https://www.scmp.com/rss/265597/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany in the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s threat as he clashes with the German leader over the US war with Iran. Trump had threatened to withdraw some troops from the Nato ally earlier this week after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticised Washington’s lack of strategy in the war. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352198/us-withdraw-5000-troops-germany-fulfilling-trump-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352198/us-withdraw-5000-troops-germany-fulfilling-trump-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:09:03 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After being forced to check his Academy Award on a transatlantic flight, recent winner Pavel Talankin’s Oscar went missing before an airline tracked it down two days later. Talankin, who co-directed the best documentary winner Mr Nobody Against Putin, did not expect to have to check his statuette for a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport bound for Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday. But a Transportation Security Administration agent said it could not go on board. “At the airport, a TSA... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352194/oscar-goes-missing-after-director-forced-check-it-flight-could-be-used-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352194/oscar-goes-missing-after-director-forced-check-it-flight-could-be-used-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 17:55:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump sang the praises of King Charles after the latter’s state visit this week. He even lifted some tariffs on Scotch whisky as a favour to the British monarch. The king delivered a diplomatic masterclass on the trip, mixing praise for his host with subtle criticism. It’s unclear, though, whether it will make a major difference to a transatlantic relationship troubled by divisions over issues including the Iran war. “In the short term probably yes, in the long term probably... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352192/king-charles-wins-praise-deft-handling-trump-us-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352192/king-charles-wins-praise-deft-handling-trump-us-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 17:20:39 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would increase the tariffs charged on cars and trucks from the European Union next week to 25 per cent, a move that could jolt the world economy at a fragile moment. Trump said in the post that the EU “is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal”, though he did not flesh out his objections in the post. Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had agreed to the trade deal last July. It set a 15 per cent tariff on most... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352191/trump-put-25-tariffs-eu-cars-says-bloc-not-complying-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352191/trump-put-25-tariffs-eu-cars-says-bloc-not-complying-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 17:00:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A small plane crashed in Texas Hill Country, killing all five people aboard, officials said on Friday. The crash happened on Thursday night in Wimberley, a city about 40 miles (65km) southwest of Austin, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said on social media. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna 421C crashed around 11.25pm with five people on board. It said the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The plane took off from Amarillo, Texas, about two... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352190/plane-crash-us-texas-state-kills-all-5-board?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352190/plane-crash-us-texas-state-kills-all-5-board?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 15:48:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The US stock market is rising towards more records on Friday after Apple, Estee Lauder and other big companies became the latest to deliver fatter profits for the start of the year than analysts expected. Modest dips for oil prices also helped to steady the relatively few stock markets open worldwide on the May Day holiday. The S&P 500 rose 0.6 per cent and added to its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 226 points, or 0.5 per cent, as of 9.35am Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352188/wall-street-rises-towards-more-records-oil-prices-slip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352188/wall-street-rises-towards-more-records-oil-prices-slip?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 15:10:50 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A 45-year-old man was charged on Friday with attempted murder in the stabbings of two Jewish men in London, the latest in a string of attacks that have sparked fear and anger in Britain’s Jewish community. Essa Suleiman was remanded into custody after appearing in Westminster Magistrates’ Court to face two counts of the charge related to the attack in Golders Green. He also faces a third count of attempted murder over an incident elsewhere in the city earlier the same day that left a man with... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352163/man-jailed-over-attempted-murder-charge-stabbings-jewish-men-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352163/man-jailed-over-attempted-murder-charge-stabbings-jewish-men-london?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 10:52:50 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April, an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval. The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony in the Senate earlier Thursday, when he said the ceasefire effectively paused the war. Under that rationale, the administration has not yet met the requirement mandated by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352134/facing-60-day-deadline-trump-administration-claims-iran-war-terminated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352134/facing-60-day-deadline-trump-administration-claims-iran-war-terminated?