https://www.scmp.com/rss/32048/feed The world's sixth largest country, Australia is a regional power in Asia that has a sometimes troubled relationship with its largest trading partner, China. Canberra began to pull away from Beijing in 2018 due to concerns over Chinese influence on Australian society and politics, as well as disputes over the South China Sea. The global Covid-19 pandemic that began in China in 2019 caused further tensions after Australia called for an independent investigation into the disease's origins. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Chao Kong Chao Kong A massive genomic study of indigenous peoples in the Americas has uncovered evidence of a previously unknown migration into South America that occurred as recently as 1,300 years ago – during China’s Tang dynasty. These new settlers carried genes remarkably similar to indigenous populations in what is now Australia and the Pacific Islands, according to the study published online by the journal Nature on April 22. The international team, which included scientists from the University of Sao Paulo... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351798/gene-study-reveals-unknown-human-migration-south-america-late-720ad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351798/gene-study-reveals-unknown-human-migration-south-america-late-720ad?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Hei Kiu Au Hei Kiu Au Walk into any serious steakhouse in Hong Kong today and you’ll find dry-aged beef on the menu, often for double the price of regular steak. What was an age-old practice has, in the past decade, made a comeback as chefs seek to unlock a deeper dimension of flavour. But here’s what most diners don’t realise: the technique has moved beyond beef. Across the city, chefs are dry-ageing fish, lamb, chicken and pigeon. Can the same process that transforms a slab of beef do the same for other... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3351650/beyond-steak-how-dry-age-fish-lamb-and-poultry-according-3-hong-kong-chefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3351650/beyond-steak-how-dry-age-fish-lamb-and-poultry-according-3-hong-kong-chefs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A free-trade agreement signed between India and New Zealand has marked yet another regional push towards diversification and away from overdependence on major powers. The deal, which comes after 15 years of on-and-off negotiations, gained urgency in recent weeks as Indian exporters contend with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and steep American tariffs that have rattled supply chains. New Zealand, for its part, has been pursuing a strategy to reduce dependence on China, its largest trading... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351708/india-new-zealand-boost-trade-diversification-forward-looking-pact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351708/india-new-zealand-boost-trade-diversification-forward-looking-pact?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:28 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East has turned the spotlight on a strategic waterway thousands of miles away in Southeast Asia, with littoral states having different ideas on how to control their stake. Indonesian officials last week flirted with the idea of imposing tolls for passing vessels in the Strait of Malacca. Malaysia and Singapore, however, have insisted that navigation in the vital corridor remains free. The likelihood of tolls in the strait is low thanks to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351687/why-asean-cooperation-remains-primary-shield-against-malacca-strait-tolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351687/why-asean-cooperation-remains-primary-shield-against-malacca-strait-tolls?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:58:19 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The growing use of social media and artificial intelligence chatbots across generations has made privacy protection a priority. This is especially important for children who are often insensitive to the risks when navigating the vast online world. The onus is therefore on parents and teachers to provide proper guidance. The guidelines issued by the Privacy Commissioner to safeguard the privacy of youngsters are a timely step. The practical tips suggest parents and teachers take an interest in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351557/online-privacy-guidelines-underscore-key-role-parents-and-teachers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351557/online-privacy-guidelines-underscore-key-role-parents-and-teachers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Signatories of the landmark nuclear non-proliferation treaty began a meeting on Monday at the United Nations in New York as fears of a renewed arms race escalate, with atomic powers again at loggerheads over safeguards. In 2022, during the last review of the treaty considered the cornerstone of non-proliferation, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned humanity was “one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation”. On Monday he warned “the drivers” of nuclear weapons... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351625/looming-risk-nuclear-arms-race-un-proliferation-meeting-hears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351625/looming-risk-nuclear-arms-race-un-proliferation-meeting-hears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:41:03 +0000 Li Xing Li Xing Geopolitics, at its core, examines how geography shapes international politics, power distribution and security dynamics. One enduring idea is geographer Halford Mackinder’s “heartland” theory, which situates Eurasia as the central arena of global power competition. In 1904, Mackinder argued that the vast land mass of Europe and Asia – what he called the “world island” – contained a pivotal core, the “heartland”, rich in resources, population and strategic depth. His dictum – “Who rules Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351015/why-us-led-security-alliances-asia-are-losing-coherence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351015/why-us-led-security-alliances-asia-are-losing-coherence?