‘Cyber confession room’ where China youth share struggles like financial problems gains traction At first glance, it is just a photograph of an empty room. But on mainland social media, it has become something else entirely: a virtual confessional. Beneath such posts, users anonymously unburden themselves to strangers, sharing the guilt, anxiety and struggles they cannot voice to family or friends. Traditionally, the confessional in Christianity is a space where believers admit their sins to a priest and seek absolution. Such so-called cyber confession rooms have recently surged in...

South China Morning Post

‘Cyber confession room’ where China youth share life’s struggles gains traction

Young people shun sharing feelings, fears with family or friends, turn to virtual spaces, which experts warn could erode real human contact.

Why Iran and North Korea are ‘highly likely’ to revive missile and nuclear cooperation As war with the United States and Israel batters Iran’s missile and nuclear infrastructure, analysts say Tehran is likely to turn to North Korea once again after the fighting stops, reviving a long-suspected partnership built on shared hostility towards Washington and years of military cooperation. North Korea has long been suspected of supplying missile technology to Iran and providing technical help on uranium enrichment, and analysts say it is likely to do so again after the war. “North Korea...

South China Morning Post

Iran may team up again with North Korea to defy ‘gangster-like’ US. Here’s why

North Korea has long been suspected of supplying missile technology to Iran and providing technical help on uranium enrichment.

Chinese firms with success in go-global efforts poised to reap profit rewards Overseas expansion and a commodity boom have put Chinese companies trading on the mainland in a position to beat their offshore-listed peers in earnings, cementing the outperformance of yuan-denominated stocks since the outbreak of Middle East hostility. The 300 largest mainland-traded companies may post average 2025 profit growth of 6.3 per cent during the coming earnings season, while the growth rate for the firms in the Hong Kong exchange’s benchmark Hang Seng Index would be a mere 2 per...

South China Morning Post

Chinese firms with success in global push poised to reap profit rewards

High commodity prices also a factor as mainland-listed firms set to continue outperforming Hong Kong peers battered by ‘involution’.

Is Iran’s vital oil hub Kharg Island in America’s crosshairs? Kharg Island, a scrubby stretch of land in the northern Gulf, handles almost all of Iran’s crude exports and any attempt to seize it would mark a major escalation in the conflict, analysts have said. The US and Israel have so far treaded carefully around the island, but an Axios report over the weekend cited Trump administration officials saying capturing Kharg was on the table as the war in the Middle East persists. The island, located around 30km (19 miles) off the Iranian mainland, handles...

South China Morning Post

Is Iran’s vital oil hub Kharg Island in America’s crosshairs?

The island, located around 30km off the Iranian mainland, handles roughly 90 per cent of Iran’s crude exports.

Cathay posts 9.5% rise in profit to HK$10.82 billion but warns of geopolitical risks Cathay Pacific Airways’ net profit climbed 9.5 per cent to HK$10.82 billion (US$1.39 billion) in 2025, driven by increased capacity and robust cargo demand, as the Hong Kong flag carrier’s chief warned of disruptions from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Cathay Group chairman Patrick Healy said on Wednesday that the results marked the airline’s third consecutive year of growth. But he cautioned that global geopolitical tensions were unsettling businesses and pushing up fuel prices. Hong...

South China Morning Post

Cathay posts 9.5% rise in profit to HK$10.82 billion but warns of fuel surcharges

Cathay premium and cargo growth lifted results, but HK Express recorded deeper loss amid route expansion and engine issues.

China’s size, strength insulates its energy security amid geopolitical shocks: lawmaker Despite its heavy reliance on oil and gas imports, China’s “national strength” insulates its energy security from short-term geopolitical shocks, a prominent petroleum geologist said. Jin Zhijun, dean of the Institute of Energy at Peking University, said that China – as a large country – could ensure its energy security amid a volatile international energy trading landscape, with multiple contingency plans in place. They included tapping more domestic resources by increasing oil and gas...

South China Morning Post

How is China insulating its energy security amid geopolitical shocks?

Increasing oil and gas exploration, pushing ahead with green transition among contingency plans in place, geologist NPC deputy says.

Singapore man to be charged over TikTok videos on race, government A 59-year-old man will be charged in a Singapore court on Wednesday over four videos he posted on TikTok between 2023 and 2025, the police and Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office said on Tuesday. The videos contained content which promoted ill will between different racial groups as well as false statements of fact, police and the POFMA Office said in a joint news release. He will be charged with two counts of defamation and one count of attempting to promote...

