stay neutral in the Iran war and could even benefit if America fares poorly in its military campaign, analyst says.

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A demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland, in the capital Nuuk on January 17. Photo: AFP

China

Close friends Wang and Zhao eye London reunion after both win titles on same day

Wang Chuqin secured his maiden table tennis World Cup crown hours before Zhao Xintong claimed snooker’s Tour Championship.

Zhao Xintong (centre) brushed aside Judd Trump (left) to win snooker’s Tour Championship. Photo: Xinhua

Europe

Festival cancelled after UK government bans Kanye West from country

The British Home Office said his presence in Britain would not be ‘conducive to the public good’.

Ye had been expected to perform in front of around 150,000 revellers July 10-12 at the open-air festival in London’s Finsbury Park. Photo: AFP

Racing

SCMP Best Bets: Mighty Moreira can deliver for punters at the Valley

SCMP Best Bets: Mighty Moreira can deliver for punters at the Valley

Tech

Chinese memory giants seen grabbing market share on lower prices, more capacity

Firms like YMTC and CXMT are scaling NAND and DRAM production, leveraging cost advantages and subsidies to challenge global leaders.

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Leading Chinese memory producers like CXMT are working on boosting capacity this year. Photo: Handout