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Australasia

Huge blaze at Australian refinery threatens petrol supply amid global oil crisis

The Geelong plant is one of only two operating oil refineries in Australia and supplies 10 per cent of the country’s total demand.

Flames shoot out from the Viva Oil Refinery in Geelong early Thursday morning. Photo: Handout/Giuliana Elakis/AFP

Hong Kong Opinion

Legal Tales | How the law protects when a parent abducts their child across borders

Hong Kong is a signatory to a law that enables children to be returned to their habitual residence, and the local court to make a determination.

Hong Kong is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980. Photo: Getty Images

Economics

Desperate times, drastic measures? Filipinos call for fuel caps as crisis bites

The Philippines is one of the worst hit by the oil crisis, but its deregulation law prevents the government from capping fuel prices.

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A pump attendant uses adhesive tape to change figures of fuel prices in Quezon City on April 7. Photo: EPA

China Opinion

Opinion | By voicing their needs, Chinese women are normalising them

In films and on social media, women in China are openly advocating for themselves and fighting taboos around women’s health.

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Women eat lunch in a female co-living space in Hangzhou, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on July 14, 2025. Photo: AFP

Europe

BBC to slash 2,000 jobs in biggest redundancy drive in 15 years

The British broadcaster will axe 10 per cent of its workforce as it navigates ‘financial pressures’.

The viewfinder of a camera outside the offices of the BBC in London. Photo: AFP
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Trending in China

Why China jobseekers use dating apps for work, recruitment sites for matchmaking

Many believe a recruitment-based dating app mitigates dishonesty, serves as an effective tool for risk management.

Chinese jobseekers are using dating apps to find work while recruitment platforms have transformed into matchmaking sites for greater reliability. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Diplomacy

The next frontier: China maps seabed resources as Japan races to tap rare earths

Atlas charts location, concentration and distribution patterns of dozens of elements in seabed sediments.

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China surveyed more than 20,000 observation points, culminating in a geochemical data set of eastern waters, according to state media. Photo: CCTV

Golf

LIV Golf going ahead ‘full throttle’, league pushes back at crisis rumours

Speculation over future of tour has swirled online for past day, but LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil strikes bullish tone in message to staff.

Bryson DeChambeau signs autographs before practice for LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec. Photo: Getty Images

Food & Drink

On the Menu | Hong Kong has how many rice varieties? A woman’s drive to celebrate them all

An ambitious decade-long effort to catalogue and preserve Hong Kong’s many local rice types has led to a new book and exhibition.

Five types of local Hong Kong rice are presented at a rice tasting meeting. A new book and exhibition shines a light on Hong Kong’s local rice varieties. Photo: Instagram/giftfromland

HK Sevens

Aussie Howe eyes Paralympic gold in wheelchair rugby, but first a bit of sevens

Having reached top of his sport after accident left him a quadriplegic at 20, Australian Jake Howe is showing no signs of slowing down.

Jake Howe (left) was drawn to wheelchair rugby by the physicality of the sport. Photo: Handout
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Hong Kong Economy

Are special laws a quick fix for speeding up Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis?

Syncing megaproject with key infrastructure and turning it into a ‘living laboratory’ are equally important to its success, tech experts say.

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Politics

Japan backs a female emperor while Takaichi pushes conservative succession plan

A new poll shows most Japanese support a woman taking the throne, even as the prime minister moves to preserve male-line succession.

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(From R) Japan’s Princess Aiko and her parents, Empress Masako and Emperor Naruhito, wave to well-wishers after arriving at the Historical Archive Museum of Tomioka in Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 7. Photo: Kyodo

Global Economy

Record-setting Canton Fair under Middle East cloud as costs hit China’s exports

Manufacturers and buyers offer on-the-ground perspectives at China’s largest trade exhibition, swapping stories and predictions amid massive turnout.

Buyers browse household electrical appliances at the 139th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in Guangdong province on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Passions

Former Hong Kong rugby team captain reflects on the first Sevens tournament in 1976

The former England international rugby player tells Annemarie Evans about his turn as captain of the Hong Kong team at the inaugural Sevens tournament here in 1976.

Bob Lloyd poses for a portrait at the Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. Lloyd served as the captain of Hong Kong team during the first Hong Kong Sevens in 1976. Photo: Alexander Mak

Business

Futu Securities opens coffee shop as it adapts to changing client ‘lifestyles’

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo as well as online brokerage Longbridge have also launched cafes in their outlets.

