Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

China is one of the world’s leading countries developing space-based solar power. Photo: Shutterstock

China reveals military capabilities in new space solar power plant design

Revamped orbital technology can potentially send steerable microwave beams to Earth, capable of jamming or securing military communications.

6 hours agovideocam

Is China’s commercial rocket now cheaper than Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9?

Science

China’s push for hydrogen-powered planes gets boost amid Iran energy crisis

The maiden flight of the most powerful plane of its kind was hailed by state media as establishing a ‘complete technological chain’.

5 Apr 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

United States & Canada

Trump draws criticism with fiery, expletive-laden Easter message attacking Iran

Democrat Tim Kaine condemned the ‘embarrassing’ remarks while ex-Trump backer Marjorie Taylor Greene referred to the president’s ‘madness’.

1 hour agovideocam

Society

Talk about death comes alive in ageing Hong Kong

Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng says people more willing to discuss death in wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and deadly Tai Po fire.

4 hours ago

Science

China’s military parade last year showcased two unmanned submersibles which approached 20 metres in length and raised concerns among US defence experts. Photo: AP

Lead scientist reveals true purpose of China’s ultra-large underwater drone

Policy

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

5 Apr 2026 - 7:00PM

China has a very “techno-centric consumer”, while the US has a very “techno-centric enterprise”, according to a former OpenAI executive. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Are China’s TV dramas obsessed with beauty? An industry regulator thinks so

A national watchdog says there should be more to productions than physical appearances.

5 Apr 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Downed US airman found after ‘heavy firefight’ in Iran

Donald Trump says on social media the missing crewman had been injured but is now ‘safe and sound’.

4 hours ago

158

Business

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

In partnership with:

Standard Chartered

Middle East

Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon, Israel announces ‘security buffer’

Israel said it intends ‌to control a ‘security zone’ as deep as 30 km into Lebanon and has issued evacuation orders for around 15 per cent of Lebanese territory.

4 hours ago

Smoke and dust from an Israeli airstrike on the streets of the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Europe

Orban appears to blame Kyiv for Serbian gas pipeline explosives find

Serbia’s president on Sunday said explosives ‘of devastating force’ were found on the Balkan Stream pipeline that transports Russian gas.

47 minutes ago

Military

China unveils handheld coil gun that works like a ‘less deadly’ pistol

The electromagnetic weapon is designed for stealth operations, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

5 Apr 2026 - 8:01PM

Middle East

UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait lose water, energy infrastructure to Iran strikes

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvoes over Iran’s accusation that its neighbours allow US forces to carry out attacks from their territory.

5 Apr 2026 - 4:53PM

Smoke plumes billowing from the Jebel Ali port and desalination plant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after an Iranian strike on March 2. Photo: AFP

Europe

UK PM slams London music event for booking Kanye West as sponsor Pepsi quits

Keir Starmer expressed concern over West’s July slots at Wireless given the musician’s recent antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

3 hours ago

Kanye West performs during Rolling Loud 2024 at Hollywood Park Grounds in Inglewood, California in 2024. West is scheduled to perform at London’s Wireless festival in July. Photo: Los Angeles Times / TNS

China

Sun makes table tennis history with World Cup three-peat, Wang wins men’s crown

Sun Yingsha becomes just second player to win three consecutive singles titles with victory in Macau, while Wang Chuqin claims his first.

4 hours ago

Politics

Growing Pains meets the ‘kill line’: a new Chinese hot take on the American dream

Internet commenters retrofit the viral metaphor to US movies and TV to highlight financial and social insecurity.

5 Apr 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Global Economy

China’s luxury spending seen boosting global sales in 2026 despite headwinds

Affluent Chinese consumers are expected to splurge, though a volatile property market and oil price shocks pose challenges, analysts say.

5 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

A huge, ship-shaped Louis Vuitton cultural and retail landmark is seen in Shanghai. China’s luxury spending is expected to help drive a global rebound this year. Photo: Getty Images

Hong Kong Economy

Move over, Easter Bunny: cats are the stars in Hong Kong this holiday

Seasonal cat-themed artworks are stealing the limelight this Easter, tapping into the city’s booming ‘cat economy’.

5 Apr 2026 - 7:43PM

‘A Moment to Purr’, a giant interactive cat art installation, is located at the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Eugene Lee

Business

How changes in home rental laws in England impact Hong Kong, mainland investors

Hong Kong-based investors own about 19 per cent of foreign-owned homes in London, while mainland Chinese account for about 12 per cent.

