Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Shipping restrictions have changed again in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important waterways. Photo: Reuters

Breaking | Iran reimposes shipping restrictions on Strait of Hormuz

The waterway has ‘returned to its previous state’, Chinese news agency reports.

19 minutes ago

Iran

Diplomacy

Is Takaichi putting Japan’s pacifist constitution on the chopping block?

Goal of changing the post-war system has never been closer, but upper house could still be a stumbling block, analysts argue.

2 hours agovideocam

Diplomacy

Trump predicts meeting with Xi will be ‘special’ ahead of China visit

The US leader switches focus to next month’s trip to Beijing hours after hailing Iran’s announcement it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

6 hours ago

Global Economy

Hong Kong wants to be a global gold vault. Does the Iran war create an opening?

Geopolitical risk is driving a rethink of where bullion is stored – and Hong Kong’s unique status is drawing attention.

4 hours agovideocam

Focus

China’s drug makers are speeding up – will AI be their secret weapon?

LIVE

Hong Kong Sevens: Canada v USA, Black Ferns v Spain in women’s quarter-finals

It’s day two at Kai Tak Stadium, and the battle to make the quarter-finals begins in earnest for some of sport’s biggest names.

12 minutes ago

Hong Kong’s Haruka Uematsu scores against Thailand at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Elson Li

Diplomacy

Why China is urgently looking to North Africa as the energy crisis rolls on

From Algerian oilfields to Moroccan battery factories and Egypt’s industrial base, Beijing may now fast-track projects across the region.

18 Apr 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Health & Environment

Japan warned of ‘hellish summer’ as energy fears mount

A prolonged Iran war, combined with an unusually early spell of hot weather, could leave Japan facing power shortages this summer.

18 Apr 2026 - 10:30AM

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

Blockchain

Hong Kong seen leading Asia in push to scale stablecoins, HSBC says

Interoperability and real-world applications seen as key hurdles as city looks to unlock tokenisation’s full potential.

1 hour ago

As part of its push to establish itself as a global cryptocurrency hub, Hong Kong has developed a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. Photo: Jelly Tse

Tech Trends

Huawei retains lead in China smartphones, Apple shipments surge in first quarter

Apple ranked second in the first quarter with a 19 per cent share, boosted by a 20 per cent surge in shipments, the largest growth among the top six brands.

2 hours ago

Science

Chinese robo-diving suit could help users consume almost 40% less oxygen

Advanced algorithm designed to shadow a diver’s every move could also cut the risk of accidents when undertaking complex underwater tasks.

4 hours ago

Lifestyle & Culture

Crowned in Bangkok, constrained at home: Malaysia’s first Mr Bear winner

Gavin Chow’s victory highlights the contrast between Bangkok’s queer visibility and the pressures still facing LGBTQ people in Malaysia.

3 hours agovideocam

Gavin Chow (center) after being named the winner of the Mr Bear International competition in Bangkok on Monday. Photo: Facebook / Mr Bear International

East Asia

Magnitude 5 quake hits Japan’s Nagano prefecture

The 1.20pm quake in Omachi registered an upper 5 on the Japanese seismic scale, strong enough ‌to make movement difficult without support.

4 hours ago

Old style buildings in Nagano prefecture. Photo: SCMP

Politics

Public opinion a factor in government’s decision to investigate officials: minister

Civil service chief Ingrid Yeung says permanent secretaries, while not covered under new mechanism, could still be taken to task if found culpable.

51 minutes ago

Middle East

Iranians fear ‘pressure will 100% increase’ after US, Israeli strikes stop

Iranians are worried that an agreement with the US will free the regime to return to asserting control over its people.

3 hours agovideocam

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong minister urges long-term view, says Middle East investment unaffected

Minister Algernon Yau urges businesses to avoid short-term thinking, says Hong Kong entrepreneurs are discerning in assessing opportunities.

2 hours ago

Dubai cityscape. The trade between Hong Kong and the Middle East accounted for 1.5 per cent of the city’s total trade volume. Photo: Getty Images

Travel & Leisure

William Shakespeare’s only London house finally found with 17th century map

The location of the house where the Bard likely wrote works including Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet was found on a map in the London Archives.

2 hours ago

Historians have long known that Shakespeare bought property in 1613 near the Blackfriars Theatre, but the exact location was a mystery - until now. Photo: AP

United States & Canada

US court lets Trump resume work on US$400 million White House ballroom – for now

The three-judge panel set a June hearing to review a Washington judge’s earlier order halting the project.

5 hours ago

Australasia

Air New Zealand economy passengers can join world’s first mile-high sleep club

Socks are mandatory and crumbs, strong perfumes and bed-sharing are forbidden as fliers get cosy with their fellow passengers.

18 Apr 2026 - 10:23AM

OPINION

Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Will Japan’s corporate bond initiative signal a shift in Asia financing?

