Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Researchers say improved joint strength addresses a long-standing weakness in composite materials, such as those used for uncrewed aerial vehicles. Photo: Getty Images

How a proposed composite in China could strengthen drones, planes and rockets

Next-generation fighter jets and spacecraft stand to see performance gains from weight reduction and structural resilience.

2 hours agovideocam

China tests ‘heaviest cargo drone’ suited to high-altitude and island operations

Science

Diplomacy

What will the US do next in its war on Iran? Chinese pundits point to a likely path

With no truce in sight, American forces might be preparing for a short, sharp option, analysts say.

2 Apr 2026 - 11:54PMvideocam

Politics

Trump fires Pam Bondi as US president’s frustration with bad news grows

Attorney general’s removal follows the ouster of homeland security and border patrol chiefs amid a wave of negative headlines.

37 minutes ago

Hong Kong Economy

More Hongkongers to travel over long Easter break despite higher costs

60 per cent of outbound travellers expected to head to mainland cities, with high-speed rail continuing to gain popularity as the preferred mode of transport.

4 hours ago

Focus

The US-China trade war 1 year on: who really holds the upper hand?

United States & Canada

Update | Nasa’s Artemis astronauts zoom towards moon after fixing toilet malfunction

After troubleshooting minor technical glitches, the four-person crew leave Earth’s orbit for a journey further into deep space than ever before.

2 hours agovideocam

The Artemis II crewed lunar mission lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centre on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Trump hails destruction of Iran’s tallest bridge, warns of ‘much more to follow’

US president renews threats that Iran accept an immediate deal ‘before there is nothing left’ following a double strike on the B1 bridge.

3 hours ago

Politics

‘Defining truth’? Worry in Philippines over controversial anti-fake news bills

Critics warn the proposals risk turning legitimate reporting, public-interest speech and fast-moving online discussion into criminal exposure.

58 minutes agovideocam

Business

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

In partnership with:

Standard Chartered

Business

Splashing out: how much would you expect to pay for LV’s latest quirky man bag?

Offbeat designs may not drive sales, but they sharpen brand identity and attract individuality-seeking buyers, analysts say.

3 hours ago

Louis Vuitton’s watering can bag sprinkles novelty on luxury. Photo: Handout

China Business

China’s Pop Mart struggles despite buy-backs as Labubu reliance sparks concerns

Toymaker’s shares have fallen nearly 50 per cent since February as investors weigh slowing overseas growth and dependence on flagship line.

32 minutes ago

Hong Kong Economy

Hongkongers opt for mainland Chinese tours during Easter amid Middle East war

Number of outbound tour groups to the mainland rose 30 per cent year on year, according to Hong Kong Tourism Association head Timothy Chui.

2 hours ago

US

As Xi-Trump summit approaches, tariffs continue to choke direct trade

Deficit with mainland hits two-decade low as trade shifts to Taiwan, Mexico and Vietnam amid tariff fallout and efforts to stabilise ties.

3 Apr 2026 - 5:42AMvideocam

Shipping containers wait to be transported along a railroad at the port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, one of the busiest gateways for US trade. Photo: Reuters

Society

On This Day | World’s highest hotel opens in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon in 2011 – SCMP archive

Once the world’s highest hotel, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong marks 15 years atop the ICC.

1 hour ago

The International Commerce Centre (ICC) in West Kowloon in 2020, which houses the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. Photo: May Tse

China Business

Leapmotor targets global growth with Europe R&D hub, eyes Canada assembly

Chinese EV maker lifts overseas sales target as rising fuel costs and easing tariffs boost demand abroad.

3 hours ago

Tech Trends

Anthropic’s AI code leak ignites frenzy among Chinese developers

Chinese developers have been having a field day, scrambling to download copies of the leaked code and poring over files to learn detail.

2 Apr 2026 - 9:58PM

Health & Environment

Solomon Islands residents live in fear of WWII bomb explosions

With more people on the islands killed or injured due to the munitions, a UN team calls for international efforts to remove the danger.

9 minutes ago

Billy, a resident of the village of Yandina in Russell Islands, Solomon Islands, sits next to unexploded munitions near his home. Photo: UNDP Pacific Office/Christopher Teasdale

United States & Canada

After car crash, Tiger Woods told officer he was ‘talking to the president’

It wasn’t clear if the golfer, who is dating Vanessa Trump, was talking about US President Donald Trump.

5 hours ago

Tiger Woods is taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, in March. Photo: Martin County Sheriff’s Office via AP

Food & Drink

A shaman told him to quit coffee. Now he runs a successful matcha brand

Rocky Xu, who started Rocky’s Matcha in 2022, focuses on selling quality, authentic Japanese tea rather than trying to be a viral sensation.

