Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Infrared thermal imaging detector manufactured in China. Photo: Handout

China reports 99% cost cut on military-grade infrared chips

Researchers have developed a new way to make high-end infrared chips that could slash their cost and boost smartphone cameras, self-driving cars.

1 hour ago

China’s gravity-detecting SQUID gets closer to spotting US nuclear submarines

Science

Banking & Finance

Stricter Chinese scrutiny of offshore vehicles a blow for tech IPO candidates

Mainland’s stock market watchdog is discouraging establishment of ‘red-chip-structured’ companies in sensitive industries.

4 hours ago

US

‘Keep bombing’: Trump claims Iranians want more US strikes for ‘freedom’

US leader said he was unsure if the war was escalating or easing, but warned of sweeping strikes if no deal is reached by Tuesday at 8pm EST.

20 minutes agovideocam

Education

ESF among 8 school operators that failed to meet non-local student targets

Education Bureau says non-local enrolment at some schools dropped to as low as 39 per cent, well below required targets of 50 to 98 per cent.

4 hours ago

Diplomacy

Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, last month. Iran has effectively closed the waterway through which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply is transported. Photo: Reuters

‘Damage control’? Behind France, Germany’s bid to contain Iran war oil fallout

Military

How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

US strengths and strains offer Beijing a playbook, but key differences limit how far the conflict can guide future military strategy.

7 Apr 2026 - 2:20AMvideocam

China Business

ICBC and CCB lead China’s biggest banks in US$61 billion dividend payout

Record payouts come as regulators push listed companies to enhance dividend frequency and predictability.

2 hours ago

People

Singapore ministers’ defamation suit against Bloomberg for property story starts

Cabinet ministers K. Shanmugam and Tan See Leng are suing Bloomberg over an article mentioning their personal property deals.

1 hour 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

United States & Canada

Nasa crew headed back to Earth after record-breaking trip around moon

The four Artemis II astronauts eclipsed the 400,171km distance record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.

16 minutes ago

A view of the moon taken by an Artemis II crew member through the window of the Orion spacecraft on Monday. Photo: Nasa via Reuters

China Economy

China’s yuan may be going global faster than Western data suggests, analysts say

Many yuan transactions are now routed through China’s own global payment system, which often does not show up in traditional data sets, analysts say.

6 Apr 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

Economics

Why high fuel costs could accelerate the Philippines’ EV boom

Vietnam’s VinFast is seizing the moment by offering incentives for drivers to make the switch from petrol-powered vehicles to electric.

4 hours ago

Americas

Venezuela’s government, opposition may cooperate to safeguard US assets

Lawyers for both sides have requested a 45-day pause in the US asset seizure case as Venezuela seeks ⁠to protect holdings from creditors.

7 Apr 2026 - 3:47AM

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas, Venezuela on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Why KMT leader’s planned Beijing visit is under scrutiny in Taiwan

Meeting with Xi Jinping is expected on six-day trip, the first such encounter between the two parties’ leaders in a decade.

6 Apr 2026 - 9:13PMvideocam

Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is due to arrive in mainland China on April 7. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

Supreme Court clears path to overturn conviction of ex-Trump aide Steve Bannon

Bannon served 4 months in prison in 2024 for refusing to testify before a congressional panel investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.

7 Apr 2026 - 3:14AM

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong restaurant revenues drop over Easter as departures outnumber arrivals

Estimated 6 to 7 per cent year-on-year dip in catering sector business over long weekend amid exodus of locals, F&B trade representative says.

6 Apr 2026 - 8:53PM

Europe

Pressure mounts on UK government to ban Kanye West after festival backlash

Conservatives urged the home secretary to bar the Wireless Festival headliner from entering Britain over the US rapper’s antisemitic remarks.

5 hours ago

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 2. Photo: Invision / AP

Health & Wellness

Are trends like ‘fibermaxxing’ and ‘proteinmaxxing’ actually healthy?

Experts say more is not always best when it comes to protein and fibre. Here’s some advice on balanced nutrition and gut health.

5 hours ago

Viral diet trends like “proteinmaxxing” and “fibermaxxing” promise health benefits, but experts warn against extreme optimisation. Photo: Shutterstock

Europe

Ukraine proposes ceasefire on striking energy targets to Russia

Ukraine’s president says the proposal has been conveyed to Moscow through the US.

25 minutes ago

United States & Canada

Video sheds light on Minnesota ICE shooting after charges against men collapsed

Authorities initially accused 2 Venezuelan men of beating an ICE officer during a chase and scuffle in Minneapolis in January.

6 hours agovideocam

OPINION

Yogi Putranto

Opinion | In Asia-Pacific, the real maritime contest is over satellite surveillance

3 hours ago

Letters

Letters | Hong Kong is not competing with US stablecoins or the digital renminbi

36 minutes ago

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Travellers recognise the strengths of Hong Kong International Airport

5 hours ago

Muhammad Faizan Fakhar

Opinion | The danger in the Global South’s pursuit of AI as a magical cure

7 Apr 2026 - 5:30AM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Vape possession ban is vital for protecting Hong Kong’s youth

5 hours ago

Harry’s View | 7 Apr 2026

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6 minutes ago

Travel & Hotels

Review | Regent Bali Canggu brings coastal luxury to the island’s trendiest beach

1 hour ago

East Asia

Japan confirms release of second citizen held in Iran

2 hours ago

China Business

ICBC and CCB lead China’s biggest banks in US$61 billion dividend payout

2 hours ago

Asia

Video | Roof collapse causes panic at Jakarta international airport

Video circulating on social media shows a moment of panic at Jakarta international airport after a section of the roof collapses

00:55

2 hours ago

People

Singapore ministers’ defamation suit against Bloomberg for property story starts

2 hours ago

Science

China reports 99% cost cut on military-grade infrared chips

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SCMP Series

Trump’s 2026 trip to China

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China Inc. goes global

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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 | 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

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

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

More foreign marques face a do-or-die moment as Chinese buyers shun petrol cars

Following Skoda’s exit from China, other carmakers with falling sales are also likely to close shop this year, analysts say.

