Advertisement
Advertisement
Latest

Politics

Is Taiwan’s opposition KMT splitting into pro-US and pro-Beijing camps?

Big differences have emerged over defence spending just as the party’s chairwoman prepares to set off for the mainland.

videocam
Differing views have emerged within the Kuomintang over a special defence budget. Photo: Reuters

Celebrities

Meet Irene Choi, the Harvard grad who plays intern Joy on The Pitt

The Harvard grad with a Korean background has enjoyed a string of TV successes including the Emmy award-winning medical drama.

Harvard-educated Irene Choi stars in the new season of The Pitt. Photos: Handout, @irenechoi/Instagram

Trending in China

Compound Chinese surnames come from historic figures, ancient states; fewer than 100 remain

From celebrities to ordinary folk, millions of Chinese have such family names, which are considered rare and precious.

In China, compound surnames are rare and valued. Once over a thousand existed, but now fewer than a hundred remain. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Military

Iran points finger at Saudis and UAE after Chinese-made drone was shot down

Tehran says it has shot down a Wing Loong II, which could be proof of ‘active complicity’ in the US-Israeli war.

videocam
Iran says a Wing Long II drone has been shot down over its territory. Photo: Dickson Lee

Basketball

South China call on some old hands as they start Champions League Asia campaign

Hong Kong side will take on Mongolian club Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos, and Taiwanese teams New Taipei Kings and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots next week.

South China’s recruits (from left) Leung Shiu-wah, Dominic Gilbert, Glen Yang and Tsai Choi-kwan flanking coach Lo Yi-ting. Photo: Handout
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Europe

‘Ease the burden’: 5 EU finance ministers urge tax on energy firms’ profits

As fuel prices spike, ministers from Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria send joint letter to EU Commission.

videocam
A pump jack and drilling rig in Texas. File photo: Reuters

Society

Punters hoping for happy Easter by winning HK$80 million Mark Six snowball draw

Customers brave heavy rain to buy tickets at ‘lucky’ Stanley Street betting outlet for Saturday night’s draw.

The outlet on Stanley Street is considered one of the luckiest by Mark Six players. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Entertainment

The tough choices Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto made for new movie

From floaty space dynamics to dropping franchise characters, Miyamoto reveals some of the decisions behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

videocam
A still from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the new film in the long-running Nintendo franchise based on the Italian plumber created by Shigeru Miyamoto. Photo: Courtesy of Nintendo and Illumination

Racing

Lucky Sweynesse and Leung get their time to shine in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy

Four-time Group One victor ready for winners’ circle return at Sha Tin’s Easter Monday meeting.

Lucky Sweynesse and Hugh Bowman win the 2024 Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan

World Opinion

Macroscope | Why dollar and gold prices are looking abnormal amid Iran war

Two apparent anomalies stand out in recent market movements – the rising dollar and falling gold prices.

videocam
US President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on April 1. Photo: AP
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Economy

China’s GPS rival, BeiDou, dominates at home. Now, it aims to convert the world

China is overhauling its home-grown satellite navigation system as part of a push to expand the network’s global influence.

videocam
A display shows the design of the BeiDou satellite navigation system in eastern China’s Shandong province. Photo: Getty Images

Southeast Asia

Malaysia mourns death of former transport minister Ling Liong Sik at 82

The trained medical doctor, who entered politics in 1968, served as transport minister from 1986 to 2003.

Ling Liong Sik waves to his supporters during the MCA Extraordinary General Meeting on June 24, 2001. Photo: AP

Society

Thousands of Hongkongers brave heavy rain for Shenzhen trip on day 2 of Easter

More than 150,000 residents crossed the border on Saturday morning drawn by wider range of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

People at Coco Park shopping centre in Shenzhen. Photo: Edmond So

Arts

How Seoul’s National Museum of Korea is pulling in record crowds

The South Korean museum has changed its focus to engaging attendees rather than just showing them exhibits, and visitor numbers are rising.

Visitors browse a souvenir shop at the National Museum of Korea, in Seoul, which attracted a record 6.5 million visitors in 2025. Photo: Kyodo

Economics

UAE squeezes Iranian economic lifeline in retaliation for attacks

The UAE has quietly banned most Iranians from entering the country or transiting its airports, and cracked down on IRGC-related networks.

videocam
An Emirates aircraft prepares for landing as a smoke plume rises from a fire near Dubai International Airport on March 16. Photo: AFP
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Football

Japan remain Asia’s best World Cup hope as fellow qualifiers get mixed results

Hajime Moriyasu’s men look most likely to make impact among continent’s nine teams heading to North America after noteworthy wins in Europe.

