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Iran war tests India’s Brics leadership as ‘political...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Brics’ inability to speak with one voice on the Middle East conflict has become a stern test of India’s leadership of the bloc, exposing the challenge of building consensus among its 10 members with divergent interests and concerns. The bloc could not agree on a common position on the war at a meeting of Brics officials to discuss Middle East and North Africa issues in New Delhi last week. Brics has long sought to present itself as a voice for the Global South as frustrations with the US-led...

Former executive of Hong Kong’s insurance regulator...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

A former executive director of Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority has been acquitted of misconduct after she was alleged to have coerced insurer Prudential into hiring her daughter-in-law, as the magistrate ruled that her actions did not cause “actual damage” to public trust in the regulator. Magistrate Minnie Wat Lai-man on Thursday found Carol Hui Mei-ying and digital strategy consultant Chan Tsz-wai not guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The pair previously stood

Hong Kong eases enrolment rules for merged schools...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Hong Kong’s education authorities will relax rules for under-enrolled public secondary schools that merge with others in a bid to encourage consolidation amid declining student numbers. In a circular sent to all public secondary schools on Wednesday, the Education Bureau said merged schools would be exempt from submitting survival plans in the first three years after merging, even if they fail to admit 30 students or form two Form One classes. The bureau said the move aimed to “further

Wang Fuk Court resident finds charred HK$100,000...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Two victims of the Wang Fuk Court inferno dug through the ashes of their homes, only to each discover about HK$100,000 (US$12,800) in charred banknotes, just two of many such finds as residents returned to the fire-damaged Hong Kong estate on Thursday. On the same day, several local storage companies offered free services to affected residents as a show of compassion and solidarity. Thursday marked the second day that residents of Wang Tai House, one of the seven blocks severely damaged in

Xi Jinping urges ‘disruptive innovation’ to boost...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Amid a high-stakes global race for technology, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater efforts to boost research and innovation in the country by expanding its talent pool and fostering a culture of tolerance. “Basic research is the source of the entire scientific system and the main switch for all technical challenges,” Xi said at a symposium on strengthening the country’s basic research in Shanghai on Thursday. Xi said global tech rivalries were increasingly pivoting towards

Former CSRC chairman Yi Huiman to face trial for...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

A former head of China’s equities market regulator will face trial on allegations that he took vast sums in bribes in return for approving company listings and loans, according to the Communist Party’s top anti-graft watchdog. Yi Huiman, former chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), allegedly used “his position to seek benefits for others in job promotions, listing approvals and obtaining loans, and illegally accepted huge amounts of bribes”, the Central Commission for...

China sparks backlash with plan to send jobless...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Beijing has pledged to expand vocational training for young jobseekers this year, as it looks to help millions of unemployed graduates find work in emerging industries such as robotics and AI. But the policy drive – which includes plans to encourage university graduates to return to technical school – has drawn mixed reactions from a generation already hit hard by China’s youth unemployment crunch. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security vowed on Tuesday to upskill 1 million young...

In 1946, Hong Kong’s governor Sir Mark Young returns...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Sir Mark Young returns This article was first published on May 1, 1946 Sir Mark Young, Governor of Hongkong, returned to the Colony yesterday (April 30, 1946). Sir Mark was Governor when the Japanese attacked on December 8, 1941 and was a prisoner of war until the capitulation. An official welcome took place when Sir Mark stepped ashore from Queen’s Pier. Broadcasting from Government House in the evening, Sir Mark paid a tribute to the memory of those who fell in the defence of the Colony and...

Global oil price hits 4-year high on concerns Iran...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Global oil prices jumped to a four-year high of more than US$126 a barrel on Thursday, on concerns that the US-Iran war could worsen and lead to a protracted Middle East oil supply disruption that could hurt global economic growth. The market moved higher after Axios, citing unidentified sources, reported late on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump was slated to receive a briefing on Thursday on plans for a series of military strikes on Iran in hopes it would return ‌to negotiations on

Minerals over ideology? US embraces pragmatic...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

The Trump administration’s strategic interest in rare earths is pushing the US towards more pragmatic diplomacy as it seeks to rebuild critical mineral supply chains without China, according to observers. As a result, there had been cooperation with other countries on resource projects even when broader political ties were strained, they said, adding that Beijing’s dominance in the resources appeared too strong to break soon. One example is the Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project in South Africa,...