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 07:22:19 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was removing certain tariffs on Scotch whisky after this week’s White House visit by the UK’s King Charles and Queen Camilla. “The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!” Trump posted on social media. Trump said people had wanted this change, especially with regard to the wooden barrels in which the spirits of Scotch and bourbon can be aged. His post left it unclear if the tariffs were... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352087/trump-says-hes-lifting-some-tariffs-scotch-whisky-after-king-charles-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352087/trump-says-hes-lifting-some-tariffs-scotch-whisky-after-king-charles-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:59:21 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela departed a bit early on Thursday on its way to the capital of the South American country, seven years after the US Homeland Security Department ordered an indefinite suspension, citing security concerns. The resumption of a commercial flight between the two countries comes months after the US capture of then-president Nicolas Maduro in a stunning night-time raid on his residence in Caracas in early January. It also comes... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352078/first-direct-us-venezuela-commercial-flight-7-years-heads-caracas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352078/first-direct-us-venezuela-commercial-flight-7-years-heads-caracas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:00:52 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The US economy accelerated at the start of 2026, expanding at a modest 2 per cent pace from January through March after recovering from last fall’s 43-day federal government shutdown. But the outlook is clouded by the Iran war. The Commerce Department reported on Thursday that gross domestic product – the nation’s output of goods and services – rebounded from a lacklustre 0.5 per cent expansion the last three months of 2025. The federal government’s spending and investment grew at a 9.3 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352072/us-economy-grows-2-january-march-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352072/us-economy-grows-2-january-march-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:50:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Roblox, a gaming platform popular with kids, announced Thursday that children under 16 in Indonesia will be required to undergo facial scans to verify their age to comply with new restrictions on minors’ use of social media and digital platforms in the country. Nicky Jackson Colaco, Roblox’s vice-president and global head of public policy, announced the changes in a press conference in Jakarta, describing them among the strictest that the company has implemented anywhere in the world. She said... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352066/gaming-platform-roblox-require-facial-scans-users-under-16-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352066/gaming-platform-roblox-require-facial-scans-users-under-16-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:00:28 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The UK government said on Thursday that the country was facing an antisemitism emergency and pledged to increase security for Jewish communities after a string of arson attacks and a double stabbing that have sparked fear and anger among Jews. The country’s official terror threat level was raised from substantial to severe after Wednesday’s stabbing attack in London, which police have called an act of terrorism with potential links to Iran. Severe is the second-highest rung on a five-point scale... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352030/uk-tackle-antisemitism-emergency-police-probe-double-stabbing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352030/uk-tackle-antisemitism-emergency-police-probe-double-stabbing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:49:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Andrew Stanton has spent more than half his life with Toy Story. He was the lead writer on the first three movies in the franchise, a script saviour on the fourth, and now, co-writer and co-director of Toy Story 5. “It wasn’t the plan. But it wasn’t not the plan,” he says. Stanton has done more than think about Woody and Buzz for the past 34 years. At Pixar, he made A Bug’s Life and two Oscar-winners: Finding Nemo and Wall-E. But Toy Story was the movie that started it all, the one he and his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351930/toy-story-5-writer-director-andrew-stanton-spending-34-years-franchise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351930/toy-story-5-writer-director-andrew-stanton-spending-34-years-franchise?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Israeli forces near the southern Greek island of Crete intercepted more than 20 boats from a flotilla of several dozen seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and planned to transport about 175 detained activists to Greece on Thursday, Israeli authorities said. Activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli forces stormed their vessels overnight, smashing engines and detaining some of those on board while they were sailing in international waters near Greece, hundreds of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351997/israel-intercepts-gaza-aid-flotilla-international-waters-greece-detaining-dozens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351997/israel-intercepts-gaza-aid-flotilla-international-waters-greece-detaining-dozens?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:19:37 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A French teen is facing mischief and public nuisance charges in Singapore after posting a video on social media of himself licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine and then putting it back. Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 18, was charged on April 24 and has not entered a plea, the city state’s largest English-language newspaper, The Straits Times, said. He allegedly committed the offence at a shopping centre on March 12, and his video spread rapidly when it surfaced, the report... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351928/french-teen-facing-jail-over-straw-licking-stunt-allowed-leave-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351928/french-teen-facing-jail-over-straw-licking-stunt-allowed-leave-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:10:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Federal investigators say they believe the man who carried out a mass shooting at Brown University and later killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor did not act randomly. Instead, former Brown student Claudio Neves Valente, 48, appeared to target places and people for what they represented in his own life – institutions and individuals he associated with personal failure, missed opportunity and perceived injustice. In a detailed behavioural assessment released on Wednesday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351919/brown-university-shooter-targeted-symbolic-victims-tied-grievances-fbi-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351919/brown-university-shooter-targeted-symbolic-victims-tied-grievances-fbi-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:14:32 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Keeping your eyes on the road is vital if your car travels at a speed of 322km/h (200mph). A strong neck helps. Neck-strengthening exercises are integral in the fast-paced world of Formula 1 racing. Plenty of drivers will bring specialised training gear for that purpose when they arrive in Florida for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix, the next event of a lucrative, year-long championship that spans the globe. Working out with weighted harnesses or using deep body-weight stretches stabilise their heads... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3351890/why-workouts-formula-1-drivers-might-help-computer-users-tech-neck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3351890/why-workouts-formula-1-drivers-might-help-computer-users-tech-neck?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The man charged with trying to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and kill US President Donald Trump took a picture of himself in his hotel room just minutes earlier, outfitted with an ammunition bag, a shoulder gun holster and a sheathed knife, authorities said on Wednesday in a new court filing. Cole Allen wore black pants, a black shirt and a red tie as he snapped the image in his room at the Washington Hilton, where Trump and hundreds of journalists were meeting for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351907/man-charged-trying-kill-trump-dinner-took-photo-knife-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351907/man-charged-trying-kill-trump-dinner-took-photo-knife-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:35:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press London police say the stabbing of two Jewish men on Wednesday has been declared a terrorist incident. Metropolitan Police say they are investigating whether the attack specifically targeted the Jewish community. The force says the incident, in the Golders Green area, left two men, aged 34 and 76, hospitalised with knife wounds. A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police are investigating whether the stabbings are linked to recent arson attacks on synagogues and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351899/uk-police-say-london-stabbing-2-jewish-men-terrorist-incident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351899/uk-police-say-london-stabbing-2-jewish-men-terrorist-incident?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:54:48 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press,dpa Agence France-Presse,Associated Press,dpa Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique admitted his team will probably need to score several more goals away to Bayern Munich next week to be sure of reaching another Champions League final after a remarkable 5-4 victory in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. “I just asked my staff how many goals they thought we would need next week and we all think we will need to score at least three,” said the Spaniard, who masterminded PSG’s 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in last season’s final. That... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351835/psg-coach-predicts-more-goals-thrills-return-leg-after-win-over-bayern-ucl-classic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351835/psg-coach-predicts-more-goals-thrills-return-leg-after-win-over-bayern-ucl-classic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Perched on the bow of his long-tail fishing boat, 75-year-old Sukjai Yana untangled a handful of small fish from his net, disappointed by his catch and fretting over whether he can sell them. Some days Sukjai earns nothing: demand for fish is falling due to worries over contamination of the Mekong River and its tributaries by toxic run-off from rare earth mines upstream that is threatening millions who rely on those waters for farms and fisheries. Chiang Saen, a fishing hub in northern Thailand,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351881/southeast-asias-mekong-river-being-poisoned-rare-earth-mining?