Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Swiss firm Synhelion set up the world’s first industrial-scale solar fuel plant. Photo: Handout

How Chinese scientists made petrol building blocks with CO2, water and sunlight

A solar-powered process that mimics photosynthesis in plants could be used to produce valuable resources such as fuel, researchers say.

20 minutes agovideocam

Chinese scientists turn carbon dioxide to starch with 10-fold productivity boost

Science

Big Tech

US software rout spills over to China’s SaaS sector

The software sector in China has long been constrained by slower cloud adoption and a weaker appetite for recurring subscription fees.

1 hour ago

Cryptocurrency

China tightens crypto crackdown with onshore RWA tokenisation ban

Domestic entities, as well as offshore entities under their control, cannot issue virtual currencies overseas without approval.

4 hours ago

Society

Hong Kong plans to revive privacy law requiring firms report data breaches

Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung says watchdog intends to consult lawmakers this year after legislative reform was put on hold in 2024.

2 hours ago

Focus

How Western brands are adapting to China’s changing consumer landscape

China Economy

Chinese sports brands set sights on European expansion at 2026 Winter Olympics

The Games have become a test case for firms seeking to raise their global profile, highlighting rising ambitions and challenges.

2 hours ago

Military

Taiwan wants an effective reserve force. Will live-fire drills do the job?

Challenges in forging conscripts into fighting force range from inadequate training facilities to eroding public will to defend the island.

4 hours agovideocam

Lifestyle & Culture

‘Tip of the iceberg’: arrests in Nepal over fake mountain rescues welcomed

The suspects are believed to be among a network of scammers who have cheated insurers by staging fake rescue operations for years.

2 hours ago

Business

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

In partnership with:

MPOC

Palm oil is a versatile ingredient found in a wide range of everyday items, from ice cream and cake to lipstick and biofuel.

Society

Hong Kong to enforce stricter measures at nature spots for Lunar New Year holiday

Authorities step up crowd and environmental controls to prevent a repeat of past incidents as city braces for 1.4 million mainland Chinese tourists.

54 minutes ago

Mainland Chinese tourists cooking and camping on Sharp Island during the National Day holiday last year. Photo: Dickson Lee

People

Exclusive | Inside Indonesia’s inner circle: Hashim Djojohadikusumo on Prabowo’s vision

The Indonesian president’s brother talks ‘fried’ stocks, ‘mosquito’ rivals and MSCI’s Turkmenistan insult in an exclusive interview.

6 hours ago

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong summons Panama envoy over court ruling on CK Hutchison ports concession

Commerce minister Algernon Yau says Panama ruling to strip Li Ka-shing firm’s subsidiary of canal port rights ‘undermines’ trade rules.

3 hours ago

Diplomacy

As traditional US allies hedge their bets, will China be the one to cash in?

‘Trump shock’ has prompted a thaw between other Western leaders and Beijing, a trend that raises questions about its deeper long-term impact.

7 Feb 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

Mark Carney, one of a number of Western leaders to visit Beijing last month, has warned about “a rupture” in the US-led global order. Photo: Reuters

Russia & Central Asia

Russia strikes Ukraine power grid despite ongoing US-led peace talks

Ukrainians have accused Moscow of deliberately targeting the grid, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating in sub-zero temperatures.

2 hours ago

A firefighter battles flames at an industrial building hit by overnight Russian drone strikes in Ukraine’s Poltava region on Friday. Photo: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Poltava region/Reuters

US

US steps up Apec role after Xi–Trump call as ties with China show signs of thaw

Washington says its delegation to Guangzhou will press ‘America first’ trade goals while coordinating with Beijing after leaders’ talk.

7 Feb 2026 - 7:13AMvideocam

South Asia

Epstein’s India link: tycoon Anil Ambani, books and a ‘tall Swedish blonde’

The two men talked about business and Hollywood actresses from 2017 to 2019, according to documents released by the US Justice Department.

7 Feb 2026 - 7:01AMvideocam

Military

US accuses China of secret nuclear testing after offering Beijing arms treaty

The allegations highlight tensions between Washington and Beijing, following the expiry of the New Start arms control treaty with Russia.

