https://www.scmp.com/rss/324753/feed The latest breaking news and stories on the United States (US), a country in North America known as a federal republic, and the world’s largest economy. Also covering US-China relations, plus commentary and updates on US economy, politics, society, healthcare, military and crime. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump is seeking congressional approval for US$1.5 trillion in defence spending in his new budget proposal, underscoring his administration’s focus on military investment as the country remains engaged in conflict in the Middle East. The blueprint released by the White House on Friday for the financial year 2027 proposes a 44 per cent increase in the US defence budget – implementing the widely controversial plan first unveiled by Trump in a January social media post. If... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3349007/trump-administration-seeks-us15-trillion-defence-new-budget-request?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3349007/trump-administration-seeks-us15-trillion-defence-new-budget-request?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:26:42 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen One crew member from a US fighter jet shot down over Iran has been rescued by US forces, multiple news outlets reported on Friday, citing two US officials, while a second crew member remains missing. Iran on Friday claimed to have shot down an American fighter jet, releasing photos of apparent wreckage of an F-15E, while the United States reportedly launched a search-and-rescue operation for the crew. Earlier, Iranian state media released photos and videos purported to be the debris of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349006/one-us-pilot-rescued-another-missing-after-iran-says-it-downed-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349006/one-us-pilot-rescued-another-missing-after-iran-says-it-downed-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:47:43 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Artemis II astronauts have captured our blue planet’s brilliant beauty as they zoom ever closer to the moon. Nasa released the crew’s first downlinked images Friday, 1½ days into the first astronaut moon shot in more than half a century. The first photo taken by commander Reid Wiseman shows a curved slice of Earth in one of the capsule’s windows. The second shows the entire globe with the oceans topped by swirling white tendrils of clouds As of midmorning on Friday, Wiseman and his crew... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349005/artemis-iis-moon-bound-astronauts-share-first-images-earths-brilliant-blue-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349005/artemis-iis-moon-bound-astronauts-share-first-images-earths-brilliant-blue-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:33:26 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press American employers added a surprisingly strong 178,000 new jobs last month, rebounding from a dismal February, while the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3 per cent. The Labor Department reported on Friday that hiring marked a rebound from the loss of 133,000 jobs in February. The job gains were about three times what economists had forecast. The unemployment rate was down from 4.4 per cent in February. That is partly because the labour force – those working and looking for work – dropped by... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348998/us-adds-178000-jobs-march-rebounding-february-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348998/us-adds-178000-jobs-march-rebounding-february-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:23:03 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Chinese researchers unveiled a gravity detector with world-leading precision last month, potentially expanding the military applications of the technology. It uses a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) to detect objects by measuring tiny changes in gravity. The team that developed the instrument says it can be used for scientific research and finding underground resources. It also brings the country one step closer to being able to spot patrolling nuclear submarines. According to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348984/chinas-gravity-detecting-squid-gets-closer-spotting-us-nuclear-submarines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348984/chinas-gravity-detecting-squid-gets-closer-spotting-us-nuclear-submarines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese companies engaging in artificial intelligence activities are required to set up internal “AI ethics review committees” under new rules released by Beijing on Thursday, effective immediately. The notice comes as policymakers look to ensure that fast-paced AI progress can continue in a “healthy” manner amid growing consumer and enterprise adoption. Jointly released by 10 government bodies and institutions including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Development... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348995/beijing-mandates-internal-ai-ethics-reviews-ensure-controllable-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348995/beijing-mandates-internal-ai-ethics-reviews-ensure-controllable-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:54:53 +0000 Agencies Agencies President Donald ⁠Trump on Friday said the ⁠US can open the Strait of Hormuz with a little more time, as pressure mounts for his administration to find a ‌quick resolution to a war against Iran. “With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL,& MAKE A FORTUNE,” he said in a post on Truth Social. Nearly ⁠five weeks after it started with a joint US-Israeli aerial ‌assault, the war in Iran continues to spread chaos across the region and roil ‌financial markets, raising... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348991/us-can-take-strait-hormuz-more-time-says-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348991/us-can-take-strait-hormuz-more-time-says-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:18:26 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang The dust and debris of the US-Israeli war on Iran have yet to settle, but its strategic shock waves have reached East Asia. From Tokyo to Taipei, a reassessment is under way. The conflict, intended to project American resolve, has been a brutal stress test for the US-led order – with catastrophic results for Washington’s credibility. Far from cementing its primacy, America’s misadventure has revealed a superpower that is overstretched, vulnerable and seen as an unreliable partner. This erosion... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348665/east-asias-crisis-confidence-us-militarising-chinas-backyard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348665/east-asias-crisis-confidence-us-militarising-chinas-backyard?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen In a rare condemnation of its strategic partner, China has come out in opposition to Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations, calling for a ceasefire and a guarantee of the safety of shipping lanes. Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said: “China does not support Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council nations and condemns all indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians and non-military targets. The security of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348986/china-europe-and-why-beijing-took-swing-iran-over-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348986/china-europe-and-why-beijing-took-swing-iran-over-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:16 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The former chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has called for cross-strait dialogue to break the state of “cold peace”, rebuild trust and avoid conflict. “The key to cross-strait relations lies not in radical confrontation, but in profound mutual trust,” Hung Hsiu-chu wrote on a popular mainland online platform on Thursday. She also called for a return to the 1992 consensus, an unofficial agreement between Beijing and the then-ruling KMT in Taiwan. It states that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348979/no-more-cold-peace-across-taiwan-strait-former-kmt-chairwoman-calls-rebuild-trust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348979/no-more-cold-peace-across-taiwan-strait-former-kmt-chairwoman-calls-rebuild-trust?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:09:15 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The US government has unveiled an AI export initiative designed to cement American technological leadership while countering China’s growing influence in the sector. Washington is inviting US companies to form “preset” consortiums to offer full-stack artificial intelligence solutions around the world. Applications will be accepted until the end of June, the International Trade Administration (ITA), an agency under the US Department of Commerce, said in a news release issued on Wednesday. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348951/washington-launches-export-initiative-ensure-future-ai-led-united-states?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348951/washington-launches-export-initiative-ensure-future-ai-led-united-states?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:00:19 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China would be closely watching the US Artemis 2 lunar fly-by mission, which has already encountered challenges, including a malfunctioning toilet soon after launch, an expert said. As China gears up to bring astronauts to the moon, the first human return to lunar orbit since the Apollo era over 50 years ago could offer Beijing valuable technical insights. Quentin Parker, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Hong Kong, described China as watching the Artemis 2 mission “like a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348929/china-watching-hawk-us-artemis-2-crew-fixes-toilet-moon-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348929/china-watching-hawk-us-artemis-2-crew-fixes-toilet-moon-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:00:09 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A New Zealand doctor has sent the US embassy in Wellington an invoice for his clinic’s fuel bills, saying that President Donald Trump and his administration should take responsibility for starting a war that has sent oil prices spiralling. Shane Dunphy asked the embassy to reimburse him for the NZ$2,790.95 (US$1,600) in petrol vouchers he gave staff at Onslow Medical Centre in the capital so that they could travel to work, The Guardian newspaper reported. “Because of the current fuel crisis,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348977/new-zealand-doctor-bills-us-embassy-rising-fuel-costs-payment-expected-within-7-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348977/new-zealand-doctor-bills-us-embassy-rising-fuel-costs-payment-expected-within-7-days?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:25:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Israeli military said Friday it had struck more than 3,500 targets across Lebanon in the month since fighting with the Hezbollah militant group began. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel to avenge the US-Israeli attack that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel has responded with massive strikes across Lebanon and a ground offensive. The Israeli military said on Friday it had killed about 1,000... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348961/israel-strikes-over-3500-lebanon-targets-month-says-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348961/israel-strikes-over-3500-lebanon-targets-month-says-military?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:26:29 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Subscribers: The Daily Pulse won’t be published on April 6 because of China’s Ching Ming Festival. We will resume publication on Tuesday, April 7. Data released on the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs announcement shows how his trade war has hammered the United States’ direct imports from China as manufacturers shift production to other markets. The US goods trade deficit with China fell by more than 50 per cent in the first two months of this year to... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3348953/liberation-day-anniversary-war-iran-taiwans-kmt-visits-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3348953/liberation-day-anniversary-war-iran-taiwans-kmt-visits-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:01:05 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell The Trump administration has assured us that the long-awaited summit in Beijing between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump will now be held on May 14 to 15. Whether you believe the meeting will go ahead is up to you. Beijing has not confirmed it, but neither has it contradicted the White House. That is more than can be said for Tehran’s brutal response to White House claims that US-Iran peace negotiations are under way. Even if we take the White House summit claim at face value,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348890/3-reasons-xi-trump-summit-wont-be-waste-time-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348890/3-reasons-xi-trump-summit-wont-be-waste-time-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai A Chinese fugitive suspected of drug-related crimes has been repatriated from the United States and handed to police in China, the first such case in years, according to state media. The suspect was returned to China by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) via cooperation channels between the two countries, based on information provided by Chinese narcotics control authorities, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday, citing the Ministry of Public Security. The Chinese national,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348926/beijing-hails-us-cooperation-ice-returns-suspected-drug-smuggler-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348926/beijing-hails-us-cooperation-ice-returns-suspected-drug-smuggler-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:00:11 +0000 dpa dpa Iran on Friday said it shot down an F-35 fighter jet. A statement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military force, said the fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace by a new, advanced defence system. There was no initial confirmation of the incident from the United States, which has been waging war against Iran alongside Israel since February 28. The IRGC said the F-35 was the second to have been shot down. “Due to the complete destruction of the aircraft,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348936/iran-says-shot-it-down-f-35-fighter-jet-new-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348936/iran-says-shot-it-down-f-35-fighter-jet-new-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:56:58 +0000 The Star The Star Fourteen Chinese nationals and a Malaysian man have been detained by the immigration department for various offences in Kuala Lumpur. In the first case, three Chinese nationals were detained for using fake passes as supporting documents to obtain entry visas to the United States. Immigration director general Zakaria Shaaban said the arrests were made following intelligence gathering and an enforcement operation conducted on Wednesday. “A team from the enforcement division detained one man and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348931/3-chinese-nationals-arrested-malaysia-over-fake-us-visa-passes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348931/3-chinese-nationals-arrested-malaysia-over-fake-us-visa-passes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:48:22 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japan’s order for hundreds of Tomahawk missiles from the US is under threat as the American-Israeli war with Iran burns through inventories, the latest example of how the conflict is drawing in supplies and troops at the expense of defending against Washington’s primary strategic rival, China. Tomahawk missiles are a centrepiece of Tokyo’s new strategy of equipping itself with long-range strike capabilities to deal with challenges from China and North Korea. But Washington has informed Tokyo... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348914/us-delays-japans-tomahawk-missile-supplies-iran-strikes-take-priority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348914/us-delays-japans-tomahawk-missile-supplies-iran-strikes-take-priority?