Iran Calls for ‘Human Chains’ Around Its Power Plants Before US Deadline
President Donald Trump set an 8 pm EDT deadline for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to bomb the country’s power plants and bridges if the demand is not met. Iran responded by urging 14 million citizens to volunteer and form human chains around its power stations, echoing past civil‑defense tactics. Meanwhile, renewed U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have killed dozens, and Iran launched missiles at Saudi Arabia, pushing Brent crude above $111 a barrel. Diplomatic channels remain open, but the risk of wider escalation looms.
Filipino Farmers Leave Crops to Rot as Fuel Prices Drive up Cost of Harvest
Filipino vegetable growers in Benguet are leaving fields unharvested as soaring fuel prices—driven by the Middle‑East conflict—push labour, transport and packing costs above market prices. The surge in oil costs, combined with weak buyer demand, forces farmers like Romeo Wagayan...
Wang Fuk Court Briefing to Give Residents Answers Before Decisions Are Made: Minister
Hong Kong’s Home Affairs Secretary Alice Mak announced a pre‑meeting briefing for residents of Wang Fuk Court, the Tai Po estate devastated by a November fire that killed 168 people. The briefing, organized by interim manager Hop On Management, will address refund of the...
Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis to Get Separate Fencing Hall, Pool Complex
Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject will host a world‑class fencing hall and a stand‑alone swimming‑pool complex, both built to international specifications. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department revised the plan to separate the pool from the fencing venue, aiming for...
Hong Kong Property Launch Sees Brisk Sales as Buyers Unfazed by Trump’s Iran Warning
Hong Kong’s La Mirabelle I launch saw 152 of 168 units sold by early evening, bringing the project’s total to 522 units sold in under three weeks and generating more than HK$4.6 billion in revenue. The second‑round sale added HK$1.1 billion (US$140 million) in revenue...
Car Record for Mega Bridge’s Hong Kong Checkpoint as F&B Sector Feels Holiday Pain
Hong Kong saw a massive travel surge over the Easter break, with 2.12 million residents making outbound trips and the Hong Kong‑Zhuhai‑Macau Bridge checkpoint handling a record 27,411 car movements in a single day. While hotels enjoyed near‑full occupancy and higher room...
Taxi Driver Arrested for Demanding HK$85 ‘Highway Toll’ From Undercover Officers
Hong Kong police arrested a 31‑year‑old taxi driver after he demanded an HK$85 "highway toll" from officers posing as passengers on a Lantau Island route. The driver was charged with overcharging, failing to display his licence plate, driving in a...
Filipino Taxi Driver Suspended After Overcharging K-Pop Star Soobin in Cebu
South Korean K‑pop idol Choi Soo‑bin of TXT was overcharged by a Filipino taxi driver in Cebu, prompting a viral video. The driver demanded 500 pesos, later inflating to 1,000 pesos, far above the expected 300‑peso fare. Philippine transport regulators...
ICBC and CCB Lead China’s 6 Biggest Banks in US$61 Billion Dividend Payout
China’s six largest state‑owned banks will distribute over 420 billion yuan (about US$61 billion) in dividends for 2025, a 1.6 percent rise from the prior year. ICBC and CCB each top 100 billion yuan, maintaining a 30 percent payout ratio, while the other four banks...
Singapore’s Shanmugam Slams Bloomberg’s ‘Venomous’ Emails in Defamation Hearing
Singapore cabinet ministers K. Shanmugam and Tan See Leng have launched a defamation lawsuit against Bloomberg after the news outlet published an article referencing their personal property transactions. The ministers allege the piece contains false statements that damage their reputations. During the...
Supreme Court Clears Path to Overturn Conviction of Ex-Trump Aide Steve Bannon
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an unsigned order that vacated the appellate ruling upholding Steve Bannon’s conviction for defying a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6 attack, and sent the case back to the trial judge. Bannon, who served four...
Ukraine Has Proposed Energy Truce to Russia via US Mediators, Zelensky Says
Ukraine, via U.S. mediators, offered a reciprocal cease‑fire on energy targets, saying it will halt strikes on Russian facilities if Moscow stops hitting Ukrainian power infrastructure. President Zelensky announced the proposal during his evening address, emphasizing a tit‑for‑tat approach. Russian...