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Amid geopolitical tensions, China’s Tianqi Lithium has decided to skip Africa and will stick to domestic salt lakes to secure the supply of a battery mineral, according to its president Frank Ha Chun-shing. The move comes as the oil shock stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts is driving up global demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). Lithium, which can be extracted from hard rock and salt flat brines, can be processed into lithium carbonate, a raw... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3351363/chinas-tianqi-lithium-favour-domestic-salt-lakes-over-africa-amid-resource-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3351363/chinas-tianqi-lithium-favour-domestic-salt-lakes-over-africa-amid-resource-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India and Germany’s new defence road map could give New Delhi fresh momentum in its long-running push to modernise its undersea fleet, while helping Europe expand its security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say. The two countries signed a Defence Industrial Cooperation Road Map in Berlin on Wednesday, with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, agreeing to deepen collaboration in development, production and niche technologies. The agreement was... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351377/india-germany-defence-road-map-good-template-wider-eu-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351377/india-germany-defence-road-map-good-template-wider-eu-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:00:20 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China would see India’s attempt to expand defence industry cooperation with South Korea in artillery and anti-aircraft guns as “inevitably sensitive” given Beijing’s border dispute with New Delhi in the Himalayas, according to analysts. After meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as part of his three-day visit to India, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced that Seoul and Delhi had agreed to upgrade their economic cooperation, focusing on vital sectors such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351324/why-china-will-see-indias-latest-defence-deal-south-korea-inevitably-sensitive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351324/why-china-will-see-indias-latest-defence-deal-south-korea-inevitably-sensitive?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:00:20 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A proposed bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives failed on Friday as parliamentary time ran out, nearly a year since elected members of parliaments gave their backing. Though the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed by the House of Commons last June, the UK’s revising chamber, the House of Lords, effectively talked it out since then. Proponents of what has been termed “assisted dying” – sometimes referred to as “assisted suicide” –... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351381/uk-bill-allow-assisted-dying-fails-parliamentary-time-runs-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351381/uk-bill-allow-assisted-dying-fails-parliamentary-time-runs-out?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:36:51 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Albert*, a 68-year-old retiree in the Philippines, was struggling to log into the country’s Social Security System app in August last year when a man rang to offer help. The caller said he worked for the government pension fund, the website was down for maintenance and a new app had just been rolled out. To prove he was genuine, he sent Albert his full name, Social Security number, and home address over the Viber messaging app, followed by a link to the “new” app. More than an hour after Albert... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351222/fake-app-drains-filipino-retirees-life-savings-malware-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351222/fake-app-drains-filipino-retirees-life-savings-malware-service?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:30:15 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A landmark warship deal between Australia and Japan is expected to drive further defence technology cooperation between the two Asia-Pacific nations, comparable in scope to Canberra’s security arrangements with Washington. Analysts say the agreement with Tokyo will also help Canberra address navy shortfalls and reduce its overreliance on the US at a time of great volatility. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Saturday that the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351174/australias-us7-billion-japan-warship-deals-signals-shift-us-overreliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351174/australias-us7-billion-japan-warship-deals-signals-shift-us-overreliance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Turkish lawmakers passed a bill late on Wednesday that includes restricting access to social media platforms for children under 15, state media reported. The legislation is the latest in a global trend to protect young people from dangerous online activity. Its passage comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, in a gun attack. Police are investigating the online activity of the perpetrator, who also died, in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351147/turkey-passes-bill-restrict-social-media-access-under-15s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351147/turkey-passes-bill-restrict-social-media-access-under-15s?