7 Feb 2026 - 7:25AMvideocam

DF-5C nuclear missiles are displayed during a military parade in Beijing, China, in September 2025. Photo: Reuters

SERIES: Year of the Horse 2026

How Rabbits can avoid bad luck in the Year of the Horse 2026

Rats will clash with the tai sui deity in the Year of the Fire Horse. Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha reveals how they can improve their fortune.

7 Feb 2026 - 7:41AMvideocam

Rabbits will conflict with the tai sui deity in the Year of the Horse, but there are things you can do to head off bad luck. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Hope for thaw? Seoul hints at ‘new progress’ in US-North Korea ties

The official’s remarks come amid speculation that US President Donald Trump could seek a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

7 Feb 2026 - 9:30AM

United States & Canada

Pentagon ditches Harvard as Hegseth declares university too ‘woke’

The defence secretary says the Ivy League university ‘no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services’.

2 hours agovideocam

OPINION

Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Trump-Takaichi meddling in finance spells more turbulence ahead

2 hours ago

Treethep Srisa-nga

Asian Angle | Thailand’s election will pass verdict on the architecture of elite control

7 Feb 2026 - 11:00AM

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | What do common Lunar New Year snacks in China, Singapore and Malaysia symbolise?

7 Feb 2026 - 8:15AM

C. Uday Bhaskar

Opinion | Why the new US-India trade agreement is a big deal

7 Feb 2026 - 5:30AM

Letters

Letters | Student wellbeing is not a problem easily solved with AI

7 Feb 2026 - 11:30AM

Harry’s View | 7 Feb 2026

MORE COMMENT

LATEST

10 minutes ago

Hong Kong Economy

Alo Yoga takes over waterfront commercial space in Hong Kong as Asia play heats up

20 minutes ago

Science

How Chinese scientists made petrol building blocks with CO2, water and sunlight

20 minutes ago

Celebrities

Who is Spain’s Minions figure skater, Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté?

20 minutes ago

Trending in China

Foreigners flock to China for cheaper medical treatment, drawn by free visa policy

38 minutes ago

Health & Environment

Temperatures on Lantau, in rural areas to go as low as 8 degrees on Sunday night

51 minutes ago

Southeast Asia

Cambodians lose homes as Thailand makes gains following clashes

MORE LATEST NEWS

SCMP Series

Year of the Horse 2026

China Inc. goes global

Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy

A tray of Lunar New Year snacks. Many Chinese communities enjoy the same festive favourites at this time of year, but places such as Singapore and Malaysia also gorge on regional treats shaped by foreign influences and migration. Photo: Getty Images

SCMP Series Year of the Horse 2026

Reflections | What common Lunar New Year snacks in China, Singapore and Malaysia symbolise

Lunar New Year treats in China vary from those in Singapore and Malaysia, for which some question whether they are truly ‘Chinese’.

7 Feb 2026 - 8:15AM

How Rabbits can avoid bad luck in the Year of the Horse 2026

7 Feb 2026 - 7:41AMvideocam

Oxen clash with the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026. How to avoid bad luck

5 Feb 2026 - 10:30AMvideocam

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Lawrence Lau on why China must ‘work smarter’ and how it can invent from scratch

China must shift from quantity to quality by focusing on 12-year schooling, more basic research and GBA integration, renowned economist says.

2 Feb 2026 - 10:02AMvideocam

China

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

29 Jan 2026 - 11:50AMvideocam

Tech Trends

Open Questions | Jeffrey Ding on why diffusion, not innovation, is the secret to AI success

Professor says a ‘diffusion marathon’, where AI is gradually embedded in an economy over decades, will determine the winner of US-China tech war.

4 Feb 2026 - 3:48PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

International relations scholar says US could easily take Greenland, while regime change in Tehran would be more difficult.

19 Jan 2026 - 6:57PMvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech Trends

‘Optimus chain’: Chinese suppliers form backbone of Tesla’s humanoid robot plans

Tesla’s pivot to producing humanoid robots is expected to engage a network of key Chinese component makers.

1 Feb 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is seen on display at a company showroom in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Shutterstock

China Business

Tesla launches China AI training centre as self-driving race accelerates

US EV giant opens hub to advance its Full Self-Driving software, as Chinese carmakers step up their own L3 autonomous driving plans.

