Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

US President Donald Trump says the American navy will block entry to the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: TNS

‘Blown to hell’: Trump announces US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

The US plans to block ‘any and all’ ships, clear mines and end Tehran’s selective transits of the waterway, including by US allies.

12 minutes agovideocam

‘You cannot lose if you do not have a goal’: the viral wisdom of ‘Don Tzu’

United States

Diplomacy

Viktor Orban concedes defeat as Hungarian voters end his 16-year rule

Record turnout hands opposition Tisza Party a decisive victory in Hungary.

30 minutes ago

Military

How a Chinese company said it used AI to track US bomber movements over Iran

MizarVision tried to determine bomber movements based on aerial tanker positions and US attacks on key strategic sites.

12 Apr 2026 - 10:40PMvideocam

Diplomacy

‘We have no trust in the other side’: Iran blames US as talks end with no deal

Tehran’s lead negotiator hits out at Washington after Islamabad talks, while Vance says sticking point was lack of nuclear commitments.

26 minutes agovideocam

125

Science

2D semiconductors have emerged as a leading candidate for post‑Moore chip materials. Photo: Shutterstock

Semiconductor leap: China looks to ‘2D chip’ with 1,000-fold growth speed

Military

Trump faces a dilemma in the aftermath of failed US-Iran peace talks: analysts

The two countries are still far apart on the big issues, with American midterms looming and no quick way out.

12 Apr 2026 - 8:06PMvideocam

Iran and the United States failed on the weekend to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

‘You cannot lose if you do not have a goal’: the viral wisdom of ‘Don Tzu’

Ancient strategist Sun Tzu called for preparation and deep knowledge. His modern counterpart takes a different approach.

12 Apr 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

Economics

Manila vs Hong Kong: the 2 sides of Asia’s housing affordability crisis

Asia is home to 60 per cent of the world’s slum dwellers and some of the planet’s most expensive real estate.

12 Apr 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

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

Beijing pledges better Taiwan air and travel links after KMT leader’s trip

The promises form part of a package of measures to boost cross-strait ties unveiled after KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Beijing.

12 Apr 2026 - 5:28PMvideocam

KMT leader Cheng Li-wun tours the Palace Museum in Beijing’s Forbidden City. Photo: Xinhua

Society

Maisy Ho, daughter of late tycoon Stanley Ho, dies ‘surrounded by family’

Siblings Pansy, Daisy, Josie and Lawrence Ho disclose news in statement, but no cause of death given.

6 hours ago

Americas

Cuba’s president warns US against attacking island or trying to depose him

Miguel Diaz-Canel said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security but should it happen, Cubans would defend themselves.

3 hours agovideocam

China Economy

How China’s fake Titanic sank like a stone – and became a symbol of local excess

In 2014, a Chinese investor raised millions to build a full-scale replica of the Titanic. Now, all that remains is a rusting hull – and vast debts.

12 Apr 2026 - 4:00PM

The rusting remains of a full-scale replica of the Titanic sits abandoned in Daying county, southwest China’s Sichuan province. Photo: inewsweek.cn

Europe

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Putin’s Easter ceasefire

Ukraine said it had recorded 2,299 ceasefire infractions by 7am on Sunday while Russia said it had logged 1,971 violations by Ukraine.

3 minutes ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Israel’s Netanyahu, in south Lebanon, says threat of Hezbollah invasion removed

Netanyahu said ground operations helped contain rocket fire from Hezbollah. Lebanon says attacks have killed 2,055 and wounded 6,588.

13 minutes agovideocam

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong, mainland China sign ‘milestone’ MOU on promoting digital economy

Memorandum of understanding covers topics including AI promotion, cross-boundary data flow and blockchain.

5 hours ago

Health & Wellness

She was a 102kg diabetic with a ‘death wish’. After losing 40kg, she’s thriving

Keya Wingfield comfort-ate to morbid obesity after her baby son died. An epiphany led to her losing 40kg and reversing type 2 diabetes.

12 Apr 2026 - 11:15AM

Award-winning chef Keya Wingfield overate to numb her grief after the death of her newborn son in 2021, reaching a weight of 102kg by 2023. She shed 40kg by 2025. Photos: Instagram/keyaandco, courtesy of Keya Wingfield

Military

Does Iran’s wartime resilience offer any lessons for Taiwan?

The recent conflict has raised questions about whether the island could keep fighting if its air defences were targeted by the PLA.

12 Apr 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Taiwan’s stocks of expensive Patriot missiles could quickly run out in hte event of a sustained aerial assault. Photo: AFP

Tech Trends

Colleague Skill: AI tool said to harvest abilities goes viral in China

Project claims to distil co-workers’ skills into downloadable form – not to mention luminaries like Steve Jobs and Buddha.

12 Apr 2026 - 6:54PM

Americas

Stampede at historical fort in Haiti kills at least 30: culture minister

Unesco World Heritage site Citadelle Henri, also known as Citadelle Laferriere, is closed to visitors until further notice, officials said.

3 hours ago

OPINION

Emil Avdaliani

Opinion | Why China is looking to Central Asia as Middle East grows riskier

12 Apr 2026 - 8:30PM

Lisa Lim

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12 Apr 2026 - 7:15PM

Sheheryar Bilal

Opinion | AI pessimism is a luxury the Global South cannot afford

12 Apr 2026 - 4:30PM

Joanne Lin

Asian Angle | Doubts about Trump strain Southeast Asia’s US-China balancing act

12 Apr 2026 - 12:00PM

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Opinion | Why securing Hong Kong’s economic future is a cultural question

12 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

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Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Putin’s Easter ceasefire

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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.

