March 26, 2026

Volkswagen is withdrawing its Skoda brand from mainland China after years of weak sales, shifting the marque’s focus to growth markets such as India and the Asean region.

Dozens, including children, were killed when a bus carrying about 40 people toppled into Bangladesh’s Padma River while attempting to board a ferry, officials say.

Meituan reported a 15 billion yuan adjusted net loss for Q4, its second straight quarterly loss, as an intense price war with Alibaba and JD.com squeezed margins and outpaced analyst estimates.

Surveillance footage shows a car overturning after being struck by falling rocket debris in central Israel, highlighting the civilian dangers posed by conflict-related debris.

Millennial artists at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 are showcasing work shaped by the internet and growing up in more diverse, inclusive environments, signaling shifts in contemporary art and market trends.

Friday After Class on Peel Street in Hong Kong will launch The Third Culture Sip cocktail programme on March 30, featuring seven drinks that pair unlikely countries and flavours.

Taylor Sheridan’s new series The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, has become one of Paramount+’s most-watched shows, according to FlixPatrol.

Ryan Murphy’s FX series Love Story has reignited interest in John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. The South China Morning Post profiles RoseMarie Terenzio, a close friend, as debates grow over the show’s creative liberties.

Zhang Xuefeng, a leading Chinese education influencer with more than 30 million followers, died on March 24 at 41 after suffering cardiac arrest following a run, his studio and CCTV reported.

A Chinese military magazine argues the Iran war exposed limits in current missile-defence systems and urges Beijing to pursue air-based interceptors amid rising threats.

Rescue teams recovered 24 bodies, including five children, after a bus sank into the Padma river at a ferry crossing in Goalanda, Bangladesh; around 50 people were on board and many escaped.

Al Jazeera reports that restrictions are hindering repairs to Gaza’s damaged water system, leaving supplies contaminated and worsening the territory’s health risks.

Lloyd’s List reports that detentions of Panama-flagged vessels at Chinese ports could reach 100 in March amid intensified inspections, raising operational and regulatory concerns for Panama’s maritime registry.

Iran will play two friendly matches in Turkiye as part of its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, a move made amid heightened regional tensions.

Hong Kong Baptist University will spin off its School of Continuing Education into a private university of applied sciences next year, aiming for greater agility to meet societal and labour-market needs.

Cathay Pacific will raise its fuel surcharge for all flights by 34% from April—its second increase in two weeks—citing higher oil prices linked to conflict in the Middle East. The long‑haul fee jumps to HK$1,560.

China’s environment ministry estimates about 93 million pieces of surface debris in the South China Sea after a 26‑site survey combining ship monitoring and satellite remote sensing.

Pakistan has quietly become a back-channel mediator between Tehran and Washington amid the Iran war, a move that could sideline India despite its strengthened ties with the US, Israel and Gulf states.

Railway Supply reports Panama and Costa Rica have advanced coordination on a proposed cross-border rail link into a new planning stage, opening feasibility and technical work.

Brazil and France will meet in a glamour friendly in Boston ahead of the World Cup, with attention on whether stars Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will play. The match offers both teams a final tune-up and a high-profile preview of their tournament form.