China

Hong Kong authorities have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven flood forecasting and alert system capable of three-dimensional simulations, aimed at enabling more timely pre-emptive measures and emergency responses to flooding. The technology is the latest addition to the existing territory-wide flood risk visualisation system, which was […]

BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Grain Rain, or Guyu, falls on April 20 this year. It is the sixth of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, with each spanning about 15 days based on the position of the sun in the zodiac. It is the last solar term in spring and signifies the onset of the rainy season, which is considered a favorable time for planting and the […]

WASHINGTON -- As the geopolitical map of the Middle East and Eurasia undergoes a sometimes violent reshuffling, Washington is sharpening its focus on a critical "missing piece" of the democratic puzzle: the Republic of Georgia.In an interview with RFE/RL, Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, warned that the South Caucasus has become a […]

Hong Kong’s real estate market has come a long way in the past year. For a sign of the extent to which its outlook has improved, look no further than the rapid shift in expectations for the growth in house prices this year. As recently as January, Morgan Stanley characterised its prediction of a 10 per cent rise in secondary home values as a non-consensus […]

BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- As spring unfolds across China, so do the pages of countless books. On Monday, the country's first national reading week and the fifth national reading conference opened in tandem, an invitation to turn over a new leaf in the nation's journey toward a book-loving society.Over the coming week, reading events will be held across […]

A former kindergarten administrator at Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has been sentenced to 25 months in jail for accepting more than HK$640,000 (US$81,700) in bribes from 13 parents and a middleman to secure places by tampering with the admissions system. Fatima Rumjahn, 56, earlier admitted to accepting bribes ranging from HK$20,000 to […]

Hong Kong’s Airport Authority has launched its marina project as part of the broader SkyCity blueprint, seeking global interest from the yachting, hospitality and water sports sectors to help shape the 200-hectare (494 acres) development, with the first phase scheduled for completion in 2028. Cissy Chan Ching-sze, the authority’s commercial executive […]

Global drug maker Pfizer and biotech firm Amgen, each valued at more than HK$1 trillion (US$153 billion), are among 22 strategic enterprises planning to open or expand offices in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said on Monday that these industry leaders were among companies from the fintech, cloud computing and aerial transport […]

Hong Kong artiste Kristal Tin Yui-lee has revealed on social media that cancer cells were found in her lymph nodes, more than a year after being diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, drawing renewed attention to the disease. A former leading actress at TVB after starting her career at the now defunct ATV, the 48-year-old has shifted her focus in recent […]

New Delhi [India], April 20 (ANI): Indian equities opened on a cautious, negative note Monday, as investor sentiment weakened amid growing uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations and conflicting signals from both sides' leadership.Benchmark indices reflected the subdued mood early in the session. The BSE Sensex slipped 122.01 points (-0.16%) to 78,371.53, […]

A 32-year-old man was found dead after being spotted floating in waters off a Hong Kong park, with police saying he had a record of mental illness. The force received a report at 6.37am on Monday that the body was floating two to three metres offshore near Tsing Yi Northeast Park on Tam Kon Shan Road. Firefighters recovered the man who was pronounced dead […]

China's role in the Middle East is becoming increasingly significant, and China's four-point proposal offers a fresh and constructive framework for advancing peace in the Middle East region, a Turkish expert has said.ANTALYA, Trkiye, April 20 (Xinhua) -- China's four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East provides a new and […]

(260420) -- IMOLA, April 20, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese driver Ye Yifei of Ferrari AF Corse competes during the Hypercar category race at the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, April 19, 2026. (Photo by Qian Jun/Xinhua)

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The third set of public evidential hearings into the deadly fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court began on Monday and concluded its 15th day of testimony in half a day. The sole witness to testify on the day, Jason Kong […]

After World War II, the United States launched covert operations against the Soviet Union through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other intelligence agencies. By the 1960s, U.S. policymakers concluded that secret efforts alone were insufficient to sustain political influence abroad. This led to the creation of a more open "public-private […]

New posts07:59Two More People Executed In Iran For SpyingIran's judiciary announced the execution of two more people on April 20 on charges of "connections with Israel" and "espionage."Mizan, the judiciary's news agency, named them as Mohammad Masoomshahi and Hamed Walidi, claiming that they "had communicated with Israeli intelligence officers and received […]

New posts10:23Iran Says No Plans To Take Part In Second Round Of TalksIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said on April 20 that the Iranian side has no plans to participate in a second round of peace talks with the United States.There has been continued uncertainty over a potential second round of Pakistani-hosted face-to-face talks between US […]

New Delhi [India], April 20 (ANI): Global energy prices surged on Monday as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the imminent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing a failure by the United States to adhere to ceasefire conditions. Monday morning saw Brent Crude rising by 4.72 per cent to USD 94.65 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) […]

New Delhi [India], April 20 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday criticised Congress for apologising for protests against the then head of the state for China, Mao Tse-tung, in 1959, accusing former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of making India appear weak before the world.Sharing a note from the Indian Government dated April […]

HAIKOU, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) concluded on Saturday in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. It drew 3,413 premium consumer brands from 67 countries and regions, with international exhibits making up 65 percent of the total, a sharp increase of 20 percentage points from the previous […]

BEIJING,20th April, 2026 (WAM) -- A humanoid robot competing against flesh-and-blood runners has broken the world record at a Beijing half-marathon, showcasing the rapid technological advancements achieved by Chinese makers.The winning humanoid, equipped with an autonomous navigation system and running for Chinese smartphone maker Honor, completed the […]

Bikes, figurines, paintings and a safe are among the cherished items rescued from the ashes of Wang Fuk Court, as residents begin returning under close monitoring by Hong Kong government staff. Wang Sun House residents, the first in the fire-ravaged Tai Po estate to return home for a three-hour packing session, told the South China Morning Post on Monday […]

The US-Israeli war on Iran has unleashed sharp swings across global energy and financial markets, fuelling demand for safe-haven assets, with Hong Kong emerging as a potential beneficiary across gold, property and capital markets. In the third of a three-part series, we look at Hong Kong’s position as a stable base where demand for property has held firm […]

Hong Kong’s government is under mounting pressure to deliver the Northern Metropolis, announced in 2021, as it approaches the end of its term – less than 15 months and counting. The megaproject, to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) near the border with mainland China into a centre of international innovation and technology, is to be an engine to drive […]

(Photo credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images)Jon Rahm saved his best round of the week for last, firing a 7-under-par 64 Sunday to pull away to win the LIV Golf Mexico City title on Sunday in Naucalpan, Mexico.Rahm, the tournament's leader since the second round, finished the week at Club de Golf Chapultepec at 21-under 263, six shots ahead of fellow Spaniard […]

Twenty Hong Kong couples have each received baby bonuses totalling HK$60,000 (US$7,700) for having three children in about 2½ years. Yet less than 60 per cent of the HK$2.28 billion earmarked for the three-year government scheme has been disbursed as of February, with just over six months to go before it ends in October. Government figures showed the […]

Hong Kong-headquartered Toys ‘R’ Us Asia has pivoted to an experience-focused format and smaller stores in the city following an expansion programme that sought to increase its outlets as it navigates the changing retail landscape. The group planned to close the year with 20 stores in Hong Kong, representing a 40 per cent rise from 2025, said Leo Tsoi, […]

An American warship disabled the vessels engine before Marines boarded it, CENTCOM saidThe US Central Command (CENTCOM) has released a video showing one of its warships firing on an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that was later seized by US Marines.According to CENTCOM, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the M/V Touska in the Gulf of Oman […]

DUBAI, 20th April, 2026 (WAM) -- The UAE national sailing team has departed for Sanya, China, to compete in the 6th Asian Beach Games from 22nd to 30th April.The five-athlete squad features Marwa Al Hammadi, Elyazia Al Hammadi, and Abdulla Al Zubaidi in the ILCA 4 category, with Mohamed Al Mehairi and Khalifa Al Romaithi contesting the Optimist […]

Many Hongkongers would have been surprised last week that the government was postponing the introduction of basketball betting. It was only months ago that the bill had been enacted by the Legislative Council. So clearly it was a matter that fell within our high degree of autonomy. And the Hong Kong Jockey Club was known to be hard at work preparing for […]

(260419) -- VIENTIANE, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows a storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos. A storytelling event celebrating the China-Laos Railway was held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday. Under the theme "Building a golden railway, benefiting the people of both countries," […]

Ciao UFO, a sci‑fi drama inspired by a local urban legend of mysterious lights over a public housing estate, clinched the top honours at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, winning best film and best director for Patrick Leung Pak‑kin. The dystopian crime thriller Sons of the Neon Night emerged as the biggest winner, taking home eight prizes […]

Beijing [China], April 19 (ANI): China is experiencing a rapid demographic shift marked by an ageing population and declining fertility, with the demographic advantage that supported decades of economic expansion now increasingly turning into a liability, according to a Taiwanese researcher cited in a report by the Taipei Times.In an article titled […]

(260419) -- ISLAMABAD, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Children perform during an event marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on April 18, 2025. TO GO WITH "Asia-Pacific Community: China-Pakistan children's gala celebrates 75 years of diplomatic relations" (Photo by […]

(260419) -- FUZHOU, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People watch a robot dance performance in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, April 19, 2026. A robot dance performance was staged here to welcome the 9th Digital China Summit, which will convene in Fuzhou from April 29 to 30. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

The Israeli ambassador to the UN questioned France, China, and Pakistan over Hormuz, as their vessels reportedly passed through despite the Iranian blockade Israel's ambassador to the United Nations has lashed out at his French, Chinese, and Pakistani counterparts, accusing their countries of effectiv

(260419) -- GUANGZHOU, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 19, 2026 shows a view of the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. The first phase of the 139th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, closed on Sunday with a record number of overseas buyers, the […]

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Every morning, with firm determination and hope for a bright future, 20-year-old Bakhtiar Aryubzi walks into the Chinese-language classroom at Nangarhar University in eastern Afghanistan.For him and a growing number of young Afghans, mastering Chinese is more than a practical skill; it is a pathway to connect […]

(260419) -- BEIJING, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Humanoid robots took to the course at the Beijing E-Town half-marathon on April 19, 2026, competing in autonomous and remote-controlled categories.

SHANGHAI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A sixty-volume compendium documenting more than 23,000 ancient Chinese bronze artifacts lost abroad was published on Sunday by Shanghai Classics Publishing House.The books' publication marks China's first systematic investigation and sorting of the status of important bronze cultural relics scattered overseas.The project began […]

Spinal muscular atrophy patients have urged the Hong Kong government to expand subsidised medicine options for adults to increase their chances for a better quality of life, with some saying their condition deteriorated after growing up without affordable care. Lui Man-lam, president of the Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular Disease Association, said at a press […]

A major exhibition featuring more than 250 sets of Han dynasty relics – most of which have never been displayed in Hong Kong – is offering a rare look into one of the most influential periods of Chinese history. The showcase, titled “The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration”, is running at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery […]

(260419) -- DAR ES SALAAM, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Schoolgirls take a Chinese language class at Zanaki Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 15, 2026. TO GO WITH "Feature: Tanzanian schoolgirls pursue dreams through Mandarin learning" (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)

Hong Kong homebuyers’ strong demand for new flats extended a streak of brisk sales for developers with one project selling out in a single day, underscoring the city’s broader recovery in housing prices. All 88 units at the Pavilia Farm III project by New World Development and MTR Corporation in Sha Tin were sold on Saturday, prompting the developers to […]