The Futu Securities branch in Causeway Bay is seen in this picture dated October 18, 2024. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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Opinion

Opinion | Hong Kong must stay watchful to protect its hard-won prosperity

During a ceremony marking National Security Education Day, leaders spoke of the need to be vigilant against various risks and challenges.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attends the opening ceremony and seminar of the National Security Education Day held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on April 15. Photo: Nora Tam

Entertainment

Hong Kong-set series The Season depicts the dark side of city’s high society

Jessie Mei Li, Toby Stephens and Karena Lam talk about playing cutthroat wealthy socialites in revenge drama The Season, coming out in June.

Jessie Mei Li in a still from The Season, a revenge drama miniseries about Hong Kong’s social elite coming to screens in June 2026. Photo: PCCW Media

Diplomacy

US warns of China’s ‘invasion rehearsals’ as Trump seeks record military budget

Washington puts spotlight on Beijing’s Taiwan, space operations during hearing on US military’s combat readiness for next year.

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US President Donald Trump announces the US Navy’s “Golden Fleet” battleship programme at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, in December 2025. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

United States & Canada

Ticketmaster owner Live Nation ran illegal monopoly, US jury finds

The anticompetitive conduct hurt music fans and the industry, the panel said in a verdict that may have big repercussions on the music world.

The Ticketmaster logo before an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2024. Photo: AP

Opinion

Editorial | Digital cooperation is a vital link for Greater Bay Area integration

By fostering tech and talent exchange, the new MOU reinforces Hong Kong’s financial standing and advances China’s national development goals.

Cyberspace Administration of China director Zhuang Rongwen (left) sits down with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on April 12. Photo: Handout
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China

Exclusive | Quad summit plan turns uneasy as India pushes ahead without top leaders: sources

Trump foresees a ‘big, fat hug’ from China’s Xi Jinping as New Delhi mulls a face-saver Quad meet-up without the US president in attendance.

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India’s Narendra Modi embraces Donald Trump at the White House on June 26, 2017. Photo: AP

Science

China doubles ‘AI for science’ computing scale in 2 months using no US chips

The Zhengzhou core node becomes the country’s most powerful scientific intelligent computing infrastructure, CCTV says.

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China’s largest scientific AI computing cluster officially entered operation at the national supercomputing network’s core node in Zhengzhou, Henan province, on Tuesday. Photo: CCTV

Trends

4 of the best vitamin C serums for supple and glowing skin

By the likes of Augustinus Bader and Dr. Barbara Sturm, these serums feature advanced formulas to stimulate collagen production and help combat ageing.

Vitamin C serums, such as The Good C Vitamin C Serum by Dr. Barbara Sturm, help to reduce the signs of ageing on skin. Photo: Handout

Asia Opinion

Opinion | After years of neglect, China emerges as North Korea’s ‘top priority’

In a world of shrinking options and rising risks, Pyongyang recognises its alliance with Beijing is too important to ignore.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

Diplomacy

US envoy Waltz touts ‘America first’ policy, budget cuts in Senate swipe at UN

US ambassador to UN joined other Washington envoys hailing US-led cost-cutting, efficiency drive and streamlining of UN’s cumulative ‘bloat’.

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US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz speaks after a United Nations Security Council meeting earlier this month. Photo: AFP
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Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine unit says it has launched over 100 robot attacks on Russia’s forces

President Zelensky says the ground drones – used in place of human infantry – have helped capture a Russian position.

A Ukrainian serviceman prepares a machine gun on a combat ground drone during a training at an undisclosed location in the Zaporizhzhia region. Photo: 65th Mechanized Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces via AFP

United States & Canada

US high school principal tackles and disarms gunman, dramatic video shows

Educator Kirk Moore was shot in the leg but managed to stay on top of the suspect until law enforcement arrived.

Principal Kirk Moore can be seen struggling with Victor Hawkins, a former student who allegedly carried a firearm onto the campus in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, on April 7. Photo: Pauls Valley Public Schools via AP

Middle East

US cites optimism over a deal even as Iran threatens to close Red Sea shipping

US Treasury to end Iran oil waivers, warning China – top buyer – that banks risk secondary sanctions as American pressure intensifies.

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Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz faces renewed uncertainty as US restrictions and Iranian warnings unsettle key shipping lanes. Photo: Getty Images

United States & Canada

Trump posts image of Jesus hugging him amid row with pope over Iran war

The US president had faced backlash just two days earlier for an AI-generated image that portrayed him in a similar manner to Jesus.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks about the conflict in Iran at the White House on April 6. Photo: AFP

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police hunt for man behind theft of 2 Pokemon cards worth HK$28,000

Tenant of shop at Sino Centre reported the theft on Wednesday after reviewing security footage and finding cards were taken on April 5 before fleeing the scene.

The Sino Centre in Mong Kok. Photo: SCMP