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:59:42 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The Iran war has done in two months what years of climate policy could not: make green hydrogen look economically viable. Soaring oil and gas prices since February’s outbreak of hostilities have narrowed the cost gap between the zero-emission fuel and its fossil rivals, paving the way for wider uptake across Asia. The eight-week US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex have sent Asian fuel... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:33:00 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Mainland China’s population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) – those with assets exceeding US$30 million – has grown by 23 per cent over the past five years to 121,677, and is projected to expand a further 18.8 per cent to 144,602 by 2031, according to Knight Frank. Despite that growth, China’s share of global UHNWIs edged down by one percentage point to 17 per cent this year and was expected to fall further to 15 per cent by 2031, as rapid wealth creation in the United States... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351114/mainland-chinas-ultra-wealthy-numbers-rise-hong-kong-tipped-faster-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351114/mainland-chinas-ultra-wealthy-numbers-rise-hong-kong-tipped-faster-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:00:03 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu For many people of the Asian diaspora, food provides a tangible link to heritage that can sometimes feel distant. Soy sauce is one of the best examples. While familiar red-capped, mass-produced bottles of soy sauce dominate supermarket shelves, a small community of artisans is choosing to make the condiment in different, slower ways. Ramona Lee – also known as “The Soy Sauce Lady” – and Mike Fung of Cinwaan Soy Sauce are hand-crafting the liquid gold in rainy Sweden and sun-drenched Australia,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351073/soy-sauce-artisans-making-chinese-condiment-dash-attitude?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351073/soy-sauce-artisans-making-chinese-condiment-dash-attitude?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As Southeast Asia’s tourism sector takes a hit from the Iran war, a pivot to serving as alternative flight hubs may help to save the industry. The region’s major airlines are seeing rising demand for European routes as travellers avoid Middle Eastern hubs amid disruptive drone and missile attacks, according to Reuters. Singapore Airlines has joined other major Asian carriers, such as Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and Qantas Airways, in posting strong performances on Europe flights in March. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:55:40 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Actors Jack Quaid and Claudia Doumit have tied the knot. The couple were married on Saturday in an intimate ceremony at Mona Farm in Braidwood, Australia, per the Daily Telegraph. The star-studded guest list included Quaid’s parents – Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid – as well as actors Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner and Henry Golding. The couple’s The Boys co-stars Karl Urban, Colby Minifie and Nathan Mitchell were also in attendance. The show is currently in its fifth and final season. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3350996/meet-claudia-doumit-who-just-married-her-boys-co-star-jack-quaid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3350996/meet-claudia-doumit-who-just-married-her-boys-co-star-jack-quaid?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asia is entering a dangerous summer for food production as scientists warn of a “super El Nino” suppressing rainfall while the war on Iran drives up energy and fertiliser costs for farmers. India’s Meteorological Department has forecast a below-average monsoon, after two successive years of above-normal rains, while in Australia – a major wheat producer and exporter – a shortage of farm inputs and persistent dryness has reportedly pushed planting acreage to a seven-year low. Farmers across South... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350988/asia-braces-food-shortages-super-el-nino-iran-war-effects-collide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350988/asia-braces-food-shortages-super-el-nino-iran-war-effects-collide?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:38 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow In the first of a three-part series on Anthropic’s new powerful Mythos AI model, we look at its impact on Chinese AI, cybersecurity and competition with the US. US start-up Anthropic announced its latest artificial intelligence model Claude Mythos Preview on April 7, sparking an unprecedented global response among policymakers and regulators due to its powerful ability to identify and exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Instead of a public release, Anthropic released Mythos to a consortium of... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350987/anthropics-mythos-stoking-cybersecurity-fears-what-does-it-mean-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350987/anthropics-mythos-stoking-cybersecurity-fears-what-does-it-mean-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Myanmar’s military-backed rulers have shaved time off Aung San Suu Kyi’s prison sentence and freed thousands of detainees, but analysts say the apparent goodwill gestures tell a story of a regime growing bolder, not more merciful. The government last week announced an amnesty for 4,335 prisoners, its third in six months, and reduced by a sixth the 27-year sentence of the 80-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, who has not been seen in public since her criminal trials ended in December... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350967/why-myanmars-token-amnesties-are-no-cause-celebration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350967/why-myanmars-token-amnesties-are-no-cause-celebration?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:25:30 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks fell on Wednesday, with other regional markets mixed, as investors navigated the uncertainty of tensions in the Middle East despite the extension of a ceasefire with Iran by US President Donald Trump. The Hang Seng Index dropped 1.2 per cent to 26,163.24 at the close, while a gauge of the technology stocks trading in the city sank 1.9 per cent. On the Chinese mainland, the CSI 300 Index bucked the downtrend with a gain of 0.7 per cent. A gauge of the ChiNext board of start-ups... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350939/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-after-trump-extends-iran-war-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350939/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-after-trump-extends-iran-war-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:54:03 +0000 Reuters Reuters Far-flung Pacific nations ⁠are reeling from the impact of a global ⁠fuel crisis as authorities scramble to manage energy supplies while families must grapple ⁠with fuel curbs and higher costs for food and access to healthcare. Global oil supplies are running down as the US-Israeli war with Iran disrupts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Aid agencies have warned that the crisis has driven up prices... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350937/pacific-islanders-skip-food-medicine-amid-global-fuel-shortage-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350937/pacific-islanders-skip-food-medicine-amid-global-fuel-shortage-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:37:07 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s next-generation “drone-carrier” amphibious assault ship is en route to the South China Sea for critical sea trials, the military announced on Tuesday, in the same waters where the US, the Philippines and Japan are conducting large-scale joint military exercises and the aircraft carrier Liaoning is apparently sailing to. “The Sichuan, our country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, has set sail from Shanghai for relevant waters in the South China Sea to carry out scientific research... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350932/chinas-new-type-076-drone-carrier-take-part-south-china-sea-training-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350932/chinas-new-type-076-drone-carrier-take-part-south-china-sea-training-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:09:29 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu HSBC Holdings has rejected allegations linking it to a money laundering case involving Iran, with chairman Brendan Nelson saying the bank was not a party to the matter and had only been asked to provide information. Responding to a shareholder at an informal meeting in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Nelson said HSBC had no records related to the transactions in question. “This is a case where HSBC is not a party, but in fact has only been asked to provide information relating to transactions that... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350911/no-records-no-role-hsbc-rejects-iran-linked-money-laundering-claim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350911/no-records-no-role-hsbc-rejects-iran-linked-money-laundering-claim?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:36:35 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are working closely together to keep vessels moving safely through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Tuesday, stressing the three countries’ shared responsibility for keeping the waterways open and secure. “The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are used for international navigation, and therefore the rights of transit passage similarly apply,” said Gan, who is also trade and industry minister, speaking on the opening... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350838/singapore-malaysia-indonesia-unite-secure-safe-passage-crucial-straits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350838/singapore-malaysia-indonesia-unite-secure-safe-passage-crucial-straits?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:59:40 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Regulators across Asia are stepping up scrutiny of cybersecurity risks in their financial systems, as concerns over Anthropic’s latest AI model Mythos spread. Singapore’s financial regulator is urging banks to plug holes, while South Korea’s government agencies have met to review and discuss how to respond to the risks. In Australia, authorities expect lenders to be vigilant to ensure clients are not put at risk by inadequate controls. The actions around the region reflect rising global concern... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350701/asian-financial-bodies-sound-alert-anthropics-mythos-ai-hacker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350701/asian-financial-bodies-sound-alert-anthropics-mythos-ai-hacker?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:47:35 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg In the early 2010s, a small Australian company tried to build a fleet of satellites before lenders, concerned about its chief executive officer’s flamboyant behaviour, pulled hundreds of millions of dollars of financing. The firm collapsed in 2015. More than a decade later, Singapore real estate tycoon Ching Chiat Kwong, who says he put US$100 million of his own money into NewSat, has not forgotten. The Supreme Court of Victoria begins hearing a case on Monday brought by the liquidators of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350663/singapore-tycoon-sues-banks-us1-billion-collapse-australian-newsat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350663/singapore-tycoon-sues-banks-us1-billion-collapse-australian-newsat?