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1. Rubio to visit Rome, meet Pope Leo after Trump row in attempt to ‘thaw’ relations

   US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Pope Leo on a trip to Rome this week, in the wake of the pontiff’s clash with US President Donald Trump, a Vatican source said on Sunday. The source confirmed Italian media reports about the meeting, which newspapers said would take place on Thursday in an attempt to “thaw” relations. It comes just weeks after Trump’s extraordinary criticism of Pope...

2. Cargo ship near Strait of Hormuz reports being attacked as Iran makes new peace proposal

   A cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz has reported being attacked by multiple small craft, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said on Sunday, marking at least two dozen attacks in and around the strait since the Iran war began. All crew on the unidentified northbound carrier were safe after the attack off Sirik, Iran, east of the strait, the monitor said....

3. Tsinghua University alumni can help Hong Kong serve nation: liaison office chief

   Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has called on the alumni of the prestigious Tsinghua University to help the city better serve national development with their patriotism, pragmatism and global networks. Adding to the remarks by the director of the central government’s liaison office on Sunday, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu also expressed hope that more of the university’s graduates would...

4. Why a 5-year defence pact between North Korea and Russia could make China uneasy

   China may be feeling uneasy about talk of a rare five-year defence cooperation plan between North Korea and Russia that could accelerate Pyongyang’s military modernisation on multiple fronts, analysts said. According to the Russian state news agency Tass, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov held talks to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on April 26, with Belousov describing...

5. Vigilantes in Nigeria kill herders amid jihadist tensions, kidnapping gangs

   A state-backed Nigerian militia, operating alongside the military, killed scores of ethnic Fulani herders in a raid, local sources have told journalists. The herders were killed in an operation that also involved vigilantes from Benin, just across the border from Niger State, after the herders were accused of being informants for the jihadist group Ansaru. The Nigerian vigilantes from Bussa...

6. The US sanctioned Chinese oil refineries. Now China is really pushing back

   China has ordered companies throughout the country not to comply with US sanctions on five Chinese oil refiners accused of trading in Iranian fuel, a move observers say could mark a new stage in Beijing’s pushback against American long-arm jurisdiction. The order is the first application of a measure designed to block “improper” foreign actions, and could be a potential headache for US sanctions...

7. From footwear to AI services: China moves up the value chain in exports

   For decades, the global image of Chinese trade was synonymous with massive container ships loaded with footwear, bags and furniture. However, a profound structural shift is under way. Having conquered the world of physical goods, China is now rapidly ascending the industrial chain as an emerging exporter of manufacturing technology. In 2025, the country’s exports of telecoms, computer and...

8. World may find itself ‘in a very Chinese time’ of data governance

   At the end of March, China inaugurated the World Data Organisation in Beijing, a body with a stated mission of “bridging the data divide, unlocking data’s value and powering the digital economy”. The move is the latest signal of a broader trend: over the past several years, Beijing has developed a distinct data governance strategy to drive artificial intelligence (AI) development as it reshapes...

9. Calls grow to tap MPF for housing as young Hongkongers’ desire to buy homes wanes

   Calls have been renewed to allow Hong Kong’s young families to use part of their mandatory pension savings to buy homes, with a recent survey finding that high flat prices and large down payments have dampened their desire to own property. The study released on Sunday also called for the government to offer housing loans to first-time buyers and to halve the down payment required for...

10. How can China best profit from Trump’s latest rift with traditional US allies?

    Donald Trump’s latest attacks on US allies in Europe – including the order to withdraw troops from Germany and threats to do the same in Italy and Spain – may help to relieve the pressure on China. For now, Beijing’s priority should be to deny the US the chance to “redirect attention towards China” and let Washington’s own actions do the work, some analysts have argued. Trump has escalated his...