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Illustration: Brian Wang

The rupture: how Europe fell out of love with America

Many believed the transatlantic alliance could weather another term of Trump, but a year and a half on those hopes have largely faded.

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What Trump’s Iran war ‘loyalty test’ may mean for Nato’s long-standing alliance

Focus
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Military

Lesson for China? Iran’s low-cost 358 missile takes out million-dollar US assets

Price of successful ‘drone killer’ said to be one-tenth that of conventional air-defence munitions with comparable range and firepower specs.

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Politics

Russia’s Lavrov says balance of power shifting to emerging economies

At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, Lavrov said the foundations of globalisation powered primarily by the US had ‘come to an end’.

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Diplomacy

Closed? Open? Closed? Why is Iran changing course on the Strait of Hormuz?

Tehran is looking for room to manoeuvre on bigger issues as a ceasefire deadline looms next week, observers say.

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US-Israel war on Iran
The US has warned it is ready to resume attacks on Iran. Photo: AFP

How China’s military could learn vital lessons from war in Iran

Diplomacy

Iran reimposes shipping restrictions on Strait of Hormuz

The waterway has ‘returned to its previous state’, Tehran says, accusing Washington of banditry and maritime piracy.

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Shipping restrictions have changed again in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important waterways. Photo: Reuters
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China Economy

Why Canadians dream of electric vehicle price cuts, thanks to China

Canada slashed tariffs on Chinese EVs from the start of last month, but Chinese brands have yet to set up showrooms.

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Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong watchdog monitoring potential merger of city’s top 2 supermarket chains

Jardine Matheson and CK Hutchison reportedly in talks for Wellcome-ParknShop megadeal amid decline in citywide supermarket sales.

Business

From waste to bottle: the technology that gives packaging waste a verifiable second life

Dow’s digital tracking system in China proves to consumers and businesses how waste can be recycled into new products.

In partnership with:
Dow
Caption: Dow’s Track and Trace Platform makes it possible to follow a recycled bottle’s journey from disposal to its rebirth as a new plastic bottle. Photo: Shutterstock

United States & Canada

Trump signs order to speed up review of psychedelics

This would expedite review of drugs such as ibogaine, a drug that US military ‌veteran groups have said can help ⁠treat PTSD.

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Trump holds an executive order about easing restrictions on mental health treatments, including ibogaine, which he signed. Photo: Reuters

Americas

Venezuela’s Machado says ‘no regrets’ about giving her Nobel Prize to Trump

The opposition leader called the US president a leader who ‘risked the lives of his country’s citizens’ for her nation’s freedom.

Europe

Kyiv gunman kills 6, takes hostages before being shot dead by Ukraine police

Special tactical units stormed the supermarket where the attacker had barricaded himself.

Military

Could the PLA use minelaying drones in a blockade over Taiwan?

Japan’s islands and the waters of the Philippines could be targeted in a cross-strait operation, according to military magazine.

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The torpedo-shaped AJX002 drone was revealed during the Victory Day military parade in Beijing in September. Photo: AP

Americas

Mexico mends ties with Spain in first presidential visit in 8 years

Relations deteriorated after Mexico’s former president in 2019 demanded an apology for abuses committed during Spain’s ⁠colonial rule in Mexico.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum (left) greets Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the “Meeting in Defence of Democracy” in Barcelona on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Trump predicts meeting with Xi will be ‘special’ ahead of China visit

The US leader said ‘much will be accomplished’, but one analyst says the war in Iran means he has ‘lost almost all his bargaining chips’.

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Society

Hong Kong Sevens at ‘pinnacle’ on 50th anniversary, pioneering coach says

First tournament in 1976 drew 3,000, while this year’s event at Kai Tak Stadium has attracted more than 140,000, with three-day passes sold out.

Diplomacy

Is Takaichi putting Japan’s pacifist constitution on the chopping block?

Goal of changing the post-war system has never been closer, but upper house could still be a stumbling block, analysts argue.

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After leading the LDP to its historic supermajority, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has the confidence needed to push for more assertive defence policies. Photo: Getty Images

United States & Canada

Canada’s Kenneth Law to plead guilty in suicide kit case to avoid murder trial

The former cook is accused of helping 14 people kill themselves by selling a legal but deadly substance online.

