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Latest
China
Economy
Hong Kong
Asia
Business
Tech
Lifestyle
People & Culture
World
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How Putin’s chance encounter with a Chinese boy in Beijing shaped a life

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Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing on May 20. Photo: EPA

Substance for Putin, ‘face’ for Trump as China, Russia deepen strategic alliance

Signing of over 40 agreements during Beijing summit between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cements ‘historical peak’ in China-Russia ties

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How Putin’s chance encounter with a Chinese boy in Beijing shaped a life

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Former Cuban president Raul Castro attends a May Day rally in Havana, Cuba, on May 1. Photo: Reuters

US charges Raul Castro as Trump administration ratchets up pressure on Cuba

US Justice Department indicts ageing Cuban leader on Wednesday over the shooting down of two aircraft three decades ago.

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China, Russia rally behind Cuba as US squeezes Havana in deepening crisis

China-Latin America relations
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Military

China and Russia warn US Golden Dome poses ‘clear threat’ to stability

Days after Xi-Trump talks, Beijing and Moscow slam Washington’s military provocations and its plans for missile defence system.

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Science

SMILE: China-EU satellite to study Earth’s solar defence defies trade tensions

Launch of satellite to study Earth’s magnetic shield hailed by lead scientists as result of ‘true 50/50 collaboration’.

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China Economy

China says US agreed to a maximum tariff rate. Could the trade war be waning?

Beijing says Washington agreed to keep future trade levies at numbers set in trade talks last year.

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Diplomacy
The historic guest villas are situated within the tranquil Diaoyutai Scenic Area in the western suburbs of Beijing. Photo: Shutterstock

Inside the royal garden that is Putin’s ‘second home’ in China

Politics

Beijing slams Taiwan’s Lai as ‘destroyer’ of peace after anniversary speech

William Lai portrays his government as responding firmly to mainland pressure, days after Trump said he did not support Taiwan independence.

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Taiwanese leader William Lai delivers a speech to mark the second anniversary of his administration, in Taipei on May 20. Photo: CNA
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Diplomacy

Could Putin, Trump visits pave the way for ‘trilateral coordination’ with China?

America is ‘the biggest variable’, according to international relations expert and former diplomat Cui Hongjian.

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Law and Crime

Hong Kong hardest hit as cross-border scam crackdown uncovers US$752m losses

Police operation across 10 jurisdictions finds city accounts for US$319 million, while one Singaporean firm defrauded of US$36 million.

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
Cityscape Global 2026 is expected to build on last year’s record-breaking success.

Diplomacy

Xi and Putin’s united front – from tigers to trade: the summit takeaways

The Chinese and Russian leaders are holding talks in Beijing, soon after Trump’s visit.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin attend a welcome ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Europe

UK radio station mistakenly reports death of King Charles

Radio Caroline has apologised after a computer error triggered the so-called death of a monarch procedure.

Diplomacy

Xi-Putin summit live: no shadow from US as leaders tackle Iran, Ukraine over tea

Russian president has travelled to the Chinese capital just days after US leader Donald Trump’s visit.

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China Economy

Japanese firms warn of ‘severe’ magnet shortages as China’s exports remain low

China’s exports of rare earth magnets to Japan recovered only modestly last month, with Japanese firms warning of ‘severe’ shortages.

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Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Reuters

Society

35 families in Hong Kong shoebox flats face eviction since start of new rule

Occupants of another 40 subdivided flats who faced eviction last year are still living in Sham Shui Po’s Yee Wa Building, housing chief reveals.

An elderly tenant in his subdivided flat at Yee Wa Building in Cheung Sha Wan. Housing authorities say 40 households that faced evictions last year are still living there. Photo: Eugene Lee

Economics

Singapore’s AI-job cuts debate flares over ‘lower-value human capital’ remark

Economists say the challenge faced by Singapore is whether AI training can keep pace with job losses and work redesign.

Diplomacy

‘Phantom limb’: report blames China shock for Germany’s industrial malaise

Berlin urged to back stronger European trade instrument against a backdrop of ever-expanding economic problems.

