Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Exclusive | 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.

3 hours agovideocam

Open Questions | Kenneth Rogoff on why China’s yuan will be a reserve currency within 5 years

China GDP

Science

China reveals military capabilities in new space solar power plant design

Revamped orbital technology can potentially send steerable microwave beams to Earth, capable of jamming or securing military communications.

5 Apr 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Science

China’s push for hydrogen-powered planes gets boost amid Iran energy crisis

The maiden flight of the most powerful plane of its kind was hailed by state media as establishing a ‘complete technological chain’.

5 Apr 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

Education

How a US clampdown affected mainland Chinese, Hong Kong student visa numbers

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last May the country would take stricter approach to Chinese student visas.

35 minutes ago

Science

The gun featured on state television. Photo: CCTV

China unveils handheld coil gun that works like a ‘less deadly’ pistol

United States & Canada

Trump draws criticism with fiery, expletive-laden Easter message attacking Iran

Democrat Tim Kaine condemned the ‘embarrassing’ remarks while ex-Trump backer Marjorie Taylor Greene referred to the president’s ‘madness’.

6 Apr 2026 - 2:17AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington. Photo: AP

Middle East

Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon, Israel announces ‘security buffer’

Israel said it intends ‌to control a ‘security zone’ as deep as 30km into Lebanon and has issued evacuation orders for around 15 per cent of Lebanese territory.

1 hour ago

Health & Environment

‘Unable to handle rejection’: the forces driving Japan’s knife crime wave

Experts warn a generation raised on screens is losing the ability to handle real-world rejection.

40 minutes agovideocam

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

Politics

Are China’s TV dramas obsessed with beauty? An industry regulator thinks so

A national watchdog says there should be more to productions than physical appearances.

5 Apr 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

Zhang Linghe’s portrayal of a warrior in the costume drama Pursuit of Jade earned him the nickname of the “foundation-wearing general”. Photo: Handout

United States & Canada

Court reinstates US$656 million judgment against PLO and Palestinian Authority

The move follows a Supreme Court ruling in June, after 22 years of litigation, in favour of Americans killed or wounded in attacks in Israel.

3 hours ago

Policy

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

5 Apr 2026 - 7:00PM

Diplomacy

Downed US airman found after ‘heavy firefight’ in Iran

Donald Trump says on social media the missing crewman had been injured but is now ‘safe and sound’.

5 Apr 2026 - 11:36PM

168

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard released photos of what it said were downed US aircraft. Photo: AFP

Entertainment

How Gingle Wang went from clueless novice to one of Taiwan’s top young actresses

Wang’s first-ever scene took 33 takes, but now she is a ‘box office guarantee’ in Taiwan and an increasingly familiar face internationally.

2 hours ago

Taiwanese actress Gingle Wang at an interview with the SCMP in Tsim Sha Tsui on April 2, 2026. Photo: SCMP / Karma Lo

Europe

Orban appears to blame Kyiv for Serbian gas pipeline explosives find

Serbia’s president on Sunday said explosives ‘of devastating force’ were found on the Balkan Stream pipeline that transports Russian gas.

6 hours ago

Middle East

Zelensky in Syria to discuss security cooperation with President Ahmed al-Sharaa

Ukraine’s president also told the Syrian leader that Ukraine, as a major grain producer, was a reliable supplier of ‌food.

5 hours ago

Military

China unveils handheld coil gun that works like a ‘less deadly’ pistol

The electromagnetic weapon is designed for stealth operations, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

15 minutes ago

Europe

UK PM slams London music event for booking Kanye West as sponsor Pepsi quits

Keir Starmer expressed concern over West’s July slots at Wireless given the musician’s recent antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

6 Apr 2026 - 1:00AM

Kanye West performs during Rolling Loud 2024 at Hollywood Park Grounds in Inglewood, California in 2024. West is scheduled to perform at London’s Wireless festival in July. Photo: Los Angeles Times / TNS

Russia & Central Asia

Ukrainian drones attacked cargo ship that sank, killing 1, Russia says

The official said the sinking ⁠of the vessel in the Sea of Azov, which has also left 2 people missing, was a ‘terrorist attack’ ‌by Kyiv.

2 hours ago

Middle East

UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait lose water, energy infrastructure to Iran strikes

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvoes over Iran’s accusation that its neighbours allow US forces to carry out attacks from their territory.

1 minute ago

OPINION

Zhang Zhipeng

Opinion | Global South nations are insulating themselves from the heat of US actions

4 hours ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Stablecoin launch delay shows Hong Kong would rather be safe than sorry

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SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong must help ethnic minority groups bridge the digital divide

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Alex Lo

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

5 Apr 2026 - 11:05PM

Mike Rowse

Opinion | Hong Kong must not undo the good work of its HK$2 transport scheme

5 Apr 2026 - 8:30PM

Harry’s View | 6 Apr 2026

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Dying Chinese man, 61, leaves US$43 million to young wife, enrages ex-wife’s family

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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 Economy

Exclusive | 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.

3 hours agovideocam

Policy

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

5 Apr 2026 - 7:00PM

Tech

Meter running: CaoCao backs heavy-asset play to scale robotaxis

Geely-backed firm targets 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2030, banking on tighter control of cars, tech and operations to drive efficiency.

5 Apr 2026 - 3:00PM

Chinese ride-hailing company CaoCao, backed by Geely, is betting on a heavy-asset strategy to emerge as a leading robotaxi operator. Photo: Handout

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

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

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | 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

China reveals military capabilities in new space solar power plant design

Revamped orbital technology can potentially send steerable microwave beams to Earth, capable of jamming or securing military communications.

China’s push for hydrogen-powered planes gets boost amid Iran energy crisis

The maiden flight of the most powerful plane of its kind was hailed by state media as establishing a ‘complete technological chain’.

How a US clampdown affected mainland Chinese, Hong Kong student visa numbers

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last May the country would take stricter approach to Chinese student visas.

China unveils handheld coil gun that works like a ‘less deadly’ pistol

Trump draws criticism with fiery, expletive-laden Easter message attacking Iran

Democrat Tim Kaine condemned the ‘embarrassing’ remarks while ex-Trump backer Marjorie Taylor Greene referred to the president’s ‘madness’.

Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon, Israel announces ‘security buffer’

Israel said it intends ‌to control a ‘security zone’ as deep as 30km into Lebanon and has issued evacuation orders for around 15 per cent of Lebanese territory.

‘Unable to handle rejection’: the forces driving Japan’s knife crime wave

Experts warn a generation raised on screens is losing the ability to handle real-world rejection.

.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.

Are China’s TV dramas obsessed with beauty? An industry regulator thinks so

A national watchdog says there should be more to productions than physical appearances.

Court reinstates US$656 million judgment against PLO and Palestinian Authority

The move follows a Supreme Court ruling in June, after 22 years of litigation, in favour of Americans killed or wounded in attacks in Israel.

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

Downed US airman found after ‘heavy firefight’ in Iran

Donald Trump says on social media the missing crewman had been injured but is now ‘safe and sound’.

How Gingle Wang went from clueless novice to one of Taiwan’s top young actresses

Wang’s first-ever scene took 33 takes, but now she is a ‘box office guarantee’ in Taiwan and an increasingly familiar face internationally.

Orban appears to blame Kyiv for Serbian gas pipeline explosives find

Serbia’s president on Sunday said explosives ‘of devastating force’ were found on the Balkan Stream pipeline that transports Russian gas.

Zelensky in Syria to discuss security cooperation with President Ahmed al-Sharaa

Ukraine’s president also told the Syrian leader that Ukraine, as a major grain producer, was a reliable supplier of ‌food.

China unveils handheld coil gun that works like a ‘less deadly’ pistol

The electromagnetic weapon is designed for stealth operations, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

UK PM slams London music event for booking Kanye West as sponsor Pepsi quits

Keir Starmer expressed concern over West’s July slots at Wireless given the musician’s recent antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

Ukrainian drones attacked cargo ship that sank, killing 1, Russia says

The official said the sinking ⁠of the vessel in the Sea of Azov, which has also left 2 people missing, was a ‘terrorist attack’ ‌by Kyiv.

UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait lose water, energy infrastructure to Iran strikes

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvoes over Iran’s accusation that its neighbours allow US forces to carry out attacks from their territory.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Global South nations are insulating themselves from the heat of US actions

Editorial | Stablecoin launch delay shows Hong Kong would rather be safe than sorry

Editorial | Hong Kong must help ethnic minority groups bridge the digital divide

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

Opinion | Hong Kong must not undo the good work of its HK$2 transport scheme

South Korea opens door wider to Chinese travellers – but will they come?

Dying Chinese man, 61, leaves US$43 million to young wife, enrages ex-wife’s family

How a US clampdown affected mainland Chinese, Hong Kong student visa numbers

Pakistan Super League the latest stop in ex-Hong Kong star’s cricketing journey

‘Unable to handle rejection’: the forces driving Japan’s knife crime wave

Editorial | Stablecoin launch delay shows Hong Kong would rather be safe than sorry

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.

Exclusive | 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.

China’s rigid corporate culture slows AI adoption, ex-OpenAI executive says

China’s tech-savvy consumers embrace AI, but rigid corporate hierarchies hold back enterprises, Zack Kass says.

Meter running: CaoCao backs heavy-asset play to scale robotaxis

Geely-backed firm targets 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2030, banking on tighter control of cars, tech and operations to drive efficiency.

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.

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.

Exclusive | Andrew Tilton on China’s economic trajectory in wake of Iran war

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

Opinion | Global South nations are insulating themselves from the heat of US actions