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:02:20 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu The Hong Kong Sevens ended in a high-octane finale on Sunday with costume-clad rugby fans filling the stands at Kai Tak Stadium, but some nearby restaurants said they struggled to match last year’s takings, blaming an influx of new rivals for diluting profits. The atmosphere on Super Sunday was electric as a sea of excited spectators, some clad in creative and flamboyant costumes, filled the South Stand, with some experiencing the event for the first time at its 50th anniversary. Over three... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350630/hong-kong-sevens-treat-fans-local-restaurants-hungry-more-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350630/hong-kong-sevens-treat-fans-local-restaurants-hungry-more-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:20:28 +0000 Kolette Lim,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Kolette Lim,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian comedian Rizal van Geyzel keeps his three children – aged six, 14 and 15 – off social media. He calls it a “gateway drug” to fake news, pornography, stalkers and doom-scrolling. “Do I risk them resenting me? Sure, but these are the sacrifices of parents for their children’s mental health and physical safety,” the 43-year-old said. Across Southeast Asia, governments are increasingly siding with parents like him. Indonesia last month became the first country in the region to bar... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350487/southeast-asia-wants-children-social-media-will-it-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350487/southeast-asia-wants-children-social-media-will-it-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan and Australia said on Saturday they have finalised contracts to jointly deliver the first three of 11 ships for the Australian navy based on the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate, as the two countries deepen their defence cooperation amid China’s growing assertiveness. The deal, announced by Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Melbourne, comes ahead of Japan’s planned easing of its rules on defence equipment exports, which place... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350577/japan-australia-finalise-contracts-deliver-first-3-planned-frigates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350577/japan-australia-finalise-contracts-deliver-first-3-planned-frigates?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:08:57 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is set to take another step away from its long-standing limits on arms exports, a move analysts say will strengthen the domestic defence industry, spur innovation, deepen security ties and reduce Tokyo’s reliance on the US at a time when Washington is increasingly seen as a less reliable partner. The Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday that revisions to the Three Principles on the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology would be approved at a cabinet meeting next week. The changes... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350486/japan-ditches-decades-arm-export-curbs-us-reliability-wavers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350486/japan-ditches-decades-arm-export-curbs-us-reliability-wavers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:00:18 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft An amber rainstorm warning and a leaky roof failed to dampen the mood of fans as the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament kicked off its 50th anniversary edition on Friday. First-time visitors to the city’s signature annual sporting event expressed amazement at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, while a food shortage fiasco that plagued last year’s tournament appeared to have been addressed. Costumed revellers gearing up for three days of rugby could already be seen entering the South Stand –... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350524/gloomy-weather-cant-take-shine-hong-kong-sevens-visiting-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350524/gloomy-weather-cant-take-shine-hong-kong-sevens-visiting-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:11:18 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng Since Bourke’s opened in 2024, its vision has been to bring the energy and culinary excellence of Australian wine bars to Hong Kong. As of this March, the Peel Street outpost has taken that vision to the next level by unveiling a menu with dishes as well as signature cocktails that focus on ingredients native to the Australian continent. “Our goal was to make native Australian flavours and nostalgic elements accessible to Bourke’s diverse clientele,” says bar manager Aled Burt. The Wattleseed,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3350490/drink-focus-wattleseed-cocktail-bourkes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3350490/drink-focus-wattleseed-cocktail-bourkes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:34:52 +0000 Aisyah Llewellyn Aisyah Llewellyn As divorce rates continue to rise in Indonesia, more single mothers are bearing the brunt of financial hardship and struggling to collect court-ordered child support from former spouses. For some women, help comes from an initiative unique in the country: the East Java city of Surabaya bars men from accessing public services if they fail to pay court-ordered child support. First introduced in 2023, the scheme has been used to block administrative access to more than 8,000 men, according to Irvan... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350439/indonesias-surabaya-bans-absentee-fathers-public-services-dodging-child-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350439/indonesias-surabaya-bans-absentee-fathers-public-services-dodging-child-support?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:30:21 +0000 Agencies Agencies An Australian company will import 250,000 tonnes of urea fertiliser from Indonesia in the coming months, easing fears of a shortage that would crimp food production, Canberra said on Friday. Australia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of crops including wheat, barley and canola but relies on fertiliser imports that are threatened by ‌the war on Iran, which has cut supply from the Middle East, a major urea producer. The price of urea, a source of nitrogen that fuels plant growth, has risen... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350386/australia-acts-protect-winter-crops-emergency-indonesian-fertiliser-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350386/australia-acts-protect-winter-crops-emergency-indonesian-fertiliser-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:21:05 +0000 Ambrose Li,Stephy Zhang Ambrose Li,Stephy Zhang Bars and restaurants are gearing up for a bumper three days during the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, brushing off concerns that rising airfares because of the Middle East war might put off visitors, with some operators expecting a surge of up to 40 per cent compared with a regular weekend. Business magnate and Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman Allan Zeman told the South China Morning Post that the loyal following of the flagship tournament, which runs from Friday to Sunday at the 50,000-seat Kai... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350374/bars-gearing-bumper-hong-kong-sevens-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350374/bars-gearing-bumper-hong-kong-sevens-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press For the first time, scientists have measured the instantaneous mind-blowing power of jets blasting from a black hole. The jet power from this relatively close black hole-star system is equivalent to 10,000 suns, an international research team reported on Thursday. They also tracked the jet speed: roughly 540 million km/h (355 million mph) – half the speed of light. Located 7,200 light-years away, Cygnus X-1 features not only a black hole – the first one ever identified more than a half-century... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3350375/mind-blowing-power-and-speed-black-hole-jets-measured-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3350375/mind-blowing-power-and-speed-black-hole-jets-measured-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:02:33 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia and Australia pledged on Thursday to keep oil and gas flowing between them as the Iran war’s continuous squeeze on global fuel supplies compels regional countries to deepen energy trade cooperation. Across Asia, governments have been scrambling for alternatives after crude oil and gas shipments from the Middle East were disrupted following Tehran’s move to choke access to the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli strikes against Iran that began on February 28. The disruption has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350345/malaysia-and-australia-strike-energy-supply-pledge-bypass-iran-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350345/malaysia-and-australia-strike-energy-supply-pledge-bypass-iran-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:32:50 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Geopolitical tensions are expected to further drive fundraising demand in the mining sector amid a commodities “supercycle”, although concerns over national security could complicate dealmaking, according to industry experts. Johnson Chui, head of global issuer services at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), said 2025 had been an inflection point. Mining and metals companies had become a key driver in the capital market as rising commodity prices, triggered by the energy transition and... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3350334/geopolitics-further-fuel-hong-kong-mining-fundraising-amid-supercycle-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3350334/geopolitics-further-fuel-hong-kong-mining-fundraising-amid-supercycle-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:11 +0000 CNA CNA A man was charged in Australia on Tuesday with sexually assaulting a female passenger on board a Scoot flight from Singapore to Perth on Monday. The 52-year-old Indian national committed “non-consensual sexual acts” on a woman he was seated next to during the flight, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police Force said in a joint statement on Monday. The woman sought help from airline staff members and was later moved to another seat, the police said in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350324/indian-man-charged-sexual-assault-passenger-singapore-perth-scoot-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350324/indian-man-charged-sexual-assault-passenger-singapore-perth-scoot-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:42:19 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. In 2009, six years after the US invaded Iraq and rewrote its economy, China and Russia (not American companies like ExxonMobil) won Iraq’s most lucrative oil contracts. The United States paid for the invasion; rivals collected the prize. That outcome is likely to have shaped... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3350146/iran-war-not-just-short-term-energy-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3350146/iran-war-not-just-short-term-energy-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:30:10 +0000 Reuters,Agence France-Presse Reuters,Agence France-Presse A fire at one of Australia’s two operating oil refineries could hit petrol production more than diesel and aviation fuel, authorities said on Thursday, as emergency crews worked overnight to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters were battling flames as tall as 60 metres (200 feet) at Viva ‌Energy’s motor petrol production unit at its Geelong refinery in Victoria state, which processes crude into high-octane petrol. No injuries have been reported from the fire, which emergency crews were alerted to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350236/fire-australian-refinery-fuels-petrol-shortage-fears-amid-global-oil-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350236/fire-australian-refinery-fuels-petrol-shortage-fears-amid-global-oil-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:57:17 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A stretch of awkward diplomacy is unfolding in the Indo-Pacific. After India’s 2025 term as the Quad’s rotating chair ended without a summit, New Delhi is planning to host a foreign ministers’ meeting that could be framed as a leaders-level discussion, even if the top leaders do not attend, according to two people familiar with the matter. The move is seen as a way to smooth India’s ruffled feathers on several counts. “It’s akin to putting lipstick on a pig,” said Sourabh Gupta of the Institute... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350230/quad-summit-plan-turns-uneasy-india-pushes-ahead-without-top-leaders-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350230/quad-summit-plan-turns-uneasy-india-pushes-ahead-without-top-leaders-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:17:13 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Balikatan, the flagship annual military exercise between Manila and Washington, begins in the Philippines this month without a single neighbouring Southeast Asian member taking part, despite the drills’ growing scale and multinational reach. Analysts say that hesitation helps explain Balikatan’s place in the region: for some Asean members, it is a reassuring sign of US commitment, but joining it risks looking like a strategic choice in the sharpening rivalry between Washington and Beijing. “To... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350190/why-southeast-asian-nations-are-hesitant-join-major-us-philippine-balikatan-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350190/why-southeast-asian-nations-are-hesitant-join-major-us-philippine-balikatan-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Washington’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is threatening to tip Asia into its worst energy crisis in living memory, with peace talks on the Iran war stalled and no clear timeline for when oil flows might resume. The United States moved to seize control of the flashpoint waterway on Monday night, with US President Donald Trump framing the move as a way to force Iran to open the strait and accept a deal to end the war. Iran responded by threatening all ports in the Persian Gulf and the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350057/asias-energy-supply-breaking-point-us-blockades-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350057/asias-energy-supply-breaking-point-us-blockades-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:09:18 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Jet fuel shortages and surging prices are forcing flight cancellations across the Asia-Pacific, a squeeze that could intensify after the United States began controlling oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following failed peace talks with Iran. Tehran’s effective closure of the strait – a chokepoint for about 20 per cent of global oil supply – is hitting regional airlines, particularly in countries without strategic energy reserves, analysts said. Jet fuel reached nearly US$198 in the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349928/asia-air-travel-faces-turbulence-iran-war-exposes-jet-fuel-vulnerability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349928/asia-air-travel-faces-turbulence-iran-war-exposes-jet-fuel-vulnerability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:00:31 +0000 Meredith Chen,Fan Chen Meredith Chen,Fan Chen The US drive to reduce reliance on China for rare earths and critical minerals will take more than fixing resource and processing gaps, experts say, noting that the decisive factor would be talent. Eroding industrial know-how, a weak education pipeline, and the lack of a consistent long-term strategy could complicate US ambitions to become a mining powerhouse and rival or even surpass China, they warned. Rare earth supplies are expected to be on the agenda when US President Donald Trump and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349894/compete-china-us-needs-rebuild-rare-earth-talent-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349894/compete-china-us-needs-rebuild-rare-earth-talent-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma A mainland Chinese woman has been acquitted of submitting false academic qualifications in her application for Hong Kong’s talent scheme, with the judge saying she could have been defrauded by her agent during the process. Xu Lina, 36, was cleared of the charge at Sha Tin Court on Monday after Magistrate Raymond Wong Kwok-fai said the defendant might have been negligent in failing to check her application form before submitting it to the Immigration Department, but her actions did not amount to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349890/hong-kong-court-clears-woman-forging-qualifications-talent-scheme-application?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349890/hong-kong-court-clears-woman-forging-qualifications-talent-scheme-application?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:24:53 +0000