Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, left, meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Trump cancels envoys’ trip to Pakistan for peace talks

‘We have all the cards,’ US president declares; Iranian foreign minister leaves Islamabad.

20 minutes ago

Iran digs in as US envoys Kushner and Witkoff head to Pakistan for more talks

China-Middle East relations

Military

Will the future world order be determined by who controls low Earth orbit?

Amid Starlink’s ability to service conflict zones, Chinese article warns of ‘new form of power’ to allow or cut connectivity in real time.

5 hours agovideocam

China Economy

Billionaire behind ‘American Factory’ firm warns of US exit amid trade friction

Fuyao Glass, a major supplier to Ford, GM and BMW in the US, employs thousands across the states of Ohio, Illinois and South Carolina.

6 hours agovideocam

Society

Reverend Derek Li, father of injured Hong Kong Mirror dancer Mo Li, dies

Christian Ministry Institute announces death of elder Li, who spent recent years advocating for son after accident at 2022 concert.

25 Apr 2026 - 6:41PM

Military

The film features a young sailor named He Jian, a pun on the words for nuclear ship. Photo: CCTV

Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered?

Diplomacy

Macron touches Beijing’s nerves on Taiwan and Tibet as he heads for the exit

French president is trying to shore up his legacy of strategic autonomy before leaving office next year, analysts say.

25 Apr 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron strike the “Kamehameha” pose from the Japanese manga Dragon Ball at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1. Photo: Kyodo

Tech Trends

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

25 Apr 2026 - 4:51PM

Law and Crime

Hong Kong urged to clarify consent in reforms to close sexual offence loopholes

Experts and survivor call for statutory consent definition to ensure clarity, fairness and stronger protection for victims.

4 hours ago

Tech

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

In partnership with:

Huawei

Politics

Could hair or cosmetics be make-or-break for China’s would-be civil servants?

Competition for ‘iron rice bowl’ jobs has intensified, prompting official media to publish advice for jobseekers.

25 Apr 2026 - 6:02PMvideocam

Civil service exams attract intense competition. Photo: Getty Images

United States & Canada

Roommate charged with murder of 2 Bangladeshi PhD students in US

Hisham Abugharbieh lived with Zamil Limon, whose remains have been found; Limon’s girlfriend, Nahida Bristy, is still missing.

48 minutes ago

Europe

‘Right to life’: Pope Leo urges worldwide abolition of death penalty

The pope’s video message, marking the 2011 Illinois abolition of the penalty, came shortly after the US mentioned potential firing squads.

3 hours agovideocam

China Economy

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

Belgium’s top customs official says main problem is that many products do not meet EU standards.

25 Apr 2026 - 3:00PM

Parcels at the Cainiao Liege eHub in the city’s airport zone, which handles products from China sold on Alibaba’s AliExpress platform. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Politics

India-Germany defence road map ‘good template’ for wider EU cooperation

Deeper defence ties are expected to boost India’s maritime modernisation efforts and Europe’s security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say.

25 Apr 2026 - 3:00PM

Submarine U-34 is docked in a shipyard of warship maker TKMS in Kiel, Germany, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

Taliban, Congo? Afghans stuck in Qatar who helped US war face more stress

After reports the US could send 1,100 Afghans who assisted the US to the DRC, the Taliban urged them to instead head back to their homeland.

4 hours agovideocam

Society

Wang Fuk Court resident cherishes chance to capture final photo of sea from flat

Tearful reunions as residents return to fire-ravaged flats to salvage belongings before leaving for last time.

4 hours ago

Russia & Central Asia

At least 6 die in Ukraine, over 30 wounded, in massive Russian attack

Moscow launched 619 drones and 47 missiles overnight, said Kyiv, with explosions in several cities.