4 minutes ago

Nilufer Oral

Opinion | Passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a right in war and peace

4 hours ago

Hilton Yip

Being Chinese | Growing up Hakka, around a language that few dared to speak publicly

18 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

Wee Kek Koon

Reflections | What an old Chinese snack can teach people about the ‘proper’ way to eat dishes

18 Apr 2026 - 8:15AM

Letters

Letters | Hong Kong’s high fuel prices warrant scrutiny

6 hours ago

Harry’s View | 18 Apr 2026

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Diplomacy

Breaking | Iran reimposes shipping restrictions on Strait of Hormuz

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Entertainment

How US$50 popcorn buckets have become the newest collecting craze

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Asia Opinion

Macroscope | Will Japan’s corporate bond initiative signal a shift in Asia financing?

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Racing

Purton reunites with Cosmo at Sha Tin as he seeks a 10th straight century

2 hours ago

Europe

Inside Ukraine’s desperate race to track cultural artefacts looted by Russia

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Tech Trends

Huawei retains lead in China smartphones, Apple shipments surge in first quarter

2 hours ago

Society

Charity breeding Labrador with golden retriever to boost guide dog supply

2 hours ago

Diplomacy

Is Takaichi putting Japan’s pacifist constitution on the chopping block?

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Travel & Leisure

William Shakespeare’s only London house finally found with 17th century map

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Middle East

Iranians fear ‘pressure will 100% increase’ after US, Israeli strikes stop

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SCMP Series US-Israel war on Iran

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:26AMvideocam

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

8 Apr 2026 - 11:10AMvideocam

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

7 Apr 2026 - 2:20AMvideocam

Open Questions series

Science

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

13 Apr 2026 - 8:15AMvideocam

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

Key Industries:

China Business

China’s drug makers are speeding up – will AI be their secret weapon?

Chinese biotech firms are striking big global deals as drug makers, but could artificial intelligence take them to the next level?

18 Apr 2026 - 11:05AM

Big Tech

ByteDance, Tencent step up AI talent battle amid reports of DeepSeek loss

High-profile departures, disputed compensation claims and start-up spin-outs underscore escalating competition for AI engineers.

18 Apr 2026 - 9:00AM

China Economy

China focuses on car standards to put industry in global driving seat

New five-year plan also emphasised importance of stronger standards in boosting Chinese manufacturers’ competitiveness.

17 Apr 2026 - 6:30PM

Tech

‘Horrible’ for US if DeepSeek AI models run on Huawei chips: Nvidia CEO

DeepSeek on Huawei chips could help China – powered by ‘abundant’ energy and large pool of researchers – catch up with US in AI: Nvidia CEO.

17 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

Even if China has inferior chips, it can still catch up with the US in AI development given its abundant energy and large pool of AI researchers, according to Jensen Huang. Photo: Handout

China Economy

Iran war energy shock sees Chinese firms recalibrate overseas expansion plans

Businesses are rethinking short-term strategies as they adapt to rising costs and slowing growth across major economies.

18 Apr 2026 - 6:33AMvideocam

Sport

Rugby’s greatest weekend: 50 years of the Hong Kong Sevens - an infographic

See the world’s top teams compete at Kai Tak Stadium on April 17-19 and celebrate 50 years of Hong Kong Sevens history, tries and triumphs.

16 Apr 2026 - 8:15PM

Tech Trends

How the rise of AI agents could finally make China’s open-source models pay

Free models helped Chinese firms find rapid success – but thin margins are forcing a shift towards hybrid business strategies.

17 Apr 2026 - 8:38PMvideocam

Hong Kong Economy

Are special laws a quick fix for speeding up Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis?

Syncing megaproject with key infrastructure and turning it into a ‘living laboratory’ are equally important to its success, tech experts say.

16 Apr 2026 - 10:18PM

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Breaking | Iran reimposes shipping restrictions on Strait of Hormuz

The waterway has ‘returned to its previous state’, Chinese news agency reports.

Is Takaichi putting Japan’s pacifist constitution on the chopping block?

Goal of changing the post-war system has never been closer, but upper house could still be a stumbling block, analysts argue.

Trump predicts meeting with Xi will be ‘special’ ahead of China visit

The US leader switches focus to next month’s trip to Beijing hours after hailing Iran’s announcement it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Hong Kong wants to be a global gold vault. Does the Iran war create an opening?

Geopolitical risk is driving a rethink of where bullion is stored – and Hong Kong’s unique status is drawing attention.

China’s drug makers are speeding up – will AI be their secret weapon?

Hong Kong Sevens: Canada v USA, Black Ferns v Spain in women’s quarter-finals

It’s day two at Kai Tak Stadium, and the battle to make the quarter-finals begins in earnest for some of sport’s biggest names.

Why China is urgently looking to North Africa as the energy crisis rolls on

From Algerian oilfields to Moroccan battery factories and Egypt’s industrial base, Beijing may now fast-track projects across the region.

Japan warned of ‘hellish summer’ as energy fears mount

A prolonged Iran war, combined with an unusually early spell of hot weather, could leave Japan facing power shortages this summer.

.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.

Hong Kong seen leading Asia in push to scale stablecoins, HSBC says

Interoperability and real-world applications seen as key hurdles as city looks to unlock tokenisation’s full potential.

Huawei retains lead in China smartphones, Apple shipments surge in first quarter

Apple ranked second in the first quarter with a 19 per cent share, boosted by a 20 per cent surge in shipments, the largest growth among the top six brands.

Chinese robo-diving suit could help users consume almost 40% less oxygen

Advanced algorithm designed to shadow a diver’s every move could also cut the risk of accidents when undertaking complex underwater tasks.

Crowned in Bangkok, constrained at home: Malaysia’s first Mr Bear winner

Gavin Chow’s victory highlights the contrast between Bangkok’s queer visibility and the pressures still facing LGBTQ people in Malaysia.

Magnitude 5 quake hits Japan’s Nagano prefecture

The 1.20pm quake in Omachi registered an upper 5 on the Japanese seismic scale, strong enough ‌to make movement difficult without support.

Public opinion a factor in government’s decision to investigate officials: minister

Civil service chief Ingrid Yeung says permanent secretaries, while not covered under new mechanism, could still be taken to task if found culpable.

Iranians fear ‘pressure will 100% increase’ after US, Israeli strikes stop

Iranians are worried that an agreement with the US will free the regime to return to asserting control over its people.

Hong Kong minister urges long-term view, says Middle East investment unaffected

Minister Algernon Yau urges businesses to avoid short-term thinking, says Hong Kong entrepreneurs are discerning in assessing opportunities.

William Shakespeare’s only London house finally found with 17th century map

The location of the house where the Bard likely wrote works including Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet was found on a map in the London Archives.

US court lets Trump resume work on US$400 million White House ballroom – for now

The three-judge panel set a June hearing to review a Washington judge’s earlier order halting the project.

Air New Zealand economy passengers can join world’s first mile-high sleep club

Socks are mandatory and crumbs, strong perfumes and bed-sharing are forbidden as fliers get cosy with their fellow passengers.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Macroscope | Will Japan’s corporate bond initiative signal a shift in Asia financing?

Opinion | Passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a right in war and peace

Being Chinese | Growing up Hakka, around a language that few dared to speak publicly

Reflections | What an old Chinese snack can teach people about the ‘proper’ way to eat dishes

Letters | Hong Kong’s high fuel prices warrant scrutiny

Breaking | Iran reimposes shipping restrictions on Strait of Hormuz

How US$50 popcorn buckets have become the newest collecting craze

Macroscope | Will Japan’s corporate bond initiative signal a shift in Asia financing?

Purton reunites with Cosmo at Sha Tin as he seeks a 10th straight century

Inside Ukraine’s desperate race to track cultural artefacts looted by Russia

Huawei retains lead in China smartphones, Apple shipments surge in first quarter

Charity breeding Labrador with golden retriever to boost guide dog supply

Is Takaichi putting Japan’s pacifist constitution on the chopping block?

William Shakespeare’s only London house finally found with 17th century map

Iranians fear ‘pressure will 100% increase’ after US, Israeli strikes stop

Iran war: is the US shifting away from its strategy of precision strikes?

As the conflict has intensified, more energy and civilian sites have been targeted in what is seen as a broader approach.

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

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

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

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.

China’s drug makers are speeding up – will AI be their secret weapon?

Chinese biotech firms are striking big global deals as drug makers, but could artificial intelligence take them to the next level?

ByteDance, Tencent step up AI talent battle amid reports of DeepSeek loss

High-profile departures, disputed compensation claims and start-up spin-outs underscore escalating competition for AI engineers.

China focuses on car standards to put industry in global driving seat

New five-year plan also emphasised importance of stronger standards in boosting Chinese manufacturers’ competitiveness.

‘Horrible’ for US if DeepSeek AI models run on Huawei chips: Nvidia CEO

DeepSeek on Huawei chips could help China – powered by ‘abundant’ energy and large pool of researchers – catch up with US in AI: Nvidia CEO.

Iran war energy shock sees Chinese firms recalibrate overseas expansion plans

Businesses are rethinking short-term strategies as they adapt to rising costs and slowing growth across major economies.

Rugby’s greatest weekend: 50 years of the Hong Kong Sevens - an infographic

See the world’s top teams compete at Kai Tak Stadium on April 17-19 and celebrate 50 years of Hong Kong Sevens history, tries and triumphs.

How the rise of AI agents could finally make China’s open-source models pay

Free models helped Chinese firms find rapid success – but thin margins are forcing a shift towards hybrid business strategies.

Breaking | Iran reimposes shipping restrictions on Strait of Hormuz

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

Macroscope | Will Japan’s corporate bond initiative signal a shift in Asia financing?