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Southeast Asia

Thailand confirms deaths of 3 cargo ship crew in Gulf attack

The Thai-flagged ship was struck on March 11 while travelling through the Gulf waterway.

Smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack on March 11, 2026. Photo: TNS

Europe

French detainees back in Paris after ‘terrible ordeal’ in Iran

The pair had been under house arrest at the French embassy in Tehran ever since being freed from more than three years in prison in November.

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French President Emmanuel Macron greets Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris after three and a half years in detention, next to French ambassador to Iran Pierre Cochard at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Travel & Leisure

Latest ‘skillcation’ travel trend blends relaxation with self-improvement

From winemaking and beekeeping to kitesurfing and ranching, ‘skillcations’ add structured learning or practice to relaxation or sightseeing.

Skillcations blend travel with learning, such as at the Tombstone Monument Ranch in Tucson, in the US state of Arizona, which offers experiences like horse riding and ranching. Photo: courtesy of Tombstone Monument Ranch

Middle East

Israel says battle in Lebanon continues despite Iran war truce

Hezbollah pauses attacks, sources say, but Israel says operations in Lebanon will go on.

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An Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong Economy

Easter box office takings twice that of 2025 break despite exodus of Hongkongers

Local cinemas earn HK$25.93 million in first four days of holiday, double the figure year on year from the 2025 Easter break.

A still from Night King, the highest-grossing Hong Kong movie over the Easter holiday. Photo: Handout
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Celebrities

Meet Anthony Norman, star of Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat

The second instalment of Amazon’s hoax comedy show stars an unsuspecting Anthony Norman, who believed he was working a temp job and ended up heroically saving the day.

Anthony Norman attending a screening of Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat in California. Photo: Getty Images

Military

PLA troops facing Taiwan Strait and Japan simulate response to nuclear attack

Eastern Theatre Command, which has several nuclear power plants within its geographic coverage, holds decontamination drill.

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An Eastern Theatre Command exercise has tested responses to a nuclear contamination incident. Photo: CCTV

Banking & Finance

More global firms eye Hong Kong for cheaper yuan loans, bonds: StanChart

The HKMA yuan facility charges an interest rate equal to the Shanghai interbank rate, which is 200 basis points lower than the US fed rate.

A bank clerk counts Chinese 100 yuan notes in Shanghai. Photo: AP

Law and Crime

Hong Kong car owner loses HK$500,000 in fuel membership card scam

Fraudsters exploit surging fuel prices by offering bogus prepaid petrol card deals, police say.

The scammers promised discounts through prepaid petrol cards and lured the victim into making immediate purchases, police say. Photo: Sam Tsang

Economics

India’s space ambition set to soar after Artemis II moon mission’s success

The Indian space sector could work with international partners on future Chandrayaan and other lunar missions, analysts say.

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The Moon and Earth seen from the Orion spacecraft on Monday. Photo: Nasa/Xinhua
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Celebrities

Meet Lionel Boyce, who plays security officer Carl in Project Hail Mary

He was in hip-hop collective Odd Future, formed a production company with high school pal Tyler the Creator, and appears in TV series The Bear as Marcus.

Lionel Boyce plays security officer Carl in Project Hail Mary. Photo: @lionel.boyce/Instagram

China Personalities

China ZXMOTO founder revokes ‘not getting a cent’ from government remark after row

Poor boy from rural family who followed his two-wheeled passion to the top says he was just ‘playing cool’ with ‘lack of official backing’ comment.

Zhang Xue, the founder of ZXMOTO in China, who previously said he did not receive “a single cent” in government subsidies later revised his stance after igniting a controversy. Photo: SCMP composite/Xinhua/Sohu

Policy

China’s DeepSeek adds expert chatbot mode ahead of much-awaited V4 release

The Hangzhou start-up’s latest chatbot update sparks speculation over whether the expert mode is linked to the long-delayed V4 model.

The changes come ahead of the much-anticipated release of DeepSeek’s next-generation flagship model V4 this month. Photo: Reuters

100 Top Tables

Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for April 9-11

Pony & Plume hosts a guest mixologist, Honky Tonks unveils new spring cocktails, and Bad Times Records offers wine and vinyl for its Steps party.

Sunlover from from Honky Tonks Tavern’s spring cocktail menu. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong

On This Day | HSBC’s HK$5 billion headquarters opens in Hong Kong in 1986 – SCMP archive

When it opened 40 years ago, the bank’s new headquarters was the most expensive building in the world.