Japan, Asia’s No 1 team, beat Scotland and England away in their two friendlies. Photo: Kyodo

Middle East

Rights groups raise alarm after Iran executes 2 more opposition group members

The hangings are the latest targeting members of the banned People’s Mojahedin of Iran after four others were executed earlier in the week.

videocam
People protest outside the US State Department on Monday to highlight the executions of MEK members in Karaj, Iran. Photo: AP

Hong Kong

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

Science

China team releases world’s first bamboo drone flight control software – for free

Breakthrough in low-cost, eco-friendly UAVs as researchers unveil open-source software to enhance development.

videocam
5
The system tackles a key bottleneck in sustainable drone design: integrating non-traditional materials like bamboo with high-performance autonomous controls. Photo: Xinhua

Trending in China

Chinese woman whose dog was poisoned to death by neighbour, sacrifices job for cause

Battling pet lover spends years fighting for justice for her beloved canine, facing down bullies, rumour-mongers.

A Chinese woman studied law to fight for her pet dog which a neighbour poisoned. After her pet died in 2022, she sacrificed her job and social life for the cause. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Today in Photos

Gallery | In pictures: Spain marks Holy Week with colourful celebrations

Catholics join a Holy Monday procession in the northern town of Zamora on March 31, 2026. Photo: AFP

Racing

Newnham hopes return to mile and Group Two level propels My Wish to victory

After a last-start fourth behind Romantic Warrior over 2,000m, the classy five-year-old drops back to his best trip on Easter Monday.

My Wish warms up for the Chairman’s Trophy with an impressive trial win under Hugh Bowman. Photos: Kenneth Chan

Middle East

Israel sets sights on Lebanon’s Hezbollah sites after blowing up crucial bridges

Lebanon was drawn into the Iran war when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel to avenge the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

videocam
An Israeli air strike hits a bridge over the Litani River in Qasmiyeh, southern Lebanon, on March 22. Photo: Xinhua

Lifestyle & Culture

Malaysian bookshop hits on novel idea to hook readers addicted to ‘brain rot’

BookXcess’ ‘Brain Un-Rot Library’ turns 100 books into short TikTok clips similar to the type of videos blamed for wrecking attention span.

A couple reads using different methods at a Kuala Lumpur Reads event. Photo: Instagram/kualalumpurreads

Culture

Our cheat sheet for the best things to do in Hong Kong, April 5-18

Enjoy Easter at The Repulse Bay, Hong Kong Palace Museum’s equine exhibition, a kitchen takeover at Zozzona and Aussie cocktails at Bourke’s.

The Repulse Bay’s Easter campaign features a host of activities. Photo: courtesy The Repulse Bay
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Law and Crime

Hospital Authority apologises for data breach involving 56,000 patients

Privacy watchdog and police investigating after patients’ names, identity card numbers, dates of hospitals visits and medical procedures leaked.

The Hospital Authority building in Mong Kok. Photo: Felix Wong

East Asia

Safety fears bloom in Japan as ageing cherry trees collapse in Tokyo parks

People love walking or picnicking under the trees during the cherry blossom viewing season.

videocam
People picnic outside a cordoned-off area set up to inspect the health of cherry blossom trees at Kinuta Park in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: AP

Health & Environment

Amber rainstorm warning in Hong Kong, with thunderstorms expected over weekend

Heavy rain at more than 70mm per hour expected in Tai Po, with potential for serious flooding, Observatory says.

Tourists take pictures at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront amid cloudy weather on Friday. Photo: Jelly Tse

Food & Drink

Crispy, chewy, soft: why texture rules South Korea’s viral food trends

Korean food trends are prioritising texture over taste thanks to social media videos in which food can be experienced as a tactile sensation.

Texture, not taste, is driving South Korea’s viral food trends. Think chewy, crispy snacks like butter rice cakes (pictured) and gelatinous ice goby sashimi. Photo: courtesy of Mond Cookie

Society

KMB told to probe machines that gave free bus rides as new HK$2 scheme launched

Faulty machines offered full rebates to customers who tapped their Octopus cards, rather than charging them HK$2 or 20 per cent of trips above HK$10.

Passengers at a bus stop at Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei. Photo: Jelly Tse