5 Apr 2026 - 4:00PM

China Economy

From ghost to giant: long skyscraper saga nears finish amid China property woes

Once deemed a ‘ghost tower’ and a benchmark of unfinished projects, the 596-metre building’s state-backed revival reflects efforts to rebuild confidence in fragile market.

5 Apr 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

OPINION

Alex Lo

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

4 hours ago

Mike Rowse

Opinion | Hong Kong must not undo the good work of its HK$2 transport scheme

5 Apr 2026 - 8:30PM

Steven Okun

Opinion | Fixing US branding woes starts with rebuilding trust Trump has damaged

5 Apr 2026 - 6:26PM

Alice Wu

Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers

5 Apr 2026 - 2:30PM

Flavio Romero Macau

Opinion | Why the ‘Gate of Tears’ may yet make the whole world weep

5 Apr 2026 - 12:00PM

Harry’s View | 6 Apr 2026

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6 minutes ago

Russia & Central Asia

Ukrainian drones attacked cargo ship that sank, killing 1, Russia says

47 minutes ago

Europe

Orban appears to blame Kyiv for Serbian gas pipeline explosives find

2 hours ago

United States & Canada

Trump draws criticism with fiery, expletive-laden Easter message attacking Iran

3 hours ago

Europe

UK PM slams London music event for booking Kanye West as sponsor Pepsi quits

3 hours ago

Europe

3 killed as high winds topple tree during Easter egg hunt in Germany

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Sun makes table tennis history with World Cup three-peat, Wang wins men’s crown

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Traditional Russian wooden dolls depict Chinese President Xi Jinping, then US president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a souvenir shop in St Petersburg, Russia, on November 21, 2024. Photo: AP

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

27 Mar 2026 - 11:40PMvideocam

Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

21 Mar 2026 - 2:39PMvideocam

Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

20 Mar 2026 - 6:28PMvideocam

Open Questions series

China Economy

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

30 Mar 2026 - 10:03AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

25 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

23 Mar 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

Military

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

16 Mar 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

21 Mar 2026 - 6:18PM

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during the company’s global AI conference in San Jose, California, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Policy

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

5 Apr 2026 - 7:00PM

Tech

Meter running: CaoCao backs heavy-asset play to scale robotaxis

Geely-backed firm targets 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2030, banking on tighter control of cars, tech and operations to drive efficiency.

5 Apr 2026 - 3:00PM

Big Tech

Competition or ‘co-opetition’: how is convergence shaping Sino-US AI race?

Speech by CEO of Chinese AI start-up at Nvidia event in US highlights symbiotic nature of tech relationship despite geopolitical tensions.

4 Apr 2026 - 10:09AM

Politics

What next for the struggling rural mothers in China who helped to build AI?

Data-labelling workshops once hailed as a solution in the country’s poverty alleviation campaign face a painful reckoning.

5 Apr 2026 - 6:10AMvideocam

Society

Is it time to call an end to Hong Kong’s boar war?

Wild boar numbers have dropped by half in recent years, prompting calls from experts for an end to aggressive control measures such as culling.

2 Apr 2026 - 8:30AM

Science

Inside the shadowy practices plaguing China’s science awards

Beijing has rolled out new rules for investigating violations in scientific activities. So why are critics still pessimistic?

1 Apr 2026 - 9:50AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

31 Mar 2026 - 6:03AMvideocam

China reveals military capabilities in new space solar power plant design

Revamped orbital technology can potentially send steerable microwave beams to Earth, capable of jamming or securing military communications.

Is China’s commercial rocket now cheaper than Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9?

China’s push for hydrogen-powered planes gets boost amid Iran energy crisis

The maiden flight of the most powerful plane of its kind was hailed by state media as establishing a ‘complete technological chain’.

Trump draws criticism with fiery, expletive-laden Easter message attacking Iran

Democrat Tim Kaine condemned the ‘embarrassing’ remarks while ex-Trump backer Marjorie Taylor Greene referred to the president’s ‘madness’.

Talk about death comes alive in ageing Hong Kong

Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng says people more willing to discuss death in wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and deadly Tai Po fire.

Lead scientist reveals true purpose of China’s ultra-large underwater drone

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

Are China’s TV dramas obsessed with beauty? An industry regulator thinks so

A national watchdog says there should be more to productions than physical appearances.

