Breaking China, Asia, HK News, Opinions and Insights

Delivery and naming ceremony of Celsius Georgetown, taken on April 8 in Nantong, China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: Handout

China delivers record LNG carrier – is South Korea losing its shipbuilding edge?

The vessel’s completion follows China dominating global shipbuilding orders last year, with South Korea leading in high-value segments.

14 minutes ago

The Iran war’s unlikely winner: China’s shipyards

China shipbuilding

Science

China unveils ultra-cheap ‘all-iron flow battery’ for renewable energy storage

Next-generation large-scale energy storage system promises ultra-low cost and record lifespan.

4 hours agovideocam

SERIES: China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

6 hours ago

Society

Beer, BBQ festivals possible under beach scheme to tap private sector operators

Senior administrator says operators expected to upgrade facilities while drawing visitors, charging reasonable fees and ensuring responsible use.

9 minutes ago

Open Questions

Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

World

Baffling Japan tank blast; 5 tests for your biological age: 5 weekend reads

From a baffling Japan tank blast to hints of a Chinese nuclear aircraft carrier, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

3 hours ago

A Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force Type 10 tank (centre) is seen missing its turret after a shell exploded inside on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo/Reuters

Global Economy

Chinese EVs are making inroads in one of world’s most competitive auto markets

BYD is now one of Korea’s fastest-growing imported EV brands while rivals like Chery look to break into a market long dominated by local giants.

6 hours agovideocam

Politics

North Korea, Russia boost anti-West ‘powerful bulwark’ as Ukraine war drags on

At a memorial for fallen North Korean soldiers who fought in Ukraine, Moscow offers to renew a military pact with Pyongyang.

2 hours agovideocam

Tech

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

In partnership with:

Huawei

Science

China launches war on Alzheimer’s that may affect 10% of population by 2050

Chinese biotech firms tackle urgent initiative to create four new pharmaceutical drugs to treat world’s fastest growing form of dementia.

6 hours agovideocam

Chinese researchers tasked with the job of creating four new pharmaceutical drugs to treat the world’s fastest growing form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease. Photo: Getty Images

People

Air-sea-land: migrant smugglers target Malaysia entry via Singapore, Thailand

A raid reveals a shift in tactics by syndicates that have long used Malaysia’s porous borders to move undocumented migrants.

4 hours agovideocam

Middle East

Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers of Israel, announce the merging of their parties.

1 hour ago

Military

Trump factor drives up Asia-Pacific military spending at fastest pace since 2009

Expenditures rose to US$681 billion, as some nations worried that Washington might not be a reliable security partner.

27 Apr 2026 - 6:00AMvideocam

China was one of the biggest spenders along with the US and Russia. Photo: Xinhua

LIVE

Claims of no foam material regulations ‘unacceptable’, Tai Po fire probe hears

Witness Cheung Yuk-ching says Buildings Department may take action over polyfoam boards blocking windows.

4 minutes ago

Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Karma Lo

United States & Canada

Washington shooting exposes gaps in security protocols for Trump

Officials say security perimeter around the president may need expanding after shooter targeted prominent media gala.

1 hour ago

Politics

Malaysian state in political crisis after Umno pulls support for chief minister

The Negeri Sembilan spat has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar’s coalition government.

2 hours ago

Lifestyle & Culture

In hot water: Japan’s bathhouses struggle to stay afloat as oil prices spike

“Sentos” have cut operating hours and welcomed fewer customers, with some deciding to fold amid the energy crisis.

2 minutes agovideocam

A customer washes his hair at a public bathhouse in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Lebanon reports bloodiest day since ceasefire as Israel targets Hezbollah

Ceasefire has reduced but not stopped attacks, as Hezbollah vows to keep fighting Israeli troops in Lebanon.

27 Apr 2026 - 9:32AM

An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel. Photo: Reuters

South Asia

Everest climbers left hanging after giant ice chunk blocks path to summit

Mountaineers are waiting for the serac above the Khumbu icefall to melt before marking the rest of the route for the spring climbing season.

2 hours agovideocam

Economics

Japan aims to build world’s largest wind farm. Can it power on by 2035?

The plan calls for wind turbines to supply power to the Izu Islands and Tokyo, with an eventual capacity of 1 gigawatt.

27 Apr 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

OPINION

Letters

Letters | In US-China AI race, Southeast Asia is no side act

2 hours ago

Alice Wu

Opinion | Hong Kong’s civil service accountability system will end buck-passing mentality

27 Apr 2026 - 9:30AM

Li Xing

Opinion | 122 years on, Mackinder’s ‘heartland’ remains geopolitically decisive

27 Apr 2026 - 7:29AM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Malaysia bourse pact extends Hong Kong’s outreach to Southeast Asia

27 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Robots are all well and good – so long as they do no harm to humans

27 Apr 2026 - 6:45AM

Harry’s View | 27 Apr 2026

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Society

Beer, BBQ festivals possible under beach scheme to tap private sector operators

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China delivers record LNG carrier – is South Korea losing its shipbuilding edge?

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Arts

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United States & Canada

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SCMP Series

China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

US-Israel war on Iran

AI's impact on Hong Kong

Anthropic’s strong anti-China stance has increased the possibility that the US could use Mythos-type models to conduct cyberattacks against China, according to a cybersecurity expert. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

SCMP Series China takes stock as world frets over Mythos

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

3-MIN READ

Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

3-MIN READ

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

3-MIN READ

Open Questions series

Diplomacy

Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

15-MIN READvideocam

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.

16-MIN READvideocam

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.

9-MIN READvideocam

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.

12-MIN READvideocam

Key Industries:

Tech

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

3-MIN READ

Starting this year, models from Chinese companies have intermittently ranked among the global top tier in token usage. Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

China Business

Li Auto targets BMW and Mercedes with premium SUVs in Middle East, Asia-Pacific

Beijing-based EV maker expects overseas deliveries to account for 30 per cent of its total by 2030, president Ma Donghui says.

3-MIN READ

Tech Trends

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

3-MIN READ

China EVs

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

2-MIN READ

He Xiaopeng, CEO of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, walks past the new SUV GX six-seater on the opening day of Auto China 2026 in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Science

Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

Question hovers as world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.

5-MIN READvideocam

Big Tech

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

7-MIN READvideocam

Tech

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

Hospitals, medical professionals and patients stand to benefit as country pushes to integrate AI into healthcare sector.

5-MIN READvideocam

Hong Kong

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

The second round of hearings from April 8 to April 17 exposed a series of failures that allowed the fire equipment and alarm system in Wang Fuk Court to be deactivated for months, and eventually contributed to the heavy death toll.

1-MIN READ

How fire safety failures worsened Hong Kong’s deadly inferno

China delivers record LNG carrier – is South Korea losing its shipbuilding edge?

The vessel’s completion follows China dominating global shipbuilding orders last year, with South Korea leading in high-value segments.

The Iran war’s unlikely winner: China’s shipyards

China unveils ultra-cheap ‘all-iron flow battery’ for renewable energy storage

Next-generation large-scale energy storage system promises ultra-low cost and record lifespan.

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

Beer, BBQ festivals possible under beach scheme to tap private sector operators

Senior administrator says operators expected to upgrade facilities while drawing visitors, charging reasonable fees and ensuring responsible use.

Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Baffling Japan tank blast; 5 tests for your biological age: 5 weekend reads

From a baffling Japan tank blast to hints of a Chinese nuclear aircraft carrier, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Chinese EVs are making inroads in one of world’s most competitive auto markets

BYD is now one of Korea’s fastest-growing imported EV brands while rivals like Chery look to break into a market long dominated by local giants.

North Korea, Russia boost anti-West ‘powerful bulwark’ as Ukraine war drags on

At a memorial for fallen North Korean soldiers who fought in Ukraine, Moscow offers to renew a military pact with Pyongyang.

.css-12ooj4n{font-family:Roboto Condensed,Roboto Condensed fallback,sans-serif;}How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Huawei Technologies’ monitoring systems speed up real-time identification of China’s primates, coastal coral, and Norwegian salmon.

China launches war on Alzheimer’s that may affect 10% of population by 2050

Chinese biotech firms tackle urgent initiative to create four new pharmaceutical drugs to treat world’s fastest growing form of dementia.