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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

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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

A lobster-shaped cutout representing OpenClaw stands outside the Baidu offices in Beijing, March 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters

Tech Trends

Colleague Skill: AI tool said to harvest abilities goes viral in China

Project claims to distil co-workers’ skills into downloadable form – not to mention luminaries like Steve Jobs and Buddha.

12 Apr 2026 - 6:54PM

China Business

Hyundai spearheads foreign EV comeback push in China with Ioniq brand

South Korean carmaker bets on local partnerships and technology as global brands prepare fresh push into China’s fast-moving EV market.

12 Apr 2026 - 1:20PM

Tech

China’s Li Qiang hosts Moonshot AI chief, urges faster industrial AI roll-out

Beijing signals stronger push to embed AI in manufacturing as premier meets rising start-up founders and industry leaders.

10 Apr 2026 - 11:30PM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged a deeper implementation of the country’s ‘AI plus’ strategy. Photo: AP

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

‘Blown to hell’: Trump announces US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

The US plans to block ‘any and all’ ships, clear mines and end Tehran’s selective transits of the waterway, including by US allies.

‘You cannot lose if you do not have a goal’: the viral wisdom of ‘Don Tzu’

Viktor Orban concedes defeat as Hungarian voters end his 16-year rule

Record turnout hands opposition Tisza Party a decisive victory in Hungary.

How a Chinese company said it used AI to track US bomber movements over Iran

MizarVision tried to determine bomber movements based on aerial tanker positions and US attacks on key strategic sites.

‘We have no trust in the other side’: Iran blames US as talks end with no deal

Tehran’s lead negotiator hits out at Washington after Islamabad talks, while Vance says sticking point was lack of nuclear commitments.

Semiconductor leap: China looks to ‘2D chip’ with 1,000-fold growth speed

Trump faces a dilemma in the aftermath of failed US-Iran peace talks: analysts

The two countries are still far apart on the big issues, with American midterms looming and no quick way out.

‘You cannot lose if you do not have a goal’: the viral wisdom of ‘Don Tzu’

Ancient strategist Sun Tzu called for preparation and deep knowledge. His modern counterpart takes a different approach.

Manila vs Hong Kong: the 2 sides of Asia’s housing affordability crisis

Asia is home to 60 per cent of the world’s slum dwellers and some of the planet’s most expensive real estate.

.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.

Beijing pledges better Taiwan air and travel links after KMT leader’s trip

The promises form part of a package of measures to boost cross-strait ties unveiled after KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Beijing.

Maisy Ho, daughter of late tycoon Stanley Ho, dies ‘surrounded by family’

Siblings Pansy, Daisy, Josie and Lawrence Ho disclose news in statement, but no cause of death given.

Cuba’s president warns US against attacking island or trying to depose him

Miguel Diaz-Canel said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security but should it happen, Cubans would defend themselves.

How China’s fake Titanic sank like a stone – and became a symbol of local excess

In 2014, a Chinese investor raised millions to build a full-scale replica of the Titanic. Now, all that remains is a rusting hull – and vast debts.

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Putin’s Easter ceasefire

Ukraine said it had recorded 2,299 ceasefire infractions by 7am on Sunday while Russia said it had logged 1,971 violations by Ukraine.

Israel’s Netanyahu, in south Lebanon, says threat of Hezbollah invasion removed

Netanyahu said ground operations helped contain rocket fire from Hezbollah. Lebanon says attacks have killed 2,055 and wounded 6,588.

Hong Kong, mainland China sign ‘milestone’ MOU on promoting digital economy

Memorandum of understanding covers topics including AI promotion, cross-boundary data flow and blockchain.

She was a 102kg diabetic with a ‘death wish’. After losing 40kg, she’s thriving

Keya Wingfield comfort-ate to morbid obesity after her baby son died. An epiphany led to her losing 40kg and reversing type 2 diabetes.

Does Iran’s wartime resilience offer any lessons for Taiwan?

The recent conflict has raised questions about whether the island could keep fighting if its air defences were targeted by the PLA.

Colleague Skill: AI tool said to harvest abilities goes viral in China

Project claims to distil co-workers’ skills into downloadable form – not to mention luminaries like Steve Jobs and Buddha.

Stampede at historical fort in Haiti kills at least 30: culture minister

Unesco World Heritage site Citadelle Henri, also known as Citadelle Laferriere, is closed to visitors until further notice, officials said.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why China is looking to Central Asia as Middle East grows riskier

Language Matters | A Blue Marble, a Pale Blue Dot and now an Earthset – what astronauts see

Opinion | AI pessimism is a luxury the Global South cannot afford

Asian Angle | Doubts about Trump strain Southeast Asia’s US-China balancing act

Opinion | Why securing Hong Kong’s economic future is a cultural question

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Putin’s Easter ceasefire

Viktor Orban concedes defeat as Hungarian voters end his 16-year rule

Israel’s Netanyahu, in south Lebanon, says threat of Hezbollah invasion removed

Stampede at historical fort in Haiti kills at least 30: culture minister

Cuba’s president warns US against attacking island or trying to depose him

Hong Kong, mainland China sign ‘milestone’ MOU on promoting digital economy

.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 | 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.

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.

Colleague Skill: AI tool said to harvest abilities goes viral in China

Project claims to distil co-workers’ skills into downloadable form – not to mention luminaries like Steve Jobs and Buddha.

Hyundai spearheads foreign EV comeback push in China with Ioniq brand

South Korean carmaker bets on local partnerships and technology as global brands prepare fresh push into China’s fast-moving EV market.

China’s Li Qiang hosts Moonshot AI chief, urges faster industrial AI roll-out

Beijing signals stronger push to embed AI in manufacturing as premier meets rising start-up founders and industry leaders.

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.

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

Opinion | Why China is looking to Central Asia as Middle East grows riskier

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