6 Apr 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

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

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

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

China reports 99% cost cut on military-grade infrared chips

Researchers have developed a new way to make high-end infrared chips that could slash their cost and boost smartphone cameras, self-driving cars.

China’s gravity-detecting SQUID gets closer to spotting US nuclear submarines

Stricter Chinese scrutiny of offshore vehicles a blow for tech IPO candidates

Mainland’s stock market watchdog is discouraging establishment of ‘red-chip-structured’ companies in sensitive industries.

‘Keep bombing’: Trump claims Iranians want more US strikes for ‘freedom’

US leader said he was unsure if the war was escalating or easing, but warned of sweeping strikes if no deal is reached by Tuesday at 8pm EST.

ESF among 8 school operators that failed to meet non-local student targets

Education Bureau says non-local enrolment at some schools dropped to as low as 39 per cent, well below required targets of 50 to 98 per cent.

‘Damage control’? Behind France, Germany’s bid to contain Iran war oil fallout

How lessons from Iran war could shape mainland China’s Taiwan calculus

US strengths and strains offer Beijing a playbook, but key differences limit how far the conflict can guide future military strategy.

ICBC and CCB lead China’s biggest banks in US$61 billion dividend payout

Record payouts come as regulators push listed companies to enhance dividend frequency and predictability.

Singapore ministers’ defamation suit against Bloomberg for property story starts

Cabinet ministers K. Shanmugam and Tan See Leng are suing Bloomberg over an article mentioning their personal property deals.

.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.

Nasa crew headed back to Earth after record-breaking trip around moon

The four Artemis II astronauts eclipsed the 400,171km distance record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.

China’s yuan may be going global faster than Western data suggests, analysts say

Many yuan transactions are now routed through China’s own global payment system, which often does not show up in traditional data sets, analysts say.

Why high fuel costs could accelerate the Philippines’ EV boom

Vietnam’s VinFast is seizing the moment by offering incentives for drivers to make the switch from petrol-powered vehicles to electric.

Venezuela’s government, opposition may cooperate to safeguard US assets

Lawyers for both sides have requested a 45-day pause in the US asset seizure case as Venezuela seeks ⁠to protect holdings from creditors.

Why KMT leader’s planned Beijing visit is under scrutiny in Taiwan

Meeting with Xi Jinping is expected on six-day trip, the first such encounter between the two parties’ leaders in a decade.

Supreme Court clears path to overturn conviction of ex-Trump aide Steve Bannon

Bannon served 4 months in prison in 2024 for refusing to testify before a congressional panel investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.

Hong Kong restaurant revenues drop over Easter as departures outnumber arrivals

Estimated 6 to 7 per cent year-on-year dip in catering sector business over long weekend amid exodus of locals, F&B trade representative says.

Pressure mounts on UK government to ban Kanye West after festival backlash

Conservatives urged the home secretary to bar the Wireless Festival headliner from entering Britain over the US rapper’s antisemitic remarks.

Are trends like ‘fibermaxxing’ and ‘proteinmaxxing’ actually healthy?

Experts say more is not always best when it comes to protein and fibre. Here’s some advice on balanced nutrition and gut health.

Ukraine proposes ceasefire on striking energy targets to Russia

Ukraine’s president says the proposal has been conveyed to Moscow through the US.

Video sheds light on Minnesota ICE shooting after charges against men collapsed

Authorities initially accused 2 Venezuelan men of beating an ICE officer during a chase and scuffle in Minneapolis in January.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | In Asia-Pacific, the real maritime contest is over satellite surveillance

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Hong Kong is not competing with US stablecoins or the digital renminbi

Editorial | Travellers recognise the strengths of Hong Kong International Airport

Opinion | The danger in the Global South’s pursuit of AI as a magical cure

Editorial | Vape possession ban is vital for protecting Hong Kong’s youth

Review | Regent Bali Canggu brings coastal luxury to the island’s trendiest beach

Japan confirms release of second citizen held in Iran

ICBC and CCB lead China’s biggest banks in US$61 billion dividend payout

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Roof collapse causes panic at Jakarta international airport

Singapore ministers’ defamation suit against Bloomberg for property story starts

China reports 99% cost cut on military-grade infrared chips

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 | 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.

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.

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.

More foreign marques face a do-or-die moment as Chinese buyers shun petrol cars

Following Skoda’s exit from China, other carmakers with falling sales are also likely to close shop this year, analysts say.

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.

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.

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.

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

Opinion | In Asia-Pacific, the real maritime contest is over satellite surveillance

Letters | Hong Kong is not competing with US stablecoins or the digital renminbi

Video | Roof collapse causes panic at Jakarta international airport