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351881/southeast-asias-mekong-river-being-poisoned-rare-earth-mining?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:22:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press While it looks like a freeway on-ramp as it hovers over Wilshire Boulevard in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, the people behind the new building anchoring the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) define it with aquatic imagery. The free-flowing sections of the David Geffen Galleries housing the museum’s permanent collection are named after the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. They are meant to run together physically and culturally as bodies of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3351653/why-lacmas-new-us724-million-david-geffen-galleries-space-flows-oceans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3351653/why-lacmas-new-us724-million-david-geffen-galleries-space-flows-oceans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Get your heart pumpin’. She will make you “Sweat”. Such is the promise sung by the artist known as Melanie C – or Mel C and Sporty Spice of the game-changing 90s girl group Spice Girls – in the lead single from her ninth album of the same name. Atop a sample of Diana Ross’ “Work That Body” and sleek house-pop production, it is equal parts club banger and workout anthem, something for the DJ booth and a runner’s playlist. Surprised? Don’t be. Eight or so years ago, Melanie C began DJing,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351714/spice-girl-melanie-c-new-album-sweat-rave-culture-and-making-people-feel-good?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351714/spice-girl-melanie-c-new-album-sweat-rave-culture-and-making-people-feel-good?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 SCMP Sport,Associated Press SCMP Sport,Associated Press An Afghanistan women’s refugee team has been granted eligibility for international competitions, some five years after national team players fled their country’s Taliban rule. The Fifa Council agreed on Tuesday in Vancouver to amend the federation’s rules to allow for the participation of Afghan Women United in official Fifa competitions without the approval of the Islamist Taliban. Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have issued more than 70 decrees restricting girls’ and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351800/fifa-says-afghan-womens-team-can-play-tournaments-without-taliban-approval?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351800/fifa-says-afghan-womens-team-can-play-tournaments-without-taliban-approval?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:27:24 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Ukraine used interceptor systems to shoot down more than 33,000 Russian drones of various types in March, a record monthly figure since Moscow launched its all-out invasion more than four years ago, Ukraine’s defence minister claimed. Ukraine has developed cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology that has proved essential in holding back Russia’s bigger army and has drawn military interest from around the world. Interceptor drones as part of a comprehensive air defence system are now... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3351755/ukraine-shot-down-33000-russian-drones-1-month-defence-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3351755/ukraine-shot-down-33000-russian-drones-1-month-defence-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:25:46 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press To the cheers and applause of thousands of attendees at the annual fan convention BookCon, Jacob Tierney, director-screenwriter of the hit TV series Heated Rivalry, and Rachel Reid, author of the books it is based on, walked on to the main event stage at New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Centre. The two Canadians have been international celebrities for just a few months and still find themselves wondering if all the noise is for someone else. “We don’t really get to experience this kind of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351639/sex-language-show-heated-rivalrys-rachel-reid-and-jacob-tierney-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351639/sex-language-show-heated-rivalrys-rachel-reid-and-jacob-tierney-open?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:15:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press An 89-year-old man armed with a hunting rifle opened fire inside a Greek social security office in Athens on Tuesday, wounding an employee in the leg, authorities said. The suspect then carried out a second shooting at a courthouse in the city, leaving four more people lightly injured. The attack was reportedly sparked by problems with the man’s pension payments. He was arrested a few hours after the shootings in the port city of Patras, state broadcaster ERT reported. Earlier, local media... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351740/greece-man-89-opens-fire-shotgun-injures-least-4?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351740/greece-man-89-opens-fire-shotgun-injures-least-4?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:05:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is set to plead guilty on Tuesday to charges he cashed in on rigged poker games and gave sports bettors non-public injury information about stars, including his one-time teammate LeBron James. Barring a last-minute change, Jones will become the first person to plead guilty in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures. None of the other defendants have shown a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3351669/ex-nba-player-damon-jones-plead-guilty-gambling-sweep-saw-more-30-arrests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3351669/ex-nba-player-damon-jones-plead-guilty-gambling-sweep-saw-more-30-arrests?