5 hours ago

United States & Canada

Hegseth ousts army’s top uniformed officer, even as US wages war on Iran

Chief of Staff Randy George has been asked to take early retirement, in the latest of over a dozen firings of top generals and admirals.

6 hours agovideocam

OPINION

Letters

Letters | Why KMT leader’s planned visit to mainland China is significant

1 hour ago

Bernard Chan

Opinion | Debate over Jimmy Lai’s sentencing should steer clear of geopolitics

2 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Trump’s Iran address fails to set minds at ease or clearly signal direction

5 hours ago

Richard Harris

Opinion | From the US to Hong Kong, there’s no excuse for insider trading

3 Apr 2026 - 5:30AM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Paperless stock market the way forward for Hong Kong

6 hours ago

Harry’s View | 3 Apr 2026

MORE COMMENT

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6 minutes ago

Football

Japan axe coach Nielsen 12 days after winning Women’s Asian Cup for ‘lacking passion’

32 minutes ago

China Business

China’s Pop Mart struggles despite buy-backs as Labubu reliance sparks concerns

36 minutes ago

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police on the hunt for 2 men who attacked taxi driver after quarrel

56 minutes ago

East Asia

‘I can’t breathe’: Korean Air sued over in-flight death of passenger

1 hour ago

Society

On This Day | World’s highest hotel opens in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon in 2011 – SCMP archive

2 hours ago

Fashion & Beauty

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Traditional Russian wooden dolls depict Chinese President Xi Jinping, then US president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a souvenir shop in St Petersburg, Russia, on November 21, 2024. Photo: AP

SCMP Series Trump’s 2026 trip to China

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

27 Mar 2026 - 11:40PMvideocam

Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

21 Mar 2026 - 2:39PMvideocam

Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

20 Mar 2026 - 6:28PMvideocam

Open Questions series

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

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

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 Business

Leapmotor targets global growth with Europe R&D hub, eyes Canada assembly

Chinese EV maker lifts overseas sales target as rising fuel costs and easing tariffs boost demand abroad.

3 hours ago

Big Tech

Chinese AI giants pivot toward proprietary models to drive revenue, performance

This week, Alibaba released three proprietary models that were all accessible only via its official cloud platform or chatbot website.

2 Apr 2026 - 10:23PM

Tech Trends

Anthropic’s AI code leak ignites frenzy among Chinese developers

Chinese developers have been having a field day, scrambling to download copies of the leaked code and poring over files to learn detail.

2 Apr 2026 - 9:58PM

Anthropic has not made its services available in mainland China, citing national security concerns. Photo: dpa

Society

Is it time to call an end to Hong Kong’s boar war?

Wild boar numbers have dropped by half in recent years, prompting calls from experts for an end to aggressive control measures such as culling.

2 Apr 2026 - 8:30AM

Science

Inside the shadowy practices plaguing China’s science awards

Beijing has rolled out new rules for investigating violations in scientific activities. So why are critics still pessimistic?

1 Apr 2026 - 9:50AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

31 Mar 2026 - 6:03AMvideocam

Diplomacy

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

As the United States steps back from cultural governance, China aims to reshape how the world reclaims looted heritage – with Japan its biggest test.

29 Mar 2026 - 6:17AM

How a proposed composite in China could strengthen drones, planes and rockets

Next-generation fighter jets and spacecraft stand to see performance gains from weight reduction and structural resilience.

China tests ‘heaviest cargo drone’ suited to high-altitude and island operations

What will the US do next in its war on Iran? Chinese pundits point to a likely path

With no truce in sight, American forces might be preparing for a short, sharp option, analysts say.

Trump fires Pam Bondi as US president’s frustration with bad news grows

Attorney general’s removal follows the ouster of homeland security and border patrol chiefs amid a wave of negative headlines.

More Hongkongers to travel over long Easter break despite higher costs

60 per cent of outbound travellers expected to head to mainland cities, with high-speed rail continuing to gain popularity as the preferred mode of transport.

The US-China trade war 1 year on: who really holds the upper hand?

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Update | Nasa’s Artemis astronauts zoom towards moon after fixing toilet malfunction

After troubleshooting minor technical glitches, the four-person crew leave Earth’s orbit for a journey further into deep space than ever before.

Trump hails destruction of Iran’s tallest bridge, warns of ‘much more to follow’

US president renews threats that Iran accept an immediate deal ‘before there is nothing left’ following a double strike on the B1 bridge.