China’s Yuan May Be Going Global Faster than Western Data Suggests, Analysts Say
Analysts argue that China’s yuan is expanding globally faster than traditional metrics reveal, as an increasing volume of cross‑border transactions now flow through the country’s own payment network, CIPS. Because CIPS and bilateral settlement channels bypass SWIFT’s messaging system, they...
Malaysia: Daim’s Daughter to Be Charged in Kuala Lumpur Court Amid Corruption Probe
Asnida Daim, daughter of late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, will be charged in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for failing to comply with a Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission (MACC) notice to declare assets. The charge, under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009,...
Chinese-Made Drone Shot in Iran, Australia’s Diplomacy Pivot: 5 Weekend Reads You Missed
Iran shot down a Chinese‑made drone over Shiraz, accusing Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while China clarified the strategic role of its 20‑metre ultra‑large underwater drone. Hongkongers flocked to Shenzhen’s new Science and Technology Museum for Easter, underscoring growing tech...
Orban on the Brink: Could Hungary’s Election Dent China’s Influence in Europe?
Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party is trailing the newly formed Tisza Party in polls ahead of Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary election. The contest is being framed as a referendum on whether Budapest will deepen its alignment with China and Russia or re‑orient...
South Korea’s Lee Regrets Drones Sent to North: ‘Irresponsible and Reckless’
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung publicly apologized to North Korea for a January drone incursion that was later linked to government officials, reversing earlier claims that civilians were responsible. The drones, equipped with surveillance gear, were shot down by...
Housing Authorities Expand Use of Smart Technologies to Support Elderly
Hong Kong’s Housing Authority is scaling a smart‑technology programme to protect elderly residents in public estates. Door‑activity sensors will be added to Tung Wui and Tin Yan estates, while fall detectors are slated for about 200 single‑elder households and stair‑climbers...
Hong Kong’s New Academy for Female Medical Scientists Aims to Bridge Gender Gap
The Chinese University of Hong Kong has launched the Women in Science and Medicine Academy (Wise) to nurture early‑career female medical scientists. The five‑year program targets 100 researchers, offering mentorship, leadership training, global exposure, and family‑friendly policies. CUHK aims to...
China’s Push for Hydrogen-Powered Planes Takes Step Forward Amid Iran Energy Crisis
China’s Aero Engine Corporation successfully flew a 7.5‑tonne unmanned cargo plane powered by a 1‑megawatt hydrogen turboprop, completing a 16‑minute, 36‑kilometre test at 220 km/h and 300 metres altitude. The flight proves the engine’s reliability and showcases China’s claim of a complete...
Signal Fault Disrupts Hong Kong MTR’s Airport Express, Tung Chung Line Services
Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation announced that a signalling fault near Siu Ho Wan disrupted the Airport Express and Tung Chung lines, adding roughly eight to ten minutes to travel times. Engineers resolved the issue by 8 pm, allowing services to resume...
China Unveils Handheld Coil Gun that Works Like a ‘Less Deadly’ Pistol
Chinese state‑owned China South Industries Group has unveiled a handheld electromagnetic coil gun designed for stealthy, non‑lethal operations. The 30 cm device can fire 1,000‑2,000 metal projectiles per minute, with adjustable power settings that allow operators to vary kinetic energy and...
Are China’s TV Dramas Obsessed with Beauty? An Industry Regulator Thinks So
China’s National Radio and Television Administration warned that TV dramas are overly fixated on physical beauty and traffic‑driven popularity, urging a shift toward stronger acting and storytelling. The directive was delivered at a conference that gathered major streamers such as...
Move over, Easter Bunny: Cats Are the Stars in Hong Kong This Holiday
Hong Kong has swapped the Easter Bunny for a series of giant cat installations, from an eight‑metre interactive feline at the airport to inflatable cats at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Artists have also painted cat‑themed murals, including a van Gogh...