Kenneth Law will plead guilty to counselling or aiding suicide under a deal with Crown prosecutors. Photo: Peel Regional Police

Science

Chinese robo-diving suit could help users consume almost 40% less oxygen

Advanced algorithm designed to shadow a diver’s every move could also cut the risk of accidents when undertaking complex underwater tasks.

Rugby

Hong Kong Sevens: defending champs Argentina, Black Ferns into semi-finals

Sunday’s semi-finals are set, with last year’s winners again into the last four, but Australia’s women and South Africa’s men are in ominous form.

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OPINION
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | HKUST study to decode longevity is the stuff of frontier science

SCMP Editorial
Ryan Ip,Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Wenhui Jia

Opinion | How Hong Kong can beat Singapore as the launch pad for Chinese firms

Ryan Ip
Jason Leung Yeuk-ho
Wenhui Jia
Cliff Buddle

My Take | All bets are off on legal basketball wagers in Hong Kong

Cliff Buddle
Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Will Japan’s corporate bond initiative signal a shift in Asia financing?

Anthony Rowley
Nilufer Oral

Opinion | Passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a right in war and peace

Nilufer Oral
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Harry’s View | 19 Apr 2026
April 19, 2026
MORE COMMENT
LATEST

United States & Canada

Obama meets New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before reading to preschoolers

Opinion

Editorial | Stamp out coercive shopping tours to uphold Hong Kong’s reputation

Health

Feng shui guru who’s helped the Rolling Stones, Steven Spielberg gives top tips

Opinion

Editorial | HKUST study to decode longevity is the stuff of frontier science

Hong Kong

Hong Kong coach lauds team’s UCI Track World Cup showing despite fruitless day

Celebrities

Meet Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang, the Olympians who made their runway debut

Hong Kong Opinion

Opinion | How Hong Kong can beat Singapore as the launch pad for Chinese firms

Americas

Venezuela’s Machado says ‘no regrets’ about giving her Nobel Prize to Trump

United States & Canada

Canada’s Kenneth Law to plead guilty in suicide kit case to avoid murder trial

Europe

Kyiv gunman kills 6, takes hostages before being shot dead by Ukraine police

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SCMP Series
US-Israel war on Iran
AI's impact on Hong Kong
‘Two sessions’: China’s economic agenda
Illustration: Henry Wong
SCMP SeriesUS-Israel war on Iran

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

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What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

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How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

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Open Questions series

Science

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China Economy

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

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China Economy

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

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China Economy

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China Future Tech
China Future Tech
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China Business

China’s drug makers are speeding up – will AI be their secret weapon?

Chinese biotech firms are striking big global deals as drug makers, but could artificial intelligence take them to the next level?

Illustration by Henry Wong

China Economy

Why Canadians dream of electric vehicle price cuts, thanks to China

Canada slashed tariffs on Chinese EVs from the start of last month, but Chinese brands have yet to set up showrooms.

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Big Tech

ByteDance, Tencent step up AI talent battle amid reports of DeepSeek loss

High-profile departures, disputed compensation claims and start-up spin-outs underscore escalating competition for AI engineers.

China Economy

China focuses on car standards to put industry in global driving seat

New five-year plan also emphasised importance of stronger standards in boosting Chinese manufacturers’ competitiveness.

Chinese carmaker Nio’s one millionth vehicle rolls off the assembly line in Hefei, Anhui province, in January. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Rugby’s greatest weekend: 50 years of the Hong Kong Sevens - an infographic

See the world’s top teams compete at Kai Tak Stadium on April 17-19 and celebrate 50 years of Hong Kong Sevens history, tries and triumphs.

Rugby’s greatest weekend: 50 years of the Hong Kong Sevens - an infographic

China Business

China’s drug makers are speeding up – will AI be their secret weapon?

Chinese biotech firms are striking big global deals as drug makers, but could artificial intelligence take them to the next level?

China Economy

Iran war energy shock sees Chinese firms recalibrate overseas expansion plans

Businesses are rethinking short-term strategies as they adapt to rising costs and slowing growth across major economies.

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Tech Trends

How the rise of AI agents could finally make China’s open-source models pay

Free models helped Chinese firms find rapid success – but thin margins are forcing a shift towards hybrid business strategies.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
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