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Watchdog urges Hong Kong Observatory to better...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

The Hong Kong Observatory should step up efforts to explain decisions for issuing typhoon warnings to address public concerns amid a rise in extreme weather events, the Audit Commission has urged. Citing the forecaster, a report issued by the public sector watchdog on Wednesday noted “increasing public demand” for signal change notification well in advance over the years for timely preparation as extreme weather events became more frequent in light of climate change. “Audit acknowledges that

Ikea to open first small-format Beijing store to tap...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Multinational furniture retailer Ikea says it will open its first small-format store in Beijing on Thursday, aiming at convenience and efficiency that analysts believe could lift footfall by bringing the brand closer to consumers amid shifting trends. The move comes after the company shut seven large outlets across mainland China in early February, as it grapples with the country’s rapidly changing consumer trends and declining demand for new-home furnishing amid a sluggish property...

In a fragmenting global order, former Japanese leader...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama has called on Beijing and Tokyo to work together against “US arrogance”, as the global order is upended by President Donald Trump. Hatoyama, who was Japan’s prime minister from 2009 to 2010, said the two nations should find common ground and work to manage their bilateral relations. “I would argue that Japan and China should jointly confront a self-centred United States and [prevent] the collapse of the world order,” Hatoyama said at an event in

China boy, 6, discovers lump in throat that was...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

A six-year-old Chinese boy was diagnosed with a lump in his throat, which doctors said was his “twin brother”. The youngster, Xiaoliang, had been snoring heavily for the past six months, and only ate soft food. His mother, surnamed Liu, found it odd and took him for a medical examination. Their local hospital said he had an egg-sized tumour in his throat, adding that they could not treat the disease. Liu then took Xiaoliang to the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai. There,

Hong Kong auditor takes aim at fire services over...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department has yet to launch prosecutions in 34 cases involving mini-storage premises that failed to comply with safety hazard orders, including sites first inspected as far back as 2016, the Audit Commission has said. The commission also revealed on Wednesday that none of the 249 industrial buildings required to improve fire safety measures in their common parts had complied with the orders issued under a law that took effect in 2020. Fire safety at industrial...

Youth hostel scheme falls short as only 44% of...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Hong Kong authorities have failed to meet targets on the supply and construction of youth hostels, with the number of flats offered accounting for only 44 per cent of what was intended, an audit report has found. The Audit Commission on Wednesday released its report reviewing the government’s development and management of the facilities under the Youth Hostel Scheme, which covered seven hostels, including two that had been completed and were in operation. The review found that as of December...

Hong Kong surplus hits HK$11 billion as finance chief...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Hong Kong’s finance chief has revised the city’s fiscal surplus for the previous year to HK$11 billion (US$1.91 billion), nearly four times the original estimate, saying the ongoing Middle East conflict had a limited impact on the economy with gross domestic product (GDP) growth remaining strong in the first quarter. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also dismissed concerns that increased bond issuance to fund the Northern Metropolis megaproject would burden future generations as “overly...

China’s EV makers to cut charging times; Tesla rival...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s EV and battery makers race to cut charging times to under 10 minutes Battery makers and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers have seized on the Beijing Auto Show to showcase technologies promising shorter charging times in a race triggered by BYD and Contemporary Amperex...

Which hidden gems are mainland Chinese tourists...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Hong Kong expects about 980,000 mainland Chinese visitors over the Labour Day “golden week” holiday from May 1 to 5, a 7 per cent increase from last year. Instead of rushing through major attractions, many travellers are opting for slower, highly curated itineraries centred on exhibitions, neighbourhood walks and carefully timed photo spots – trends driven by popular social media platforms such as RedNote. Here, the South China Morning Post highlights what mainland tourists are currently...

Hong Kong taxis, minibuses to get 2-month LPG subsidy...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Hong Kong will introduce a two-month subsidy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used by taxis, minibuses and school buses from May amid soaring fuel prices, while a previously announced diesel subsidy will take effect on Thursday. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday that the interdepartmental task force monitoring fuel price movements had proposed a 50 HK cents per litre subsidy for two months, starting in May, to alleviate operational pressure on taxis and minibuses, among...

Gene study reveals unknown human migration into South...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

A massive genomic study of indigenous peoples in the Americas has uncovered evidence of a previously unknown migration into South America that occurred as recently as 1,300 years ago – during China’s Tang dynasty. These new settlers carried genes remarkably similar to indigenous populations in what is now Australia and the Pacific Islands, according to the study published online by the journal Nature on April 22. The international team, which included scientists from the University of Sao

Hong Kong cook jailed for 18 years for ‘evil’ sexual...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

A Hong Kong cook has been jailed for 18 years for persistently sexually abusing the daughter he shares with his mistress, with the presiding judge also criticising the victim’s mother for trying to keep her silent. The High Court on Wednesday said a deterrent sentence was necessary for the 61-year-old to reflect society’s abhorrence of the “evil” crimes he committed against the girl when she was aged 11 to 18. The accused, identified only by his initials, TML, to protect his daughter’s

Russia to hold equipment-free Red Square parade as...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

The ⁠Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia’s annual Victory Day ‌military parade on Red Square had been scaled back this year and ⁠would not include military ‌equipment due to the risk of ‌what it described ⁠as “Ukrainian ⁠terrorist activity”. The parade, ‌held on May 9, ‌marks the ‌Soviet defeat ‌of Nazi Germany during ⁠World War II, a ⁠conflict Russians call the Great Patriotic ‌War. One of the top holidays on the Russian calendar, it allows the dwindling number of veterans to gather in...

China social media account banned for forcing women...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

A social media account in China with more than 11 million followers which targets juveniles has been banned for forcing young female live-streamers to stay in a tank with a crocodile. The permanent ban also came after the account was exposed of also having made the women hold their breath under water. The account with the handle @Yebali, which means Night Paris in English, had been in operation on the social media platform for five years before it bowed to pressure to close, Jiupai News...

HKEX posts record quarterly profit, topping forecast...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), operator of Asia’s third-largest stock market, reported a record quarterly profit in the first three months of 2026, buoyed by more new listings and increased turnover. Net profit rose 27 per cent to HK$5.19 billion (US$662 million) – or HK$4.10 per share – from a year earlier, the company said on Wednesday. The result beat the HK$4.6 billion consensus among analysts. It is the highest quarterly profit on record, surpassing the HK$4.9 billion in the

Government vows action as landlord-tenant rows block...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Hong Kong authorities have pledged to intervene in landlord-tenant disputes that are preventing residents from retrieving belongings left at the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court, as packing efforts enter their 10th day. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said on Wednesday that while the government expected agreement on limited entry quotas, authorities were prepared to make “alternative arrangements” to ensure all residents had a fair chance to retrieve their belongings. “Our stance on...

China targets ‘zombies’ with regulatory headshots to...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

China’s top market regulator is intensifying its crackdown on debt-laden “zombie companies” – rolling out a pilot programme in seven economic hubs to facilitate the forced exit of unprofitable firms often propped up by government subsidies or bank loans. The move signals a broadening of Beijing’s campaign against local protectionism and the low-quality vicious competition that officials say results in neijuan, or “involution”. With a change to China’s Company Law, the State Administration for...

Mali’s junta leader says situation ‘under control’ in...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

The leader of Mali’s military government, Assimi Goita, on ⁠Tuesday made his first public appearance since insurgents launched coordinated attacks over the weekend, vowing in a televised address to “neutralise” those responsible. West Africa’s al-Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-dominated separatist group hit Mali’s main army base and the area near Bamako’s airport in the attacks on Saturday, while also pushing Russian troops supporting government forces out of the strategic town of Kidal in the...

Amber rainstorm warning issued as thunderstorms hit...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster issued an amber rainstorm warning on Wednesday, while calling on the public to seek safe shelter as thunderstorms and heavy rain hit the city. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the signal at 11.35am and said areas of intense thundery showers associated with upper-air disturbances had been persistently affecting the area. The...

Challenges ahead for Wang Fuk Court homeowners who...

News - South China Morning Post ·

2026/04/29

Homeowners of the only block undamaged in the deadly Wang Fuk Court inferno who decline the government’s buy-back offer will face significant challenges in the management and maintenance of their properties in the long run, Hong Kong authorities have warned. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said on Wednesday that while the government respected homeowners’ decisions, the possibility for authorities to invoke legislation to acquire all property titles in Wang Chi House

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