Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Lai Ka-ying (left) will join the Shenzhou-23 mission as a payload specialist, alongside astronauts Zhu Yangzhu (centre) and Zhang Zhiyuan (right). Photo: Xinhua

Developing | Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying picked for space station mission

The former police officer will become China’s fourth woman in space, taking part in the Shenzhou-23 mission as a payload specialist.

10 minutes ago

China names 2 Pakistani astronauts chosen to train for space station mission

Science

Tech War

A cloud above the clouds: US, China jockey for position in computing space race

China could be a leading player in the new technological battlefield, but the US has a substantial lead in essential tools such as reusable rockets.

1 hour agovideocam

China

How can China and the US escape ‘history as usual’? Xi has a message

Prominent Harvard scholar says the Chinese leader sees rivalry with Washington as a path to catastrophic war unless both sides rethink their ties.

24 minutes agovideocam

Diplomacy

Rubio expected to brief New Delhi on Xi-Trump summit during India trip

US Secretary of State arrives on Saturday for four-day visit, with relations between the two countries strained and continuing to fluctuate.

6 hours agovideocam

Focus

Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?

Science

Chinese scientists grow heart’s ‘master conductor’ that could replace pacemaker

Shanghai researchers engineer biological pacemaker that could offer a new way to control abnormal heart rhythms.

10 minutes agovideocam

The findings of Chinese scientists may offer possibilities for future biological pacemaker strategies, according to their paper. Image: Shutterstock

US

Two Chinese nationals charged in US drug cartel money-laundering case

Prosecutors say pair used mirror transfers, encrypted apps and trade schemes to launder cartel drug profits globally.

4 hours agovideocam

People

Japanese female prison’s rehabilitation goal faces health, language barriers

A human rights group says Japan’s penal system still fails to treat prison inmates ‘like human beings’.

40 minutes ago

International

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

In partnership with:

Cityscape Global

China Business

SpaceX share sale won’t drain Hong Kong IPO boom, JPMorgan says

Bank sees strong demand for Chinese AI, robotics and healthcare listings despite SpaceX’s projected record-breaking IPO in the US.

40 minutes ago

A SpaceX rocket lifts off at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo: Reuters

SpaceX is projected to raise US$75 billion from a US share sale. Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

Warsh takes US Fed’s helm with inflation dilemma already unfolding

Trump’s pick to lead the central bank must contend with an economy roiled by the AI boom, as well as oil price and tariff shocks.

6 hours ago

Lifestyle & Culture

Southeast Asia is chasing the AI boom, but at what cost?

A regional dash for digital dominance risks running headlong into an energy crunch and an existential threat to jobs.

2 hours agovideocam

Society

Graduates of top vocational school spared brunt of AI impact, new chairman says

Jeffrey Lam explains how he will steer Vocational Training Council as job market changes rapidly and reveals plans for Northern Metropolis campus.

2 hours agovideocam

The VTC offers programmes across multiple academic levels, ranging from secondary school qualifications and associate degrees to full bachelor’s degrees provided by member institutions. Photo: Felix Wong

World

27 countries seek access to World Bank funds since Iran war

An analyst says countries are more willing to seek the World Bank’s help than from the IMF due to the IMF’s austerity conditions.

35 minutes ago

A man sits among buildings destroyed in Tehran in a joint attack by Israel and the United States on April 6. Photo: Getty Images

United States & Canada

Trump to force foreigners seeking US green cards to go home first

The change could affect hundreds of thousands of people a year and potentially reduce legal immigration further.

6 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

How China and the US can coexist peacefully while locked in strategic stalemate

In a new paper, top think tank offers a path to avoiding conflict, warning Washington’s stance on Taiwan remains a catastrophic risk.

22 May 2026 - 10:17PM

China removes hukou hurdle for migrant workers in social insurance shake-up

Giving migrant and gig workers full social insurance access where they work is latest move to boost free flow of capital and talent.

22 May 2026 - 10:31PMvideocam

Migrant workers in Yunnan province head to a railway station during Chinese New Year in February 2024. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Health & Wellness

How GLP-1s are more than just weight-loss wonders – but not without risk

Research suggests GLP-1s like Ozempic may help with more than just weight loss and type 2 diabetes, but experts warn of risks from abuse.

3 hours ago

GLP-1 drugs offer broader health benefits beyond weight loss, but they carry serious risks requiring medical oversight, experts say. Illustration: Cameira

Hong Kong Economy

Revamped Terminal 2 to uplift Hong Kong’s aviation hub status: Airport Authority

Chairman Fred Lam describes facility as ‘milestone’ in airport’s development, prioritising efficiency and user experience.

