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History
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Old newspapers are gathered in Kowloon’s Oi Man Estate during a government collection scheme in 1990. Photo: SCMP Archives
Recycling and waste reduction

Then & Now | Trash talk: Hong Kong’s surprising history of recycling

Believe it or not, Hong Kong was better at recycling before ‘sustainability’ became a buzzword.

Religion

Recap | China’s religious history features many faiths and a cult that started a war

War and conflict

Looking like ‘the enemy’: Asian-American veterans share Vietnam war stories

Japan

Did Japan kill 30 million? US historian’s book ignites nationalist fury

Accusing US historian Bryan Rigg of ‘propaganda’, Japanese conservatives are actively working to discredit his account of WWII atrocities.

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Japanese troops are seen in Nanking after the city’s conquest, in a photographic imprint dated 1937. Photo: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Science

A fiery conquest in 112BC may have led to decline of the Chinese swamp cypress

Han military campaign toppled the rebel Nanyue kingdom but also decimated vast stands of cypress, study finds.

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From our archives

How a 1993 MTR train incident sparked an expensive re-engineering

Three carriages became detached from a rush hour train as the coupling system failed, leaving people stranded near Tsuen Wan.

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France

Napoleon’s sword to be sold at auction in Paris

The sabre, which the French emperor kept throughout his reign, is expected to fetch up to US$1.1 million when it goes under the hammer.

This photograph taken in Paris on Friday shows details of the last sword that belonged to French Emperor Napoleon. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Opinion | China showcases its neighbourhood diplomacy across Southeast Asia

President Xi Jinping’s recent trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia highlighted China’s commitment to fostering regional harmony.

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Banking & finance

Opinion | Trump wants a great monetary reset. Where can the world hide?

As the US tries to reset the dollar-dominated monetary order, those seeking safety should consider a historical alternative to the dollar.

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Japan

Japan’s sovereignty museum shrugs off South Korea’s ‘immediate closure’ call

The museum in Tokyo centres around three separate sets of islands whose ownership Japan disputes with South Korea, China and Russia.

South Korean soldiers training in 2019 on the contested Dokdo Island, referred to in Japan as Takeshima. Photo: EPA-EFE
Books and literature

To buy or not to buy? Sotheby’s puts Shakespeare’s folios under the hammer

For the first time since 1898, Shakespeare’s First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios will be auctioned in a single lot – by Sotheby’s London on May 23.

For the first time since 1898, Shakespeare’s First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios will be auctioned in a single lot – by Sotheby’s London on May 23. The auction house estimates the sale price at up to US$6 million. Photo: Sotheby’s via AP
Beauty

How truffles went from ancient culinary delicacy to modern skincare solution

Brands like d’Alba, Fresh and Neogen are incorporating the feisty fungus into their products, with the promise of enhancing skin tone and creating a radiant and youthful complexion.

Martial arts

Truth behind a martial arts legend played by Jet Li and Jackie Chan

It has been 100 years since the death of kung fu master Wong Fei-hung who was little known during his lifetime.

Singapore

Obituary | Puan Noor Aishah, wife of Singapore’s first president, dies aged 91

Tributes have poured in for Puan Noor Aishah, the widow of Yusof Ishak, remembered for her grace, humility and dedication to Singapore.

Puan Noor Aishah, the wife of Singapore’s first president, Yusof Ishak, who died on April 22, 2025. Photo: Facebook/Raina.Husin
From our archives

When the Terracotta Army came to Hong Kong

A historic exhibition showcases artefacts from the Shang and Qin dynasties, drawing over a quarter million visitors.

Visitors look at exhibits during the exhibition of archaeological finds of China at Star House, Tsim Sha Tsui, in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives
Easter

Language Matters | Where the word ‘Easter’ comes from and how only 2 European languages use it

‘Easter’ is found in English and German but in most other European languages the word for the festival comes from old words for ‘Passover’.

Old Hong Kong

Then & Now | When sedan chairs and rickshaws dominated Hong Kong private transport

Taxis may be ubiquitous in Hong Kong today, but for much of the city’s urban history, human-powered transport was the only choice.

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Asia travel

Insiders guide on what to see, eat, do in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh

Rising from the ashes of its troubled past, the Cambodian capital now boasts coffee shops, hip bars, eateries and arts venues.

The Moonlight Pavilion at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Photo: Getty Images
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | The ancient Chinese general whose calm during surgery is still told of today

Worshipped by many Chinese, Lord Guan so personified the virtues of courage and loyalty that he was deified after his death.

South Korea

Korea part of Southeast Asia? Seoul flags embassies over foreign textbook errors

A government audit found that embassies failed to correct foreign textbook claims such as Korea once being part of Genghis Khan’s empire.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | China’s ties with the Americas are a net positive for the whole region

Instead of stubbornly hanging onto the Monroe Doctrine, Washington should embrace Beijing’s relationships with the US’ southern neighbours.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sign bilateral agreements in Brasilia, Brazil on November 20, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Tourism

Weimar, the German city rich in literary and architectural history

Few European cities have a history as culturally rich as Weimar, once home to Goethe, a giant of world literature.

Weimar, in Germany, is known for its cultural heritage. Photo: Getty Images
Cambodia

Cambodia’s descent into madness remembered, 50 years after the Khmer Rouge

Frenchman Roland Neveu witnessed the victorious Khmer Rouge enter Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975, heralding a savage era for Cambodians.

Hong Kong

Recap | Explore the history of Hong Kong’s Star Ferry and what makes it a city icon

Discover captivating stories of the Star Ferry, from riots and inspiring leadership to stunning photographs and an uncertain future. Explore its legacy and modern struggles.

Macau

Recap | The history, myths and extraordinary truths of Macau in 5 fascinating tales

PostMag contributor Jason Wordie uncovers Macau’s captivating history, from multiple spellings and wartime artists to opulent zoos and nostalgic myths versus gritty realities.

Signage in Hong Kong for passengers taking the bridge to Macau uses the spelling Macao, the same as that used on official documents everywhere ... except Portugal. Photo: EPA-EFE
Cambodia

Cambodia’s tougher ban on genocide denial: ‘another tool to silence dissent’?

Critics fear the move to further criminalise denial of the Khmer Rouge’s horrors will stifle opposition to Hun Sen’s dynasty.

Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen (right) and his son, Cambodian Prime Hun Manet (left), attend a ceremony at the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Denmark

Titanic passenger’s pocket watch tipped for US$66,000 sale

Recovered from the icy North Atlantic after the 1912 disaster, the ladies’ timepiece is going under the hammer in the UK.

Asia travel

60 years ago, Sanur was ground zero for Bali tourism

Championed by Indonesian president Sukarno, Sanur was a high-flying destination for Rockefellers, Rothschilds – and even hosted Mick Jagger’s wedding.

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