https://www.scmp.com/rss/32309/feed The latest breaking news and stories on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the world’s sixth largest economy. Also covering the UK’s relationship with the European Union (EU) post Brexit, as well as with China, plus commentary and updates on the UK’s economy, politics, society and social issues. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said the US and Nato were faced with a “marriage crisis” as frustrations mount on both sides of the Atlantic, urging Washington to stand with its allies or risk America’s fall. Francken, speaking at a think tank event in Washington on Tuesday, likened the strained transatlantic relationship, which has held for close to 80 years, to a “crisis”, saying “it’s very difficult”. “I’m convinced that we’re having a marriage crisis … There’s a lot of frustration on... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351763/us-and-nato-faced-frustrating-marriage-crisis-belgian-defence-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351763/us-and-nato-faced-frustrating-marriage-crisis-belgian-defence-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:00:50 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Embattled UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday survived a bid by opposition politicians to subject him to a parliamentary probe over his controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as envoy to the US. Members of parliament voted against referring Starmer to a committee to consider if he misled parliament over giving Mandelson, an ex-associate of late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the plum diplomatic post. It was the latest development in an unrelenting scandal that has plagued Starmer’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351759/uk-pm-starmer-avoids-parliament-probe-over-epstein-associate-peter-mandelson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351759/uk-pm-starmer-avoids-parliament-probe-over-epstein-associate-peter-mandelson?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:12:51 +0000 Reuters Reuters Britain’s King Charles told the US Congress on Tuesday ⁠that despite an age of uncertainty and conflict in Europe and the Middle East, the ⁠UK and the US will always be staunch allies united in defending democracy, at a time of deep divisions between the two long-time allies over the war with Iran. “Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351758/trump-welcomes-king-charles-white-house-beautiful-british-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351758/trump-welcomes-king-charles-white-house-beautiful-british-day?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:09:12 +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 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 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 Reuters Reuters Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on Monday for a four-day trip, welcomed by self-proclaimed royal fan Donald Trump even as the US president has differed with the British government over the Iran war. The state visit, by far the most high-profile and consequential of Charles’ reign, marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence from British rule, and is the first to the country by a British ‌monarch in two decades. After landing at Joint... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351622/king-charles-arrives-us-trip-overshadowed-iran-quarrel-and-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351622/king-charles-arrives-us-trip-overshadowed-iran-quarrel-and-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:23:43 +0000 Reuters Reuters Pope Leo and new Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally met for the first time on Monday, in a symbolic encounter at the Vatican in which the leaders of the long-separated Catholic Church and Church of England exchanged gifts and prayed together. Mullally, the first woman to serve as spiritual leader of the world’s 85 million Anglicans, was ‌welcomed by Leo, the first US leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, into his formal office at the Vatican’s ornate apostolic palace. The two, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351618/pope-meets-first-female-archbishop-canterbury-symbolic-vatican-encounter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351618/pope-meets-first-female-archbishop-canterbury-symbolic-vatican-encounter?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:36:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters Britain’s parliament will vote on Tuesday on a possible inquiry into Prime Minister Keir Starmer, looking at whether he misled the House of Commons ‌over the appointment of former US ambassador Peter Mandelson. Any such inquiry could have serious implications for Starmer’s future. He has so far resisted pressure to quit over his decision to hire Mandelson, but if found to have knowingly misled parliament his position would likely become untenable. House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351611/uk-pm-starmer-faces-vote-possible-parliamentary-probe-over-mandelson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351611/uk-pm-starmer-faces-vote-possible-parliamentary-probe-over-mandelson?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:41:24 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow In the third of a three-part series on Anthropic’s powerful Mythos AI model, we look at how China is responding to the growing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks and what it means for the country’s cybersecurity. China is not immune to any fallout that might result from AI-powered cyberattacks, according to experts, although a sense of panic may not be as high due to the country’s strict scrutiny of its artificial intelligence industry. In the weeks since US start-up Anthropic announced its new... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351485/scepticism-concern-mythos-panic-slowly-starting-reach-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351485/scepticism-concern-mythos-panic-slowly-starting-reach-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:31 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong is known for its speed. Now it is set to move even faster, with plans to shorten stock settlement times from next year – a shift that could strengthen its standing as an international financial centre. The city’s stock market has operated on a T+2 settlement cycle for more than three decades, meaning trades are completed two days after they are executed. That may soon change. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is consulting the market on a proposal to move to a T+1 cycle, under... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351417/can-faster-settlement-sharpen-hong-kongs-edge-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351417/can-faster-settlement-sharpen-hong-kongs-edge-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The state visit by Britain’s King Charles to the US would take place as planned, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday, following a shooting at a Washington media gala. The incident late on Saturday at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association came less than 48 hours before Charles and Queen Camilla begin a four-day state visit to the United States. The palace said Charles was “greatly relieved” that Trump, the first lady Melania and other guests were unharmed and later on... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351501/king-charles-us-state-visit-go-ahead-planned-after-washington-media-gala-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351501/king-charles-us-state-visit-go-ahead-planned-after-washington-media-gala-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:29:52 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The appeal of a trip to Europe, to gaze at historic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, to ski in the Alps or sunbathe on a Greek beach, is well known to travellers. One of the attractions has long been the ease with which borders can be crossed. But while the war in Iran has disrupted travel around the world, a new source of potential woe for visitors to Europe has just kicked in. Non-EU nationals must now register their biometric data on arrival. This controversial move has been almost a decade... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3351439/new-entry-system-non-eu-residents-chipping-away-europes-image?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3351439/new-entry-system-non-eu-residents-chipping-away-europes-image?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:30:08 +0000 dpa dpa Argentina has called for talks with the UK over the Falkland Islands after reports the US could review its position on the South Atlantic territory in retaliation for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s lack of support for the war in Iran. Downing Street had earlier insisted the sovereignty of the Falklands was “not in question”. That came after a leaked internal Pentagon email set out options for President Donald Trump’s administration to punish Nato allies for refusing to join the US-Israeli strikes... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351428/argentina-renews-call-uk-talks-over-falklands-us-confirms-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351428/argentina-renews-call-uk-talks-over-falklands-us-confirms-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:26:32 +0000 Reuters Reuters A surge in fossil fuel ⁠prices since the Iran war is squeezing polyester suppliers and garment makers across India ⁠and Bangladesh, threatening to raise costs for fast-fashion retailers like Zara and H&M. Filatex, one of India’s biggest polyester yarn producers, is paying nearly 30 per cent more for the petroleum-derived feedstocks – purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) – that it needs to make yarn, as Chinese suppliers raise prices and Middle East supply is disrupted,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351409/iran-war-tearing-polyester-fabric-fast-fashion-and-shoes-could-be-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351409/iran-war-tearing-polyester-fabric-fast-fashion-and-shoes-could-be-next?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:18:26 +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 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The wind industry smells opportunity in Europe. At an expo in Madrid this week, the convention floor was abuzz as hundreds of European, American, Japanese and Korean exhibitors vied to pitch their products, knowing the continent urgently needs to shore up its energy security amid the US-Israel war on Iran. But there was one glaring absence: not a single company operating a booth was Chinese, with China’s participants only networking from the sidelines. At a time when many in Europe seek a rapid... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar The highly anticipated second season of Lee Sung Jin’s Emmy-winning comedy drama, Beef, starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho, Cailee Spaeny, and Charles Melton, landed on Netflix on April 16 and immediately made a splash. The internet is buzzing with the latest instalment of the anthology, and it is already the fifth most-watched TV show on the platform at the time of writing, according to streaming data collection website FlixPatrol. Alongside the acting... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3351238/meet-seoyeon-jang-who-plays-eunice-netflixs-beef-season-2-and-started-out-k-pop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3351238/meet-seoyeon-jang-who-plays-eunice-netflixs-beef-season-2-and-started-out-k-pop?