22 May 2026 - 10:20PMvideocam

United States & Canada

SpaceX launches its biggest, most beefed-up Starship yet on test flight

CEO Musk hopes the rocket will get people to Mars one day, but he must first beat Bezos’ Blue Origin to help Nasa put astronauts on the moon.

2 hours agovideocam

OPINION

Alex Lo

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

40 minutes ago

Andrew Sheng

Opinion | Investors in AI-driven bubble risk forgetting painful lessons

40 minutes ago

Zhou Bo

Opinion | Xi-Trump summit a triumph for China

22 May 2026 - 9:14PM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Prosperity summit showcases Hong Kong’s intellectual leadership

3 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | First severe storm of the year shows city’s response can be improved

3 hours ago

Harry’s View | 23 May 2026

MORE COMMENT

LATEST

1 minute ago

World

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

10 minutes ago

Other Sport

Olympic champion Russell overcomes mental hurdles to inch closer to world record

10 minutes ago

Science

Chinese scientists grow heart’s ‘master conductor’ that could replace pacemaker

35 minutes ago

World

27 countries seek access to World Bank funds since Iran war

40 minutes ago

People

Japanese female prison’s rehabilitation goal faces health, language barriers

40 minutes ago

World Opinion

Opinion | Investors in AI-driven bubble risk forgetting painful lessons

40 minutes ago

China Business

SpaceX share sale won’t drain Hong Kong IPO boom, JPMorgan says

40 minutes ago

China Opinion

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

57 minutes ago

Science

Developing | Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying picked for space station mission

1 hour ago

Tech War

A cloud above the clouds: US, China jockey for position in computing space race

MORE LATEST NEWS

SCMP Series

Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

US-Israel war on Iran

AI's impact on Hong Kong

US President Donald Trump listening to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, last week. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

3-MIN READ

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

3-MIN READvideocam

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

2-MIN READvideocam

Open Questions series

Politics

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

12-MIN READ

Politics

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

17-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

13-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

10-MIN READvideocam

Key Industries:

Big Tech

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

3-MIN READ

Chinese trade received a significant boost from the technology sector in April. Photo: Shutterstock Images

China Business

China AI firms Zhipu, MiniMax to join Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech Index

Additions to the benchmark Hang Seng Index, meanwhile, increase the number of constituents to 93 as the bourse operator presses ahead with expansion to 100.

2-MIN READvideocam

Policy

China rejects claims of curbing US tech funding as Beijing pursues self-reliance

While reaffirming Beijing’s openness, the NDRC also stressed its support for home-grown AI and semiconductor industries.

2-MIN READ

Tech Trends

China’s AI start-up funding triples in first quarter amid bets on LLMs, robotics

The fundraising boom follows years of state-led efforts to channel capital into strategic sectors such as chips, AI and manufacturing.

2-MIN READ

AI-related start-ups in China secured more than 110 billion yuan in the first three months of the year. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Science

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

7-MIN READvideocam

Science

How a remote patch of Gobi Desert became central to China’s national security

A national energy and chemical hub being built on a 15,500 sq m site in the Gobi Desert is set to modernise coal mining.

6-MIN READvideocam

China Economy

Putin is pushing for a ‘serious’ new energy deal in China. Will he get it?

The Russian leader arrives in China days after Trump in search of an energy deal, with yuan settlements, pricing potentially on the table.

6-MIN READvideocam

Science

Is China becoming Europe’s top science partner amid an American brain drain?

‘Massive changes in the global flow of talent’ are creating opportunities, according to the head of Germany’s Max Planck Society.

6-MIN READvideocam

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Developing | Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying picked for space station mission

The former police officer will become China’s fourth woman in space, taking part in the Shenzhou-23 mission as a payload specialist.

China names 2 Pakistani astronauts chosen to train for space station mission

A cloud above the clouds: US, China jockey for position in computing space race

China could be a leading player in the new technological battlefield, but the US has a substantial lead in essential tools such as reusable rockets.

How can China and the US escape ‘history as usual’? Xi has a message

Prominent Harvard scholar says the Chinese leader sees rivalry with Washington as a path to catastrophic war unless both sides rethink their ties.

Rubio expected to brief New Delhi on Xi-Trump summit during India trip

US Secretary of State arrives on Saturday for four-day visit, with relations between the two countries strained and continuing to fluctuate.

Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?

Chinese scientists grow heart’s ‘master conductor’ that could replace pacemaker

Shanghai researchers engineer biological pacemaker that could offer a new way to control abnormal heart rhythms.

Two Chinese nationals charged in US drug cartel money-laundering case

Prosecutors say pair used mirror transfers, encrypted apps and trade schemes to launder cartel drug profits globally.

Japanese female prison’s rehabilitation goal faces health, language barriers

A human rights group says Japan’s penal system still fails to treat prison inmates ‘like human beings’.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

Cityscape Global achieves more than US$63 billion as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major investment hub for urban development.

