Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pose before talks in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Chinese readout warns of rising turmoil in veiled swipe at Washington and Trump as Beijing strengthens ties with Moscow.

1 hour agovideocam

Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

US-China relations

China

Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

War distractions and limited goals risk turning Beijing talks into optics over substance, as expectations shrink and planning falters.

4 hours agovideocam

China

China and the US want rare earths. Brazil will share – on one condition

Move comes as Washington locks US$565 million deal with Brazil’s only operating rare earth mine.

14 minutes agovideocam

Diplomacy

Xi’s meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince highlights Gulf turn towards China

Analysts said the trip was a sign that the UAE was seeking ‘more reliable partners’ in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

14 Apr 2026 - 10:27PMvideocam

Science

Chinese researchers say a small-scale quantum system can outperform large AI data centres at less than 1 per cent of the cost. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Chinese team shows quantum tech can disrupt AI in a real-world task

Diplomacy

Israel, Lebanon agree to launch direct talks after rare US-facilitated meeting

Sides commit to more engagement as Trump urges disarming Hezbollah, but analysts warn a durable Israel-Lebanon deal remains unlikel.

32 minutes agovideocam

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have complicated the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Photo: AFP

China Business

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

14 Apr 2026 - 9:02PM

Society

Discovery Bay developer eyes longer taxi trial amid safety fears

Islands District Council’s Traffic and Transport Committee holds meeting on proposals by Hong Kong Resort Company in presence of more than 20 residents.

6 hours ago

Business

From waste to bottle: the technology that gives packaging waste a verifiable second life

Dow’s digital tracking system in China proves to consumers and businesses how waste can be recycled into new products.

In partnership with:

Dow

Caption: Dow’s Track and Trace Platform makes it possible to follow a recycled bottle’s journey from disposal to its rebirth as a new plastic bottle. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Asia’s energy supply at breaking point as US blockades Hormuz

Nearly 90 per cent of the region’s crude oil is now at risk as stalled peace talks and a naval stand-off raise the spectre of stagflation.

14 Apr 2026 - 6:09PM

A liquefied natural gas tanker is seen at a port in Yokohama, Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, on April 8. Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

Trump’s son Eric to join father’s state visit to China

The move could raise concerns in Washington, given that the US president’s personal wealth and business dealings are managed ‌by his family.

4 hours ago

United States & Canada

Harvey Weinstein rape retrial begins in New York

The film mogul, who is accused of raping actress Jessica Mann, is being retried after a mistrial was declared last June.

1 hour ago

Europe

Germany jails Chinese student in Pelicot-like rape case

Zhongyi J. repeatedly drugged, assaulted and filmed his girlfriend, sometimes sedating her so heavily that she stopped breathing.

5 hours ago

A protester at a rally against sexual violence in Hanover, Germany, in March holds a sign with the Gisele Pelicot quote “shame must change sides”. Photo: dpa

Big Tech

China’s AI world model edge: abundant data and faster deployment, executive says

China’s strong industrial base, abundance of factory data give its world models a decisive push, says executive from leading start-up GigaAI.

14 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM

GigaAI, a company specialising in embodied intelligent models, has secured another round of financing. Photo: Handout

Diplomacy

Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing

Without fanfare, Brussels will stop funding for projects that use the Chinese-made devices as part of a ‘do more, say less’ strategy.

14 Apr 2026 - 6:54PMvideocam

Europe

Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni, says he is ‘shocked’ by her

Meloni had been a supporter of Trump, but has criticised his decision to go to war with Iran and denounced his weekend ‌criticism of Pope Leo.

5 hours ago

Diplomacy

China hits out at ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ US blockade of Iran’s ports

Beijing says American move will ‘inflame tensions, escalate the situation and undermine an already fragile ceasefire’.

14 Apr 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

A cargo ship is pictured off the UAE city of Fujairah, in the Strait of Hormuz, in February. The US has begun a naval blockade of all Iranian ports after talks with Tehran collapsed. Photo: AFP

Europe

Men with higher IQs are less conservative, study finds

Those of average ability tend to support values associated with tradition and strict social order, German researchers say.