South China Morning Post

Singaporean TikTokker to be charged with defamation, spreading falsehoods

In one of his videos, the man claimed that the government was paying to attract Chinese nationals and nurture them as leaders.

Elon Musk on course to become world’s first trillionaire as wealth soars Elon Musk’s estimated US$839 billion net worth has made him the wealthiest individual ever recorded, Forbes said on Tuesday, as billionaires worldwide saw their combined fortunes surge in the past year to an all-time high of US$20.1 trillion. Musk topped the Forbes World’s Billionaires list for the second consecutive year after his fortune swelled by roughly US$500 billion over the past 12 months, driven by rising valuations at Tesla and SpaceX, which is targeting a public offering in 2026. He...

South China Morning Post

Elon Musk on course to become world’s first trillionaire as wealth soars

The Tesla and SpaceX boss cements his status as the world’s wealthiest person after his fortune swelled by roughly US$500 billion over the past 1...

Hong Kong stocks extend rebound as proposed release from oil reserve soothes fears Hong Kong stocks rose on Wednesday as fears over surging oil prices eased and Chinese tech names rebounded after a deep rout. The Hang Seng Index gained 0.5 per cent to 26,028.00 as of 9.36am. The Hang Seng Tech Index edged up 0.6 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index were little changed. Oil prices fluctuated after the Wall Street Journal reported that the International Energy Agency proposed the largest ever oil release from its strategic reserve. The...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong stocks slip, led by tech firms, after Beijing’s OpenClaw warning

Tencent and Alibaba lose ground while CATL and Geely buck market trend.

Hong Kong tycoon urges prudent approach to development amid global uncertainty A Hong Kong property tycoon has called for a more prudent approach to the city’s development rather than accelerating projects amid global uncertainties, saying the industry’s willingness to invest in the Northern Metropolis hinges on the health of the market. Far East Consortium chairman David Chiu Tat-cheong also described the megaproject’s new land disposal approach – which requires winning bidders to handle multiple developments on a large plot – as good intentions with unintended negative...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong tycoon urges prudent approach to development amid global uncertainty

Far East Consortium chairman David Chiu says industry’s willingness to invest in the Northern Metropolis hinges on the health of the market.

Inseparable China triplet brothers hold weddings on same day, grow up sharing everything A group of triplet brothers in central China has trended on social media for holding a joint wedding event on the same day. The collective nuptials were held in Shangqiu, Henan province, at the beginning of March, Jimu News reported. The three men were born after the year 2000. Their exact age is not clear. One of them, who is ranked second on account of the time of his birth, said he and his brothers have never spent time apart since childhood. “We did everything together. We wore the same...

South China Morning Post

Inseparable China triplet brothers wed on same day, grow up sharing everything

Trio who have never been apart since childhood go all in on parents’ idea to hold joint nuptials; brides’ families embrace celebrations.

War in the Middle East: nearly 500 dead in Lebanon from Israeli offensive since last week Escalating hostilities have forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes in Lebanon over the past week, a UN agency said on Monday, as the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah entered a second week. Lebanon has been pulled deep into the war in the Middle East since Hezbollah opened fire to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, igniting an Israeli offensive which has killed nearly 500 people in Lebanon, ‌according to Lebanese authorities, with the death toll...

South China Morning Post

Nearly 500 dead in Lebanon from Israeli offensive against Hezbollah

As the death toll rises by 100 a day, the Lebanese president proposes a truce with Israel, saying Hezbollah is pushing Lebanon into ‘chaos’.

Chinese embassy warns nationals in UK of scammers posing as Hong Kong ICAC staff The Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom has warned its citizens in the country to beware of scams involving fraudsters posing as staff from Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog. In a statement on Monday, the embassy said criminals had recently posed as staff of the city’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to carry out telecommunications fraud. The criminals falsely accused victims of offences such as money laundering, pressuring them to cooperate in a bogus “investigation” and...

South China Morning Post

Chinese embassy warns nationals in UK of scammers posing as Hong Kong ICAC staff

Fraudsters posing as anti-corruption officials targeting Chinese nationals into transferring funds, embassy warns.

