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South Korea relies on imports for about 45 per cent of its naphtha demand. Photo: Shutterstock

South Korea turns to Russia for naphtha as Asia’s chip industry feels squeeze

South Korea’s return to Russian naphtha – vital for semiconductor manufacturing – highlights Asia’s fragile supply chain amid Iran conflict.

BASF launches biggest overseas project in China with green-powered mega-site

Semiconductors
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Diplomacy

Europe urged to ‘learn to fight for itself’ in case US-China truce collapses

European Council on Foreign Relations calls for Brussels to be prepared and ‘not wait until the next crisis hits’.

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Military

Japan has enough plutonium to make 5,500 nuclear warheads, PLA Daily says

China’s military mouthpiece claims Tokyo has ‘astonishing’ stockpile of nuclear materials and the tech to produce weapons.

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Law and Crime

13 parents, businessman get up to 14 months in jail for bribing ESF employee

‘It is understandable to have high expectations for their children. But the premise is that [parents] have to obey the law,’ judge says.

Diplomacy
Kenyan President William Ruto tightens a railway line bolt during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Naivasha-Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway extension in Narok, Kenya, on March 19. Photo: Xinhua

China and Kenya partner to finish ‘most consequential’ rail project

Policy

Apple’s accidental AI feature release in China risks regulatory backlash: expert

Mainland China users briefly access Apple Intelligence before the update vanishes, raising questions over compliance and regulatory approval.

The short-lived roll-out comes amid nearly two years of anticipation in China, where Apple Intelligence has yet to launch despite its release in major markets. Photo: Shutterstock
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China Economy

China sails into AI era with ambitious smart shipping targets

Pilot zones and more than 100 smart vessels are part of Beijing’s strategy to bolster maritime operations and address bottlenecks.

People

‘Disturbing’: are Indonesia’s borders prone to systemic immigration corruption?

Some Singaporean tourists to Batam say they have paid nearly US$200 to clear entry checks that should have been free for Southeast Asian visitors.

Business

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

In partnership with:
Standard Chartered
Sebastian Hia (left), Standard Chartered’s global head of SME Banking sales and head of SME Banking in Singapore, with Chiang Siang Yong (centre), co-founder and managing director of engineering solution provider TFE, and Roxie Wang, Altios’ head of business development for Southeast Asia.

Law and Crime

Tai Po probe: firm did not check fire systems since March 2025 – as it happened

Contract between Victory Fire and property management company ISS EastPoint stipulated that the safety system had to be inspected quarterly.

The catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po killed 168 and displaced about 5,000 residents. Photo: Eugene Lee

Middle East

After early anger, Gulf allies press Trump for final blow to Iran

The UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain are pushing hard for Trump to order a ground invasion of Tehran, according to a diplomat.

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Economics

Malaysia raises 2026 growth forecast despite Iran war risks

Strong demand for AI semiconductors and an anticipated uptick in tourism are forecast to help the economy defy global volatility.

Business

La Mirabelle sells in hours as developers ramp up sales, buyers fret over rates

All 254 Tseung Kwan O flats snapped up as developers step up supply and demand stays firm.

La Mirabelle in Harbour Bay is to be developed in two phases, each comprising about 1,200 units, for a total of 2,550 units. Photo: Handouit

Southeast Asia

Malaysia court orders ex-PM Najib to pay US$1.3 billion to 1MDB unit

Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Najib was liable for losses incurred by ‌SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

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Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak is escorted by prison guards at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex, on the day he attends the verdict of his house arrest bid, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 22, 2025. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

Amid soaring airfares, Chinese bookings up 20% ahead of Ching Ming holiday

Global instability fails to deter Chinese holidaymakers with airlines selling 2.04 million tickets in the lead-up to Ching Ming Festival.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Filipino singer’s Golden Buzzer win stokes #SEAblings’ Southeast Asian pride

The reactions to his breakout moment on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ highlight how regional audiences increasingly champion one another’s artists.