‘Defining truth’? Worry in Philippines over controversial anti-fake news bills

Critics warn the proposals risk turning legitimate reporting, public-interest speech and fast-moving online discussion into criminal exposure.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Bank’s financial services and partnership with consultancy Altios help Singapore-headquartered company TFE expand into India.

Splashing out: how much would you expect to pay for LV’s latest quirky man bag?

Offbeat designs may not drive sales, but they sharpen brand identity and attract individuality-seeking buyers, analysts say.

China’s Pop Mart struggles despite buy-backs as Labubu reliance sparks concerns

Toymaker’s shares have fallen nearly 50 per cent since February as investors weigh slowing overseas growth and dependence on flagship line.

Hongkongers opt for mainland Chinese tours during Easter amid Middle East war

Number of outbound tour groups to the mainland rose 30 per cent year on year, according to Hong Kong Tourism Association head Timothy Chui.

As Xi-Trump summit approaches, tariffs continue to choke direct trade

Deficit with mainland hits two-decade low as trade shifts to Taiwan, Mexico and Vietnam amid tariff fallout and efforts to stabilise ties.

On This Day | World’s highest hotel opens in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon in 2011 – SCMP archive

Once the world’s highest hotel, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong marks 15 years atop the ICC.

Leapmotor targets global growth with Europe R&D hub, eyes Canada assembly

Chinese EV maker lifts overseas sales target as rising fuel costs and easing tariffs boost demand abroad.

Anthropic’s AI code leak ignites frenzy among Chinese developers

Chinese developers have been having a field day, scrambling to download copies of the leaked code and poring over files to learn detail.

Solomon Islands residents live in fear of WWII bomb explosions

With more people on the islands killed or injured due to the munitions, a UN team calls for international efforts to remove the danger.

After car crash, Tiger Woods told officer he was ‘talking to the president’

It wasn’t clear if the golfer, who is dating Vanessa Trump, was talking about US President Donald Trump.

A shaman told him to quit coffee. Now he runs a successful matcha brand

Rocky Xu, who started Rocky’s Matcha in 2022, focuses on selling quality, authentic Japanese tea rather than trying to be a viral sensation.

Hegseth ousts army’s top uniformed officer, even as US wages war on Iran

Chief of Staff Randy George has been asked to take early retirement, in the latest of over a dozen firings of top generals and admirals.

Letters | Why KMT leader’s planned visit to mainland China is significant

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Debate over Jimmy Lai’s sentencing should steer clear of geopolitics

Editorial | Trump’s Iran address fails to set minds at ease or clearly signal direction

Opinion | From the US to Hong Kong, there’s no excuse for insider trading

Editorial | Paperless stock market the way forward for Hong Kong

Japan axe coach Nielsen 12 days after winning Women’s Asian Cup for ‘lacking passion’

China’s Pop Mart struggles despite buy-backs as Labubu reliance sparks concerns

Hong Kong police on the hunt for 2 men who attacked taxi driver after quarrel

‘I can’t breathe’: Korean Air sued over in-flight death of passenger

On This Day | World’s highest hotel opens in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon in 2011 – SCMP archive

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, April 3-5

Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin visit back to back?

Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.

Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?

Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019

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.

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.

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.

Leapmotor targets global growth with Europe R&D hub, eyes Canada assembly

Chinese EV maker lifts overseas sales target as rising fuel costs and easing tariffs boost demand abroad.

Chinese AI giants pivot toward proprietary models to drive revenue, performance

This week, Alibaba released three proprietary models that were all accessible only via its official cloud platform or chatbot website.

Anthropic’s AI code leak ignites frenzy among Chinese developers

Chinese developers have been having a field day, scrambling to download copies of the leaked code and poring over files to learn detail.

Is it time to call an end to Hong Kong’s boar war?

Wild boar numbers have dropped by half in recent years, prompting calls from experts for an end to aggressive control measures such as culling.

Inside the shadowy practices plaguing China’s science awards

Beijing has rolled out new rules for investigating violations in scientific activities. So why are critics still pessimistic?

Europe’s crisis tourism: how the Iran war swallowed the EU’s geopolitical agenda

From trade with China to the Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock, Brussels’ agenda has been repeatedly knocked off course.

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

As the United States steps back from cultural governance, China aims to reshape how the world reclaims looted heritage – with Japan its biggest test.

Update | Nasa’s Artemis astronauts zoom towards moon after fixing toilet malfunction

SMEs leverage Standard Chartered’s global network and expertise to achieve growth

Opinion | Debate over Jimmy Lai’s sentencing should steer clear of geopolitics