3 hours ago

Study participants placed themselves politically on a left-to-right scale and completed a detailed questionnaire on political orientation. Image: Shutterstock

Europe

Stunned Frenchman wins US$1 million Picasso with US$117 raffle ticket

Sales engineer Ari Hodara wondered if it was a hoax when he got a call after the draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris.

2 hours ago

Diplomacy

Will the next round of US-Iran talks bring peace or more confrontation?

Lack of mutual trust means a strategic miscalculation could trigger renewed conflict at any moment, analysts say.

14 Apr 2026 - 10:01PMvideocam

OPINION

Syed Munir Khasru

Opinion | How Pakistan outmanoeuvred India in Iran war diplomacy with China’s help

32 minutes ago

Asad Ullah

Opinion | You’re not asking the right question about the Iran war

14 Apr 2026 - 9:24PM

Jianlu Bi

Opinion | The strategic logic of Xi’s historic meeting with Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun

14 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

Francis Neoton Cheung

Opinion | 4 identities Hong Kong must embrace to provide global leadership

14 Apr 2026 - 5:39PM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Path to rehabilitation of those arrested in 2019 unrest is welcome

14 Apr 2026 - 6:45AM

Harry’s View | 15 Apr 2026

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China and the US want rare earths. Brazil will share – on one condition

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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

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

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

Key Industries:

Tech Trends

Chinese AI rivals clash over Anthropic’s OpenClaw exit amid global token crunch

Chinese companies are competing to offer the cheapest alternatives to premium US services from the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic.

6 Apr 2026 - 3:58PM

A lobster-shaped cutout representing OpenClaw stands outside the Baidu offices in Beijing, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Tech Trends

Why Sigenergy’s IPO ignited market frenzy with oversubscription of 1,000 times

Sigenergy and Guoxia are gaining traction as investors eye a major shift to AI in the renewable energy storage sector.

14 Apr 2026 - 9:40PM

China Business

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

14 Apr 2026 - 9:02PM

Big Tech

China’s AI world model edge: abundant data and faster deployment, executive says

China’s strong industrial base, abundance of factory data give its world models a decisive push, says executive from leading start-up GigaAI.

14 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM

Diplomacy

Why the US may need more than just fixing gaps to rival China on rare earths

Washington’s mining ambitions may be complicated by the erosion of industrial know-how and a weak education pipeline, experts say.

14 Apr 2026 - 8:55AMvideocam

China Economy

Vocational schools a new front as China backs businesses’ global expansion

Earlier programmes focused on infrastructure, but new wave is shaped by demand in e-commerce, digital services and advanced manufacturing.

11 Apr 2026 - 6:06AM

Military

The US could be moving away from precision strikes in the Iran war. Here’s why

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

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

Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Chinese readout warns of rising turmoil in veiled swipe at Washington and Trump as Beijing strengthens ties with Moscow.

Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts

War distractions and limited goals risk turning Beijing talks into optics over substance, as expectations shrink and planning falters.

China and the US want rare earths. Brazil will share – on one condition

Move comes as Washington locks US$565 million deal with Brazil’s only operating rare earth mine.

Xi’s meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince highlights Gulf turn towards China

Analysts said the trip was a sign that the UAE was seeking ‘more reliable partners’ in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Chinese team shows quantum tech can disrupt AI in a real-world task

Israel, Lebanon agree to launch direct talks after rare US-facilitated meeting

Sides commit to more engagement as Trump urges disarming Hezbollah, but analysts warn a durable Israel-Lebanon deal remains unlikel.

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

Discovery Bay developer eyes longer taxi trial amid safety fears

Islands District Council’s Traffic and Transport Committee holds meeting on proposals by Hong Kong Resort Company in presence of more than 20 residents.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}From waste to bottle: the technology that gives packaging waste a verifiable second life

Dow’s digital tracking system in China proves to consumers and businesses how waste can be recycled into new products.

