How China can win friends and influencers to help tell the country’s story well
Tourists, international students and foreign employees of Chinese companies could serve as grass-roots ambassadors, helping China’s story to resonate with audiences worldwide, according to one of the country’s leading political advisers. Zhang Bo, a professor at Beijing Language and Culture University who is also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the suggestion on the sidelines of the annual “two sessions” meeting. Speaking to the South China Morning Post,... [Continue Reading]
Live: Big first-round losers Brisbane and Parramatta try to restore some pride
The Broncos' defence is labelled "pathetic" as they surrender a 20-6 lead, hit back in the second half but eventually lose 40-32 on the back of future teammate Jonah Pezet's game-sealing try. [Continue Reading]
‘A US military victory in Iran without a political one is not a victory’
‘This is not a war about whose military is better, bigger or more powerful.’ [Continue Reading]
Hobart Clinic chief quits amid reported clash with board
The Hobart Clinic's chief executive has resigned as the state government commissions a review of the mental health hospital's corporate governance. [Continue Reading]
Two tankers explode in attack by drone boats after Iran warns world oil could reach $200 a barrel
Around 1.30 am local time, two tankers were hit by an 'unknown projectile' off the coast of Iraq, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operation. [Continue Reading]
Cathay Pacific to nearly double fuel surcharge on Wednesday as costs surge
Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget arm HK Express will double their fuel surcharges next week, following a similar move by another Hong Kong carrier amid rising oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East. The city’s flag carrier said on Thursday the increase would apply to tickets issued on March 18 or later. “The price of jet fuel has approximately doubled since March amid the latest developments in the Middle East,” Cathay said, citing the surge as the reason for the higher... [Continue Reading]
Chile marks sharp turn to the right as new hardline president vows sweeping reforms
Right wing hardliner Jose Antonio Kast was sworn in as Chile’s president Wednesday, marking the nation’s most stark shift to the right since since the brutal dictatorship of general Augusto Pinochet, whom Kast greatly admires. Kast vowed in his inaugural address to follow through on sweeping reforms, including building physical border barriers along the frontier with Bolivia. [Continue Reading]
My phone contents were shared with the police colleague I accused of rape
Police Scotland has been fined £66,000 by a watchdog after it failed to protect sensitive personal information. [Continue Reading]
In South Korea, witnesses describe chain of failures as Itaewon crowd crush inquiry begins
South Korea’s long-awaited public inquiry into the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush opened on Thursday with tearful testimony from survivors and heated exchanges between police officials accused of mishandling emergency calls on the night of the disaster. The hearing came more than three years after the tragedy, following prolonged political gridlock, disputes over accountability and repeated delays in forming an independent investigative body. The National Commission for the Investigation of the... [Continue Reading]
In the US-Israeli war on Iran, who will run out of missiles first?
Are there enough interceptor missiles to defeat Iran’s response to the US and Israel's attacks? [Continue Reading]
Draper fights back for 'huge' win over Djokovic
Jack Draper produces a superb fightback to beat Novak Djokovic and reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals - a result he believes could be "a real big moment" in his season. [Continue Reading]
US-Israeli war on Iran may spark nuclear arms race, Carnegie scholar says
Zhao Tong is a senior fellow with the Nuclear Policy Programme at Washington-based think tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and its East Asia-based research centre on contemporary China, Carnegie China. His research focuses on strategic security issues, including nuclear weapons policy, deterrence, arms control, non-proliferation, missile defence, hypersonic weapons, regional security in the Asia-Pacific and China’s security and foreign policy. SCMP Plus readers get early access... [Continue Reading]
Live: Blues and Tigers ignite first full round of AFL season at packed MCG
Carlton kicks only one goal in the second half, but it is just enough to hold off a late charge by a wayward Richmond at the MCG. [Continue Reading]
Noma restaurant co-founder steps down after abuse claims
The co-founder of a fabled restaurant in Denmark - Noma in Copenhagen - has said that he is stepping down after reports of past abuse at his business. [Continue Reading]
'EU needs a bit of a revolution: There is no European strategy or foreign policy'
François Picard is pleased to welcome Sophie in 't Veld, former Dutch MEP and member of Volt Europa. She argues that the EU faces a profound structural crisis in its capacity to act on the global stage. What appears as policy debate is, in practice, an internal academic discussion with little consequence for international affairs. In moments of crisis, the EU is not shaping events but reacting to them, often in response to the initiatives of other powers. Ms. Veld warns that Europe has become largely irrelevant in global geopolitics. [Continue Reading]
Life under fire: a Tehran resident shares her story as Iran is attacked
A Tehran resident in her 30s agreed to share her thoughts with Agence France-Presse about the ongoing war and daily life. Her identity has been withheld for her protection. Here is an edited transcript of the conversation. How is daily life in Tehran? People left in waves, especially those who were next to targets. The financial situation is very bad. My job has been halted and I am spending out of my savings. Going away has costs too, so this may be one of the reasons why people are leaving... [Continue Reading]
Russia holds 'productive' talks with US
Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy said that he had joined a "productive meeting" with US negotiators, the first talks between Moscow and Washington since the start of the Iran war. [Continue Reading]
Emmerdale confirms unexpected love interest for Graham in ITVX release – and it’s not Rhona
Not awkward at all. [Continue Reading]
Noma chef steps down over bullying and abuse allegations
The head chef of world-renowned restaurant Noma has been forced to step down over allegations of bullying and abuse. [Continue Reading]
Pentagon finds US was behind deadly strike which killed more than 170 Iranian schoolchildren
Trump previously blamed Iran for the attack. [Continue Reading]
John Lewis pays first annual staff bonus in four years as profits rise
Payment of 2% at employee-owned partnership follows sales increase to £13.4bn• Business live – latest updatesThe owner of John Lewis and Waitrose has paid an annual bonus to workers for the first time in four years after underlying profits rose by 6%.The retail group’s 69,000 employees – which it calls partners – will share £35m, the equivalent of 2% of salary, after it recorded an increase in sales and profits. The payout amounts to about one extra week of pay. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
6,000 Filipino sailors stranded by Strait of Hormuz closure: ‘bored and a little scared’
Filipino sailor George Miranda was racing to help a stricken vessel aboard the tugboat Mussafah 2 when he last spoke to his wife and young daughter. The 46-year-old, whose small ship was struck by a pair of missiles this week in the Strait of Hormuz, is the only seafarer from the Philippines known to be missing in the Middle East war, the government says. But more than 6,000 others from the country that supplies a quarter of the world’s sailors are still working in the conflict zone and... [Continue Reading]
Trump and Epstein statue in Titanic pose appears in Washington
A protest statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein in a Titanic-style pose was installed on the National Mall near the US Capitol in Washington, drawing attention from passersby. [Continue Reading]
Trump admin estimates US war on Iran cost $11.3bn in first 6 days: Report
Lawmakers express concerns as Trump officials project $50bn more may be needed for Iran war funding. [Continue Reading]
Robodebt was the great test of Australia’s accountability mechanisms – and they failed
The final report into the Centrelink debt recovery process that wreaked havoc on the vulnerable is not the full-stop many wanted. It has not restored the trust that was so fundamentally brokenFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe whistleblower’s message landed just before Christmas.It was 2016, now a distant memory. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Iraq Urges Protection of Maritime Energy Routes Amid Gulf Tensions
The Iraqi Ministry of Oil issued a statement calling for the protection of maritime corridors used for energy transportation, citing recent hostile activities targeting oil tankers in the Gulf region. This move comes amid rising tensions that risk disrupting key shipping lanes vital to global oil supplies. These corridors are crucial not just for Iraq and its neighbors but for the worldwide energy market, as any blockage or attack can lead to increased energy prices and economic instability. Iraq’s alert highlights the growing concerns over maritime security in a geopolitically sensitive area. The ministry urged all involved parties to maintain... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Mar 2026 07:09
UK Home Office launches pilot scheme offering financial incentives for rejected asylum-seeking families to return home
In a controversial move, the UK Home Office has launched a new pilot scheme targeting 150 families whose asylum claims have been refused. The families have been given a mere seven days to decide whether to accept a financial incentive to return to their home countries or risk being forcibly removed, which has raised significant concerns over the implications for their children and overall well-being. The scheme, which offers up to £40,000 per family to facilitate voluntary return, has sparked urgent pleas from families seeking more time to comprehend and respond to the life-altering decision they face. The Home Office... [Continue Reading]
How will the Iran war affect the cost of your supermarket shop?
It's impossible to know how long this war will last, but what is certain is that the longer the duration, the bigger the impact on consumers [Continue Reading]
Israeli ‘double-tap strike’ hits displaced on Beirut seafront, kills eight
The attack appears to be another Israeli attempted assassination, outside areas traditionally targeted. [Continue Reading]
‘Beggars belief’: calls for federal intervention after extension to ‘carbon bomb’ open-cut coalmine approved by Queensland government
Hail Creek is responsible for about 20% of Australia’s coalmine methane, while only producing 1% of the country’s coalFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEnvironmental groups have called on the federal government to intervene after Australia’s most methane-polluting open-cut coalmine was approved for extension.A proposed expansion of the Hail Creek coalmine in central Queensland, described by conservationists as a “carbon bomb”, was backed by the state’s government on Wednesday. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
At 13, He Was Selling Sneakers. At 18, He’s Facing Terror Charges.
In February, Emir Balat disappeared from the online marketplace he frequented. Weeks later, he was arrested in a homemade-bomb attack near Gracie Mansion. [Continue Reading]
Palantir’s NHS England contract ‘opens door to government abuse of power’, health bosses told
Health justice charity Medact says data-sharing potential could be used for UK version of US immigration raidsPalantir’s NHS contract opens the door to the Big Brother-style data-sharing that Reform UK would use for a version of US immigration raids, health bosses have been told.Palantir Technologies – the data analytics company founded by Peter Thiel and Alex Karp – won a £330m NHS England contract to deliver the Federated Data Platform in 2023. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Could Free Child Care Last the Full Day? Some Working Parents Hope So.
