Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Competition or ‘co-opetition’: how is convergence shaping Sino-US AI race?

Speech by CEO of Chinese AI start-up at Nvidia event in US highlights symbiotic nature of tech relationship despite geopolitical tensions.

45 minutes ago

What Zhipu and MiniMax’s first post-IPO earnings say about the 2 AI start-ups

Artificial intelligence

China Economy

Australia’s 180-degree shift from 5 years ago: China in favour; US out

Aussie comedian exposes the truth about nation’s feelings towards US president, democracy and public safety.

3 hours agovideocam

Hong Kong

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

10 minutes ago

US

What 2 downed jets mean for US vulnerability in the Iran war

US launches rescue mission after F-15E downing; one crew member found, another missing in first such combat loss since war began.

57 minutes agovideocam

Focus

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

Science

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

Device can spot objects by measuring tiny shifts in gravity, and its compact design means it can be used outside a lab.

3 Apr 2026 - 10:00PM

Caption: The superconducting weak force measurement system (left) and a test device built with two 10 kg spheres. Photo: CAS

Politics

Softly, softly: why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

Presidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say.

2 hours agovideocam

Politics

South Korea and Indonesia’s fighter jet is ready. But will it sell?

Only a handful of nations have ever built a supersonic fighter jet from the ground up.

54 minutes ago

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

Politics

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

Social media post from Hung Hsiu-chu comes days ahead of sitting KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland.

3 Apr 2026 - 8:44PM

The Kuomintang’s then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, in Beijing in 2016. Photo: Xinhua

Lifestyle & Culture

Cultural capitals: Southeast Asia seeks soft power to outlast the buzz

The region’s creators are going global, but the structures to sustain them are still catching up.

1 hour agovideocam

Politics

Trump seeks US$1.5 trillion for defence in new budget request amid Iran war

If enacted, it would set military spending at its highest level in modern history, underscoring the US’ ongoing focus on defence investment.

4 Apr 2026 - 3:10AMvideocam

South Asia

Pakistan offers free public transport for 30 days following 40% petrol hike

The announcement of free travel for residents of Islamabad and Punjab came after people protested the steep rise in fuel prices.

1 hour agovideocam

Passengers board a government bus in Islamabad on Friday. Photo: AFP

Health & Environment

Hong Kong airport opens sensory space for passengers with invisible disabilities

Room near Gate 10 in Terminal One designed for passengers with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, claustrophobia and dementia.

2 hours ago

Shing Wai-in and her son Justin at the Hong Kong airport’s sensory corner. Photo: Dickson Lee

Middle East

Iran war: French and Japanese-owned ships make first Hormuz crossings

France and Japan have called for a ceasefire in the conflict, with Macron saying the waterway can only be reopened when the bombing stops.

4 Apr 2026 - 12:32AMvideocam

Diplomacy

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes.

3 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine asks for Easter truce, 8 die in Russian strikes

President Zelensky has signalled his openness for a potential Easter ceasefire; his nation and Russia both mark the holiday on April 12.

3 Apr 2026 - 11:57PMvideocam

Rescue crews and police work at the scene after air strikes in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Photo: via dpa

South Asia

Here comes the ‘Mounjaro bride’: Indian pre-wedding prep includes obesity drug

Many Indian marriages are arranged by families, often bringing expectations around physical appearance and financial status.

29 minutes ago

Brides sit during a mass marriage ceremony in Mumbai. Photo: AFP

Europe

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

‘I carry all of this suffering in my prayer,’ the pontiff said before he set out for the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross.

6 hours ago

Law and Crime

Domestic helper arrested after 6-month-old girl dies in Hong Kong

Baby was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious on a bed by her family.

4 Apr 2026 - 1:13AM

OPINION

Lijia Zhang

Being Chinese | Chinese overseas need not keep to ourselves. I certainly don’t

1 hour ago

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | History of Chinese flatbreads reflects how food has echoes of faraway places

3 hours ago

Alex Lo

As I see it | The twilight of US hegemony and Israeli expansionism

5 hours ago

Wenran Jiang

Opinion | How America’s stumble in Iran upends East Asia’s security calculus

3 Apr 2026 - 9:21PM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong’s world-first Alzheimer’s blood test will strengthen city’s healthcare

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Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

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United States & Canada

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Hong Kong

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Big Tech

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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

Big Tech

Competition or ‘co-opetition’: how is convergence shaping Sino-US AI race?

Speech by CEO of Chinese AI start-up at Nvidia event in US highlights symbiotic nature of tech relationship despite geopolitical tensions.

45 minutes ago

Policy

Beijing mandates internal ethics committees for all Chinese AI companies

Since 2022, big tech firms including Alibaba and Baidu have established internal science and technology ethics review committees.

3 Apr 2026 - 9:54PM

Tech

Tencent expands OpenClaw suite with enterprise tool amid China’s ‘lobster’ craze

ClawPro tool promises quick AI agent deployment, giving enterprises control over models, tokens and security.

3 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM

Chinese tech firms are rushing to offer China users easy or inexpensive access to OpenClaw after it went viral. Photo: Getty Images

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

Competition or ‘co-opetition’: how is convergence shaping Sino-US AI race?

Speech by CEO of Chinese AI start-up at Nvidia event in US highlights symbiotic nature of tech relationship despite geopolitical tensions.

What Zhipu and MiniMax’s first post-IPO earnings say about the 2 AI start-ups

Australia’s 180-degree shift from 5 years ago: China in favour; US out

Aussie comedian exposes the truth about nation’s feelings towards US president, democracy and public safety.

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

What 2 downed jets mean for US vulnerability in the Iran war

US launches rescue mission after F-15E downing; one crew member found, another missing in first such combat loss since war began.

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

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

Device can spot objects by measuring tiny shifts in gravity, and its compact design means it can be used outside a lab.

Softly, softly: why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

Presidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say.

South Korea and Indonesia’s fighter jet is ready. But will it sell?

Only a handful of nations have ever built a supersonic fighter jet from the ground up.

.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.

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

Social media post from Hung Hsiu-chu comes days ahead of sitting KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland.

Cultural capitals: Southeast Asia seeks soft power to outlast the buzz

The region’s creators are going global, but the structures to sustain them are still catching up.

Trump seeks US$1.5 trillion for defence in new budget request amid Iran war

If enacted, it would set military spending at its highest level in modern history, underscoring the US’ ongoing focus on defence investment.

Pakistan offers free public transport for 30 days following 40% petrol hike

The announcement of free travel for residents of Islamabad and Punjab came after people protested the steep rise in fuel prices.

Hong Kong airport opens sensory space for passengers with invisible disabilities

Room near Gate 10 in Terminal One designed for passengers with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, claustrophobia and dementia.

Iran war: French and Japanese-owned ships make first Hormuz crossings

France and Japan have called for a ceasefire in the conflict, with Macron saying the waterway can only be reopened when the bombing stops.

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes.

Ukraine asks for Easter truce, 8 die in Russian strikes

President Zelensky has signalled his openness for a potential Easter ceasefire; his nation and Russia both mark the holiday on April 12.

Here comes the ‘Mounjaro bride’: Indian pre-wedding prep includes obesity drug

Many Indian marriages are arranged by families, often bringing expectations around physical appearance and financial status.

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

‘I carry all of this suffering in my prayer,’ the pontiff said before he set out for the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross.

Domestic helper arrested after 6-month-old girl dies in Hong Kong

Baby was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious on a bed by her family.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Being Chinese | Chinese overseas need not keep to ourselves. I certainly don’t

Reflections | History of Chinese flatbreads reflects how food has echoes of faraway places

As I see it | The twilight of US hegemony and Israeli expansionism

Opinion | How America’s stumble in Iran upends East Asia’s security calculus

Editorial | Hong Kong’s world-first Alzheimer’s blood test will strengthen city’s healthcare

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

‘Space plumber’ to the rescue as Artemis astronauts navigate life aboard Orion

Here comes the ‘Mounjaro bride’: Indian pre-wedding prep includes obesity drug

Feel good factor now driving fitness trends, with ‘looking good’ era fading away

Competition or ‘co-opetition’: how is convergence shaping Sino-US AI race?

South Korea and Indonesia’s fighter jet is ready. But will it sell?

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

Competition or ‘co-opetition’: how is convergence shaping Sino-US AI race?

Speech by CEO of Chinese AI start-up at Nvidia event in US highlights symbiotic nature of tech relationship despite geopolitical tensions.

Beijing mandates internal ethics committees for all Chinese AI companies

Since 2022, big tech firms including Alibaba and Baidu have established internal science and technology ethics review committees.

Tencent expands OpenClaw suite with enterprise tool amid China’s ‘lobster’ craze

ClawPro tool promises quick AI agent deployment, giving enterprises control over models, tokens and security.

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.

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

Being Chinese | Chinese overseas need not keep to ourselves. I certainly don’t

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