Hong Kong monitors fuel prices as Iran war sparks ‘premature and unfair’ hikes Authorities are communicating with local oil companies to monitor how the war in the Middle East is affecting Hong Kong’s fuel market, amid a public backlash over what has been called premature price hikes. Responding to a South China Morning Post inquiry on Tuesday, the Environment and Ecology Bureau also said the government had been urging oil companies to provide more data on auto-fuel prices. “In light of the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the government has been in touch...

South China Morning Post

Oil price surge may be passed on to Hong Kong consumers, industry chiefs warn

Government says it has contacted major oil companies to closely monitor the impact of international fuel prices on Hong Kong market.

Hong Kong Airlines to raise fuel surcharges by up to 35% amid oil price surge Hong Kong Airlines will raise its fuel surcharges by up to 35.2 per cent from Thursday amid soaring oil prices driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East, becoming the first local carrier to do so. The airline announced on its website on Tuesday that fuel surcharges for tickets issued on or after March 12 would be increased. Travellers on flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal will face the sharpest increases, with charges rising 35.2 per cent from HK$284 (US$36)...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Airlines to raise fuel surcharges by up to 35% amid oil price surge

Airline becomes first local carrier to raise fuel surcharges, with South Asia routes hit hardest amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Mistaken for drunks, left to die: Thailand’s police have a deadly blind spot Warissara* survived the crash. It was the next four hours that killed her. The 21-year-old had been riding home from her restaurant job on the night of February 20 last year, caught in heavy rain on a slick Bangkok road, when she came off her motorbike. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene found only a few visible scratches – and detected the smell of alcohol. She had no identification on her. The call was made: send her to the police station, not the hospital. She arrived at...

South China Morning Post

Thai police thought she was drunk. She was already dying

A 21-year-old died because an assumption was made. The same assumption later left a stroke victim in a coma with 50-50 odds of survival.

E-payments to attract more riders, cut fare disputes: Hong Kong taxi industry Mandatory e-payment in Hong Kong taxis could attract more residents and visitors to use the service, as about 90 per cent of drivers are ready to meet the requirement ahead of its implementation next month, an industry representative has said. Ryan Wong Cheuk-pong, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Council, said on Tuesday that drivers could also benefit from e-payments by reducing disputes over fares and no longer worrying about a lack of change. “E-payments have become a trend and many residents...

South China Morning Post

E-payments to attract more riders, cut fare disputes: Hong Kong taxi industry

Representative says industry ready for April 1 requirement, with about 90 per cent of taxi drivers already registered with e-payment platforms.

China’s exports surge 21.8% in first 2 months of year China’s export growth accelerated sharply in the first two months of this year, defying last year’s high base while experts pointed to the likelihood of strong momentum for the rest of the year. Exports rose by 21.8 per cent from a year earlier to US$656.58 billion in the combined figures for January and February released by the customs administration on Tuesday. This represented a huge jump from the 6.6 per cent growth recorded in December and the 5.5 per cent climb recorded for all of last...

South China Morning Post

China’s exports surge 21.8% to start 2026 – biggest gain in 4 years

Despite an 11 per cent drop in US exports, China’s trade soared, buoyed by robust demand from Asean, the EU and other markets.

Wealth, drugs and rape: US luxury real estate stars convicted of sex trafficking Three brothers, including two of America’s most successful luxury real estate brokers, were convicted of sex trafficking charges on Monday after a five-week trial over accusations that they used drugs and force to rape scores of women they had dazzled with their wealth and opulent lifestyle. The verdict came after 11 women testified they were sexually assaulted by one or more of the brothers: twins Oren and Alon Alexander, 38, and Tal Alexander, 39. All three of the men shook their heads as the...

South China Morning Post

Wealth, drugs and rape: US luxury real estate stars convicted of sex trafficking

Once the kings of high-stakes property, Alexander twins Oren and Alon and brother Tal face life in prison after a trial exposed a pattern of drugge...

AI is forcing journalism to rediscover what the profession actually does Around the world, news organisations are racing to create rules for artificial intelligence. Editors debate whether reporters may use AI to draft text, summarise documents or help in research. Some outlets promise readers they will disclose when a machine helps write an article. Others hope credibility will come from avoiding AI altogether. But this debate begins with a mistaken assumption: that journalism earns trust because journalists physically write the sentences themselves. That has never...

South China Morning Post

Opinion | Journalists must confront the real risks of AI: fabricated facts

We don’t trust journalists because they type sentences; we trust journalists because they verify the truth.