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Europe

Turkey jails Istanbul mayor before trial, stoking opposition anger

Facing trial on corruption charges, Ekrem Imamoglu says he will not bow down, vowing to defeat President Erdogan.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, mayoral candidate of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney calls snap election for April 28

Campaigns of Carney and main challenger Pierre Poilievrekick kick off against backdrop of trade war, annexation threats from Trump.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, where he asked the Governor General to dissolve parliament and call an election on Sunday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

Opinion

My Take | Lai’s ‘hostile force’ claim is all about his secessionist agenda

The Taiwanese leader is ready to abuse both the island’s constitution and anti-infiltration law to challenge what is Beijing’s ultimate red line.

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Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te waves with the Taiwanese flag during a flag raising ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 1. Photo: Taiwan Presidential Office via AP

Law and Crime

Hong Kong’s security chief attacks Guardian newspaper over Jimmy Lai claim

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says article used ‘misleading’ language in criticising top court’s rejection of Lai’s appeal over foreign lawyer.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang has stressed that Jimmy Lai’s application for leave to appeal was dismissed through a summary procedure because “it was wholly devoid of merits”. Photo: Nora Tam

Politics

Renewed civil war over Taiwan may be option for Beijing: researcher

Article in journal from key Taiwan-related think tank also suggests ‘direct governance during wartime’, followed by ‘appointed governance’.

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Beijing has said that it will do its best to achieve peaceful unification with Taiwan. Photo: Elson Li
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South Asia

Pakistan charges human rights, Baloch activist with ‘terrorism’

Mahrang Baloch, one of Pakistan’s most prominent human rights advocates, has long campaigned for the Baloch ethnic group.

Activists from the Baloch Students Council taking part in a protest demanding the release of Mahrang Baloch, in Lahore on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong

Hong Kong should have system to pause labour import scheme, workers’ union says

Federation of Trade Unions says sectors facing rising unemployment need relief, citing impact of arrival of 75,000 workers in past two years.

The 75,000 imported workers include at least 20,000 in the catering sector and 9,000 in construction. Photo: Eugene Lee

Science

AI expert Guo-Jun Qi leaves US for China

After a decade in America, a leading computer scientist has returned to China to head a top artificial intelligence lab.

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Guo-Jun Qi says he “was drawn to the free-spirited atmosphere at Westlake University and wanted to come back and pursue something I truly wanted to do”. Photo: Weibo/ 西湖大学Westlake

United States & Canada

Canada votes: Carney seeks strong mandate to deal with Trump

Carney and his Conservative opponent will kick off the election against the backdrop of a trade war and annexation threats from Trump.

Prime Minister Mark Carney holds a press conference following the First Ministers Meeting at the National War Museum on Friday. Photo: Canadian Press/AP

Diplomacy

‘No one wins in a trade war’: China urges frankness, deeper trust with US

‘We must protect and develop economic and trade cooperation’ in the face of challenges, Premier Li Qiang tells US Senator Steve Daines.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang greets US Senator Steve Daines ahead of their meeting, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 23. Photo: Pool via Reuters
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Health & Environment

8 members of Hong Kong study tour to mainland China infected with norovirus

Another 13 from Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit Sing (1983) College who went on exchange tour to Zhaoqing displaying symptoms of virus.

The Centre for Health Protection said 135 teachers and students from Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit Sing (1983) College in Tsing Yi went on a three-day exchange tour to Zhaoqing in Guangdong province on Thursday. Photo: Handout

Europe

UK cuts welfare and civil service spending, boosts defence

Finance minister Rachel Reeves sought investor trust by pledging to balance day-to-day spending with tax revenue by the end of the decade.

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. Photo: Reuters

Education

Investigation launched into hacking of student’s records at elite Hong Kong school

Unauthorised individual accessed and modified Queen’s College violation records for student under different teachers’ names.

Queen’s College in Causeway Bay. Photo: SCMP

Motorsport

Ferrari’s Hamilton, Leclerc, Alpine’s Gasly disqualified from Chinese Grand Prix

All three were disqualified for technical infringements, with the Ferrari drivers losing their points for finishing fifth and sixth.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was disqualified after finishing sixth place in the Chinese Grand Prix. Photo: Reuters

Society

K-pop group NJZ tells fans it will take break from shows after Hong Kong concert

Group formerly known as NewJeans says it will pause all activities ‘out of respect for the court’s decisions’ amid legal dispute with former agency.

Fans gather at AsiaWorld-Expo. Photo: Dickson Lee
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Health & Environment

Water leak during eye surgery at Hong Kong teaching hospital prompts probe

Doctors and medical staff at CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin covered patient with cloth to prevent her from getting wet.