New York City will start offering free child care for 2-year-olds this fall. A question for the Mamdani administration is whether it will be available past 2:30 p.m. [Continue Reading]
He Was Convicted in a Fatal Hit and Run. Why Isn’t He in Prison?
A New Jersey jury found Harris Jacobs guilty of leaving the scene of an accident after he struck a pedestrian with his S.U.V. But jurors would not have the final word. [Continue Reading]
‘I have never seen anything like it’: MP warns of rise in extreme views on race and identity
Health minister Zubir Ahmed says new definition of anti-Muslim hostility could be a turning point as he tells of Islamophobic abuseZubir Ahmed, a health minister, tries not to read the comments under his social media feeds, but sometimes curiosity gets the better of him.After performing a transplant on Christmas Day, the vascular surgeon scanned a post about the operation. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
I tried the new Olaplex No.3 Plus – does it really repair hair in three minutes?
'But I can do a lot with 3 minutes...' [Continue Reading]
All Emmerdale spoilers for next week as three fates are sealed
All next week's spoilers from the Dales. [Continue Reading]
All EastEnders spoilers for next week as a new face shakes Walford to its core
All of your spoilers from Walford. [Continue Reading]
SA Liberals dump candidate who said homosexuality ‘opens up demonic realms’ after initially standing by him
Party leader Ashton Hurn confirms Carston Woodhouse will not run for Liberals in SA’s state election, but says ‘people are entitled to have their views’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Liberal candidate in South Australia’s upcoming state election has been dumped after his “shocking and extreme” views on abortion, same-sex marriage, gender transitioning and feminism were aired by his Labor rival.The leader of the SA Liberals, Ashton Hurn, on Wednesday stood by Carston Woodhouse, who had been running for the seat of Wright in Adelaide’s north, after... [Continue Reading]
Thursday briefing: What an Iran negotiator thinks could happen next – and why Trump still has an off-ramp
In today’s newsletter: Robert Malley, who led talks for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, helps make sense of the warGood morning, and apologies for the interruption to your usual programming. Stepping out from behind the editing desk to write today’s newsletter feels somewhat like a player-manager throwing himself on to the pitch, but I’ll try not to destabilise your morning routine too much. Lord knows, the world doesn’t need any more chaos.Since the US and Israel first attacked Iran two weeks ago, it’s been a scramble to keep up with events. The death of a supreme leader, speculation about his... [Continue Reading]
Brent crude spikes back over $100 as Iranian strikes target commercial ships in regional waters
Tehran fired fresh barrages of drones and missiles early on Thursday as the Iran war nears the two-week mark. Air raid alerts were sounded in Israel as authorities warned of incoming Iranian fire, as Gulf states brace for more attacks. [Continue Reading]
Philippines’ Marcos ‘angry’ over ‘mistreatment’ of Bahrain-based OFWs by official
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has ordered an investigation after watching a viral video showing an employee from the Migrant Workers Office in Bahrain telling off overseas Filipino workers (OFW) stranded in the kingdom due to the escalating Iran war. “The president was not pleased with this. He became angry on behalf of our OFWs because of the mistreatment by some public servants,” the presidential palace’s press officer Claire Castro said, according to the Inquirer on... [Continue Reading]
Lebanon says seven killed in Israeli strike on Beirut
Read back on developments as they happened on the day Iran's new supreme leader issued his first message and Israel said it was preparing to expand operations in Lebanon. [Continue Reading]
Iranian attack sparks huge fire at Bahrain facility
Bahrain’s interior ministry released footage showing a huge fire at a fuel facility in Muharraq after Iranian attacks. Authorities say the military has intercepted more than 170 drones and over 100 missiles since Iran began targeting countries in the region. [Continue Reading]
Group warns plain packs hinder Hongkongers’ efforts to detect smuggled cigarettes
Nearly 90 per cent of Hong Kong smokers cannot distinguish smuggled cigarettes from duty-paid ones under the government’s proposed plain packaging measures, a survey by an advocacy group has found. The Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group also urged authorities on Thursday to expand the function of the tobacco stamp duty system to allow consumers to scan QR codes and verify whether a pack had been taxed. “With the current packaging, consumers can tell if a pack is taxed based on the brand... [Continue Reading]
Matildas stars Raso, Catley out of Asian Cup quarterfinal against North Korea
Hayley Raso and Steph Catley will miss the Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal, as the team prepares for the unknown quantities that North Korea may bring. [Continue Reading]
Parents shocked by sudden closure of specialist service for kids with autism
In a statement published on Wednesday, early intervention care provider AEIOU announced the board had appointed external administrators to the organisation. [Continue Reading]
At China’s Big Political Meeting, a Rare Debate About Inequality
China’s plan to raise pensions for farmers by less than $3 a month prompted rare criticism from lawmakers about the country’s threadbare social safety net. [Continue Reading]
'Dream come true' - Redknapp eyes Jukebox Man Gold Cup win
Harry Redknapp got into horse racing as his grandmother's betting tipster - now he hopes to become a Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning owner with Jukebox Man. [Continue Reading]
