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Europe

New suspected hantavirus cases found in Spain and remote Tristan da Cunha

The latest patient had briefly sat on a plane behind a Dutch woman who contracted the disease on the MV Hondius.

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Sant Joan university hospital, where a woman with symptoms consistent with a hantavirus infection is being treated, is seen in Alicante, Spain, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Diplomacy

Why trust is key if China’s international arbitration goals are to succeed

China’s newly revised Arbitration Law marks the most significant overhaul of the country’s commercial dispute framework since 1994.

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China’s newly revised Arbitration Law took effect in March. Photo: Shutterstock

Banking & Finance

Hong Kong secures US$3.5 billion to fund Northern Metropolis and green projects

Global investors pile into city’s latest bond sale, with orders 8.6 times oversubscribed, backing its green finance ambitions.

The Northern Metropolis project aims to transform 30,000 hectares of land in the New Territories into a centre for innovation and technology. Photo: Edmond So

Society

SCMP takes home 3 honours from Global Media Awards, including win for infographic

International News Media Association’s awards event gave SCMP graphic on deadly Tai Po fire first place for best use of visual journalism.

The SCMP infographic “Tai Po inferno: Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire in Decades”. Photo: SCMP

Politics

Asean to step up push for South China Sea code, energy security

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says the code of conduct is key to unlocking deeper China-Asean economic cooperation.

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Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr addresses a press conference on the sidelines of the 48th Asean summit in Cebu province on Friday. Photo: EPA
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Asia

Video | Indonesian volcanic eruption kills 3

The volcano in North Maluku province erupted on Friday morning, spewing volcanic ash as high as 10km into the sky.

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United States & Canada

US adds 115,000 jobs in April, but experts warn of hidden weakness

The gains mainly came in the healthcare, transport and warehousing and retail trade sectors.

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Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a US store in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

‘Nanoseconds’ matter in global AI race between China and US

Two countries will lock horns for foreseeable future, with key industry certain to be a point of negotiation at next week’s Trump-Xi summit.

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China and the US are set to fight out an intense battle for global AI supremacy in a high-stakes race to the top. Photo: Shutterstock

Science

Ke Tao, China’s remote sensing expert ‘devoted’ to national defence, dies at 48

The Wuhan University professor specialised in taking measurements from images and received a military award in 2015.

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Ke Tao’s particular expertise was photogrammetry and its application to aerospace, aviation, and in low-altitude, close-range environments. Photo: Handout

Law and Crime

3 convicted in Hong Kong’s largest football match-fixing scandal in years

Two players and betting agent found guilty of bribing footballers to rig match results across city’s top two leagues between 2021 and 2023.

Footballer Luciano Silva da Silva arrives at the West Kowloon court for a match-fixing case. Photo: Edmond So
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China Business

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor taps Stellantis’ Spanish plant for EU production

Hangzhou carmaker’s overseas strategy highlights how Chinese brands are leveraging idle plants to scale globally while easing trade barriers.

A Leapmotor Lafa5 Ultra is on display at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24. Photo: AFP

China Economy

China’s shipping firms brace for a new ‘era of chaos’ as Iran war drags on

Chinese shipping giants are signing long contracts and rejigging their networks, as they hedge against prolonged disruptions to global trade routes.

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The oil tanker Odessa, carrying carrying crude from the United Arab Emirates, navigates the waters near South Korea after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Reuters

Racing

SCMP Best Bets: Fight Time ready to battle it out at Sha Tin

SCMP Best Bets: Fight Time ready to battle it out at Sha Tin

United States & Canada

Pentagon releases new files on UFOs, praises Trump’s ‘transparency’ push

The Pentagon said the public ‘can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files’.

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People attend the 2021 UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico, US. Photo: AFP

Tech Trends

Exclusive | DeepSeek to soon close first external fundraising in US$50b valuation: sources

Backers include AI-focused affiliates under the third phase of the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, sources say.

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A man takes a photo of a DeepSeek display at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, on April 23. Photo: AFP
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Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s largest Hyrox event attracts fitness fanatics from over 60 countries

More than 19,500 competitors are expected to converge on AsiaWorld-Expo over the three days from Friday.