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Middle East

Fury as Israeli minister posts video of flotilla activists being forced to kneel

Itamar Ben-Gvir was criticised by politicians in both Israel and around the world for the ‘unacceptable’ treatment of the activists.

A man on board the Global Sumud Flotilla raises his hand as an Israeli naval boat intercepts the flotilla on Monday. Photo: Global Sumud Flotilla/Reuters

Science

How China and Russia could team up to shift global science ‘centre of gravity’

Scientists say they hope Xi-Putin summit will bring more support for collaboration as Moscow and Beijing sign deals on tech and innovation.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) walk together during their meeting in Beijing on May 20, 2026. Photo: EPA/ Sputnik/ Kremlin Pool

United States & Canada

Harvard to cap number of A-grades, despite heavy opposition from students

The proposal has rocked the Ivy League school, where 60 per cent of undergrad grades were an A in the academic year ending mid-2025.

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Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong minister touts gold as ‘bridge between conventional and new finance’

Treasury chief Christopher Hui also says city opted against separate regulatory authority for digital assets to support ‘convergence’.

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OPINION
Michael A. Santoro

Opinion | US and China must talk to manage dangers of AI contest in a nuclear age

Michael A. Santoro
Edward Liu

Opinion | How war-risk marine insurance can set Hong Kong apart

Alex Lo

As I see it | China’s rise will turn Thucydides Trap on its head

Alex Lo
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Letters

Letters | Hong Kong must match worker to job. More training is not enough

Letters
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Energy will be high on Xi-Putin summit agenda

SCMP Editorial
Harry’s View | 21 May 2026
May 21, 2026
MORE COMMENT
LATEST

Europe

UK radio station mistakenly reports death of King Charles

Diplomacy

US charges Raul Castro as Trump administration ratchets up pressure on Cuba

United States & Canada

Harvard to cap number of A-grades, despite heavy opposition from students

Racing

Fownes strikes back in trainers’ championship with double at Happy Valley

Diplomacy

Substance for Putin, ‘face’ for Trump as China, Russia deepen strategic alliance

Society

Hong Kong’s northern New Territories hit by heavy rain and flooding

Middle East

Fury as Israeli minister posts video of flotilla activists being forced to kneel

Society

Government to handle Wang Fuk Court insurance claims under buy-back plan: Hop On

Military

China and Russia warn US Golden Dome poses ‘clear threat’ to stability

Golf

LIV cash crunch hits Asian Tour, as Korea Open cuts US$500,000 prize money boost

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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 SeriesTrump’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.

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

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

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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.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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.

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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’.

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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.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China Future Tech
China Future Tech
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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.

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

IPO Quote Profile

Top Numerical Control rides fervour for aerospace to 80% IPO gain

Revenue from aviation and aerospace manufacturing equipment has accounted for around 90 per cent of its total since 2022.

China Business

China’s Nio slams EV price wars as costs surge, defying cuts by rival Li Auto

Nio and Li Auto take different approach to pricing new models, with one executive praising ‘reasonable’ carmakers that raise prices.

Tech War

AMD meeting with China’s vice-premier raises optimism on US AI chips

‘Relatively advanced’ chips to start entering China in second half, as US is ‘pulling back’ on tariff war and tech decoupling, analysts say.

AMD CEO Lisa Su reinforced AMD’s commitment to China during a keynote speech at AMD’s AI developer day in Shanghai on Tuesday, describing it as “the world’s most dynamic AI ecosystem”. Photo: Shutterstock Images

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.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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.

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Economy

Trump and his CEOs want China’s business – but has Asia moved on?

The US delegation went to Beijing looking for deals, but a ‘super cycle’ of capital expenditures across Asia is already fuelling enormous growth.

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Diplomacy

Why tougher US visa rules for skilled foreign workers may end in ‘brain drain’

Trump administration is targeting several visa categories, including popular H-1B pathway, with bias towards fewer numbers and more revenue.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
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