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A man accused of pledging allegiance to Islamic State group and plotting to attack one of superstar singer Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna nearly two years ago pleaded guilty as his trial began on Tuesday, Austrian media reported. The plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still cancelled Swift’s three performances in August 2024. The singer’s fans, known as Swifties, who had flown to Austria from across the globe to attend a performance of her record-setting Eras Tour were devastated,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351728/austrian-islamic-state-man-admits-plot-taylor-swift-concert-vienna?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351728/austrian-islamic-state-man-admits-plot-taylor-swift-concert-vienna?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:50:00 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Mexico’s most powerful criminal enterprise, suffered another blow on Monday when the Mexican military captured one of its top leaders in the northwest of the country, two months after the cartel’s leader was killed. Audias Flores Silva, also known as “El Jardinero”, or The Gardener, was seen as a possible successor to the killed leader and the United States had a US$5 million reward out for information leading to his arrest. The CJNG regional commander was... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3351654/mexico-captures-top-cartel-leader-el-jardinero-hiding-roadside-ditch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3351654/mexico-captures-top-cartel-leader-el-jardinero-hiding-roadside-ditch?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:13:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The NBA and Fiba are in the process of going through bids from those seeking franchises for a new league in Europe, with multiple potential ownership groups from all 12 of the league’s targeted cities expressing interest. Mark Tatum, the NBA deputy commissioner, said the association and world governing body “were very, very happy” with the interest shown by the bids. The new league could begin in October next year. “Right now, we’re just going through that process of narrowing down those bids... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3351643/nba-fiba-checking-bids-potential-team-owners-new-euro-league-eye-2027-start-date?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3351643/nba-fiba-checking-bids-potential-team-owners-new-euro-league-eye-2027-start-date?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:20:53 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press This is how much of Japan wakes up. It is called Radio Taiso – Exercise Radio in English – a simple yet dynamic way to start the day. Every morning at 6.30am, Japanese radio plays music accompanied by basic callisthenics instructions. Millions perform the movements in parks, workplaces, schools – and at home. Radio Taiso has an almost 100-year history. It was formally introduced in 1928, coinciding with the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito. The tradition endures because the exercises are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351549/10-minute-morning-exercise-workout-millions-japanese-people-wake-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351549/10-minute-morning-exercise-workout-millions-japanese-people-wake-do?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Archaeologists and researchers at the ancient Roman site of Pompeii have used artificial intelligence for the first time to digitally reconstruct the face of a man killed in the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius that smothered the city, offering a new way to understand one of history’s most famous natural disasters. The digital portrait represents a man whose remains, along with those of another person, were discovered as they attempted to flee the city towards the coast of what is now Italy... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351616/archaeologists-pompeii-use-ai-reveal-face-one-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351616/archaeologists-pompeii-use-ai-reveal-face-one-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:04:04 +0000 Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Associated Press,Agence France-Presse The two Champions League semi-finals that start this week have a bit of a beauty and the beast contrast. Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich on Tuesday pairs two easy-on-the-eye attacking teams playing arguably the highest-quality technical football in the world today. Atletico Madrid v Arsenal on Wednesday is a clash of traditionally durable styles with tight defences. Titleholder PSG and Bayern each have won the Champions League in the past six seasons. Atletico and Arsenal have never been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351606/champions-league-semi-finals-contrast-easy-eye-psg-bayern-robust-atletico-arsenal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351606/champions-league-semi-finals-contrast-easy-eye-psg-bayern-robust-atletico-arsenal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:00:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press India and New Zealand on Monday signed a free-trade agreement to deepen economic ties and expand market access, as both countries navigate mounting global trade disruptions. The deal comes as New Delhi moves to diversify export markets to offset the impact of steep tariffs imposed by the United States and instability in shipping and energy routes due to the Iran war. For New Zealand, the agreement is part of a broader push to reduce reliance on China, its largest trading partner. The agreement... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3351592/india-new-zealand-sign-once-generation-free-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3351592/india-new-zealand-sign-once-generation-free-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:11:03 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2) Like many young children, Matthew Shifrin loved building Lego sets. But because he was blind, Shifrin had to rely on friends and family to help him complete his creations. That changed when he was 13 years old. A family friend came over to his house in the US state of Massachusetts and handed him a binder filled with accessible instructions for building a palace. The instructions were written in Braille, a writing system understood by touch. It allowed him to... https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3349903/how-bricks-blind-helps-visually-impaired-enjoy-building-lego-sets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3349903/how-bricks-blind-helps-visually-impaired-enjoy-building-lego-sets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2) The astronauts from the Artemis II space mission came home to a loud and warm welcome. Hundreds of people cheered for them as they celebrated Nasa’s return to the moon. It set a record for travelling into deep space. The four-member crew landed at Ellington Field, close to Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre and Mission Control in the US state of Texas. After a short meeting with their families, Jeremy Hansen from Canada and commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover... https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3349892/artemis-ii-astronauts-return-home-after-record-breaking-lunar-journey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3349892/artemis-ii-astronauts-return-home-after-record-breaking-lunar-journey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:45:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is using the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday to try to pressure preservationists to drop their lawsuit over his planned US$400 million ballroom on the site of the former East Wing of the White House. “It’s time to build the ballroom,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said plainly on Sunday on social media, posting a letter in which Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate gave the National Trust for Historic... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351503/justice-department-cites-shooting-press-preservationists-drop-trump-ballroom-suit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351503/justice-department-cites-shooting-press-preservationists-drop-trump-ballroom-suit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:16:10 +0000 Associated Press,Doris Wai Associated Press,Doris Wai Listen to the podcast and answer the questions in the quiz. If you’re still unsure about a question, read the script provided to help you. This week’s podcast is voiced by SCMP production editor Graeme Acres and studio manager Nick Dearman. SCMP Young Post · Listen: Amsterdam concert hall offers soothing study sessions (adapted from AP; voiced by Graeme Acres and Nick Dearman) Script Adapted from Associated Press Voice 1: From the stage of Amsterdam’s historic concert hall, violinist Hyunjin... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learning-zone/study-tools/listening-practice/article/3350689/listen-amsterdam-concert-hall-offers-soothing-study-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learning-zone/study-tools/listening-practice/article/3350689/listen-amsterdam-concert-hall-offers-soothing-study-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:30:10 +0000 Posties readers,Associated Press Posties readers,Associated Press On April 10, more than 800 people in Mexico used about 12 tonnes of avocados in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest batch of guacamole. The traditional Mexican dish is made from avocados, tomatoes, onions, limes and coriander. Participants in the city of Tancitaro, known as the world’s “avocado capital”, whipped up 6,800kg of guacamole. Agence France-Presse How do you feel about this incredible feat of teamwork and culinary skill? Send us a fun caption by emailing us at... https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/ha-ha-happenings/article/3349908/write-funny-caption-holy-guacamole-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/ha-ha-happenings/article/3349908/write-funny-caption-holy-guacamole-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory and Russia over the past day killed at least 16 people, authorities said on Sunday as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster prompted new warnings about risks posed by attacks near the plant during Russia’s more than four-year invasion of its neighbour. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the anniversary with a warning that Russian attacks risk repeating history. “Russia is once again bringing the world to the brink of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3351499/16-dead-strikes-chernobyl-anniversary-highlights-nuclear-risks-russia-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3351499/16-dead-strikes-chernobyl-anniversary-highlights-nuclear-risks-russia-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:57:00 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The first public trial in Syria of officials linked to the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad opened in Damascus on Sunday. Atef Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general who was head of the Political Security Branch in southern Syria’s Daraa province under Assad, and who is also a cousin of the former president, appeared in the courtroom to face charges related to “crimes against the Syrian people,” the state-run news agency SANA reported. Najib was in that position in 2011 when... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351488/syria-begins-long-awaited-first-trial-assad-era-officials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351488/syria-begins-long-awaited-first-trial-assad-era-officials?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:52:44 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press People streamed into the central square of Slavutych in the early hours of Sunday, placing candles on a large radiation hazard symbol laid out on the ground as a midnight commemoration began for those killed in the Chernobyl disaster 40 years ago and the thousands who risked deadly radiation exposure to contain its aftermath. Residents show up for the vigil each year despite wartime curfews and official warnings against large gatherings during Russia’s war on Ukraine. The April 26, 1986 disaster... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351480/ukrainians-gather-remember-chernobyl-disaster-despite-russias-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351480/ukrainians-gather-remember-chernobyl-disaster-despite-russias-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:44:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The California man arrested in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer opposed to the policies of President Donald Trump. Authorities say Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was taken into custody at the dinner Saturday night in Washington that was attended by Trump and top members of his administration. A social media profile for a man with the same name and a photo that appears to match that of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351460/who-cole-tomas-allen-suspect-linked-trumps-press-dinner-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351460/who-cole-tomas-allen-suspect-linked-trumps-press-dinner-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 06:02:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia successfully defended the AFC Champions League Elite crown after beating first-time finalists Machida Zelvia of Japan 1-0 on Saturday. It took an extra-time goal from Saudi international striker Firas Al-Burikan to settle a bad-tempered final in front of 60,000 mainly Al-Ahli fans in Jeddah. Al-Ahli played with 10 men for almost an hour but Machida were unable to make the advantage count. “It’s amazing,” said Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez, who won the UEFA Champions League... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351451/saudi-pif-owned-al-ahli-beat-japanese-rivals-afc-champions-league-elite-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351451/saudi-pif-owned-al-ahli-beat-japanese-rivals-afc-champions-league-elite-history?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 03:19:24 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press As a child, Matthew Shifrin loved building Lego sets. But Shifrin is blind, so he had to rely on friends and family to help him complete his creations. That changed when he was 13 years old. A family friend came over to his house in the US state of Massachusetts and handed him a binder filled with accessible instructions for building a palace. The instructions were written in Braille, a writing system understood by touch. It allowed him to complete the set without having to see the brightly... https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/world/article/3351097/bricks-blind-helps-visually-impaired-enjoy-lego?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/world/article/3351097/bricks-blind-helps-visually-impaired-enjoy-lego?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The death toll ⁠from an explosives ⁠attack on a highway ⁠in southwestern Colombia rose to 20 on Sunday, authorities said, as the government blamed a dissident faction of the former FARC guerrilla ‌group for the bombing. The attack happened on Saturday when an explosive device was detonated on a bus traveling along the Pan-American Highway in the municipality of Cajibio. So far, 15 women and five men are among the victims, according to Octavio Guzman, governor of the region of Cauca. He wrote on... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3351446/explosive-device-kills-13-and-injures-38-bus-colombia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3351446/explosive-device-kills-13-and-injures-38-bus-colombia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:02:48 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Palestinians on Saturday buried a woman pregnant with twins and two of her children who were among at least 13 people killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza. The toll on Friday included two men who were killed in Gaza City, and eight others killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to local hospitals. Officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said the eight people, including four police officers, were killed after Israel targeted a police vehicle. While the heaviest fighting has mostly... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351438/palestinians-bury-pregnant-woman-and-2-her-children-killed-israeli-attacks-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351438/palestinians-bury-pregnant-woman-and-2-her-children-killed-israeli-attacks-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:57:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Afghanistan’s foreign ministry says Afghans who helped America’s war effort and have been stuck in Qatar in the hope of reaching the United States can safely return to Afghanistan. The statement on Saturday by foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi comes after reports emerged that the Trump administration is in discussions to potentially send 1,100 Afghans who assisted the US during its war in Afghanistan, and relatives of US service members, to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351436/taliban-says-afghans-stuck-qatar-who-helped-us-war-can-safely-return-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351436/taliban-says-afghans-stuck-qatar-who-helped-us-war-can-safely-return-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:09:21 +0000