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A 51-year-old cancer patient who collapsed on a Cathay Pacific Airways flight to Hong Kong from the United Kingdom was pronounced dead on Friday morning. Flight CX216 took off from Manchester and landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 6.52am on Friday, with police receiving a report about the man’s condition at 6.16am. The passenger, Shum Chung-lai, had suffered from pancreatic cancer since June last year. He emigrated to the UK in 2022 with his wife and two children but had to fly back to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3351228/man-dies-after-fainting-cathay-pacific-flight-uk-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3351228/man-dies-after-fainting-cathay-pacific-flight-uk-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:41:29 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China has launched a bond-market-connect scheme with Brazil, Chinese media outlets reported this week, marking the first such link among emerging markets. Schemes such as this one, often dubbed “connects” between Chinese bond or stock markets and their offshore counterparts, typically allow investors to bypass special permits or capital-flow controls when trading on either side’s exchanges. China now maintains at least five offshore capital-market “connect” schemes on three continents. Hong... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351185/brazil-beckoned-china-now-has-stock-and-bond-connect-schemes-these-5-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351185/brazil-beckoned-china-now-has-stock-and-bond-connect-schemes-these-5-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Britain’s King Charles heads to the United States on Monday with transatlantic tensions over the Iran war and the Epstein scandal’s long shadow threatening to intrude on the landmark visit. Both Buckingham Palace and the British government have said the four-day trip will honour the historic relationship between the two countries as the US marks 250 years of independence. Charles’ first US state visit as monarch comes at the request of the UK government and US President Donald Trump and would be... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351216/trump-says-king-charles-visit-could-absolutely-repair-us-uk-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351216/trump-says-king-charles-visit-could-absolutely-repair-us-uk-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:21:40 +0000 Reuters Reuters Warner Bros Discovery shareholders on ⁠Thursday backed the company’s proposed US$110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, but cast an advisory vote against executive compensation plans tied to the deal. Under the pay packages proposed to executives, CEO David Zaslav could receive ‌up to US$887 million if the sale is completed. Proxy advisor ISS had said Zaslav’s potential payout was “extremely large”. “Management now faces a twofold challenge: securing [regulatory] approval for the deal and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351211/warner-bros-investors-back-us110-billion-merger-paramount-skydance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351211/warner-bros-investors-back-us110-billion-merger-paramount-skydance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:29:48 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippines has emerged as the clearest example of what observers say is Japan’s shift towards a more active defence role abroad, with both countries deepening their military cooperation in areas ranging from joint drills to technological partnerships. Japanese forces are taking part for the first time in this year’s Balikatan military exercises hosted by the Philippines, while bilateral cooperation is set to expand after Tokyo eased its defence export rules on Tuesday. These activities... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351190/how-philippines-became-japans-closest-security-partner-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351190/how-philippines-became-japans-closest-security-partner-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:55:22 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Englishman Ollie Jenks remembers when his friend first pitched the idea to him. “It was so ridiculous I couldn’t say no,” Jenks says. The proposal by his Canadian buddy Seth Scott, a fellow lover of cars and crazy adventures, was for them to drive a decades-old British-made Reliant Robin car from London to the southern tip of Africa – a 22,500km (14,000-mile) journey through 22 countries – to set a record for the longest trip in a three-wheeled vehicle. In March, they became the first people to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3351127/uk-south-africa-road-trip-3-wheeler-bags-duo-world-record-and-car-trouble-aplenty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3351127/uk-south-africa-road-trip-3-wheeler-bags-duo-world-record-and-car-trouble-aplenty?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +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 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 74-year-old British grandmother who set off on a solo trip to China received an unexpected outpouring of support from Chinese netizens who took turns to guide her on her journey. The heartwarming story began with Xiao Yue, a senior university student from Hezhou in Guangxi Province, southern China, who first met the British grandmother while volunteering in Phuket. The woman, Gill, 74, has travelled to 72 countries on her own and has also volunteered in many countries before. Recently, Xiao... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350839/innate-kindness-chinese-people-moves-british-granny-74-travelling-solo-across-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350839/innate-kindness-chinese-people-moves-british-granny-74-travelling-solo-across-country?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Martin W H Wong Martin W H Wong The law of tort, from its Latin and Old French origin meaning “wrong”, saw a major development in Hong Kong at the beginning of this year. After years of debate in the lower courts, Hong Kong’s top court has made it clear that, with Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons Limited v Samantha Jane Bradley [2026] HKCFA 2, harassment is now a recognised tort under common law. While it is described as a development, this was the last step of a recognition that was more than a decade in the making. The first High... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351055/being-annoying-not-just-annoyance-its-harassment-under-tort-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351055/being-annoying-not-just-annoyance-its-harassment-under-tort-law?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters On the tourist-packed ⁠Rock of Gibraltar, one of the most common sights is monkeys ⁠begging for food – and sometimes stealing sweet and salty snacks from unsuspecting visitors. Scientists now have documented an unusual behaviour among these macaques that may help them ward off a bellyache from all this junk food. Researchers said the monkeys have been observed eating soil more frequently, a behaviour they said may help the macaques avoid stomach upset from consuming human snacks. They found that... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351054/gibraltars-monkeys-may-be-eating-soil-cope-junk-food-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351054/gibraltars-monkeys-may-be-eating-soil-cope-junk-food-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:19:53 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Families of victims of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs hailed as a “vindication” on Wednesday the International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber’s refusal to throw out the crimes against humanity case against him. Duterte has been held by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague since March 2025 over killings linked to his anti-drugs campaign while he was in office. His lawyers argued that the court had no authority to try him because the Philippines... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351050/icc-chamber-rules-case-against-rodrigo-dutertes-war-drugs-killings-proceed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351050/icc-chamber-rules-case-against-rodrigo-dutertes-war-drugs-killings-proceed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:37:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted on Wednesday he would not resign, claiming allegations of misleading MPs over his appointment of a party loyalist as UK envoy to Washington had been “put to bed”. Starmer’s remarks in parliament came as the beleaguered premier faced fresh calls to step down over his admitted error of judgment in appointing veteran former politician Peter Mandelson to the coveted post. The premier spoke to lawmakers a day after the foreign ministry’s most senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351046/uk-pm-insists-he-wont-resign-over-mandelson-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351046/uk-pm-insists-he-wont-resign-over-mandelson-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:31:37 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The United Nations voiced alarm on Wednesday at the number of people being executed in Singapore for drug-related offences, saying it was incompatible with human dignity. UN rights chief Volker Turk said there had been a general shift away from the use of capital punishment in Asia, and Singapore was one of only a few countries imposing the death penalty for drug-related crimes not involving intentional killing. The death penalty is mandatory in Singapore for drug trafficking above certain... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351031/un-alarmed-singapore-executions-drug-related-offences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351031/un-alarmed-singapore-executions-drug-related-offences?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:21:43 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them on Wednesday, intensifying its assault on shipping in the key waterway. The attacks came a day after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. The stand-off between the US and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the strait – where 20 per cent of the world’s traded oil passes in peacetime – with no end in sight. Iranian media said the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351022/iran-fires-3-ships-strait-hormuz-after-trump-extends-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351022/iran-fires-3-ships-strait-hormuz-after-trump-extends-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:25:08 +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 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Both chambers of Britain’s parliament have approved a bill that would ban children aged 17 and under from buying cigarettes during their lifetime. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to stop anyone born after January 1, 2009 (now aged 17) from taking up smoking. Health minister Wes Streeting called this a “historic moment for the nation’s health” that will lead to the “first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm”. When it gets royal assent and becomes law, it would... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350946/uk-agrees-ban-cigarette-sales-people-born-after-2008?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350946/uk-agrees-ban-cigarette-sales-people-born-after-2008?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:18:35 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung In the hours leading up to this year’s International Women’s Day, on March 8, The New York Times published explosive revelations of workplace abuse at legendary Copenhagen restaurant Noma under the watch of chef-founder René Redzepi. There is a certain poetic justice to be had that, at the same time, a group of 11 female hospitality professionals from around the world concluded a weeklong residency at Rosewood Hong Kong centred specifically on writing a new, women-led chapter in the toxic,... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3350865/rosewood-throws-its-weight-behind-female-empowerment-hospitality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3350865/rosewood-throws-its-weight-behind-female-empowerment-hospitality?