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A Consumer Council survey of 11 round-the-clock gym operators, has found that nearly half impose extra non-refundable charges that significantly increase costs for short-term users. Photo: Handout

Society

Hong Kong watchdog warns 24-hour gym users of hidden costs, data privacy risks

Consumer Council urges users to weigh short-term costs and review privacy terms before signing up, with fees and policies varying citywide.

Malaysia’s government accused of using law to silence critics

China defence experts vanish online, Thai coconut cartel crisis: 5 weekend reads

Science

Things ‘I do not like’ led me to quit US for Hong Kong, top mathematician says

The academic also says he is motivated by his vision to make Asia an intellectual powerhouse for science and learning.

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Ngo Bao Chau says he wants to help turn Asia into a powerhouse of maths and science. Photo: Handout
Ngo Bao Chau says he wants to help turn Asia into a powerhouse of maths and science. Photo: Handout

Lifestyle & Culture

Why Philippines’ Jollibee is Southeast Asia’s lone global food chain

The company is the only Southeast Asian name to make the top tier of a recent list of the world’s strongest restaurant brands, placing fifth.

Banking & Finance

Guess says it will shut all mainland China stores amid retail rethink

US fashion brand tells customers it will close all mainland China stores by end of March as analysts cite weak localisation, strategy gaps.

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Hong Kong Economy

Courier SF Express imposes temporary fuel surcharges within Hong Kong and Macau

China’s largest courier cites volatile global fuel prices for new HK$1 surcharge on local document and parcel deliveries.

SF Express, will introduce temporary fuel surcharges for local document and parcel deliveries within Hong Kong and Macau, set at HK$1 and MOP$1, respectively. Photo: Jelly Tse
SF Express, will introduce temporary fuel surcharges for local document and parcel deliveries within Hong Kong and Macau, set at HK$1 and MOP$1, respectively. Photo: Jelly Tse

Southeast Asia

Malaysia will not intervene militarily in Middle East, Anwar says

Saudi Arabia is among the ‘many major nations’ that have asked for Malaysia’s help, the prime minister reveals.

Economics

Asean trade strategy: diversifying beyond US and Chinese markets

The bloc will look for new markets and deepen regional cooperation to reduce trade uncertainty, economic ministers say.

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Economic Indicators

China’s economy starts 2026 strongly as retail sales, investment rise

Before the Iran energy crisis and latest round of China-US trade talks, retail spending grew 2.8 per cent while fixed-asset investment increased 1.8 per cent.

People shop at a duty-free shopping mall in Sanya, south China’s Hainan province, on December 18, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Business

Hong Kong regulator sets ‘comprehensive’ review of medical insurance costs

Analysis aims to increase transparency at a time when some insurance prices are rising faster than medical costs, Insurance Authority CEO says.

A patient is taken for treatment at Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei on January 1, 2026. Photo: Sun Yeung
A patient is taken for treatment at Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei on January 1, 2026. Photo: Sun Yeung

China Personalities

China warship’s sole female top officer tells women to prioritise professional skills

Poised, confident senior officer adopts role of ‘evil instructor’ on board; is also known for her ‘caring’ attitude towards crew members.

Hong Kong Economy

30% jump in demand for regional holidays among Hongkongers amid Middle East war

Industry players say local travellers more cautious ahead of Easter holiday amid rising airfares and disrupted routes.

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Politics

Trump wants Japanese warships in Hormuz. Can Takaichi ‘dodge the bullet’?

The Iran war complicates Trump-Takaichi talks, putting her in a bind between US demands and constitutional limits on military action.

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A naval vessel sails in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Tech

Precision strike: China targets US, Japan stranglehold on photoresist supply

Essential material for advanced semiconductor processes expected to enter stage of accelerated breakthroughs, major Chinese supplier says.

China is expanding the scope of its chip self-sufficiency drive under the new 15th five-year plan amid an intensified race with the US in advanced chipmaking. Photo: Xinhua
China is expanding the scope of its chip self-sufficiency drive under the new 15th five-year plan amid an intensified race with the US in advanced chipmaking. Photo: Xinhua

Middle East

Trump warns he ‘may delay’ China visit in demand for countries to secure Hormuz

Some allies say no to ships, after US president demands at least seven countries help secure the strategic waterway.

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Military

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

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Banking & Finance

Xi’s appointments underscore his policy priorities as economy slows

China’s government promoted Yi Huiman, the chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), to head of the securities regulator to help steer the stock market toward an avenue for fundraising.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, visits a farm in Jiansanjiang in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province on September 25, 2018. Xi was on an inspection tour of the region as China has slapped tariffs on US agricultural imports and looked to increase farming self-sufficiency amid a growing trade war with the United States. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, visits a farm in Jiansanjiang in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province on September 25, 2018. Xi was on an inspection tour of the region as China has slapped tariffs on US agricultural imports and looked to increase farming self-sufficiency amid a growing trade war with the United States. Photo: Xinhua

Companies

Son of Hong Kong's ‘Superman’ tycoon reinvests in home town

Analysts say Victor Li, who has been frustrated by his attempts to acquire overseas assets because of protectionism, trade disputes and rising interest rates, has once again started looking at Hong Kong’s property market for reasonable returns on its investments.

Companies

Sun Hung Kai pays US$1.43 billion for fourth Kai Tak runway plot

Companies

China pharma has a bitter pill to swallow: R&D

Beijing wants cheaper, better drugs. That’s pressuring drug makers to innovate as generics become more competitive.

Beijing has moved to cut prices of drugs and improve their efficacy and safety. Here a woman works at the pharmacy of a state-owned hospital in a town in Hebei province, China, in this photo taken in 2008.
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OPINION
Alice Wu

Opinion | Mainland-style oversight system could help Legco to deliver

Alice Wu
Amna Saqib

Opinion | How US-Israel war on Iran rocks foundations of the Abraham Accords

Amna Saqib
Denis Simon

Opinion | 3 realities shaping China-US tech competition

Denis Simon
Barbora Valockova

Opinion | Underwater and unprotected: why Asean and the EU must secure subsea lifelines

Barbora Valockova
Kitty Tam,Calvin Au

Opinion | To stay competitive, Hong Kong must embrace nature-based solutions

Kitty Tam
Calvin Au
Ram Manikkalingam

Opinion | US attack on IRIS Dena shows that wars know no borders

Ram Manikkalingam
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MULTIMEDIA
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The collateral victims of Myanmar’s civil war

This handout courtesy of Luke Duggleby taken on December 10, 2025 and released to AFP on February 25, 2026 shows Lahu elder and religious leader Jaha Satae (C) undertaking a drug cleansing ceremony on Jawa Jabo (black shirt), 70, who has struggled with methamphetamine and opium addiction for many years, in the village of Mae Haeng in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai district. Hundreds of thousands of people in northern Thailand have become collateral damage from the civil war in neighbouring Myanmar, turning to drugs as supply through the area rockets on the back of the conflict. (Photo by Luke Duggleby / Courtesy of Luke Duggleby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / LUKE DUGGLEBY / HANDOUT “ - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS TO GO WITH ‘THAILAND-MYANMAR-CRIME-SOCIAL-LAHU,REPORTAGE’ BY NATHAPHOB SUNGKATE
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Can a new kind of hotel save Japan’s dying towns?

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US says Iran’s Supreme Leader likely wounded

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Trump shares bombing video after Kharg Island attack in Iran

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