Downed US airman found after ‘heavy firefight’ in Iran

Donald Trump says on social media the missing crewman had been injured but is now ‘safe and sound’.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon, Israel announces ‘security buffer’

Israel said it intends ‌to control a ‘security zone’ as deep as 30 km into Lebanon and has issued evacuation orders for around 15 per cent of Lebanese territory.

Orban appears to blame Kyiv for Serbian gas pipeline explosives find

Serbia’s president on Sunday said explosives ‘of devastating force’ were found on the Balkan Stream pipeline that transports Russian gas.

China unveils handheld coil gun that works like a ‘less deadly’ pistol

The electromagnetic weapon is designed for stealth operations, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait lose water, energy infrastructure to Iran strikes

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvoes over Iran’s accusation that its neighbours allow US forces to carry out attacks from their territory.

UK PM slams London music event for booking Kanye West as sponsor Pepsi quits

Keir Starmer expressed concern over West’s July slots at Wireless given the musician’s recent antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

Sun makes table tennis history with World Cup three-peat, Wang wins men’s crown

Sun Yingsha becomes just second player to win three consecutive singles titles with victory in Macau, while Wang Chuqin claims his first.

Growing Pains meets the ‘kill line’: a new Chinese hot take on the American dream

Internet commenters retrofit the viral metaphor to US movies and TV to highlight financial and social insecurity.

China’s luxury spending seen boosting global sales in 2026 despite headwinds

Affluent Chinese consumers are expected to splurge, though a volatile property market and oil price shocks pose challenges, analysts say.

Move over, Easter Bunny: cats are the stars in Hong Kong this holiday

Seasonal cat-themed artworks are stealing the limelight this Easter, tapping into the city’s booming ‘cat economy’.

How changes in home rental laws in England impact Hong Kong, mainland investors

Hong Kong-based investors own about 19 per cent of foreign-owned homes in London, while mainland Chinese account for about 12 per cent.

From ghost to giant: long skyscraper saga nears finish amid China property woes

Once deemed a ‘ghost tower’ and a benchmark of unfinished projects, the 596-metre building’s state-backed revival reflects efforts to rebuild confidence in fragile market.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

Opinion | Hong Kong must not undo the good work of its HK$2 transport scheme

Opinion | Fixing US branding woes starts with rebuilding trust Trump has damaged

Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers

Opinion | Why the ‘Gate of Tears’ may yet make the whole world weep

Ukrainian drones attacked cargo ship that sank, killing 1, Russia says

Orban appears to blame Kyiv for Serbian gas pipeline explosives find

Trump draws criticism with fiery, expletive-laden Easter message attacking Iran

UK PM slams London music event for booking Kanye West as sponsor Pepsi quits

3 killed as high winds topple tree during Easter egg hunt in Germany

Sun makes table tennis history with World Cup three-peat, Wang wins men’s crown

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

Harvard economist explains why cryptocurrencies will never take the US dollar’s place, despite their popularity in underground economies.

Open Dialogue | Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on the US and China’s divergent paths for stablecoins

As investors await Hong Kong’s first stablecoin licences, two experts discuss the assets’ integration with the city’s economy – and the world’s.

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summits: an inside view with US ex-diplomat William Klein

Former diplomat posted to Beijing speaks on Iran, Taiwan and global supply chains as details of Xi-Trump meeting are worked out.

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

Nvidia’s Huang calls China ‘formidable’ in robotics as firm bets on physical AI

China’s microelectronics, motors, rare earth and magnets – which are foundational to robotics – are the world’s best, says Huang.

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

Meter running: CaoCao backs heavy-asset play to scale robotaxis

Geely-backed firm targets 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2030, banking on tighter control of cars, tech and operations to drive efficiency.

Competition or ‘co-opetition’: how is convergence shaping Sino-US AI race?

Speech by CEO of Chinese AI start-up at Nvidia event in US highlights symbiotic nature of tech relationship despite geopolitical tensions.

What next for the struggling rural mothers in China who helped to build AI?

Data-labelling workshops once hailed as a solution in the country’s poverty alleviation campaign face a painful reckoning.

Is it time to call an end to Hong Kong’s boar war?

Wild boar numbers have dropped by half in recent years, prompting calls from experts for an end to aggressive control measures such as culling.

Inside the shadowy practices plaguing China’s science awards

Beijing has rolled out new rules for investigating violations in scientific activities. So why are critics still pessimistic?

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?