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People

In Malaysia, some laud car driver’s arrest over ‘world’s most expensive petrol’

The driver of a Singapore-registered vehicle faces a US$252,600 fine, jail or both if he is found guilty of pumping subsidised RON95 petrol.

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A man holds a nozzle at the petrol station in Negri Sembilan in March. Malaysia is taking tougher action against the possible abuse of a fuel subsidy meant for locals. Photo: EPA

Europe

France open to engaging on slavery reparations, says Ghana

The African nation says discussions with President Macron last week included economic inequities, structural racism and looted artefacts.

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A sign hangs at the entrance of a dungeon used to house slaves at Elmina Castle in Ghana. The centuries-old site was a major centre of the transatlantic slave trade. File photo: Reuters

Society

Hong Kong school hits back at filmmaker in row over Italian festival screening

Supervisor of Ying Wa Girls’ School says principal did not lie in negotiations over showing To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self at coming festival.

The documentary, commissioned by the school, tracks the lives of six students over the course of a decade from 2011. Photo: Jelly Tse

Tell Me

Video | Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade threat

As Trump orders a naval blockade of the world’s most vital oil and gas artery, a ripple effect threatens industries and consumer prices worldwide.

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong debutants facing tough test at World Team Table Tennis Championship

Relatively inexperienced women’s team grouped with Macau, Mexico and the Netherlands at tournament in London.

Hong Kong head coach Li Ching (left) talks to the media alongside players (from left) Doo Hoi-kem, Ng Wing-lam, Su Tsz-tung, Kong Tsz-lam and Karen Lee at Hong Kong Sports Institute. Photo: Eugene Lee
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Global Economy

‘Doctor Doom’ Roubini turns ‘Doctor Boom’, predicting huge economic growth in US

Nouriel Roubini predicted the 2008 financial crisis – now he says an explosion of hi-tech will be unlike anything mankind has ever seen, trivialising near-term headwinds.

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Economist Nouriel Roubini said artificial intelligence and other hi-tech advancements could propel America’s annual economic growth into the double digits. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Society

Firefighters prioritised tackling blaze over rescues, Tai Po probe hears

‘It’s a two-track process. If you cannot put out the fire, how can you save those trapped inside?’ commander says.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Sam Tsang

Policy

China curbs live stream tipping with new rules to protect minors

The new live-streaming rules ban under-8s from tipping and introduce tiered consent for minors to curb manipulative inducements.

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A live streamer sells products in Longquan Township, southwest China’s Guizhou province, on June 18, 2024, during the “618” shopping festival. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

Beijing’s 10 measures to boost cross-strait ties

SCMP Plus annotates 10 measures released by mainland China to improve relations with Taiwan following a historic meeting between Communist Party head Xi Jinping and the leader of the island’s opposition Kuomintang, Cheng Li-wun.

Beijing’s 10 measures to boost cross-strait ties

Celebrities

Meet Grace Van Patten’s younger sister, Anna – who’s in Euphoria Season 3

The Tell Me Lies star’s sister is joining the new season of the HBO hit, alongside Sydney Sweeney, Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Hunter Schafer.

Anna Van Patten and Grace Van Patten are both actresses – and Anna has just joined Euphoria season three. Photo: WireImage
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Racing

Ferraris focuses on quality as he lines up four solid chances at Happy Valley

South African jockey looks forward to excellent book at city circuit on Wednesday night.

Fivefortwo, ridden by Luke Ferraris, wins at Happy Valley. Photos: Kenneth Chan

China Personalities

Profile | Bikes, books and ambitions: inspiring journeys of Zhang Xue and Zhang Xuefeng in China

One proved that passion can drive reinvention, while the other exemplified a life shaped by scarcity.

The founder of ZXMOTO, Zhang Xue, right, and the late education innovator Zhang Xuefeng are inspiring an entire generation in vastly different ways. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Sohu

Celebrities

Meet Chloe Cherry, the former adult actress who plays Faye on Euphoria

Euphoria is back after 4 years – and so is Chloe Cherry, who was discovered by Sam Levinson on social media and has since starred in Charli XCX’s MV for ‘360’.

Chloe Cherry worked as an adult actress before being discovered on Instagram; she now plays Faye on Euphoria. Photo: @perfect_angelgirl/Instagram, Reuters

Economics

Malaysia faces energy emergency amid Trump’s Hormuz blockade

With six tankers carrying up to 6 million barrels of oil potentially stranded, analysts say Malaysia is on a collision course with crisis.

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The skyline of Kuala Lumpur seen on Friday. Malaysia has leaned heavily on domestic natural gas production and costly subsidies to mitigate the fallout from the Iran war. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle & Culture

Japan’s rural rail crisis hits new low as JR East cuts toilet paper service

JR East’s decision to remove toilet paper at some unmanned stations underscores the financial pressures on rural rail services.