SpaceX share sale won’t drain Hong Kong IPO boom, JPMorgan says

Bank sees strong demand for Chinese AI, robotics and healthcare listings despite SpaceX’s projected record-breaking IPO in the US.

Warsh takes US Fed’s helm with inflation dilemma already unfolding

Trump’s pick to lead the central bank must contend with an economy roiled by the AI boom, as well as oil price and tariff shocks.

Southeast Asia is chasing the AI boom, but at what cost?

A regional dash for digital dominance risks running headlong into an energy crunch and an existential threat to jobs.

Graduates of top vocational school spared brunt of AI impact, new chairman says

Jeffrey Lam explains how he will steer Vocational Training Council as job market changes rapidly and reveals plans for Northern Metropolis campus.

27 countries seek access to World Bank funds since Iran war

An analyst says countries are more willing to seek the World Bank’s help than from the IMF due to the IMF’s austerity conditions.

Trump to force foreigners seeking US green cards to go home first

The change could affect hundreds of thousands of people a year and potentially reduce legal immigration further.

How China and the US can coexist peacefully while locked in strategic stalemate

In a new paper, top think tank offers a path to avoiding conflict, warning Washington’s stance on Taiwan remains a catastrophic risk.

China removes hukou hurdle for migrant workers in social insurance shake-up

Giving migrant and gig workers full social insurance access where they work is latest move to boost free flow of capital and talent.

How GLP-1s are more than just weight-loss wonders – but not without risk

Research suggests GLP-1s like Ozempic may help with more than just weight loss and type 2 diabetes, but experts warn of risks from abuse.

Revamped Terminal 2 to uplift Hong Kong’s aviation hub status: Airport Authority

Chairman Fred Lam describes facility as ‘milestone’ in airport’s development, prioritising efficiency and user experience.

SpaceX launches its biggest, most beefed-up Starship yet on test flight

CEO Musk hopes the rocket will get people to Mars one day, but he must first beat Bezos’ Blue Origin to help Nasa put astronauts on the moon.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

Opinion | Investors in AI-driven bubble risk forgetting painful lessons

Opinion | Xi-Trump summit a triumph for China

Editorial | Prosperity summit showcases Hong Kong’s intellectual leadership

Editorial | First severe storm of the year shows city’s response can be improved

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

Olympic champion Russell overcomes mental hurdles to inch closer to world record

Chinese scientists grow heart’s ‘master conductor’ that could replace pacemaker

27 countries seek access to World Bank funds since Iran war

Japanese female prison’s rehabilitation goal faces health, language barriers

Opinion | Investors in AI-driven bubble risk forgetting painful lessons

SpaceX share sale won’t drain Hong Kong IPO boom, JPMorgan says

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

Developing | Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying picked for space station mission

A cloud above the clouds: US, China jockey for position in computing space race

China will buy at least US$17 billion of US farm goods annually, White House says

The agreement was struck at the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to US fact sheet.

How will Beijing judge Trump’s take on Taiwan? Look for 1 critical factor

How China and the US felt the weight of history behind Trump and Xi’s meeting

Open Questions | Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Regardless of the meeting’s outcome, the trend towards resolution of the Taiwan question won’t change, according to the Tsinghua academic.

Open Questions | Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi and managing US ties

Kuomintang chairwoman says hostility towards mainland is a product of political engineering that does not reflect reality of Taiwan.

Open Questions | Bai Chongen on China’s new economic paradigm and closing the US tech gap

Top economist explains how China has less in common with 1990s Japan than many think – and why talk of Chinese overcapacity is often ‘imprecise’.

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

China AI firms Zhipu, MiniMax to join Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech Index

Additions to the benchmark Hang Seng Index, meanwhile, increase the number of constituents to 93 as the bourse operator presses ahead with expansion to 100.

China rejects claims of curbing US tech funding as Beijing pursues self-reliance

While reaffirming Beijing’s openness, the NDRC also stressed its support for home-grown AI and semiconductor industries.

China’s AI start-up funding triples in first quarter amid bets on LLMs, robotics

The fundraising boom follows years of state-led efforts to channel capital into strategic sectors such as chips, AI and manufacturing.

China swaps Middle East oil for Xinjiang coal. What does it mean for the world?

With the war in Iran choking global oil supplies, China is tapping its 390 billion tonnes of coal reserves to build its own energy source.

How a remote patch of Gobi Desert became central to China’s national security

A national energy and chemical hub being built on a 15,500 sq m site in the Gobi Desert is set to modernise coal mining.

Putin is pushing for a ‘serious’ new energy deal in China. Will he get it?

Developing | Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying picked for space station mission

Global real estate event in Riyadh sees record transactions amid growing influence in sector

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war