The Hong Kong Telegraph - News from Hong Kong and China in seven languages, daily around the clock

Salah's long goodbye brings curtain down on golden era for Liverpool

Mohamed Salah's long goodbye from Liverpool signals the end of a glorious era and leaves the Premier League giants facing another expensive rebuild.

AI making cyber attacks costlier and more effective: Munich Re

Artificial intelligence is making cyberattacks increasingly sophisticated and costlier for businesses, reinsurer Munich Re said Wednesday, warning of methods ranging from highly personalised phishing emails to computer-generated, convincing fake identities.

War-linked power crunch pushes Sri Lanka to four-day week

Millions of Sri Lankans enjoyed a government-ordered extra day off on Wednesday as the island nation battles an energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war.

IEA chief says 'ready' to release more oil reserves if needed

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday that he was "ready" to approve the release of more oil reserves if needed to cushion the impact of the Middle East war on global supplies.

Maybach: Between Glory and a Turning Point

The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is far more than a carefully polished update of a familiar ultra-luxury limousine. It arrives at a moment when Mercedes is sharpening the very top of its portfolio, comprehensively modernizing the S-Class and expanding Maybach into a distinct luxury universe that now stretches from chauffeur-driven saloon to electric SUV and exclusive roadster. That is precisely why this model matters. The new Maybach is meant to feel more digital, more individual and more visibly luxurious, while still preserving the essence that made the name so powerful in the first place: serenity, space, comfort and ceremonial presence.Its exterior already makes that ambition unmistakable. The limousine remains an imposing figure at roughly 5.48 meters in length, yet the revised design pushes its presence even further. The grille grows larger, light becomes a central design instrument, Maybach insignia and other elements take on a more theatrical role, and new wheel designs sharpen the visual stance. Even smaller details, such as projected lettering when entering the car or rose-gold accents inside the headlamps, underline the idea that luxury here is not merely owned but staged. Buyers who prefer a darker, more dramatic interpretation still have that option as well. This is not design built around understatement. It is design built around effect.Inside, Mercedes makes its 2026 understanding of luxury even clearer. The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class adopts the sweeping Superscreen layout, introduces MB.OS to a Maybach model and combines digital sophistication with a deliberate emphasis on tactile richness. The rear compartment remains the true centerpiece. Executive seating, chauffeur-oriented comfort, generous legroom, larger rear displays and a long list of comfort details create the impression of a private lounge on wheels rather than a conventional car cabin. At the same time, Maybach is moving toward a broader definition of exclusivity. Most telling is the availability of a leather-free interior using linen and recycled polyester. It signals that premium craftsmanship is no longer tied exclusively to traditional opulence, but increasingly to material intelligence, sensory quality and curated individuality.

German business morale falls as war puts recovery on ice: survey

German business morale fell in March as the war in the Middle East puts hopes of a recovery in Europe's struggling top economy "on ice", a key survey showed Wednesday.

Labubu maker Pop Mart's shares fall 23% despite surging earnings

Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's shares tumbled more than 20 percent on Wednesday, despite strong annual earnings, as investors fretted over a perceived over-dependence on its wildly popular Labubu dolls.

ECB won't be 'paralysed' in face of energy shock: Lagarde

The European Central Bank has several options for dealing with the Middle East war energy shock, its chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday, vowing policymakers would not be "paralysed by hesitation".

McEvoy says best is to come after breaking long-standing swim record

Cameron McEvoy said Wednesday he can "get faster" after breaking one of swimming's oldest world records, but the Australian added it was "crazy" that he had received no financial prize for his exploits.

Japan PM asks IEA to prepare additional 'coordinated release' of oil

The head of the International Energy Agency said Wednesday he was "ready to move forward" with an additional release of oil reserves "if and when necessary".