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Africa

South Africa’s President Ramaphosa to meet Trump in US over rising tensions

This week, the US resettled a first group of white Afrikaners that Trump claims are facing ‘persecution’ in South Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Africa CEO Forum annual summit in Abidjan on Monday. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS

Europe

US R&B singer Chris Brown arrested in UK for 2023 assault: reports

Brown, ex-boyfriend of Rihanna, was arrested in Manchester over alleged bottle attack of music producer Abe Diaw at London’s Tape nightclub.

US R&B star Chris Brown at the 2020 Grammys in Los Angeles. It was reported on Thursday that Brown has been arrested in the UK in connection with a 2023 assault at a London nightclub. Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio to attend Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass

Pope Leo had been critical of Trump and Vance before taking leadership of the global Roman Catholic Church.

US Vice-President J.D. Vance departs Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport, in Ciampino, Italy on April 20, 2025. Photo: AFP

Politics

Just Saying | Racists and losers: J.D. Vance and America’s stupid trade war

His rant about ‘Chinese peasants’ reflects his government’s frustration over blinking first in Trump’s high-stakes game of chicken with China.

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US Vice-President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: AP

Entertainment

Review | A Pale View of Hills: Suzu Hirose, Fumi Nikaido in Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation

Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Kei Ishikawa’s film moves adroitly between the 1950s and 1980s as a writer probes her family history.

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Suzu Hirose as young bride Etsuko in a still from A Pale View of Hills, adapted from a 1982 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro and directed by Kei Ishikawa. Fumi Nikaido, Yoh Yoshida and Camilla Aiko co-star.
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Military

Will satellite dogfights be the final frontier for US-China space rivalry?

Analysts warn of more intense space race as rival powers grappling with low trust and transparency seek both superiority and deterrence.

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Photo: Brian Wang

United States & Canada

US judge pleads not guilty to impeding immigrant’s arrest

The case came after the US Justice Department vowed to probe local officials who impede the administration’s immigration enforcement.

Protesters outside the Milwaukee federal courthouse as Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan appeared for a hearing on Thursday. Photo: AP

Travel & Leisure

Endurance swim attempt around Martha’s Vineyard to mark Jaws anniversary

Lewis Pugh to brave cold waters, sharks on 12-day attempt at first swim around island, and urge an end to mass slaughter of the creatures.

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Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh near the Edgartown Lighthouse where he will begin his swim around Martha’s Vineyard, the island in the US state of Massachusetts where scenes for the film Jaws were shot 50 years ago. On land Pugh, 55, will advocate for sharks. Photo: AP

Politics

Beijing cautions Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison to ‘act with prudence’ over port deal

Warning by Ministry of Commerce comes after Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate pledged any sale would not violate laws amid antitrust probe.

A ship sails near the Balboa Port operated by CK Hutchison Holdings in Panama City. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Hongkongers must obey orders on photography at 6 ‘prohibited places’: officials

Officials explain what residents can and can’t do when taking photos or approaching locations that are part of Beijing’s national security office.

People walk past the Island Pacific Hotel in Sai Ying Pun, one of the six “prohibited places” under subsidiary legislation to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Photo: Eugene Lee
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Middle East

Trump says ‘getting close’ to deal to avoid Iran military action

Iran has held four rounds of talks with the Trump administration, which has sought to avert threatened military action by Israel.

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A newspaper with a cover photo of US President Donald Trump and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, in Tehran. Photo: via Reuters

Society

Grand Kornhill Cinema becomes latest movie theatre to close in Hong Kong

Venue located in Kornhill Plaza South in Quarry Bay and operating as part of MCL chain will shut on May 28.

Launched in 1987, Grand Kornhill Cinema underwent a significant renovation in 2017, becoming the city’s first to offer a “MX4D” experience. Photo: Handout

China Business

Chinese EV maker Xpeng launches AI-chip powered P7 to take on Model 3, SU7

The next-generation P7 will start from about US$41,630 and hit the mainland Chinese market in July or August.

The new P7 will be equipped with Xpeng’s indigenous Turing chip. Photo: Handout

China

China’s bid to lure scientists, visa-free entry expanded: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s recruitment drive for researchers to the world’s first supercomputer in orbit, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

China is bringing in incentive schemes with big salaries to lure Chinese scientists back from the US. Photo: Shutterstock

Markets

Swap Connect: enhancements in store to boost hedging tools, bond market appeal

Tenor of interest-rate swap contracts to be extended to 30 years, while contracts referencing the onshore loan prime rate will also be introduced.