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Banking & Finance

Hong Kong tycoon-backed start-up raises US$300 million to scale battery push

The California-based firm will use new funding to scale manufacturing and expand globally, with Hong Kong anchoring its regional push.

EnerVenue, named by Time magazine as one of the top 10 US green technology companies in 2025, has developed processes to lower the total life-cycle costs of energy storage systems. Photo: Handout

Diplomacy

Born in the USA? China targeted in Trump’s birthright citizenship fight

As Supreme Court decision looms, Chinese nationals find themselves at the centre of disputed core constitutional issue: who is an American?

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Protester Hannah Liu holds a sign in support of birthright citizenship outside the US Supreme Court in May, 2025. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

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Travel & Leisure

7 new major Los Angeles arts complexes set to open before 2028 Olympics

From Lacma’s David Geffen Galleries to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and Meow Wolf, it’s a huge few years for art in LA.

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OPINION
Marco Vicenzino

Opinion | In age of US-China rivalry, supply chain statecraft counts

Marco Vicenzino
Letters

Letters | Unfinished business: the delay of Trump’s China visit

Letters
Kun Tian

Opinion | Dubai’s loss could be Hong Kong’s gain, but only if city is ready

Kun Tian
Neeta Lal

Opinion | Why India is quietly deepening its engagement with the Taliban

Neeta Lal
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Restriction on power banks on flights should not have come as a surprise

SCMP Editorial
Harry’s View | 31 Mar 2026
March 31, 2026
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Announcements

SCMP Plus exclusive: meet Shing-Tung Yau in person

Southeast Asia

Malaysia court orders ex-PM Najib to pay US$1.3 billion to 1MDB unit

Video | Cow dung hotpot, anyone?

Cow dung hotpot
02:56

Video | 7-tonne Chinese drone completes maiden flight

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01:13

Policy

Apple’s accidental AI feature release in China risks regulatory backlash: expert

Culture

A legendary opera singer on playing the ‘bad boy’ on stage

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SCMP Series
Trump’s 2026 trip to China
AI's impact on Hong Kong
‘Two sessions’: China’s economic agenda
China Inc. goes global
Challenges and pathways in the South China Sea
Traditional Russian wooden dolls depict Chinese President Xi Jinping, then US president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a souvenir shop in St Petersburg, Russia, on November 21, 2024. Photo: AP
SCMP SeriesTrump’s 2026 trip to China

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

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Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

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Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

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Open Questions series

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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Illustration: Henry Wong

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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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

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Military

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
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Big Tech

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during the company’s global AI conference in San Jose, California, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Big Tech

Xiaomi, Alibaba ramp up AI recruitment amid global talent war

AI-related positions account for more than 80 per cent of Alibaba’s open roles, up from around 60 per cent last year.

Big Tech

‘I no longer knew how to work without it’: DeepSeek outage cuts off millions

Chinese AI start-up restores chatbot service by Monday morning after overnight disruption affects millions of users.

Banking & Finance

Chinese company to use AI-powered testing to boost profits and fast-track IVF

China’s falling fertility rate sees spike in demand for assisted reproduction as biotech firm raises US$101 million from Hong Kong listing.

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A Chinese biotech company is hoping AI technology will help to boost profits and speed up chromosome testing which is a vital part of In vitro fertilisation. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS

Diplomacy

China’s looted heritage campaign: assertive, ambitious – and complicated

As the United States steps back from cultural governance, China aims to reshape how the world reclaims looted heritage – with Japan its biggest test.

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Illustration: Brian Wang

Politics

How a Tang dynasty tablet became a test for China-Japan restitution

Fresh calls involving Tokyo’s Imperial Palace could spell turning point for repatriating looted war relics after decades of inertia.

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Diplomacy

Why China’s Iran war strategy is working – and may even be an opportunity

Beijing happy to watch, wait and safeguard core interests – oil flows, Taiwan and trade – as its geopolitical rival spends resources on war.

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China Economy

Chinese island province wants more than beachgoers as it chases economic growth

After three speculative booms – and busts – the island province is seeking sustainable growth based on new status as a free-trade port.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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