Asia’s energy supply at breaking point as US blockades Hormuz

Nearly 90 per cent of the region’s crude oil is now at risk as stalled peace talks and a naval stand-off raise the spectre of stagflation.

Trump’s son Eric to join father’s state visit to China

The move could raise concerns in Washington, given that the US president’s personal wealth and business dealings are managed ‌by his family.

Harvey Weinstein rape retrial begins in New York

The film mogul, who is accused of raping actress Jessica Mann, is being retried after a mistrial was declared last June.

Germany jails Chinese student in Pelicot-like rape case

Zhongyi J. repeatedly drugged, assaulted and filmed his girlfriend, sometimes sedating her so heavily that she stopped breathing.

China’s AI world model edge: abundant data and faster deployment, executive says

China’s strong industrial base, abundance of factory data give its world models a decisive push, says executive from leading start-up GigaAI.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing

Without fanfare, Brussels will stop funding for projects that use the Chinese-made devices as part of a ‘do more, say less’ strategy.

Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni, says he is ‘shocked’ by her

Meloni had been a supporter of Trump, but has criticised his decision to go to war with Iran and denounced his weekend ‌criticism of Pope Leo.

China hits out at ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ US blockade of Iran’s ports

Beijing says American move will ‘inflame tensions, escalate the situation and undermine an already fragile ceasefire’.

Men with higher IQs are less conservative, study finds

Those of average ability tend to support values associated with tradition and strict social order, German researchers say.

Stunned Frenchman wins US$1 million Picasso with US$117 raffle ticket

Sales engineer Ari Hodara wondered if it was a hoax when he got a call after the draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris.

Will the next round of US-Iran talks bring peace or more confrontation?

Lack of mutual trust means a strategic miscalculation could trigger renewed conflict at any moment, analysts say.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | How Pakistan outmanoeuvred India in Iran war diplomacy with China’s help

Opinion | You’re not asking the right question about the Iran war

Opinion | The strategic logic of Xi’s historic meeting with Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun

Opinion | 4 identities Hong Kong must embrace to provide global leadership

Editorial | Path to rehabilitation of those arrested in 2019 unrest is welcome

Is the US trying to pressure China with Hormuz blockade?

Opinion | How Pakistan outmanoeuvred India in Iran war diplomacy with China’s help

Harvey Weinstein rape retrial begins in New York

Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Stunned Frenchman wins US$1 million Picasso with US$117 raffle ticket

Designer Filippo Sorcinelli on dressing the last three popes – interview

Men with higher IQs are less conservative, study finds

Trump’s son Eric to join father’s state visit to China

China and the US want rare earths. Brazil will share – on one condition

Germany jails Chinese student in Pelicot-like rape case

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

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.

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.

Chinese AI rivals clash over Anthropic’s OpenClaw exit amid global token crunch

Chinese companies are competing to offer the cheapest alternatives to premium US services from the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic.

Why Sigenergy’s IPO ignited market frenzy with oversubscription of 1,000 times

Sigenergy and Guoxia are gaining traction as investors eye a major shift to AI in the renewable energy storage sector.

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

China’s AI world model edge: abundant data and faster deployment, executive says

China’s strong industrial base, abundance of factory data give its world models a decisive push, says executive from leading start-up GigaAI.

Why the US may need more than just fixing gaps to rival China on rare earths

Washington’s mining ambitions may be complicated by the erosion of industrial know-how and a weak education pipeline, experts say.

Vocational schools a new front as China backs businesses’ global expansion

Earlier programmes focused on infrastructure, but new wave is shaped by demand in e-commerce, digital services and advanced manufacturing.

The US could be moving away from precision strikes in the Iran war. Here’s why

From waste to bottle: the technology that gives packaging waste a verifiable second life

Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing

Opinion | How Pakistan outmanoeuvred India in Iran war diplomacy with China’s help