China vegetarian woman, 107, captivates internet with...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

A 107-year-old woman, dubbed the “age-defying granny,” has trended on mainland social media for her sound health and sharpness of mind. Centenarian Ding Guijuan lives in Cixi, a small city in the eastern province of Zhejiang. The local media outlet, Love Cixi, which is operated by the municipal propaganda authority, reported her story. In the coverage in mid-April Ding shared her longevity tips and sent good wishes to her fans. According to Ding’s daughter, Chen Xingchao, 84, physical...

Law allowing terminally ill to refuse life-sustaining...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

The Hong Kong government plans to implement legislation on July 31 allowing terminally ill patients to refuse life-sustaining treatment. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, authorities said that the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance, passed in November 2024, would provide legal status to patients’ advance care planning while offering protection to healthcare and rescue personnel. The two instruments covered under advance care planning – advance medical...

Hong Kong police arrest man after attempted armed...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Hong Kong police have arrested a man shortly after he allegedly attempted an armed bank robbery in Causeway Bay on Thursday afternoon. A police source said the 60-year-old unemployed suspect allegedly tried to steal HK$100,000 (US$12,760) from a Hang Seng Bank branch on Yee Wo Street shortly before 5pm. He was carrying two knives, each measuring 30cm (12 inches). He approached a counter on the second floor of the premises and handed over a note demanding money, claiming he had a knife. A

UK to tackle antisemitism ‘emergency’ as police probe...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

The British government on Thursday called antisemitism in the UK an “emergency”, and said it would spend millions increasing security around Jewish sites after a string of arson attacks and a double stabbing. It announced £25 million (US$34 million) for more police patrols and protection around synagogues, schools and community centres after two Jewish men were stabbed and seriously injured in London’s Golders Green neighbourhood on Wednesday. The victims, aged 34 and 76, are in stable...

Australian police find body in search for missing...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Australian police ⁠said on Thursday they have found a ⁠body believed to be that of a missing five-year-old indigenous girl and were searching for the man who allegedly murdered her. The girl, now referred to by her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby in line with Indigenous customs, was reported missing from her home in ‌a remote community in central Australia late on Saturday. Police said they located a body of a young Indigenous girl they believed was hers shortly before midday on Thursday

China forges new aviation alliances to fast-track...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

China’s national aviation regulator has signed new partnership deals with its counterparts in Hong Kong and Macau to accelerate type certification for the country’s widebody airliner, the C929, which is being developed to take on mainstream models from Boeing and Airbus. Building on the cooperation framework established for the home-grown narrowbody C919, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department on Thursday outlined a plan to further

Oil surge on Trump blockade warning tests stocks’...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Subscribers: The Daily Pulse won’t be published on May 1 because of China’s Labour Day holiday. We will resume publication on Monday, May 4. Crude oil prices jumped to a four-year high after US President Donald Trump suggested that a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could last for “months”. Brent crude, the global benchmark, surged as much as 7.3 per cent, surpassing US$126 a barrel, following reports that Trump met oil executives on Tuesday to discuss ways of extending the blockade

Samsung, SK Hynix flag record supply squeeze in...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, South Korea’s two memory chip giants, are warning of a prolonged and severe global supply crunch, weeks after the two companies disclosed increased investments in their China wafer fabs to meet surging artificial intelligence demand. During Samsung’s first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, the company said its order fulfilment rate had plunged to a “record low”. In a rare move, customers worried about shortages were already pre-booking memory capacity for

Why King Charles’ ‘Trump bell’ gift amuses Chinese...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Chinese social media reacted with amusement and disbelief as Britain’s King Charles gave US President Donald Trump a World War II-era British submarine bell as a gift, highlighting differing cultural interpretations of the unusual gesture. “Gifting a bell isn’t a big deal in Western culture – but it’s quite amusing, as far as we’re concerned!” a user on Chinese social media wrote. On Tuesday, during his state visit to the United States, King Charles presented Trump with the original brass

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla in international...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/30

Activists sailing on dozens of boats attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid say Israeli forces intercepted them overnight Wednesday into Thursday, detaining the crews while the flotilla was sailing hundreds of kilometres from Gaza near the southern Greek island of Crete. The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail earlier this month from Barcelona. Organisers have said more than 70 boats and 1,000 people from around the world would be

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