Oshikiri station in Japan’s Niigata prefecture no longer has toilet paper service. Photo: Handout
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Law and Crime

Hong Kong customs seizes 760 suspected endangered reptiles worth HK$580,000

Customs and Excise Department finds 106 turtles and 654 lizards believed to be endangered species hidden in truck bound for mainland China.

The reptiles were found in 26 bags hidden under the cargo compartment of the truck. Photo: ISD

Health & Environment

Hong Kong expands heat stress monitoring to better protect outdoor workers

Data to be used from eight additional sites across the city in an effort to provide more accurate readings and issue faster warnings.

Hong Kong has expanded heat stress monitoring to include data from eight additional sites in an attempt to better protect outdoor workers. Photo: Jelly Tse

Video | Trump launches scathing attack on Pope Leo

In a social media post, and then on camera, the US president called the head of the Catholic Church weak on crime and ‘terrible’ for foreign policy.

thumbnail for hosted vertical - Trump launches scathing attack on Pope Leo
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Entertainment

Lost 1897 French film from cinema pioneer found in a US trunk

Georges Melies’ film Gugusse and the Automaton was long thought lost until a copy was discovered in a trove of vintage nitrate films.

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Bill McFarland holds his great-grandfather William DeLyle Frisbee’s magic lantern slide projector at his home in Jenison, in the US state of Michigan, in March 2026. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong

Gallery | Hong Kong’s Thai community soak in new year with Songkran festival

The water splashing experience at the Thai Songkran Festival in Kowloon City. Photo: Eugene Lee
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Health & Environment

HKTVmall’s Ricky Wong breaks silence after protests over animal research methods

CEO of Hong Kong Technology Venture Company says research meant to alleviate elderly patients’ suffering, but animal rights group unconvinced.

Ricky Wong, CEO of Hong Kong Technology Venture Company, the parent firm of online retailer HKTVmall, says the conglomerate’s medical research seeks to reduce the suffering of elderly patients. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Diplomacy

Trump’s Hormuz blockade may target China along with Iran

The US plans to stop Iranian oil exports, which mainly go to China, after peace talks failed to produce a deal.

Vice President J.D. Vance speaks at a news conference after peace talks in Pakistan. Photo: AP Photo

Science

3 satellites to track all? Chinese radar images confirm US military fears

Breakthrough suggests ability to achieve global, 24/7, all-weather reconnaissance coverage of high-value targets.

A rendering of the Ludi Tance 4-01, the world’s first geosynchronous orbit synthetic aperture radar satellite. Photo: Handout

Banking & Finance

HSBC stays the course in the Middle East despite war

The bank will continue to invest in the UAE, alongside India, China and Singapore, says Surendra Rosha, co-CEO for Asia and the Middle East.

Surendra Rosha, co-CEO for Asia and the Middle East at HSBC. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Asia Opinion

The View | Others in Asia would love to have Singapore’s housing market problems

The city state’s problems pale beside those in other Asia-Pacific markets facing supply shortages that drive up prices and rents.

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People walk through a park in Singapore, with high-rise public housing in the background. Photo: Shutterstock
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Law and Crime

Hong Kong court clears woman of forging qualifications in talent scheme application

Judge says mainland Chinese defendant showed negligence but no intent to defraud, noting her visa agent may have submitted false details.

Xu Lina, 36, leaves Sha Tin Court after being cleared of forging her qualifications on a Top Talent Pass Scheme visa application. Photo: Eugene Lee

Politics

Safety and quality ‘top priorities’ for China’s highly sensitive Tibet mega dam

Vice-Premier Zhang Gouqing stresses Beijing’s commitment to the ‘landmark project’ when visiting the Yarlung Tsangpo construction site.

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The dam will be the world’s largest hydropower project when complete. Photo: Xinhua

Law and Crime

Mentally ill son who killed mother detained indefinitely at psychiatric hospital

Hong Kong court says ruling on Wong Chun-kit, who killed mother amid delusion that she was ‘monster lizard’, is ‘most appropriate’ for public safety and his welfare.

The court ordered Wong Chun-kit to receive treatment at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre in Tuen Mun until he was deemed no longer a danger to society. Photo: Sun Yeung

Entertainment

Juliette Binoche isn’t worried about AI replacing human intelligence

Humanity and intuition are the secrets to great art, according to Juliette Binoche, who talks about her directorial debut In-I In Motion.

French actress Juliette Binoche at the Regent Hong Kong in April 2026. Binoche is in town to show her directorial debut, In-I In Motion, at the 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Business

Shanghai home sales hit 5-year high in spring surge, outlook stays fragile

Geopolitical tensions weigh on ‘durability of the recovery’, analyst says, as gains expected to diverge across cities and segments.

Analysts have expressed caution about how long the rebound in the Shanghai secondary housing market could last. Photo: Getty Images