6 Feb 2026 - 11:07PM

China Business

Fosun Pharma unit licenses lung cancer drug to Eisai in US$1.55 billion deal

The deal comes as Chinese novel drug makers are having more say in how their new medicines are developed with global partners.

6 Feb 2026 - 5:00PM

Tech

China trials largest locally made AI computing resource in infrastructure push

The node is designed for large-scale AI scenarios, including trillion-parameter model training and high-throughput inference.

6 Feb 2026 - 4:19PM

A worker adjusts a display panel showing a computer chip and the Chinese characters for “independence” at the Sugon booth during the World AI Conference in Shanghai, July 5, 2023. Photo: AP

Global Economy

As Beijing and Moscow tout ties, China’s companies keep Ukraine’s lights on

Ukrainians are buying Chinese batteries and emergency items en masse after Russian strikes, with Beijing’s ties to Moscow no damper on trade.

7 Feb 2026 - 6:39AMvideocam

Hong Kong Economy

Is Hong Kong barking up the wrong tree with dog-friendly restaurants?

Can pet-friendly premises really give Hong Kong’s economy a boost?

6 Feb 2026 - 8:32AM

Diplomacy

US and China defence sectors emerge as key battlegrounds in the race for AI

As both military powers vie to integrate innovative technology first, the race is on to develop and fast-track the latest advancements.

5 Feb 2026 - 1:41AMvideocam

Military

What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

Investigations into China’s top military commanders have raised questions about the PLA’s battle readiness.

4 Feb 2026 - 6:14AMvideocam

How Chinese scientists made petrol building blocks with CO2, water and sunlight

A solar-powered process that mimics photosynthesis in plants could be used to produce valuable resources such as fuel, researchers say.

Chinese scientists turn carbon dioxide to starch with 10-fold productivity boost

US software rout spills over to China’s SaaS sector

The software sector in China has long been constrained by slower cloud adoption and a weaker appetite for recurring subscription fees.

China tightens crypto crackdown with onshore RWA tokenisation ban

Domestic entities, as well as offshore entities under their control, cannot issue virtual currencies overseas without approval.

Hong Kong plans to revive privacy law requiring firms report data breaches

Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung says watchdog intends to consult lawmakers this year after legislative reform was put on hold in 2024.

How Western brands are adapting to China’s changing consumer landscape

Chinese sports brands set sights on European expansion at 2026 Winter Olympics

The Games have become a test case for firms seeking to raise their global profile, highlighting rising ambitions and challenges.

Taiwan wants an effective reserve force. Will live-fire drills do the job?

Challenges in forging conscripts into fighting force range from inadequate training facilities to eroding public will to defend the island.

‘Tip of the iceberg’: arrests in Nepal over fake mountain rescues welcomed

The suspects are believed to be among a network of scammers who have cheated insurers by staging fake rescue operations for years.

.css-f84qeq{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;font-style:italic;}The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

Hong Kong to enforce stricter measures at nature spots for Lunar New Year holiday

Authorities step up crowd and environmental controls to prevent a repeat of past incidents as city braces for 1.4 million mainland Chinese tourists.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Inside Indonesia’s inner circle: Hashim Djojohadikusumo on Prabowo’s vision

The Indonesian president’s brother talks ‘fried’ stocks, ‘mosquito’ rivals and MSCI’s Turkmenistan insult in an exclusive interview.

Hong Kong summons Panama envoy over court ruling on CK Hutchison ports concession

Commerce minister Algernon Yau says Panama ruling to strip Li Ka-shing firm’s subsidiary of canal port rights ‘undermines’ trade rules.

As traditional US allies hedge their bets, will China be the one to cash in?

‘Trump shock’ has prompted a thaw between other Western leaders and Beijing, a trend that raises questions about its deeper long-term impact.

Russia strikes Ukraine power grid despite ongoing US-led peace talks

Ukrainians have accused Moscow of deliberately targeting the grid, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating in sub-zero temperatures.

US steps up Apec role after Xi–Trump call as ties with China show signs of thaw

Washington says its delegation to Guangzhou will press ‘America first’ trade goals while coordinating with Beijing after leaders’ talk.