Doctors and medical staff had to prevent a patient from getting wet during eye surgery at the CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin on March 10. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Racing

Newnham left to rue what might have been with ‘brave’ Derby runner-up My Wish

Australian trainer and jockey Luke Ferraris go within a short head of orchestrating a brilliant feature success from the outside gate.

My Wish (right) falls narrowly short of Cap Ferrat (left) in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). Photos: Kenneth Chan

Russia & Central Asia

Taliban celebrates as the US lifts bounties on senior officials

A Foreign Ministry official said the release of a US prisoner and the removal of bounties showed both sides were ‘taking constructive steps’.

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Sirajuddin Haqqani speaks during the funeral prayers of Khalil Haqqani, during his funeral procession in eastern Paktia province, Afghanistan, on December 12. Photo: AP

Racing

Williams hails exciting HK Derby win on Cap Ferrat ‘a great thrill’

Australian jockey breaks through in city’s biggest race 24 years after his first ride in the 2,000m feature.

Craig Williams boots home Cap Ferrat in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan

HK Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens: local pair face Kai Tak baptism of fire, as ‘new era begins’

City teams confirm 13-player squads for Cathay/HSBC Sevens Kai Tak Stadium bow, as men aim to shed South Africa disappointment.

Hong Kong China Rugby Sevens Squads announced for Hong Kong Sevens 2025 at Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: Edmond So
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Racing

Lui celebrates second Derby win as maiden Cap Ferrat pulls off stunning upset

Former Australian galloper joins veteran handler’s champion Golden Sixty on honour roll of city’s most prestigious race.

Jockey Craig Williams, trainer Francis Lui (second from right) and connections of Cap Ferrat celebrate his Derby triumph. Photos: Kenneth Chan

Hong Kong Opinion

City Beat | Beijing is upset, but why is it limiting criticism of Hutchison’s Panama deal?

Closer look at Beijing’s mixed ‘semi-official’ approach to voicing disapproval shows what is at stake in saga involving Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate.

CK Hutchison Holdings has decided to sell 43 of its ports, including two in Panama, to a consortium led by US investment firm BlackRock. Photo: Reuters

Military

Does this photo mark ‘official declaration’ of China’s sixth-generation fighter?

State broadcaster releases grainy image of tailless aircraft just days after US announces plans to build the next-generation F-47 jet.

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A video released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday ends with a blurry image of a ginkgo leaf-shaped, tailless aircraft and the caption: “What will be next?” Photo: CCTV

South Asia

India: quashing Volkswagen’s tax bill would be ‘catastrophic’

Indian officials said agreeing to quash the US$1.4 billion tax bill would encourage companies to withhold information and delay inquiries.

A person walks next to the logo of German car maker Volkswagen on a wall at the company’s plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, on March 7. Photo: EPA-EFE

Society

Hong Kong to change laws to allow for passenger drone flights

Transport minister Mable Chan also addresses possibility of cross-border or Victoria Harbour routes.

A pilotless passenger-carrying drone is displayed in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. Photo: Xinhua
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Banking & Finance

HSBC to back Chinese firms in their growth plans amid global headwinds, CEO says

With continued investment, China is poised to lead the future of technology-driven, resilient, and sustainable supply chains, Elhedery says.

Office workers seen outside HSBC’s head office building in Central, Hong Kong. Photo: Elson Li

Transport

Hong Kong seeks developers for joint cross-border railway project to Shenzhen

Project is likely to include station on mainland side to ease congestion at existing Shenzhen Bay control point.

The joint project would link Qianhai in Shenzhen and Hung Shui Kiu in Hong Kong. Photo: May Tse

Health & Wellness

Buddhism as therapy? Korean psychiatrist’s treatment is built around it

Doctor calls Buddhism ‘a perfect system for eliminating suffering’ – the goal of psychiatry. So he prescribes patients Buddhist meditation.

A Buddhist monk in meditation. Psychiatrist Jeon Hyun-soo believes that focusing on the present is key to overcoming life’s struggles. Photo: Shutterstock

Gender & Diversity

‘Muscle grandma’ with young physique wins bodybuilding title after decades training

Super fit, middle-aged mother-of-one rejects online criticism that she looks old, works to challenge traditional stereotypes about ageing.

A super fit middle-aged mother who has won a bodybuilding title in China after decades of training says she works out to challenge age stereotypes. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Russia & Central Asia

Moscow strikes Kyiv with drones ahead of Saudi ceasefire talks

Russia launched 147 drones, Ukrainian air defences shot down 97 and 25 others did not reach targets due to Ukrainian countermeasures.

Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of an overnight drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE