Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Kenya’s Wildlife Service detected five cases of smugglers trying to take live queen ants out of the country on flights last year. Photo: AP

Why are smugglers swarming East Africa for ants to send to China and Europe?

A black market in harvester ants has sprung up in Kenya, with big implications for the environment.

18 minutes ago

Kenya seizes 2,238 live garden ants from Chinese national at airport

China-Africa relations

Science

China proposes a departure from impact factor to measure academic influence

Chinese researcher says traditional measure of a paper’s citations is susceptible to manipulation and lacks Chinese perspective.

2 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

1 month, 2 straits, more strikes: how long will the US-Israeli war on Iran last?

With Houthi rebels entering the fray, the next maritime choke point at risk could be the Bab el-Mandeb.

28 Mar 2026 - 10:31PMvideocam

Markets & Investing

As tensions rise, Middle Eastern money and travellers pivot to Hong Kong

Wealthy Gulf visitors are extending their stays in Hong Kong as investors from the region look to hedge risk and tap Asian markets.

3 hours ago

Focus

China’s looted heritage campaign: assertive, ambitious – and complicated

Middle East

Iran war: US amphibious assault ship arrives amid talk of ground operation

The USS Tripoli is the flagship for a contingent of about 3,500 Marines and sailors, as well as transport and fighter aircraft.

29 Mar 2026 - 3:44AMvideocam

The USS Tripoli enters the Singapore Strait on March 17. Photo: Reuters

Tech Trends

Samsung, SK Hynix step up China investments to combat global AI memory shortage

Despite the renewed investments, the trend may be difficult to sustain as China remains under US export controls, say analysts.

4 hours ago

Politics

A US$19 billion scam industry is fleeing Cambodia. Where will it end up?

Scam bosses and their multibillion-dollar crime networks are fleeing to Myanmar, Laos and Thailand ahead of an April deadline.

2 hours agovideocam

Tech

Huawei’s commitment to global connectivity bridges digital divide

Tech company’s voice and data solutions serve 170 million people in remote areas in over 80 countries, Huawei Tech Cares Forum reveals.

In partnership with:

Huawei

United States & Canada

Amid Iran war, anti-Trumpers protest on ‘No Kings’ day

It is the third time in less than a year that Americans protest under the ‘No Kings’ movement.

29 Mar 2026 - 4:41AM

Protesters rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Saturday. Photo: AP

Military

Beijing tightens drone rules, citing ‘low-altitude security’ concerns

The Chinese capital sets strict limits on the sales, storage and transport of unmanned aerial vehicles and core components.

28 Mar 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Damage Kyoto’s reputation’: plan for sky-high towers meets backlash

Opponents say the proposal to revise height restrictions for buildings around Kyoto Station to 60 metres will destroy the city’s unique views.

4 hours agovideocam

Europe

French police foil Paris bomb attack outside US bank

A suspect was detained and another escaped.

28 Mar 2026 - 11:50PM

The Bank of America building with police and private security vehicles in the 8th arrondissement of Paris on Saturday, following an apparent bomb attack attempt. Photo: AFP

Science

Cambridge top architect Francois Penz relocates to China from UK

Pioneering French professor who blended architecture with film joins Nanjing University in a full-time position after 45 years at Cambridge.

28 Mar 2026 - 6:11PMvideocam

Francois Penz, former architecture department head at the University of Cambridge, has joined Nanjing University on a full-time basis. Photo: Handout

Europe

400,000 KitKat bars stolen, as thieves ‘make a break’ with 12 tonne shipment

The heist could cause a shortage of the chocolate snacks in Europe right before Easter, Nestlé warns.

29 Mar 2026 - 3:12AMvideocam

Society

‘Like a horror movie’: Hongkonger rescued after Myanmar forced labour ordeal

Security Bureau liaised with Chinese embassies in Myanmar and Thailand, economic and trade office in Bangkok and Thai authorities to rescue man.

28 Mar 2026 - 11:17PM

China Economy

AI ‘collusion’ could force wages down, warns ILO economist

Young people’s unemployment woes ‘mostly related to the current economic slowdown, more than to specific AI’, says Ekkehard Ernst.

28 Mar 2026 - 7:00PM

Humanoid robots at the pilot testing and validation platform at the Beijing Innovation Centre of Humanoid Robotics on March 20. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Asean countries warned against exploiting US-China tensions for short-term gain

Chinese political scientist says Southeast Asian nations ‘should not assume that the US will back them’ and that strategy could backfire.

28 Mar 2026 - 4:22PMvideocam

Chinese political scientist Zheng Yongnian cautions that while it is possible for smaller countries to navigate among major powers, “it requires a high level of finesse”. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Politics

Trump’s Iran gamble falters as war drags on amid concerns of long-term chaos

With Iran emboldened despite US and Israeli strikes, analysts warn of the ‘permanent risk of repeated disruption’ for the global economy.