Epstein’s India link: tycoon Anil Ambani, books and a ‘tall Swedish blonde’

The two men talked about business and Hollywood actresses from 2017 to 2019, according to documents released by the US Justice Department.

US accuses China of secret nuclear testing after offering Beijing arms treaty

The allegations highlight tensions between Washington and Beijing, following the expiry of the New Start arms control treaty with Russia.

How Rabbits can avoid bad luck in the Year of the Horse 2026

Rats will clash with the tai sui deity in the Year of the Fire Horse. Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha reveals how they can improve their fortune.

Hope for thaw? Seoul hints at ‘new progress’ in US-North Korea ties

The official’s remarks come amid speculation that US President Donald Trump could seek a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Pentagon ditches Harvard as Hegseth declares university too ‘woke’

The defence secretary says the Ivy League university ‘no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services’.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Macroscope | Trump-Takaichi meddling in finance spells more turbulence ahead

Asian Angle | Thailand’s election will pass verdict on the architecture of elite control

Reflections | What do common Lunar New Year snacks in China, Singapore and Malaysia symbolise?

Opinion | Why the new US-India trade agreement is a big deal

Letters | Student wellbeing is not a problem easily solved with AI

Alo Yoga takes over waterfront commercial space in Hong Kong as Asia play heats up

How Chinese scientists made petrol building blocks with CO2, water and sunlight

Who is Spain’s Minions figure skater, Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté?

Foreigners flock to China for cheaper medical treatment, drawn by free visa policy

Temperatures on Lantau, in rural areas to go as low as 8 degrees on Sunday night

Cambodians lose homes as Thailand makes gains following clashes

Reflections | What common Lunar New Year snacks in China, Singapore and Malaysia symbolise

Lunar New Year treats in China vary from those in Singapore and Malaysia, for which some question whether they are truly ‘Chinese’.

How Rabbits can avoid bad luck in the Year of the Horse 2026

Oxen clash with the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026. How to avoid bad luck

Open Questions | Lawrence Lau on why China must ‘work smarter’ and how it can invent from scratch

China must shift from quantity to quality by focusing on 12-year schooling, more basic research and GBA integration, renowned economist says.

Open Questions | How China’s 15-fold rise in Latin America dents US influence: Francisco Urdinez

A leading scholar says US action in Venezuela shows how Beijing’s economic ties now face rising geopolitical pushback.

Open Questions | Jeffrey Ding on why diffusion, not innovation, is the secret to AI success

Professor says a ‘diffusion marathon’, where AI is gradually embedded in an economy over decades, will determine the winner of US-China tech war.

Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

International relations scholar says US could easily take Greenland, while regime change in Tehran would be more difficult.

‘Optimus chain’: Chinese suppliers form backbone of Tesla’s humanoid robot plans

Tesla’s pivot to producing humanoid robots is expected to engage a network of key Chinese component makers.

Tesla launches China AI training centre as self-driving race accelerates

US EV giant opens hub to advance its Full Self-Driving software, as Chinese carmakers step up their own L3 autonomous driving plans.

Fosun Pharma unit licenses lung cancer drug to Eisai in US$1.55 billion deal

The deal comes as Chinese novel drug makers are having more say in how their new medicines are developed with global partners.

China trials largest locally made AI computing resource in infrastructure push

The node is designed for large-scale AI scenarios, including trillion-parameter model training and high-throughput inference.

As Beijing and Moscow tout ties, China’s companies keep Ukraine’s lights on

Ukrainians are buying Chinese batteries and emergency items en masse after Russian strikes, with Beijing’s ties to Moscow no damper on trade.

Is Hong Kong barking up the wrong tree with dog-friendly restaurants?

Can pet-friendly premises really give Hong Kong’s economy a boost?

US and China defence sectors emerge as key battlegrounds in the race for AI

As both military powers vie to integrate innovative technology first, the race is on to develop and fast-track the latest advancements.

What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

Investigations into China’s top military commanders have raised questions about the PLA’s battle readiness.

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Exclusive | Inside Indonesia’s inner circle: Hashim Djojohadikusumo on Prabowo’s vision

Macroscope | Trump-Takaichi meddling in finance spells more turbulence ahead