Australia Receives Fuel Export Guarantees From Singapore, Japan
Australia has secured assurances from Japan, South Korea and Singapore that fuel shipments will continue despite disruptions from the Iran‑Israel conflict. The guarantees come after concerns that Asian exporters might curtail supplies to protect domestic markets. South Korea alone supplies...
New Guangzhou Rule on Handmade Dim Sum Sparks Debate on Heritage Food in Hong Kong
Guangzhou has introduced a rule, effective May 1, requiring teahouses to label dim sum as either freshly handmade or produced by non‑traditional methods, with a strict 24‑hour freshness window for the former. The regulation aims to protect intangible cultural heritage and...
Iran Demands Explanations From Saudis and UAE After Chinese-Made Drone Was Shot Down
Iran announced it shot down a Chinese‑made Wing Loong II unmanned aircraft that entered its airspace, accusing Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates of operating the drone. Tehran demanded immediate explanations from both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, labeling the incident evidence...
UAE Squeezes Iranian Economic Lifeline in Retaliation for Attacks
Facing a wave of Iranian air strikes on its industrial sites, the United Arab Emirates has moved to choke off Tehran’s economic lifeline. The UAE quietly imposed a near‑total ban on Iranian nationals entering the country or transiting through its...
Rubio Raises Concerns over China’s Detention of Panama-Flagged Ships
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that China’s heightened inspections of Panama‑flagged vessels pose a serious threat to global trade. He said the detentions and delays undermine the rule of law in Panama and destabilize supply chains. The United...
Trump Tariffs Cast Shadow as US-China Trade Shrinks Ahead of Xi Meeting
U.S. trade data released Thursday shows direct commerce with China continuing to shrink, reaching one of the lowest bilateral goods deficits in two decades. The decline follows last year’s tariff escalations, which have deepened economic tensions between the two powers....
Immediate Reopening of Strait of Hormuz Demanded at 40-Nation Talks
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper led a UK‑coordinated gathering of roughly 40 nations that called for the immediate, unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting reiterated demand for freedom of navigation after the strait has been virtually shut...
US Crude Tops US$110, Wall Street Falls After Trump Vows More Iran Attacks
U.S. crude oil spiked to $111.92 a barrel, up nearly 12% after President Trump pledged continued strikes on Iran for the next two to three weeks. The aggressive rhetoric sent the S&P 500 down 1.1%, the Dow off 1.2% and the...
Hong Kong Investment Chief Joins Global Board in First for Chinese Sovereign Funds
Clara Chan Ka‑chai, chief executive of Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), has been appointed to the board of FCLTGlobal, marking the first Chinese sovereign wealth fund representation on the nonprofit’s 19‑member board. FCLTGlobal, founded in 2016, unites leading long‑term investors...
Qiushi Reaffirms China’s Trade-Rebalance Push, Calls Old Export-Led Growth ‘Unsustainable’
China’s leading Communist Party journal Qiushi reiterated the nation’s trade‑rebalancing agenda, warning that the traditional export‑driven growth model is no longer viable. The editorial cites rising global protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and a record‑high trade surplus as catalysts for a pivot...
China Influencer Amasses over 1 Million Followers in 2 Weeks by Sharing How to Rent a Home Tips
Chinese influencer Gulumao amassed 1.3 million followers in just two weeks by posting short, practical videos on how to rent a home. His debut tutorial, "Youth Study: How to Rent a Home," garnered over 4.6 million views and quickly went viral on...
Over 47,000 Cabbies Adopt Octopus, Card Readers Ahead of E-Payment Regulations
More than 47,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers have installed the commercial Octopus app or mobile POS devices ahead of new e‑payment regulations that require each cab to offer at least two digital payment options. The Transport Department opened service stations...
Li Ka-Shing’s CK Life Unit Eyes China Fast Track for Cancer Vaccine Pipeline
CK Life Sciences, the Li Ka‑shing‑backed unit, has created Sequencio Therapeutics in Hong Kong to fast‑track its cancer‑vaccine pipeline in mainland China using investigator‑initiated trials (IITs). The fast‑track channel can cut trial start‑up time from 18‑24 months to a few months,...