The Cigna Healthcare Hyrox Hong Kong 2026 started on Friday at AsiaWorld-Expo, with organisers expecting more than 19,500 competitors. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Diplomacy

Why Iran’s ambassador to China thinks the US can’t turn Beijing against it

Top envoy’s remarks come amid speculation Washington may induce Beijing to pressure Tehran into accepting a peace deal.

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Iranian ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli says relations with China are “deeply rooted". Photo: China News Service via Getty Images

Tech Trends

How Nvidia’s Corning pact sheds light on China’s key role in global fibre supply

Rising fibre prices and surging output cement China’s role as the backbone of global optical connectivity for AI.

In 2025, China accounted for 59 per cent of global optical preform output, 57 per cent of optical fibre production and 47 per cent of optical cable output, making it the world’s largest supplier across the chain, Huatai Securities’ data showed. Photo: Shutterstock

Science

Chinese health authority says no need to worry about latest hantavirus outbreak

CDC says the strain behind the current outbreak, which emerged on a cruise ship sailing from Argentina, has no natural hosts in the country.

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The outbreak has been linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Janice Tse is the ‘property queen’ of Hong Kong ministers. Here’s what she owns

Tse was appointed constitutional affairs chief in March to succeed Erick Tsang, who stepped down in January, citing poor health.

Janice Tse has been tasked with formulating Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and aligning the city with the national blueprint for the country’s development from 2026 to 2030. Photo: Sam Tsang
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World Opinion

Opinion | China unsurprisingly puts its own interests first. Can Europe do the same?

As Beijing seeks to influence Europe, Brussels must shape on its own competitiveness agenda and policy aims for engaging with China.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

Politics

Philippines shifts defence strategy with Japan, eyes wider security focus

Defence chief Gilberto Teodoro says the Diaoyu Islands are now considered a ‘serious concern’ and the Balikatan drills will also be expanded.

Philippine troops take part in counter-landing live‑fire exercises during the Balikatan joint military exercises at Long Point Beach in Palawan, the Philippines, on April 27. Photo: Reuters

Europe

Spain to repatriate guests as hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canaries

The MV Hondius is expected to reach the port of Granadilla on the island of Tenerife on Sunday.

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Members of the media await the arrival of the cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla on the island of Tenerife, Spain, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Why the UK won’t shut Hong Kong’s London trade office despite spying verdict

Analysts say British authorities will prioritise stable ties with Beijing given current geopolitical uncertainties.

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Hong Kong’s economic and trade office in London. Photo: Google Maps

China Economy

Wall Street giants lead China-profit surge despite market polarisation

Major investment banks expand market share in China, with Goldman reclaiming the revenue lead while Shengang keeps its asset crown.

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People walk along Wall Street near the New York Stock Exchange. Photo: Reuters
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Diplomacy

China-Russia ties can withstand any US containment efforts: Chinese policy adviser

Beijing-Moscow relationship described as having ‘inherent stability’, with a ‘stable mechanism’ able to withstand outside pressures.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping speak during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, in September 2025. Photo: Reuters

Society

Tai Po fire: building authorities slammed at inquiry for ‘mechanical mindset’

Former head of Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit acknowledges that old supervision mechanism had created ‘blind spot’.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people and left nearly 5,000 others displaced. Photo: Jelly Tse

China

Video | Chinese firework makers hopeful for US exports ahead of Trump’s visit

Manufacturers are counting on Trump’s visit to de-escalate trade hostilities ahead of the US 250th anniversary.

Manufacturers are eyeing Trump’s Beijing visit in May to de-escalate trade hostilities as they complete July 4 firework exports to the US

China

Video | UK court convicts 2 men from HK trade office of spying

Hong Kong government claims case ‘absolutely unrelated’ to the administration, while Chinese embassy in UK condemns ‘political move’.

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Health & Environment

CUHK hospital to repay HK$4 billion public loan early using growing reserves

University’s council chairman says Health Bureau informed of early repayment proposal for 2016 loan to non-profit-making private teaching hospital.

The CUHK Medical Centre in Ma Liu Shui opened in September 2021 as a non-profit-making private teaching hospital on a HK$4 billion government loan granted in 2016. Photo: Edmond So