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:30:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Threatening to destroy Iran’s electricity grid and to reduce the country of 90 million to destitution, US President Donald Trump is shattering precedent by not just accepting but gloating about acts seen as potential war crimes. The consequences for Trump, at least in the near term, are probably none, experts say, as his administration works hard to undermine international institutions tasked with keeping norms. The Geneva Conventions governing the laws of war, agreed following World War II,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348912/trumps-stone-age-threats-against-iran-spark-war-crimes-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348912/trumps-stone-age-threats-against-iran-spark-war-crimes-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:26:47 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Controlled escalation? Trump hails ‘victories’ in Iran but vows more strikes US President Donald Trump declared the US‑Israel war against Iran had delivered “decisive, overwhelming victories”, even as he signalled that key military... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3348885/trump-hails-victories-iran-chinas-underwater-tunnels-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3348885/trump-hails-victories-iran-chinas-underwater-tunnels-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Cuba’s government announced on Thursday that it was pardoning 2,010 prisoners as a “humanitarian” gesture during Holy Week, after pledging in March to release dozens amid heightened US pressure on Havana. The major announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump eased a de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude to the fuel-starved island. The Trump administration has called for change in communist-run Cuba’s system of government and the US president has... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3348888/cuba-pardons-2010-prisoners-humanitarian-gesture-amid-us-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3348888/cuba-pardons-2010-prisoners-humanitarian-gesture-amid-us-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:50:12 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang – https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/article/3348877/strait-hormuz-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/article/3348877/strait-hormuz-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:26:39 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Korean Air said on Friday it will faithfully respond to legal procedures in the United States, where a lawsuit was filed in Virginia on behalf of the estate of Porscha Tynisha Brown, who died at age 33 in March 2024, during a flight from Washington to Incheon operated by the airline. Burns Charest, the law firm representing the complainants, claimed her death resulted from a series of critical failures by Korean Air flight personnel. According to the complaint, Brown experienced sudden... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348875/i-cant-breathe-korean-air-sued-over-flight-death-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348875/i-cant-breathe-korean-air-sued-over-flight-death-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:40:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump said on Thursday the tallest bridge in Iran had been destroyed, hours after threatening to bomb the country “back to the Stone Ages”. Ghodratollah Seif, the deputy governor of Alborz province, where the B1 bridge is located, said the strike had killed eight people and wounded 95 others, according to state TV and Fars news agency. Due to reporting restrictions, Agence France-Presse is not able to access the sites of strikes nor to independently verify tolls in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348868/trump-hails-destruction-irans-tallest-bridge-warns-much-more-follow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348868/trump-hails-destruction-irans-tallest-bridge-warns-much-more-follow?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:52:34 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian French luxury brand Louis Vuitton has recently launched a watering can-shaped handbag in China targeting male customers, helping the brand stay in the public eye. The men’s bag is shaped like a gardening watering can and is priced at 36,000 yuan (US$5,217), while a matching watering can ornament retails for 7,750 yuan. The item sparked discussion on Chinese social media platforms, with consumers noting that Louis Vuitton frequently released such whimsical, quirky designs. The brand’s customer... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348830/eye-catching-design-meets-eye-watering-prices-lv-launches-watering-can-man-bag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348830/eye-catching-design-meets-eye-watering-prices-lv-launches-watering-can-man-bag?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong More Hongkongers are expected to travel elsewhere during the five-day Easter weekend from Friday despite a sharp jump in fuel surcharges, according to industry leaders. They also expect more visitors from mainland China during an overlapping Ching Ming Festival holiday, but doubt the influx will deliver any significant boost to the city’s tourism revenue. Some noted that the Easter break might have encouraged travel to the Middle East, but many tour groups have been cancelled until October due... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348849/more-hongkongers-travel-over-long-easter-break-despite-higher-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348849/more-hongkongers-travel-over-long-easter-break-despite-higher-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall After playing in a forested area in the Solomon Islands, Billy’s children often break out in rashes or itchy boils at home. A few years ago, the family became dizzy, suffered headaches and vomited – they believed it was due to the clams from nearby mangrove beds that they had eaten. “It was lucky that we stopped the children from eating them,” said Billy, whose family lives a hand-to-mouth existence in the village of Yandina in the Russell Islands. The 50-year-old farmer suspected that... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348779/solomon-islands-residents-live-fear-wwii-bomb-explosions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348779/solomon-islands-residents-live-fear-wwii-bomb-explosions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After crashing his SUV last week in Florida, Tiger Woods took out his phone and told a deputy, “I was just talking to the president,” according to body camera footage released Thursday showing Woods’ arrest on a DUI charge. The phone conversation was not captured on video, but Woods could be heard saying, “Thank you so much,” as he hung up and the deputy approached. It was not clear if Woods was referring to US President Donald Trump, whose former daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump, is dating... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348863/after-car-crash-tiger-woods-told-officer-he-was-talking-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348863/after-car-crash-tiger-woods-told-officer-he-was-talking-president?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:33:45 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial US President Donald Trump’s televised address to the nation left it and the world barely wiser about a timeline for ending the United States-Israeli war with Iran or how a blockaded sea lane for global oil supplies is to be reopened. After previously predicting the war could end in two to three weeks, Trump hailed “decisive, overwhelming” victories in Iran on a scale rarely seen. But he signalled that key military objectives were still “nearing completion” and that further strikes could inflict... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348813/trumps-iran-address-fails-set-minds-ease-or-clearly-signal-direction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348813/trumps-iran-address-fails-set-minds-ease-or-clearly-signal-direction?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung The story of Rocky’s Matcha begins not with a business plan, but with a shaman. It was the summer of 2020, and the Covid-19 pandemic had brought the world to a halt. At the time, Rocky Xu was working as the global head of brand partnerships for Beats by Dre. He had worked in the corporate world for a long time and, seeking clarity, he enrolled in a 21-day chakra cleanse with a shaman. It was easy enough, but, as Xu was leaving, he was given one final, gutting task. “He hit me with the Steve Jobs... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348660/how-rockys-matcha-founder-built-blossoming-tea-brand-after-being-told-quit-coffee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348660/how-rockys-matcha-founder-built-blossoming-tea-brand-after-being-told-quit-coffee?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Frank Chen Xiaofei Xu,Frank Chen As China and the United States wrapped up their sixth and most recent round of trade talks in Paris this March, a minor mishap briefly stole the spotlight. A sudden gust of wind toppled two American flags in the background, where journalists were waiting for US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Officials rushed to tape them to the wall – a fitting tableau for a trade war that, one year on, is patched together by a truce yet remains far from resolved. At their respective press appearances,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348826/us-china-trade-war-1-year-who-really-holds-upper-hand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348826/us-china-trade-war-1-year-who-really-holds-upper-hand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar Four-time NBA champion, Olympic gold medallist and Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is one of the biggest names in basketball. Now, his daughter Me’Arah O’Neal is gearing up to continue his legacy. The 19-year-old has followed in her legendary father’s footsteps and currently plays guard for the University of Florida’s women’s basketball team, the Florida Gators. She is signed to LIFT Management. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SEC Network... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3348650/meet-shaquille-oneals-youngest-daughter-mearah-who-just-beat-her-fathers-sec-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3348650/meet-shaquille-oneals-youngest-daughter-mearah-who-just-beat-her-fathers-sec-record?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Four Artemis astronauts were zooming towards the moon on Thursday after a major engine firing, a milestone that commits Nasa to the first crewed lunar fly-by in more than half a century. With enough thrust to accelerate a stationary car to highway driving speed in less than three seconds, the Orion capsule engine blasted the astronauts on their trajectory towards the moon, which they now will loop as part of the 10-day Artemis II mission. “Human beings have left Earth orbit” for the first time... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348862/nasas-artemis-crew-gets-green-light-make-big-push-moon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348862/nasas-artemis-crew-gets-green-light-make-big-push-moon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:52:18 +0000 Richard Harris Richard Harris The mighty Zambezi River has its source in northern Zambia, and flows north, west, south, then east, tracing borders for several countries including Zimbabwe. As the river enters Zimbabwe, the water molecules begin to flow faster, unknowingly energised – developing first into a rush, then eventually a torrent as they plunge down the Victoria Falls. This is an excellent analogy of the extremes of stock market price movements. In a stock market crash, prices move slowly, then very fast. My... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348698/us-hong-kong-theres-no-excuse-insider-trading?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348698/us-hong-kong-theres-no-excuse-insider-trading?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked the Army’s top uniformed officer to step down, the Pentagon said on Thursday without giving a reason for the departure as the United States wages a war against Iran. General Randy George “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately”, said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman. George has held the post of Army chief of staff, which typically runs for four years, since August 2023 under the Biden... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348861/hegseth-ousts-armys-top-uniformed-officer-even-us-wages-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348861/hegseth-ousts-armys-top-uniformed-officer-even-us-wages-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:23:47 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse In a leafy Tehran park on Thursday, Iranians gathered for picnics on the final day of the Persian new year holidays, shrugging off US President Donald Trump’s threats to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages”. The country has been at war for more than a month and Trump – who launched the conflict alongside Israel on February 28 – has vowed to strike Iran hard for another “two or three weeks”. Powerful blasts shook the Iranian capital on Thursday. Still, hundreds of families sat out under mild,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348860/iran-war-music-and-barbecues-tehran-despite-trump-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348860/iran-war-music-and-barbecues-tehran-despite-trump-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:11:46 +0000 Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has voiced “serious concerns” over China’s intensified inspections of Panama-flagged vessels, vowing that the US “stands firmly” with Panama amid the Latin American country’s escalating fallout with Beijing. Rubio said China’s recent actions “raise serious concerns about the use of economic tools to undermine the rule of law in Panama, a sovereign nation and vital partner for global commerce”. “Detentions, delays, or other impediments to the movement of vessels... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:34:46 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan After avoiding much of the churn, firings and senior official turnover that marked his first term, US President Donald Trump on Thursday added to the string of high-profile departures in recent days, as bad news heaped more pressure on the White House. The administration announced that US Attorney General Pam Bondi was leaving to be replaced by her deputy, Todd Blanche, in an acting capacity. “We love Pam,” Trump wrote on social media. “She will be transitioning to a much-needed and important... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348858/trump-fires-pam-bondi-us-attorney-general-amid-epstein-files-furore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348858/trump-fires-pam-bondi-us-attorney-general-amid-epstein-files-furore?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:20:46 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang Khushboo Razdan,Yuanyue Dang Direct trade between China and the United States continues its shrinking trend, new US government data showed on Thursday, as the anniversary of “Liberation Day” highlights how last year’s tariff escalations deepened tensions between the two global powers. The figures come ahead of a planned leaders’ meeting in Beijing next month, where both sides are expected to explore ways to stabilise relations after a period of renewed economic strain, and just hours before he announced a fresh set of... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348857/trump-tariffs-cast-shadow-us-china-trade-shrinks-ahead-leaders-meet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3348857/trump-tariffs-cast-shadow-us-china-trade-shrinks-ahead-leaders-meet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:25:26 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A UK-led meeting of some 40 countries on the Strait of Hormuz crisis wrapped up on Thursday with a demand for the “immediate and unconditional” reopening of the vital shipping route but no immediate breakthrough. “Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail,” British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said in a statement. “To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348854/britain-says-40-countries-discuss-reopening-strait-hormuz-after-iran-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348854/britain-says-40-countries-discuss-reopening-strait-hormuz-after-iran-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:09:08 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen The US is likely to “escalate to de-escalate” its conflict with Iran, planning more aggressive strikes in the coming weeks to force a resolution, even as a complete ceasefire seems unlikely, according to Chinese analysts. In a prime-time address on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump declared that the US-Israel war against Iran had delivered “decisive, overwhelming victories”, with Washington’s core military objectives nearly completed. Without giving details, Trump also threatened to send... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348832/what-will-us-do-next-its-war-iran-chinese-pundits-point-likely-path?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348832/what-will-us-do-next-its-war-iran-chinese-pundits-point-likely-path?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:00:16 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Iran’s exiled prince Reza Pahlavi plans to flip the script on Beijing Allies of exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi signalled a potential reset in Tehran’s ties with China and Russia, as the 65-year-old increasingly positioned himself as a central figure in Iran’s political future – a claim that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348584/chinas-iran-war-strategy-trumps-hormuz-ask-7-global-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348584/chinas-iran-war-strategy-trumps-hormuz-ask-7-global-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Stocks slumped and oil prices soared on Thursday after President Donald Trump vowed the US will continue to attack Iran and failed to offer a clear timetable for ending the conflict in the Middle East. The S&P 500 fell 1.1 per cent, with three out of every four stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 545 points, or 1.2 per cent, as of 9.52am Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.6 per cent. Major indexes throughout Europe and Asia also fell. The broad... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348851/us-crude-tops-us110-wall-street-falls-after-trump-vows-more-iran-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348851/us-crude-tops-us110-wall-street-falls-after-trump-vows-more-iran-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:28:54 +0000 Vanessa Cai,William Zheng Vanessa Cai,William Zheng Donald Trump’s threat to seize Kharg Island – a key Iranian oil hub – could be a risky proposition, analysts say, given its strategic location in the Persian Gulf. The small coral island lying about 33km (21 miles) offshore handles around 90 per cent of Iran’s crude shipments. It also sits close to missile and drone ranges stationed on the Iranian mainland and about 660km (410 miles) from the now heavily fortified Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration has been considering deploying troops... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348843/how-trumps-plan-take-irans-kharg-island-could-come-unhinged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348843/how-trumps-plan-take-irans-kharg-island-could-come-unhinged?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:28:37 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that a military operation to liberate the Strait of Hormuz is “unrealistic”, while lamenting Donald Trump’s differing daily statements on the Iran war and Nato. “There are those who advocate for the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz by force through a military operation, a position sometimes expressed by the United States,” Macron said during a visit to South Korea. “I say sometimes because it has varied, it is never the option we have chosen... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348842/frances-macron-says-military-operation-liberate-strait-hormuz-unrealistic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348842/frances-macron-says-military-operation-liberate-strait-hormuz-unrealistic?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:51:47 +0000 Hao Nan Hao Nan A month into the Iran war, Washington still says it expects to achieve its objectives in weeks, not months. That may prove optimistic. The terms on offer from the United States and Iran barely overlap, and markets remain unconvinced a durable settlement is close. But one fact is clear: the war’s most consequential effects may be felt not only in the Middle East but across East Asia. It would be a mistake to see this as only an oil story. It is also about hierarchy. In East Asia, the war is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348429/how-east-asia-being-quietly-reordered-us-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348429/how-east-asia-being-quietly-reordered-us-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong An oil-supply shock caused by the US-Israel conflict with Iran is complicating US President Donald Trump’s already fragile mineral-alliance strategy, analysts said, given the acute vulnerability of energy-intensive rare earth refining and critical metal supply chains to such disruption. Oil and gas are essential for the critical mineral industry, according to analysts. Hydrometallurgical extraction for rare earth elements and other metals, such as nickel and cobalt, relies on a suite of chemical... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348809/trumps-fragile-ex-china-mineral-alliance-plan-faces-cost-surge-amid-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348809/trumps-fragile-ex-china-mineral-alliance-plan-faces-cost-surge-amid-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army has upgraded its ageing tanks for a potential Taiwan operation, equipping them with a system to counter drone attacks and anti-tank missiles, according to state media. Type 96A main battle tanks with the GL-6 active protection system, or APS, installed were shown in video footage released by official newspaper China Youth Daily on Monday. The tanks belong to the 71st Group Army unit under the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, which is mainly responsible for possible... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348816/pla-upgrades-ageing-tanks-protection-system-potential-taiwan-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348816/pla-upgrades-ageing-tanks-protection-system-potential-taiwan-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000