28 Mar 2026 - 3:53PM

China Economy

As China’s property downturn grinds on, foreign suppliers strive to adapt

US lift giant Otis is riding a growing trend for retrofitting older buildings in China, as new construction projects remain thin on the ground.

28 Mar 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

OPINION

Marianne Hanson

Opinion | One rule for Israel and another for Iran risks nuclear disaster

48 minutes ago

Letters

Letters | Start early, connect deeply: addressing Gen Z’s mental health crisis

48 minutes ago

Michael Han

Opinion | China’s property pivot: from growth engine to protected household asset

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SCMP Editorial

Editorial | International forums underscore China’s enduring push to open up

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Editorial | Balance is vital for urban Hong Kong to coexist with wild animals

6 hours ago

Harry’s View | 29 Mar 2026

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Diplomacy

Why are smugglers swarming East Africa for ants to send to China and Europe?

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SCMP Series AI's impact on Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s bid to win in AI: where are the road map and the guardrails?

Hong Kong’s AI revolution accelerates as policy funds skills training while industries and educators rush to integrate the shift.

16 Mar 2026 - 11:48AM

Exclusive | Hong Kong job openings hit 6-year low in 69% of sectors amid AI’s ascent

13 Mar 2026 - 10:05AM

Is AI displacing young people for entry-level jobs?

16 Mar 2026 - 11:48AM

Open Questions series

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

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

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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

China EVs

How China’s EV makers think they can outrun disastrous price wars

At Beijing’s urging, an industry largely built on discounting must hold the line on prices and convince buyers to pay for better technology.

28 Mar 2026 - 10:03AM

China Business

BYD’s four-year profit run ends, eyes global markets as next engine of growth

Earnings at China’s EV leader fall short of expectations amid intense domestic competition.

27 Mar 2026 - 10:00PM

Companies

Pain at the pump fuels EV rush in China, driving a timely boost for carmakers

Brent crude above US$110 is pushing mainland buyers away from petrol cars, lifting China’s EV makers despite fading subsidies.

27 Mar 2026 - 9:00PM

The oil price surge could offer timely relief for EV makers, which have been grappling with softer demand following the rollback of subsidies. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

Why China’s Iran war strategy is working – and may even be an opportunity

Beijing happy to watch, wait and safeguard core interests – oil flows, Taiwan and trade – as its geopolitical rival spends resources on war.

26 Mar 2026 - 8:09AMvideocam

China Economy

Chinese island province wants more than beachgoers as it chases economic growth

After three speculative booms – and busts – the island province is seeking sustainable growth based on new status as a free-trade port.

24 Mar 2026 - 9:38AMvideocam

China Economy

AI, flying cars drive economic transition in China’s Kunshan

City at heart of Yangtze River Delta region sees new tech dreams emerge as old ones based on mass production of electronics fade.

22 Mar 2026 - 6:51AM

Military

How long will US-Israel war on Iran last? Chinese analysts offer clues

Iran’s drones gaining edge as opponents burn through costly missiles, analysts note, as one labels the war a ‘serious mistake’ by US.

20 Mar 2026 - 6:00AMvideocam

Smoke and flames rise at the site of air strikes on an oil depot in Tehran, capital of Iran, on March 7. Photo: TNS

Why are smugglers swarming East Africa for ants to send to China and Europe?

A black market in harvester ants has sprung up in Kenya, with big implications for the environment.

Kenya seizes 2,238 live garden ants from Chinese national at airport

China proposes a departure from impact factor to measure academic influence

Chinese researcher says traditional measure of a paper’s citations is susceptible to manipulation and lacks Chinese perspective.

1 month, 2 straits, more strikes: how long will the US-Israeli war on Iran last?

With Houthi rebels entering the fray, the next maritime choke point at risk could be the Bab el-Mandeb.

As tensions rise, Middle Eastern money and travellers pivot to Hong Kong

Wealthy Gulf visitors are extending their stays in Hong Kong as investors from the region look to hedge risk and tap Asian markets.

China’s looted heritage campaign: assertive, ambitious – and complicated

Iran war: US amphibious assault ship arrives amid talk of ground operation

The USS Tripoli is the flagship for a contingent of about 3,500 Marines and sailors, as well as transport and fighter aircraft.

Samsung, SK Hynix step up China investments to combat global AI memory shortage

Despite the renewed investments, the trend may be difficult to sustain as China remains under US export controls, say analysts.

A US$19 billion scam industry is fleeing Cambodia. Where will it end up?

Scam bosses and their multibillion-dollar crime networks are fleeing to Myanmar, Laos and Thailand ahead of an April deadline.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}Huawei’s commitment to global connectivity bridges digital divide

Tech company’s voice and data solutions serve 170 million people in remote areas in over 80 countries, Huawei Tech Cares Forum reveals.

