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Malawi

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Malawi. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Lilongwe

Head of State

President Lazarus Chakwera

Head of Government

President Lazarus Chakwera

Zimbabwe, Africa’s largest lithium producer, abruptly suspended exports of raw lithium minerals and concentrates, moving its 2027 deadline forward. Other African nations are also finding ways to assert greater control over their raw resources. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-Africa relations

China’s supply chain meets the wall of African resource nationalism

As resource-rich nations introduce export bans and other limits, analyst says investment may not automatically follow.

16 Mar 2026 - 6:13PMvideocam

Africa

42 dead in South Africa bus crash on notorious highway

13 Oct 2025 - 7:44PM

Africa

Malawi’s ex-president Mutharika returns to power in crushing election victory

25 Sep 2025 - 5:59AM

Africa

‘Grow potatoes’: AI helps farmers weather climate change

Malawi’s food crisis is a huge concern, but artificial intelligence is helping farmers identify crop diseases and forecast drought.

13 Sep 2025 - 12:19AM

Alex Maere, right, uses an AI chatbot with a fellow farmer in southern Malawi in July. Photo: AP

Celebrity children

Who are Madonna’s twin daughters, 11-year-old Estere and Stella from Malawi?

The pair made an appearance at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere with the ‘Like a Prayer’ singer in New York, rocking fashion looks to match their mum’s – here’s what we know

29 Jul 2024 - 7:00PM

Russia

Kremlin says Putin’s aircraft ‘very reliable’ after crashes killed leaders in Iran, Malawi

A Kremlin spokesman commented on aviation accidents that claimed the lives of Iran’s president in May and Malawi’s vice-president on Monday.

12 Jun 2024 - 12:21PM

Africa

‘Heartbreaking ’: Malawi vice-president, 9 others killed in plane crash

The aircraft disappeared from radar in bad weather on Monday as it returned to Malawi’s capital.

12 Jun 2024 - 12:19PM

Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima was killed in a plane crash, the country’s president said on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Millionaires and billionaires

Melinda French Gates – beyond her former marriage to Bill Gates

French Gates may have recently left the Gates Foundation, but continues to dedicate herself to philanthropic work with women and girls

10 Jun 2024 - 6:00AM

Japan

As Japan slips down press freedom scoreboard, is its compliant media to blame?

Japan ranked the lowest among G7 nations in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 World Press Freedom Index. Observers say it’s because the country’s media has been shaped into a ‘good servant’ of the political class.

7 May 2024 - 12:00PMvideocam

Celebrity children

Meet Madonna’s eldest artist son, Rocco Ritchie, who just exhibited in Miami

His work was shown in his 2-day exhibition ‘Pack a Punch’ in Miami Design District in April, and his works are in Stella McCartney and Donatella Versace’s collections

19 Apr 2024 - 8:00PM

Who is Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s son Rocco? The artist is exhibiting this month in Miami – here’s what you need to know about him. Photo: @roccoritchie/Instagram

Africa

Dozens dead after overcrowded boat sinks off Mozambique coast

Makeshift ferry was carrying about 130 people when it sank. Most passengers were trying to escape mainland because of disinformation about cholera, a government official said.

8 Apr 2024 - 4:07PM

Mozambique Island in Nampula Province, Mozambique. File photo: Shutterstock

Israel-Gaza war

UN rights council demands halt of arms sales to Israel

It is the first time that the UN’s top rights body has taken a position on the bloodiest-ever war in the Palestinian territory.

5 Apr 2024 - 5:59PM

Africa

Zimbabwe declares drought disaster as El Nino leaves millions hungry

Zimbabwe’s declaration follows similar actions by neighbouring Zambia and Malawi, where drought linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon has scorched crops.

4 Apr 2024 - 11:56AM

Climate change

Opinion | Rich world must follow China’s lead and support Africa’s green revolution

Rising temperatures and falling agricultural productivity are not just harming food security but exacerbating human displacement and the potential for conflict. Africa needs wealthy nations to join China in funding its climate change fight and supporting its push for green mobility.

16 Mar 2024 - 4:30PMvideocam

Kenyan graffiti artist Kevin Agwona, popularly known as “Bankslave”, stands in front of his mural advocating for clean air, during the sixth UN Environment Assembly, in Nairobi, Kenya, on February 29. Photo: EPA-EFE

Human rights in China

China’s United Nations human rights review puts global divide on display

Western countries condemn Beijing for ‘serious violations’ in Tibet and Xinjiang and seek repeal of the national security law in Hong Kong, while Global South states praise China’s outreach to developing nations.

24 Jan 2024 - 2:39AMvideocam

The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday during the review of China’s rights record. Photo: AFP

China debt

My Take | The West’s privatising of lending to poor nations is laying the real debt traps

Spreading debt distress and rising extreme poverty in Global South have more to do with Western private-public lending practices, often promoted by Washington, than China.

9 Jan 2024 - 9:00PM

India

Plane held for days in France on trafficking concerns lands in India

276 of the 303 passengers on the Airbus A340 originally bound for Nicaragua took the nearly 9-hour flight to Mumbai.

26 Dec 2023 - 7:32AM

SCMP Highlights

Decline of English in Japan, China diner’s US$60,000 faux pas: 7 highlights

From China calling SpaceX an ‘unprecedented challenge’ to Hong Kong’s Agnes Chow jumping bail, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

8 Dec 2023 - 1:15PM

SpaceX’s Falcon 8 rocket and other developments have been identified as the main challengers to China’s bid for dominance in space. Photo: AP

Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | China’s Belt and Road Initiative rightly offers charity-free development

Free of the ‘white man’s burden’ to provide charity to poor countries, China’s infrastructure-focused model treats poor countries and their people as customers and business partners – a more respectful way of dealing with them.

7 Dec 2023 - 4:30PMvideocam

Japan

Is ‘hubris and arrogance’ behind the continuous decline of English in Japan?

Even as Japan is ‘rapidly globalising’, many people are reluctant to speak English, a move one observer says is ‘self-defeating’ for the world’s third-largest economy.

5 Dec 2023 - 11:26PM

Medicine

WHO recommends malaria vaccine for children, to be rolled out next year

The vaccine, developed in the UK, will become available to countries by mid-2024 and doses will cost between US$2 and US$4, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday.

3 Oct 2023 - 2:27AMvideocam

A nurse fills a syringe with malaria vaccine at the Lumumba Sub-County hospital in Kisumu, Kenya. Photo: Reuters

China’s Communist Party

Latin America expert takes over as head of Chinese friendship association

Veteran diplomat Yang Wanming is the new chief of the CPAFFC, whose mission is to expand friendly exchanges with other countries.

4 Sep 2023 - 6:57PMvideocam

Yang Wanming is the new president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. He has served as China’s envoy to Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Photo: Handout

Profile

Hong Kong child of empire on his museum-like home full of Chinese textiles

When Chris Hall’s mother said ‘buy property’, he didn’t argue but bought Chinese robes too, and his Hong Kong home houses a world-class collection. He tells Fionnuala McHugh about a childhood spent continent-hopping.

29 Nov 2023 - 11:07AM

China-Africa relations

Deals down, but Hunan’s China-Africa trade expo reaps US$10 billion

The central Chinese province is a test field for Xi Jinping’s ‘green lanes’ pledge to boost agricultural imports from Africa.

3 Jul 2023 - 4:22PMvideocam

Sri Lanka

Asia has 14 of the world’s top 25 shortest countries – can you guess who’s No 1?

There’s around a 20cm difference between children in the tallest and shortest nations, studies have found. Genes are part of the reason, but environmental factors such as poor diet could be more important.

13 Jun 2023 - 12:32PM

A girl uses her hand to measure her height. Average heights in several nations have both risen and fallen over recent decades. Photo: Shutterstock

Africa

Baby dead, 23 people missing after hippo hits boat in Malawi

Police managed to pull 13 people out of the Shire River after their canoe capsized, and a desperate search is under way for the remaining passengers.

17 May 2023 - 7:09AM

Hippos are seen in Malawi’s Liwonde National Park. Photo: Shutterstock

Climate change

Letters | On World Water Day, a case for natural infrastructure

Readers discuss the need to build water infrastructure sustainably, and a solution to a sanitation problem.

22 Mar 2023 - 11:30AM

China-Africa relations

Why food is the new focus for China’s ties with Africa

A growing number of African products are in high demand in China after President Xi Jinping promised to boost non-resource imports to US$300 billion by 2025.

19 Mar 2023 - 6:00PMvideocam

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Malawi

China’s supply chain meets the wall of African resource nationalism

As resource-rich nations introduce export bans and other limits, analyst says investment may not automatically follow.

42 dead in South Africa bus crash on notorious highway

Malawi’s ex-president Mutharika returns to power in crushing election victory

‘Grow potatoes’: AI helps farmers weather climate change

Malawi’s food crisis is a huge concern, but artificial intelligence is helping farmers identify crop diseases and forecast drought.

Who are Madonna’s twin daughters, 11-year-old Estere and Stella from Malawi?

The pair made an appearance at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere with the ‘Like a Prayer’ singer in New York, rocking fashion looks to match their mum’s – here’s what we know

Kremlin says Putin’s aircraft ‘very reliable’ after crashes killed leaders in Iran, Malawi

A Kremlin spokesman commented on aviation accidents that claimed the lives of Iran’s president in May and Malawi’s vice-president on Monday.

‘Heartbreaking ’: Malawi vice-president, 9 others killed in plane crash

The aircraft disappeared from radar in bad weather on Monday as it returned to Malawi’s capital.

Melinda French Gates – beyond her former marriage to Bill Gates

French Gates may have recently left the Gates Foundation, but continues to dedicate herself to philanthropic work with women and girls

As Japan slips down press freedom scoreboard, is its compliant media to blame?

Japan ranked the lowest among G7 nations in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 World Press Freedom Index. Observers say it’s because the country’s media has been shaped into a ‘good servant’ of the political class.

Meet Madonna’s eldest artist son, Rocco Ritchie, who just exhibited in Miami

His work was shown in his 2-day exhibition ‘Pack a Punch’ in Miami Design District in April, and his works are in Stella McCartney and Donatella Versace’s collections

Dozens dead after overcrowded boat sinks off Mozambique coast

Makeshift ferry was carrying about 130 people when it sank. Most passengers were trying to escape mainland because of disinformation about cholera, a government official said.

UN rights council demands halt of arms sales to Israel

It is the first time that the UN’s top rights body has taken a position on the bloodiest-ever war in the Palestinian territory.

Zimbabwe declares drought disaster as El Nino leaves millions hungry

Zimbabwe’s declaration follows similar actions by neighbouring Zambia and Malawi, where drought linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon has scorched crops.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Rich world must follow China’s lead and support Africa’s green revolution

Rising temperatures and falling agricultural productivity are not just harming food security but exacerbating human displacement and the potential for conflict. Africa needs wealthy nations to join China in funding its climate change fight and supporting its push for green mobility.

China’s United Nations human rights review puts global divide on display

Western countries condemn Beijing for ‘serious violations’ in Tibet and Xinjiang and seek repeal of the national security law in Hong Kong, while Global South states praise China’s outreach to developing nations.

My Take | The West’s privatising of lending to poor nations is laying the real debt traps

Spreading debt distress and rising extreme poverty in Global South have more to do with Western private-public lending practices, often promoted by Washington, than China.

Plane held for days in France on trafficking concerns lands in India

276 of the 303 passengers on the Airbus A340 originally bound for Nicaragua took the nearly 9-hour flight to Mumbai.

Decline of English in Japan, China diner’s US$60,000 faux pas: 7 highlights

From China calling SpaceX an ‘unprecedented challenge’ to Hong Kong’s Agnes Chow jumping bail, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Opinion | China’s Belt and Road Initiative rightly offers charity-free development

Free of the ‘white man’s burden’ to provide charity to poor countries, China’s infrastructure-focused model treats poor countries and their people as customers and business partners – a more respectful way of dealing with them.

Is ‘hubris and arrogance’ behind the continuous decline of English in Japan?

Even as Japan is ‘rapidly globalising’, many people are reluctant to speak English, a move one observer says is ‘self-defeating’ for the world’s third-largest economy.

WHO recommends malaria vaccine for children, to be rolled out next year

The vaccine, developed in the UK, will become available to countries by mid-2024 and doses will cost between US$2 and US$4, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday.

Latin America expert takes over as head of Chinese friendship association

Veteran diplomat Yang Wanming is the new chief of the CPAFFC, whose mission is to expand friendly exchanges with other countries.

Hong Kong child of empire on his museum-like home full of Chinese textiles

When Chris Hall’s mother said ‘buy property’, he didn’t argue but bought Chinese robes too, and his Hong Kong home houses a world-class collection. He tells Fionnuala McHugh about a childhood spent continent-hopping.

Deals down, but Hunan’s China-Africa trade expo reaps US$10 billion

The central Chinese province is a test field for Xi Jinping’s ‘green lanes’ pledge to boost agricultural imports from Africa.

Asia has 14 of the world’s top 25 shortest countries – can you guess who’s No 1?

There’s around a 20cm difference between children in the tallest and shortest nations, studies have found. Genes are part of the reason, but environmental factors such as poor diet could be more important.

Baby dead, 23 people missing after hippo hits boat in Malawi

Police managed to pull 13 people out of the Shire River after their canoe capsized, and a desperate search is under way for the remaining passengers.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | On World Water Day, a case for natural infrastructure

Readers discuss the need to build water infrastructure sustainably, and a solution to a sanitation problem.

Why food is the new focus for China’s ties with Africa

A growing number of African products are in high demand in China after President Xi Jinping promised to boost non-resource imports to US$300 billion by 2025.

Opinion | Rich world must follow China’s lead and support Africa’s green revolution

Letters | On World Water Day, a case for natural infrastructure