Air-sea-land: migrant smugglers target Malaysia entry via Singapore, Thailand

A raid reveals a shift in tactics by syndicates that have long used Malaysia’s porous borders to move undocumented migrants.

Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers of Israel, announce the merging of their parties.

Trump factor drives up Asia-Pacific military spending at fastest pace since 2009

Expenditures rose to US$681 billion, as some nations worried that Washington might not be a reliable security partner.

Claims of no foam material regulations ‘unacceptable’, Tai Po fire probe hears

Witness Cheung Yuk-ching says Buildings Department may take action over polyfoam boards blocking windows.

Washington shooting exposes gaps in security protocols for Trump

Officials say security perimeter around the president may need expanding after shooter targeted prominent media gala.

Malaysian state in political crisis after Umno pulls support for chief minister

The Negeri Sembilan spat has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar’s coalition government.

In hot water: Japan’s bathhouses struggle to stay afloat as oil prices spike

“Sentos” have cut operating hours and welcomed fewer customers, with some deciding to fold amid the energy crisis.

Lebanon reports bloodiest day since ceasefire as Israel targets Hezbollah

Ceasefire has reduced but not stopped attacks, as Hezbollah vows to keep fighting Israeli troops in Lebanon.

Everest climbers left hanging after giant ice chunk blocks path to summit

Mountaineers are waiting for the serac above the Khumbu icefall to melt before marking the rest of the route for the spring climbing season.

Japan aims to build world’s largest wind farm. Can it power on by 2035?

The plan calls for wind turbines to supply power to the Izu Islands and Tokyo, with an eventual capacity of 1 gigawatt.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | In US-China AI race, Southeast Asia is no side act

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Hong Kong’s civil service accountability system will end buck-passing mentality

Opinion | 122 years on, Mackinder’s ‘heartland’ remains geopolitically decisive

Editorial | Malaysia bourse pact extends Hong Kong’s outreach to Southeast Asia

Editorial | Robots are all well and good – so long as they do no harm to humans

Beer, BBQ festivals possible under beach scheme to tap private sector operators

China delivers record LNG carrier – is South Korea losing its shipbuilding edge?

Malaysia’s Najib ends house-arrest appeal over 1MDB-linked prison sentence

Child, newlywed among 14 killed by lightning in Bangladesh

Incredible works of Wu Guanzhong reimagined in Hong Kong dance crossover

In hot water: Japan’s bathhouses struggle to stay afloat as oil prices spike

Sri Lanka arrests 22 monks with US$3.5 million worth of cannabis in record haul

Washington shooting exposes gaps in security protocols for Trump

North Korea, Russia boost anti-West ‘powerful bulwark’ as Ukraine war drags on

Purton pursues Valley hat-trick with Ballon following historic day at Sha Tin

From scepticism to concern: Mythos panic is slowly starting to reach China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on its influential social media account that Mythos showed ‘unprecedented cyberattack capabilities’.

Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

Open Questions | ‘Saying you’re a geopolitical actor doesn’t make it so’: Sven Biscop on Europe

The Belgian political scientist on what the Iran war and the transatlantic collision reveal about Europe’s place in a fast-changing world.

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.

Can ‘token exports’ give China an edge in the AI era?

As AI tokens emerge as a new commodity, China’s cost advantage is reshaping global model competition, though monetisation gaps remain.

Li Auto targets BMW and Mercedes with premium SUVs in Middle East, Asia-Pacific

Beijing-based EV maker expects overseas deliveries to account for 30 per cent of its total by 2030, president Ma Donghui says.

Underwhelming or underrated? DeepSeek V4 shows “impressive” gains

Benchmark shows V4 trailing Kimi and US frontier models, though gains raise hopes of another R1-style breakthrough.

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

Question hovers as world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.

As DJI duels Insta360, China sharpens global hardware edge amid US scrutiny

Western competitors like GoPro face shrinking footprints as strategic shifts of Chinese firms disrupt the status quo while navigating FCC-led national security bans.

Prognosis positive: how AI could help China bridge the medical resources gap

How AI technology supports conservation of endangered species

Letters | In US-China AI race, Southeast Asia is no side act

Opinion | Hong Kong’s civil service accountability system will end buck-passing mentality