Why Kenneth Rogoff Thinks China’s Yuan Will Be a Reserve Currency ‘in the Next 5 Years’
Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff predicts China’s yuan will join the ranks of global reserve currencies within five years. He argues that the U.S. dollar faces a legitimacy crisis due to mounting debt, political fragmentation, and waning confidence among central banks....
Can Hong Kong Hitch a Ride on China’s Commercial Aerospace Wave?
China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan elevates commercial aerospace to a core strategic pillar, linking satellites, AI, quantum and 6G technologies. The plan signals a national push for a low‑altitude economy and expects private firms like ADA Space to expand AI‑enabled satellite...
The Philippines Loves Jollibee. Overseas Filipinos Love It Even More
Jollibee has become a cultural anchor for the Filipino diaspora, offering familiar comfort food that bridges home and abroad. The chain now runs over 1,600 stores in 17 countries, including more than 80 locations in the United States. Brand Finance...
Hong Kong Passengers Caught Off Guard by New Airport Limit of 2 Power Banks
Hong Kong International Airport began enforcing a new regulation that limits each departing passenger to two power banks. The rule took effect on Sunday, but many travelers reported seeing few or no signs alerting them to the change. Airport officials...
Trump Pitches China Trade ‘Win’ to US Farmers Ahead of Xi Meeting, Midterms
President Donald Trump told a crowd of farmers that recent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping have secured a $40 billion increase in U.S. soybean shipments to China. He framed the outcome as a personal win, saying he convinced Xi to...
Why China’s Space-Based Solar Power Is the Next Frontier of Green Energy
China is advancing its Zhuri space‑based solar power programme, aiming for a megawatt‑level orbital test around 2030 and a gigawatt‑scale station by 2050. The initiative leverages falling launch costs and new wireless‑power technologies to deliver continuous, weather‑independent electricity from geostationary...
Lawmakers Concerned over Lack of Parking at Huanggang Border Checkpoint
Hong Kong lawmakers have criticised the lack of a public car park at the newly upgraded Huanggang border crossing, which sits on the Shenzhen side of the border. Transport officials say a parking site may be located near the San Tin...
Police Charge Another 10 People over HK$1.6 Billion JPEX Cryptocurrency Scandal
Hong Kong police have charged an additional ten individuals in the JPEX cryptocurrency fraud, bringing the total alleged loss to HK$1.6 billion (approximately US$205.8 million). The new suspects, four men and six women aged 26‑47, face money‑laundering and conspiracy charges and will...
Trump Eyes China Deal, but Dragging Out Talks Risks Backlash, Warns Former Diplomat
Former U.S. diplomat Stephen Biegun says President Donald Trump will pursue an economic deal with China during his mid‑May visit to Beijing. The agenda is expected to focus on securing large‑scale Chinese purchases of American agricultural and manufacturing products. Biegun...
Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Uses AI to Track, Enrich Lives of Giant Pandas, Monkeys
Ocean Park in Hong Kong has deployed artificial intelligence to continuously monitor its giant panda twins and golden monkeys, enabling precise behavior tracking and personalized enrichment. The AI system replaces manual video sampling, identifying individual animals, body postures, and social...
Semicon China: AI, Advanced Packaging Set to Drive Country’s Chip Industry Growth
China’s semiconductor sector is set to capture nearly half of global wafer‑fabrication capacity by 2028, rising to 42% from 32% in 2025. The growth is being propelled by the adoption of agentic AI, which dramatically increases inference compute needs, and...
China Still on Track to Supplant US as World’s No 1 Economy in 10 Years: Academic
China is projected to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy within the next decade, according to a University of Hong Kong political science professor. The forecast draws on IMF and World Bank growth trends that show China’s...
Hong Kong’s TVB Logs US$7.5 Million Profit, Shaking Off 7 Years of Losses
Hong Kong’s leading free‑to‑air broadcaster TVB reported a US$7.5 million profit for 2025, reversing a seven‑year loss streak. Revenue slipped 2% to HK$3.19 billion (≈US$408 million) but costs fell 4.9%, while advertising income rose 15% on its terrestrial channels. Growth was driven by...