Amid Iran war, anti-Trumpers protest on ‘No Kings’ day

It is the third time in less than a year that Americans protest under the ‘No Kings’ movement.

Beijing tightens drone rules, citing ‘low-altitude security’ concerns

The Chinese capital sets strict limits on the sales, storage and transport of unmanned aerial vehicles and core components.

‘Damage Kyoto’s reputation’: plan for sky-high towers meets backlash

Opponents say the proposal to revise height restrictions for buildings around Kyoto Station to 60 metres will destroy the city’s unique views.

French police foil Paris bomb attack outside US bank

A suspect was detained and another escaped.

Cambridge top architect Francois Penz relocates to China from UK

Pioneering French professor who blended architecture with film joins Nanjing University in a full-time position after 45 years at Cambridge.

400,000 KitKat bars stolen, as thieves ‘make a break’ with 12 tonne shipment

The heist could cause a shortage of the chocolate snacks in Europe right before Easter, Nestlé warns.

‘Like a horror movie’: Hongkonger rescued after Myanmar forced labour ordeal

Security Bureau liaised with Chinese embassies in Myanmar and Thailand, economic and trade office in Bangkok and Thai authorities to rescue man.

AI ‘collusion’ could force wages down, warns ILO economist

Young people’s unemployment woes ‘mostly related to the current economic slowdown, more than to specific AI’, says Ekkehard Ernst.

Asean countries warned against exploiting US-China tensions for short-term gain

Chinese political scientist says Southeast Asian nations ‘should not assume that the US will back them’ and that strategy could backfire.

Trump’s Iran gamble falters as war drags on amid concerns of long-term chaos

With Iran emboldened despite US and Israeli strikes, analysts warn of the ‘permanent risk of repeated disruption’ for the global economy.

As China’s property downturn grinds on, foreign suppliers strive to adapt

US lift giant Otis is riding a growing trend for retrofitting older buildings in China, as new construction projects remain thin on the ground.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | One rule for Israel and another for Iran risks nuclear disaster

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Start early, connect deeply: addressing Gen Z’s mental health crisis

Opinion | China’s property pivot: from growth engine to protected household asset

Editorial | International forums underscore China’s enduring push to open up

Editorial | Balance is vital for urban Hong Kong to coexist with wild animals

Why are smugglers swarming East Africa for ants to send to China and Europe?

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Tourists and residents at odds in Japan’s top ski town

How Ukraine turned Iranian drone swarms in Gulf into a money-spinner

Opinion | One rule for Israel and another for Iran risks nuclear disaster

3 Anthony Wong films from the early 90s that show his wide acting range

Malaysia’s Yong Zheng Xi on the ‘95% hard work’ behind his Bridgerton fame

Hong Kong’s bid to win in AI: where are the road map and the guardrails?

Hong Kong’s AI revolution accelerates as policy funds skills training while industries and educators rush to integrate the shift.

Exclusive | Hong Kong job openings hit 6-year low in 69% of sectors amid AI’s ascent

Is AI displacing young people for entry-level jobs?

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.

Open Questions | Strikes on Iran not the biggest threat to China’s belt and road goals: Pan Guang

Mainland academic assesses the risks to Chinese investment and diplomacy in the region and what it means for the other main players.

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.

How China’s EV makers think they can outrun disastrous price wars

At Beijing’s urging, an industry largely built on discounting must hold the line on prices and convince buyers to pay for better technology.

BYD’s four-year profit run ends, eyes global markets as next engine of growth

Earnings at China’s EV leader fall short of expectations amid intense domestic competition.

Pain at the pump fuels EV rush in China, driving a timely boost for carmakers

Brent crude above US$110 is pushing mainland buyers away from petrol cars, lifting China’s EV makers despite fading subsidies.

Why China’s Iran war strategy is working – and may even be an opportunity

Beijing happy to watch, wait and safeguard core interests – oil flows, Taiwan and trade – as its geopolitical rival spends resources on war.

Chinese island province wants more than beachgoers as it chases economic growth

After three speculative booms – and busts – the island province is seeking sustainable growth based on new status as a free-trade port.

AI, flying cars drive economic transition in China’s Kunshan

City at heart of Yangtze River Delta region sees new tech dreams emerge as old ones based on mass production of electronics fade.

How long will US-Israel war on Iran last? Chinese analysts offer clues

Iran’s drones gaining edge as opponents burn through costly missiles, analysts note, as one labels the war a ‘serious mistake’ by US.

Huawei’s commitment to global connectivity bridges digital divide

Opinion | One rule for Israel and another for Iran risks nuclear disaster

Letters | Start early, connect deeply: addressing Gen Z’s mental health crisis

Video | Tourists and residents at odds in Japan’s top ski town