25 Apr 2026 - 8:36PMvideocam

Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a fatal Russian strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: AP

Europe

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

25 Apr 2026 - 7:42PM

US President Donald Trump greets Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the White House in October. Photo: AP

China Economy

Default in our stars: China banks use satellites to track assets, cut loan risks

Analysts say orbital monitoring of sites, property and other assets provides vital data on borrowers.

25 Apr 2026 - 2:21PMvideocam

Diplomacy

China and resource-rich Mozambique sign minerals and security agreement

The two countries are set to survey rare earth elements while strengthening security ties in Mozambique’s conflict-ridden north.

25 Apr 2026 - 12:41PM

OPINION

Cliff Buddle

My Take | New entry system for non-EU residents is chipping away at Europe’s image

4 hours ago

Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa

Opinion | Why Spain’s ‘fruit bowl’ diplomacy with China comes up rather empty

25 Apr 2026 - 8:30PM

Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | The real reason stock markets are still flying high despite grave risks

25 Apr 2026 - 4:30PM

Michael Vatikiotis

Opinion | Blinding the world with lies makes peacemaking an impossible task

25 Apr 2026 - 11:00AM

Lizzi C. Lee

Opinion | Why Beijing is going all in on tokens – and what it really wants

25 Apr 2026 - 10:23AM

Harry’s View | 26 Apr 2026

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48 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Roommate charged with murder of 2 Bangladeshi PhD students in US

2 hours ago

Diplomacy

Trump cancels envoys’ trip to Pakistan for peace talks

3 hours ago

Europe

‘Right to life’: Pope Leo urges worldwide abolition of death penalty

4 hours ago

Society

Photo of labourer smoking on scaffolding triggers anger after Tai Po blaze

4 hours ago

Opinion

My Take | New entry system for non-EU residents is chipping away at Europe’s image

4 hours ago

Middle East

Palestinians bury pregnant woman and 2 of her children killed in Gaza

5 hours ago

United States & Canada

Taliban, Congo? Afghans stuck in Qatar who helped US war face more stress

5 hours ago

Military

Will the future world order be determined by who controls low Earth orbit?

6 hours ago

Racing

SCMP Best Bets: Winning Ovation can be a crowd pleaser at Sha Tin

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Africa

Mali junta reports ‘terrorist’ attacks on several targets

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SCMP Series

US-Israel war on Iran

AI's impact on Hong Kong

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SCMP Series US-Israel war on Iran

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:26AMvideocam

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

8 Apr 2026 - 11:10AMvideocam

How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

7 Apr 2026 - 2:20AMvideocam

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

20 Apr 2026 - 10:05AMvideocam

Science

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

13 Apr 2026 - 8:15AMvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

6 Apr 2026 - 10:01AMvideocam

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

Key Industries:

Tech

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

22 Apr 2026 - 11:20PM

Starting this year, models from Chinese companies have intermittently ranked among the global top tier in token usage. Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Tech Trends

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

25 Apr 2026 - 4:51PM

China EVs

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

25 Apr 2026 - 12:47PM

Tech

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

25 Apr 2026 - 11:06AMvideocam

Tech

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

25 Apr 2026 - 11:06AMvideocam

Big Tech

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

25 Apr 2026 - 6:40AMvideocam

Hong Kong

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

The second round of hearings from April 8 to April 17 exposed a series of failures that allowed the fire equipment and alarm system in Wang Fuk Court to be deactivated for months, and eventually contributed to the heavy death toll.

23 Apr 2026 - 6:04PM

Hong Kong Economy

Hongkongers find value, space and style in Shenzhen’s new cultural hotspots

Short cross‑border getaways emerging as the ‘quick escape’ of choice, with the newly opened Shenzhen Bay Culture Square adding to appeal.

24 Apr 2026 - 8:35AM

Trump cancels envoys’ trip to Pakistan for peace talks

‘We have all the cards,’ US president declares; Iranian foreign minister leaves Islamabad.

Iran digs in as US envoys Kushner and Witkoff head to Pakistan for more talks

Will the future world order be determined by who controls low Earth orbit?

Amid Starlink’s ability to service conflict zones, Chinese article warns of ‘new form of power’ to allow or cut connectivity in real time.

Billionaire behind ‘American Factory’ firm warns of US exit amid trade friction

Fuyao Glass, a major supplier to Ford, GM and BMW in the US, employs thousands across the states of Ohio, Illinois and South Carolina.

Reverend Derek Li, father of injured Hong Kong Mirror dancer Mo Li, dies

Christian Ministry Institute announces death of elder Li, who spent recent years advocating for son after accident at 2022 concert.

Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered?

Macron touches Beijing’s nerves on Taiwan and Tibet as he heads for the exit

French president is trying to shore up his legacy of strategic autonomy before leaving office next year, analysts say.

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

Hong Kong urged to clarify consent in reforms to close sexual offence loopholes

Experts and survivor call for statutory consent definition to ensure clarity, fairness and stronger protection for victims.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

Could hair or cosmetics be make-or-break for China’s would-be civil servants?

Competition for ‘iron rice bowl’ jobs has intensified, prompting official media to publish advice for jobseekers.

Roommate charged with murder of 2 Bangladeshi PhD students in US

Hisham Abugharbieh lived with Zamil Limon, whose remains have been found; Limon’s girlfriend, Nahida Bristy, is still missing.

‘Right to life’: Pope Leo urges worldwide abolition of death penalty

The pope’s video message, marking the 2011 Illinois abolition of the penalty, came shortly after the US mentioned potential firing squads.

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

Belgium’s top customs official says main problem is that many products do not meet EU standards.

India-Germany defence road map ‘good template’ for wider EU cooperation

Deeper defence ties are expected to boost India’s maritime modernisation efforts and Europe’s security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say.

Taliban, Congo? Afghans stuck in Qatar who helped US war face more stress

After reports the US could send 1,100 Afghans who assisted the US to the DRC, the Taliban urged them to instead head back to their homeland.

Wang Fuk Court resident cherishes chance to capture final photo of sea from flat

Tearful reunions as residents return to fire-ravaged flats to salvage belongings before leaving for last time.

At least 6 die in Ukraine, over 30 wounded, in massive Russian attack

Moscow launched 619 drones and 47 missiles overnight, said Kyiv, with explosions in several cities.

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

Default in our stars: China banks use satellites to track assets, cut loan risks

Analysts say orbital monitoring of sites, property and other assets provides vital data on borrowers.

China and resource-rich Mozambique sign minerals and security agreement

The two countries are set to survey rare earth elements while strengthening security ties in Mozambique’s conflict-ridden north.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | New entry system for non-EU residents is chipping away at Europe’s image

Opinion | Why Spain’s ‘fruit bowl’ diplomacy with China comes up rather empty

Macroscope | The real reason stock markets are still flying high despite grave risks

Opinion | Blinding the world with lies makes peacemaking an impossible task

Opinion | Why Beijing is going all in on tokens – and what it really wants

Roommate charged with murder of 2 Bangladeshi PhD students in US

Trump cancels envoys’ trip to Pakistan for peace talks

‘Right to life’: Pope Leo urges worldwide abolition of death penalty

Photo of labourer smoking on scaffolding triggers anger after Tai Po blaze

My Take | New entry system for non-EU residents is chipping away at Europe’s image

Palestinians bury pregnant woman and 2 of her children killed in Gaza

Taliban, Congo? Afghans stuck in Qatar who helped US war face more stress

Will the future world order be determined by who controls low Earth orbit?

SCMP Best Bets: Winning Ovation can be a crowd pleaser at Sha Tin

Mali junta reports ‘terrorist’ attacks on several targets

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

Open Questions | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

Goldman Sachs’ chief Asia-Pacific economist says worst is over in terms of property slump’s impact on China’s economic growth.

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.

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

My Take | New entry system for non-EU residents is chipping away at Europe’s image

Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe