China

A Hong Kong barrister turned activist on trial for allegedly inciting subversion has accused Beijing of undermining the nation’s constitutional order by entrenching one-party rule, describing the move as a regression. Chow Hang-tung told West Kowloon Court on Monday that mainland China took a step backwards in 2018 by amending the constitution to enshrine […]

Regal Hotels International Holdings and its units have sold the 494-room Regal Kowloon Hotel for about HK$1.52 billion (US$194 million) to the real estate investment arm of Centaline Group, which operates one of Hong Kong’s largest property agency networks, to be converted into a student hostel. Regal Hotels and affiliates Century City International […]

Hong Kong police have charged two men with a fresh terrorism offence under the national security law over an alleged bomb plot dating back three years. Prosecutors on Monday applied to the Eastern Court to amend the charges against Ng Tsz-kit, 36, and Ho Chi-hang, 35, ahead of the case being transferred to the High Court for trial. The pair now face a […]

A former assistant principal in a Hong Kong secondary school has avoided a criminal conviction for stealing over HK$3,000 (US$380) worth of food and drinks from a supermarket last year, and given a bind-over order instead. Eastern Court Principal Magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai on Monday sentenced Ng Ka-yun, 47, to be bound over for 36 months with a payment […]

Most overseas galleries were able to attend Hong Kong’s two annual art fairs, part of the much-anticipated Art March celebration, despite the conflict in the Middle East, though questions remain over how participants and artworks will leave the city as air travel continues to face heavy disruption. Organisers and logistics suppliers told the South China […]

Hong Kong authorities could punish those who refuse to provide passwords for electronic devices during national security investigations under new rules. The government on Monday gazetted amendments it made to the implementation rules of the national security law, nearly six years after Beijing imposed the legislation on the city. The changes took effect […]

A man has been injured by two fighting cows while hiking near a Hong Kong reservoir. The 67-year-old reported the incident to police at about 7.30am on Monday after seeing two animals fighting on the MacLehose Trail, near the main dam of Shing Mun Reservoir in the New Territories. He said he was ‘caught in the crossfire’ during the chaos and was struck […]

For Americans who can't visit China themselves, reading about the experiences of fellow citizens who have come to China is the next best thing to understand the country, an American scholar has said.by Xinhua writer Liu YananNEW YORK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- For Americans who can't visit China themselves, reading about the experiences of fellow citizens who […]

Hong Kong will raise its postage rates next month amid surging oil prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, with the cost of posting local letters increasing by 9 per cent to HK$2.40 (31 US cents). Hongkong Post on Monday said that the new rates would come into effect from April 13, highlighting the need to adjust postage rates to offset […]

Hong Kong will implement the revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme next Friday, under which elderly and disabled residents will only enjoy the flat rate for journeys costing HK$10 or less – a move estimated to slash government spending by HK$550 million in the coming year. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also said on Monday […]

New Delhi [India], March 23 (ANI): India's fertiliser supply is facing growing risks ahead of the sowing season as the ongoing conflict in West Asia disrupts key trade routes, with around 26 per cent of fertiliser imports coming from the region, according to a report by CareEdge Ratings.The report highlighted that India sources over a quarter of its […]

HEFEI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Seated in his steakhouse in Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, Uruguayan businessman Gabriel Martin is engrossed in his work as steaks sizzle on the grill in the bright, open kitchen.He has just returned from a packed business trip and is already planning his next journey to negotiate new deals.In February, Martin joined the […]

(260323) -- IRINGA, March 23, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Water flows through an irrigation canal in Iringa Region, Tanzania, March 20, 2026. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese-built irrigation scheme empowers Tanzanian farmers, reflects World Water Day's call for sustainability" (Xinhua/Nurdin Pallangyo)

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The government’s Transport Strategy Blueprint sets a welcome long-term vision for Hong Kong’s transport network, emphasising a […]

(260323) -- FREETOWN, March 23, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Members of the 27th batch of the Chinese Medical Team in Sierra Leone perform a surgery along with local medical workers in Freetown, Sierra Leone, March 17, 2026. TO GO WITH "Chinese doctors save local patient from amputation in Sierra Leone" (The 27th batch of the Chinese Medical Team in Sierra […]

More than 60 new brands, mostly luxury labels, will move into K11 Musea as part of a revamp to boost the shopping centre’s offerings, but an analyst has warned of a complicated external environment weighing on the retail sector’s prospects. These brands are set to join the Tsim Sha Tsui mall in a tenant overhaul covering about 30 per cent of its retail […]

(260323) -- NANCHANG, March 23, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on March 12, 2026 shows the confluence of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River in east China's Jiangxi Province. As the largest freshwater lakes in China and Africa, respectively, Poyang Lake and Lake Victoria have witnessed a cross-continental collaboration for sustainable […]

Taipei [Taiwan], March 23 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of seven Chinese naval vessels and three official ships operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Monday.In a post on X, the MND said, '7 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC […]

The power of arts and culture should not be underestimated. They educate, inform, inspire and bring joy. They open doors to discovery, unite communities and break down barriers between cultures and people. In a broader context, the arts help to define our cities, offering a point of focus for the community and an opportunity to develop a clear cultural […]

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong is set for a hot and damp week ahead, with the city’s forecaster predicting relative humidity to reach as high as 95 per cent from Wednesday as seasonal coastal mist moves in. The Observatory said on Monday […]

Hong Kong developer Sun Hung Kai Properties is betting big on arts and commercial projects at the West Kowloon Cultural District, banking on the city’s designated role as a cross-border asset and wealth management hub – even as the office rental market remains subdued. Sun Hung Kai Properties is positioning its projects to stand out within its 8 million […]

JPMorgan Chase plans to expand its corporate banking team by about 10 per cent across Asia-Pacific this year, as its plans in the region will not be slowed down by uncertainties arising from the US-Israel war on Iran, according to a senior executive. The hiring campaign was part of the lender’s longer-term plan, which aimed to increase its headcount in […]

Tuen Mun Hospital has, for the first time in Hong Kong, used a non-invasive, MRI-guided ultrasound procedure to treat a Parkinson’s disease patient suffering from uncontrollable tremors, offering an alternative option for those affected by the condition. The hospital said it expected to provide the procedure to 40 patients within two years as part of […]

Hongkonger Katie Chan was hoping to buy a flat to live in, and although the 37-year-old accountant was in no rush, the potential longer pause in interest rate cuts could delay her decision. For Chan, the ideal mortgage would be if the one-month Hong Kong interbank offered rate (Hibor) fell below 1.95 per cent, but this year the key driver for local mortgage […]

With the conclusion of China’s parliamentary “two sessions”, the approval of the 2026 government work report and 15th five-year plan – together with the foreign minister’s press conference – has sent a clear signal of China pursuing steady and quality-driven growth while projecting a firm and timely voice on the world stage. In the work report, […]

Chuck Norris: The man who made chaos feel manageableThe news sounds absurd, but it cannot be ignored: Chuck Norris has died."To the world, he was a martial arts master, an actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family," his relatives said in a statement. […]

(Photo credit: Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK)Bilibili Gaming beat G2 Esports in the grand final of the First Stand Tournament knockout stage on Sunday in Sao Paulo, taking home the $250,000 first-place prize.Bilibili won the event with a 3-1 victory, its second of the tournament over G2 Esports after a 3-0 sweep in the […]

Taipei [Taiwan], March 22 (ANI): In a strong rebuke to China, the United States has reiterated its support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in global institutions, while accusing China of deliberately misinterpreting a key UN resolution to sideline Taiwan diplomatically. The remarks highlight growing tensions over Taiwan's international space, as […]

BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- China has issued revised regulations on honest and clean conduct of leaders of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), reinforcing stricter supervision to prevent corruption and protect state assets.The rules, first approved by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in 2009 and recently revised, […]

Washington DC [US], March 22 (ANI): A growing number of unexplained disappearances involving retired Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials who travelled abroad has prompted China to impose strict new curbs on foreign travel, exposing deepening anxiety within the regime.The developments reflect rising fears among the leadership over potential defections […]

(260322) -- BEIJING, March 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2026 and delivers a keynote speech, in Beijing, capital of China, March 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

(260322) -- CAPE TOWN, March 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Performers from the Chinese contingent take part in a parade during the Cape Town Carnival 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 21, 2026. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese cultural elements shine at Cape Town Carnival 2026" (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

(260322) -- HANGZHOU, March 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A new energy flash butt welder for multiple scenarios works at the construction site of the Hangzhou-Deqing Suburban Railway, in east China's Zhejiang Province, March 22, 2026. At the construction site of the Hangzhou-Deqing Suburban Railway, a new energy flash butt welder for multiple scenarios was used for […]

Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 22 (ANI): A Tibetan Buddhist monk, Palden Yeshi, who vanished in May 2021 after being taken into custody by Chinese authorities, has resurfaced years later as a convicted prisoner serving a six-year sentence in Lhasa's Chushul Prison, raising fresh concerns over China's treatment of Tibetan cultural figures, as […]

Tickets from Hong Kong to many mainland Chinese destinations connected by cross-border high-speed rail services are nearly sold out for the first two days of the five-day holiday over Easter and the Ching Ming Festival. The mainland cities have become an alternative for travellers, with the escalating war in the Middle East triggering a global oil crisis […]

E-bikes are gaining popularity in Ethiopia, driven by the government's push to accelerate the transition to e-mobility and reduce foreign currency spending on fossil fuels.by Xinhua writers Muluneh Gebre, Liu FangqiangADDIS ABABA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Samuel Ababu, 22, is one of 100 electric bike riders working for Klik, a delivery company specializing in […]

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon arts hub has signed agreements with 12 international institutions from Australia, the UK, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, paving the way for future collaborations as the city seeks to strengthen its role as an East-meets-West cultural hub. The memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed on Sunday by the West Kowloon Cultural District […]

A shop selling hand-carved mahjong tiles will close for good this week after nearly half a century, marking the demise of one of Hong Kong’s few remaining traditional handicraft stores. Kung Yau Cheung Mahjong, founded 47 years ago, announced it would close on March 28. Owner and artisan carver Ko Yun-kan, who entered the trade aged 18, said the closure […]

(260322) -- NAIROBI, March 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A hippo swims in the sewage treatment pond of Dandora Estate Sewage Treatment Works in Nairobi, Kenya on Feb. 6, 2026. TO GO WITH "Feature: Healing Nairobi's 'kidney': How Chinese tech is reviving the 'place of cool waters'" (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

New Delhi [India], March 22 (ANI): The Indian U20 women's team are on the threshold of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2026 in Thailand and not just as participants, but as a side shaped by deliberate preparation and international exposure, according to a press release from AIFF. Under Swedish head coach Joakim Alexandersson, India's build-up has been […]

Two women climbed out of a window of a residential building in Hong Kong to escape a fire that sent three people to hospital on Sunday, police said. Police received multiple reports at 5.28pm of a blaze at Yen Dack Building on Chun Yeung Street in North Point. Thick smoke billowed from a high-floor unit as firefighters arrived, deploying a water jet and a […]

More than 1,200 musicians set a Guinness World Record for the largest reed ensemble featuring the sheng – a traditional Chinese free-reed instrument – at a Hong Kong concert on Sunday. The “Endless Sheng, Thousand Reeds in Harmony” marathon opened the International Sheng and Reeds Festival of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, marking one of the first […]

The Central Asian region had served as a bridge between the East and the West for centuries, and today it can once again play that role in civilizational exchange and dialogue in Eurasia, fostering mutual learning and understanding between different cultural worlds, a Kyrgyz expert has said.BISHKEK, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Global […]

Hong Kong’s finance chief has pledged to support the regional and global transition to a green economy by leveraging the city’s role as an international financial centre and a developing innovation and technology hub. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered the remarks at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, the fifth day of his […]

A 41-year-old mother in Hong Kong has been charged with child abuse after her 12-year-old son reported her to police for beating him with a rattan cane, the South China Morning Post has learned. The woman was arrested on Saturday in a flat at Kam Fung House in Wong Tai Sin after her son called police at 2.48pm and complained he had been beaten. A source […]