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin A Chinese university student has been charged with unauthorised photography of US military aircraft in Nebraska during a road trip through several states, which included a stop at an air force base in South Dakota. Tianrui Liang, who is studying in Glasgow, was arrested at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport on April 7 as he attempted to return to Scotland, court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York revealed. The 21-year-old has been charged with photographing defence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350933/chinese-college-student-charged-illegally-taking-photos-us-military-planes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350933/chinese-college-student-charged-illegally-taking-photos-us-military-planes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:30:56 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of Hong Kong secondary school leavers pursuing higher studies outside the city fell to a 14-year low in 2025, with an expert attributing the trend to a surge in mainland Chinese students targeting local universities. Only 2,671 students, or 6.5 per cent of 40,948 Form Six graduates pursuing full-time courses, chose to study outside Hong Kong last year, a survey by the Education Bureau showed. The number was a 13 per cent drop from the 2024 figure of 3,061 and the lowest since... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350925/number-hong-kong-school-leavers-seeking-education-elsewhere-hits-14-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350925/number-hong-kong-school-leavers-seeking-education-elsewhere-hits-14-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:22:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin A former director of Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) in Jakarta and Bangkok is standing in the United Kingdom local elections for the right-wing Reform UK party. Lee Sheung-yuen, who left government in 2023 after serving as the first director of the Bangkok ETO and concurrently served as director general of its Jakarta office, is now contesting a seat on Ealing Council in London. He also previously served as the government’s assistant commissioner for tourism and as administrative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350924/former-hong-kong-trade-office-chief-contesting-uk-local-elections-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350924/former-hong-kong-trade-office-chief-contesting-uk-local-elections-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:05:40 +0000 Reuters Reuters Malaysia’s Karex, the world’s ⁠top condom producer, plans ⁠to raise prices by 20 per cent to ⁠30 per cent and possibly further if supply chain disruptions drag on due to the Iran war, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Karex is also seeing a surge in condom demand as rising freight costs and shipping delays have left ‌many of its customers with lower stockpiles than usual, CEO Goh Miah Kiat told Reuters in an interview. “The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive … We have... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350909/worlds-top-condom-maker-raise-prices-30-over-iran-war-impact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350909/worlds-top-condom-maker-raise-prices-30-over-iran-war-impact?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:13:35 +0000 Reuters Reuters A former top ⁠foreign ministry official said on Tuesday he had faced “constant pressure” from UK Prime Minister Keir ⁠Starmer’s office to speed up the appointment of his pick as the ambassador to the US, deepening a row that threatens the British leader. A war of words over who should ultimately take the blame for appointing Labour veteran Peter Mandelson to Britain’s highest diplomatic post despite his history and known ties to late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has piled pressure on Starmer,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350900/ex-uk-official-says-he-felt-pressure-over-mandelson-pms-office?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350900/ex-uk-official-says-he-felt-pressure-over-mandelson-pms-office?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:13:02 +0000 SCMP SCMP When the Duchess of York gave birth to a baby girl exactly 100 years ago, nobody expected that the young princess would one day sit on the throne. Queen Elizabeth II would eventually become Britain’s longest serving monarch, reigning for over 70 years. A hundred years on, the South China Morning Post looks back at how it covered the queen during her life, beginning with the announcement of her birth in the newspaper on April 22, 1926. Training the heiress to Britain’s throne This article,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3350825/look-back-queen-elizabeth-iis-life-100-years-her-birth-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3350825/look-back-queen-elizabeth-iis-life-100-years-her-birth-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:31:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Iran’s firing on two Indian-flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz has raised fresh questions about how far Tehran can protect even friendly shipping as the conflict pushes closer to maritime chaos. The attack on Saturday has been especially awkward for Tehran because New Delhi is not an adversary and still maintains working ties, including renewed oil purchases in recent weeks under a temporary US sanctions waiver. Analysts said the attack on Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald was likely a case... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350775/can-iran-protect-friendly-shipping-attack-indian-tankers-raises-safety-questions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350775/can-iran-protect-friendly-shipping-attack-indian-tankers-raises-safety-questions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the US-Israel war on Iran raises global concerns about energy security, a new report has found that the clean power sector is rapidly gaining ground and emerging as a solution for nations looking to reduce their reliance on oil and gas imports. The world passed a significant turning point in 2025 as clean power generation rose faster than global demand for electricity, preventing an increase in fossil fuel generation, according to the study by London-based energy think tank Ember released on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:01:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged on Monday that he made the wrong judgement when he picked Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, batting away a barrage of calls to resign over a scandal that has left his leadership teetering. Starmer said he would have withdrawn the appointment if he had known Mandelson had failed security checks, as he tried to explain why Mandelson was given the UK’s most important diplomatic post. Starmer placed blame... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350783/starmer-admits-mistake-appointing-mandelson-us-envoy-resists-calls-resign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350783/starmer-admits-mistake-appointing-mandelson-us-envoy-resists-calls-resign?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:46:21 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Elon Musk did not appear on Monday for a voluntary interview with Paris prosecutors, who had summoned the American tech billionaire over a probe into his social media platform X and AI chatbot Grok. Prosecutors said they had “taken note of the absence of the first people summoned”, without mentioning Musk’s name. The billionaire had dubbed the French authorities “retards” weeks earlier in a French-language X post. “The presence or absence [of the people summoned] is not an obstacle to continuing... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350781/elon-musk-summoned-france-show-over-deepfakes-x-grok-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350781/elon-musk-summoned-france-show-over-deepfakes-x-grok-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:52:19 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang First, it was the Panama Canal, then came the Strait of Hormuz. What could be next? America’s actions in the two major shipping channels have grabbed headlines, and global attention is shifting to the strategic importance and potential risks of other critical trade waterways. Some of the chokepoints were examined in a US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) investigation in March last year of unfavourable shipping conditions, signalling America’s heightened focus on international routes and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350772/beyond-panama-and-hormuz-8-critical-waterways-under-global-microscope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350772/beyond-panama-and-hormuz-8-critical-waterways-under-global-microscope?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been putting her own spin on omotenashi, the Japanese concept of hospitality, to build personal rapport with foreign leaders as her diplomatic skills are put to the test about six months into office. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, who was not widely known for her diplomatic experience before taking office, has been adding an element of entertainment to summit talks and relying on personal gifts to win over her counterparts. Most... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350665/how-sanae-takaichi-redefining-japanese-diplomacy-personal-touches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350665/how-sanae-takaichi-redefining-japanese-diplomacy-personal-touches?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:40:14 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Across Asia, a revolution in how people move was already gathering speed. War in Iran just hit the accelerator. Prashant Tiwari was among the first people at his company to go electric when he swapped his petrol car for a Hyundai Kona five years ago. Now, his colleagues at Fusemachines Nepal – an AI firm in Kathmandu – are calling him a prophet. “They say you don’t have any problem,” the 36-year-old product manager said. “I think it is foolish to buy a petrol-run car now, and everyone generally... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350481/asias-ev-revolution-shifts-overdrive-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350481/asias-ev-revolution-shifts-overdrive-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press British police have arrested two teenagers in connection with a weekend arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London, as Jewish leaders express concern about a wave of incidents targeting their community. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes of London’s Metropolitan Police Service on Monday said officers arrested two young men, aged 19 and 17, overnight in relation to the attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in the borough of Harrow. The department has made 15 arrests related to six attacks on... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350657/uk-police-investigating-iran-link-arson-attacks-jewish-sites-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350657/uk-police-investigating-iran-link-arson-attacks-jewish-sites-london?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:39:17 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Pope Leo on Sunday recalled the “sorrow and great suffering” Angolans endured for centuries, as the American pope prayed at a Catholic shrine located at the site of an important hub of the African slave trade during Portugal’s colonial rule. Leo travelled to the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, nestled in the Angolan savannahs of baobab trees at the edge of the Kwanza River. It became a major pilgrimage destination after believers reported an appearance by the Virgin Mary around 1833. But the Church of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3350655/pope-leo-prays-catholic-shrine-angola-was-centre-african-slave-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3350655/pope-leo-prays-catholic-shrine-angola-was-centre-african-slave-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:25:23 +0000