The new HSBC building on the evening of its official opening on April 7, 1986. Photo: SCMP
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China

Chinese star Wang admits he is trying to emulate stability provided by Ma, Fan

The 25-year-old was thrust into leadership role for the national table tennis team after the veterans withdrew from world rankings in 2024.

Wang Chuqin won the ITTF World Cup in Macau last week after being the only Chinese male player in the last eight. Photo: Xinhua

China Economy

China enforces new supply chain security rules as Iran war shakes markets

The new regulation makes protecting China’s supply chains a national security issue – and allows Beijing to punish any entities that threaten them.

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China is taking steps to shore up its supply chains amid rising global uncertainty unleashed by the US-Israel war on Iran. Photo: AP

China Economy

Explaining China’s supply chain security rules

SCMP Plus annotates 18-point regulation issued by China’s State Council providing a legal basis for the country to respond to sanctions and export controls that threaten supply chains.

Explaining China’s supply chain security rules

Fashion & Beauty

Weight-loss drugs and AI: what’s next for Japan’s plus-size scene?

Despite continued weight stigma and new AI challenges, Japan’s plus-size movement continues to thrive through community and social media.

Taken from La Farfa magazine’s IG

Politics

Japan’s ‘imperialist forces’ divided Taiwan from mainland, KMT’s Cheng Li-wun says

In a speech delivered at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, Kuomintang chair says cross-strait divisions are rooted in historical wounds.

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Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun lays a floral wreath at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
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Economics

Fuel crisis at planting season threatens Myanmar’s fragile economy

Rising fertiliser costs and fuel rationing have affected farmers’ productivity, but Myanmar has little capital to replenish these stocks.

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An employee refuels a vehicle at a petrol station amid rising prices in Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 20. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Trump acknowledges China help in Iran ceasefire deal

A 14-day ceasefire in the war on Iran paves the way for a reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes.

Anti-war demonstrators outside the White House in Washington. Photo: Reuters

Law and Crime

Police arrest man on suspicion of stealing personal data of 56,000 patients

Employee of Hospital Authority contractor made an unauthorised entry into system and retrieved data.

The Hospital Authority has apologised to the victims. Photo: Felix Wong

Health & Environment

HKUST launches 5-year study into long lifespans of Chinese people

University president says Hong Kong urgently needs to uncover healthy ageing process as city has become ‘super-ageing society’.

Elderly residents exercise in Sha Tin Park. Photo: Sam Tsang

100 Top Tables

Your Hong Kong weekend food guide for April 10-13

Indulge in caviar tastings in Happy Valley, fragrance-inspired teas at W Hong Kong hotel, and innovative Vietnamese cuisine in Central.

Amigo’s six-course dinner in Hong Kong includes its house-brand caviar. Photo: Handout
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Society

Wang Fuk Court administrator rejects request for owners’ meeting, email shows

In email sent on Tuesday, Hop On Management cites ‘lack of information’ in owners’ earlier petition for meeting, without providing further details.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court last November killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 others. Photo: Jelly Tse

World Opinion

Opinion | How AI and geopolitical rivalry are breaking economic orthodoxy

Today’s imbalances go beyond exchange rates; they reflect concentrated technological investment in one economy and uneven risks in others.

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A data centre is seen from above on October 20, 2025, in Vernon, California. Photo: Getty Images / TNS

Law and Crime

Court to hold hearing in July on confiscating Jimmy Lai’s properties

Sixty-minute hearing set for July 8 to handle confiscation order that authorities say will ‘cut off funding chains’ for national security offences.

The Apple Daily building in Tseung Kwan O. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong Economy

24% of Hong Kong firms to widely adopt AI, with smaller headcounts expected: KPMG

Survey by professional services firm shows number of companies expected to widely adopt technology up 8 per cent from 2025 figure.

Office buildings in Central. Nearly a quarter of Hong Kong companies are expected to widely adopt AI this year. Photo: Jelly Tse

Diplomacy

Wang Yi set to visit North Korea, first for China’s top envoy since 2019

Visit comes as Beijing and Pyongyang step up engagement, including high-level exchanges in recent months.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) is pictured with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in 2018. Wang is set to visit North Korea for a two-day trip. Photo: Xinhua