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A poster promoting foreign exchange services outside a money changer in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters
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Big Tech

AI platform finds waning usage of DeepSeek as Kuaishou surges in video

Only 3 per cent of queries on the Quora-owned platform went to DeepSeek-R1 by the end of April, down from a peak of 7 per cent in February.

Kuaishou unveiled Kling AI 2.0 in April. Photo: Ben Jiang

Diplomacy

China’s trade stance pays off but more clashes with US to come, analysts warn

Beijing should not harbour any illusions after early win, with sticking points and structural issues still to deal with.

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The US-China agreement on tariffs has paved the way for further discussions on trade but deeper issues remain unresolved, according to observers. Photo: AFP

Europe

Ukraine peace breakthrough unlikely as Putin declines to meet Zelensky in Turkey

‘We can’t be running around the world looking for Putin,’ Zelensky said after meeting Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before their meeting in Ankara on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

China Opinion

Opinion | US-China trade talks should pave way for AI safety treaty

AI could become too powerful for human beings to control. The US and China must lead the way in ensuring safe, responsible AI development.

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An AI robot sales assistant walks as visitors look on during the Malaysia Autoshow 2025 in Kuala Lumpur on May 10. Photo: EPA-EFE

Diplomacy

US urged to ‘meet China halfway’ as envoy arrives in Beijing amid trade truce

Trump ally David Perdue faces ‘complicated and urgent’ tasks as he assumes post as American ambassador to China, analysts say.

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David Perdue, the new US ambassador to China, takes a selfie outside the American embassy in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: X/USAmbChina
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Global Economy

President Xi messages Danish businesses ahead of foreign minister’s China visit

First such letter to a foreign business community since 2021 shows how China is trying to expand its circle of friends amid a trade-war truce with the United States.

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President Xi Jinping is encouraging Danish businesses to invest in China and serve as a bridge between China and Europe. Image: Shutterstock

Law and Crime

Hong Kong student, 14, arrested for allegedly attacking teacher with chisel

Dispute occurred when teacher tried to stop Form Three pupil from eating bread during class, source says.

The incident happened at Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School on Wah King Hill Road. Photo: Handout

Diplomacy

China to expand visa-free travel to 5 Latin American countries

The announcement comes amid Beijing’s latest push to gather international support for its opposition to Donald Trump’s tariffs.

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China has been expanding visa-free access as part of a push to attract more foreign tourists. Photo: AP

Health & Wellness

How regular exercise keeps ‘stress hormone’ cortisol levels in check

A doctor explains how exercise such as yoga, walking and swimming stabilises the production of cortisol, helping us manage stress and relax.

Swimming can balance cortisol production and reduce stress. Photo: Shutterstock

Diplomacy

‘Red line’: Hungary vows it won’t decouple from China if pushed by Trump

‘Hungary is benefiting from these very intensive Chinese economic and trade relations. We’re not willing to give that up’: Budapest official.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may have to choose for his country to side with either Trump’s US or valued investment partner China. Photo: dpa
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Big Tech

China deploys world’s biggest fleet of driverless mining trucks

The project aligns with the nation’s broader push to upgrade traditional industries with AI and other advanced technologies.

A fleet of unmanned trucks developed with Huawei’s autonomous driving solution, seen in Inner Mongolia. Photo: Handout

Entertainment

Meet ex-Pussycat Dolls Ashley Roberts’ boyfriend George Rollinson

The couple met through mutual friends and have been dating since late 2023, enjoying getaways to Dubai and Italy, and even joining her family in Arizona.

Former Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts has been dating George Rollinson since November 2023. Photos: @georgerollo/Instagram, @ iamashleyroberts/Instagram

Hong Kong Economy

Number of visits to Hong Kong arts hub jumped 19% last year, hitting 15 million

West Kowloon Cultural District aiming to continue trend this year with local events and international collaborations to entice visitors.

Events such as the Sip & Groove@WestK featuring music, alcoholic beverages and local snacks helped draw visitors to the arts hub. Photo: May Tse

Health & Environment

‘Never seen anything like this’: lizard found eating abandoned baby near Bangkok

Horrified residents near Bangkok found a monitor lizard eating a newborn’s remains. Police are trying to find the mother to determine if the baby was alive.

In Thailand, a monitor lizard was found with the body of a baby in its mouth. Photo: Facebook/Nakon45

Business

Meitu founder’s wife buys Hong Kong luxury home for US$60 million

Wang Baoshan paid 22 per cent less than the asking price for the 5,466 sq ft detached house at 8 Perkins Road.

A view of Hong Kong from Jardine’s Lookout. Mainland buyers have been underpinning demand for luxury property in the city. Photo: Shutterstock