China

A fire services company did not conduct any on-site inspections and merely acted as a “rubber stamp” in submitting 85 notices to shut down the hose reel system of a housing estate hit by Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades, an inquiry has heard. Separate testimony from a Fire Services Department official also noted that another contractor failed to […]

Bilateral trade between the two Asian nations hit $137 billion in 2025-26, ahead of $127.8 billion with AmericaChina became India's largest trading partner in the 2025-26 financial year, overtaking the US, Beijing's embassy in New Delhi has said.Bilateral trade between India and China reached $137 billion in the period between April 2025 and February 2026, […]

Bilateral trade between the two Asian nations hit $137 billion in 2025-26, ahead of $127.8 billion with America China became India's largest trading partner in the 2025-26 financial year, overtaking the US, Beijing's embassy in New Delhi has said. Bilateral trade

Cinema box office takings in Hong Kong over the first four days of the Easter break more than doubled year on year, reaching HK$25.93 million (US$3.31 million) compared with HK$12.75 million over the same period in 2025, despite a holiday exodus. According to the Immigration Department, residents made around 2.13 million outbound and 1.81 million inbound […]

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes the announcement by relevant parties of reaching a ceasefire arrangement on the Iran conflict, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday, expressing support for the mediation efforts made by countries such as Pakistan.Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than […]

A Hong Kong car owner has lost HK$500,000 (US$63,800) to scammers posing as petrol company staff who exploited surging fuel prices by offering bogus top-up deals for membership cards, police have said. The victim received unsolicited WhatsApp messages from fraudsters claiming to represent a fuel company, according to a post on the force’s CyberDefender […]

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and minister of foreign affairs, will visit the DPRK from April 9 to 10, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on […]

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held an informal meeting from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.Mao told a regular press briefing that members of the three delegations were from their countries' […]

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- AI-driven technologies are invigorating China's smart breeding sector, propelling the digital and intelligent transformation of the seed industry.During the ongoing spring farming season, a surge of AI-driven innovative applications has emerged. The Nanfan smart breeding platform, which focuses on breeding data processing, […]

This article was first published on April 8, 1986. Billion dollar brilliance by Staff Reporters The new $5.2 billion headquarters of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpn was formally opened last night (April 7, 1986) when the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, snipped a simple ribbon. The building, every light ablaze, was a symbol of the bank’s faith in the […]

HOHHOT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- In the farriery workshop at the Vocational and Technical College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, the crisp clang of a hammer striking a horseshoe fills the air.Zhao Xu, 33, crouched steadily beside a sport horse, holding up its hind hoof while carefully filing the hoof wall with a rasp. Sparks flew, and the smell of […]

New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, stating that it sends a strong message to the American establishment that the rhetoric of 'regime change' or 'ending a civilisation' does not work in the modern world.Speaking to ANI, Jha expressed […]

Hong Kong police have arrested an employee of a systems maintenance contractor hired by the Hospital Authority on suspicion of stealing the personal data of more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members. The arrest of a 30-year-old local man came just days after the authority reported on Saturday a suspected data leak involving patients in the Kowloon […]

(260408) -- BEIJING, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, meets with a delegation led by Georges-Louis Bouchez, president of Belgium's French-speaking Reformist Movement and a member of the Belgian Chamber of […]

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has launched a five-year study into why Chinese people often enjoy long lifespans, and aims to recruit 500 residents aged 90 or older for biomarker analysis using advanced blood testing technologies. HKUST president Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, who is leading the research, said Hong Kong urgently needed […]

A redevelopment proposal representing the interests of more than 400 fire-displaced residents has been submitted to the Hong Kong government, claiming that a partial redevelopment of Wang Fuk Court could generate a HK6.4 billion (US$816.7 million) surplus. The 47-page proposal, alongside two letters, was sent to the Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Deputy […]

Hong Kong authorities are proceeding with legal action to confiscate property linked to crimes committed by former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, with a hearing on the matter set to be held in three months. According to a court document seen by the South China Morning Post on Wednesday, the secretary for justice filed an application with the Court of First […]

Nearly a quarter of Hong Kong companies are expected to widely adopt AI this year, a threefold increase from a year ago, while a growing number of business leaders believe the technology will result in smaller headcounts, a survey has revealed. Professional services firm KPMG released the Hong Kong Employment Outlook 2026 on Wednesday, with the poll showing […]

Hong Kong’s director of immigration will have his service extended beyond the retirement age until June next year, authorities have announced. The announcement to extend the term of Benson Kwok Joon-fung was made on Wednesday, a day before he reached the retirement age of 57. “The purpose of granting director Kwok’s service extension is to ensure a […]

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates worldwide, Hong Kong is sharpening its focus on applying AI technologies across various domains to make life easier, more efficient and more connected for citizens and businesses alike.  Building on Hong Kong’s smart city […]

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 8 (ANI): Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Iran and Israel, expressing hope that the temporary halt in hostilities would turn into a permanent peace arrangement, while also criticising the 'Vishwaguru' and India's foreign policy response […]

(260408) -- SANTIAGO, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit the 2026 International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE) in Santiago, Chile, April 7, 2026. This year's FIDAE, scheduled from April 7 to 12, has attracted 440 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions including China. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

(260408) -- BRASILIA, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 7, 2026 shows a scene during the "China-Brazil Cultural Year" concert held at the FHE Poupex theatre in Brasilia, Brazil. The "China-Brazil Cultural Year" concert opened here on Tuesday. Jointly presented by the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Claudio Santoro National […]

Beijing [China], April 8 (ANI): India's rising star Ayush Shetty delivered a statement performance, upsetting World No. 7 and Hong Kong Open 2025 champion Li Shi Feng of China in straight games, 21-13, 21-16 in the Badminton Asian Championship. Despite the former World No.3 Li's strong start in both games, the Indian youngster dominated the later stages to […]

(260408) -- CANBERRA, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Electric vehicles are displayed in front of a BYD 4S dealership in Canberra, Australia, on April 8, 2026. Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Australia hit a record high in March amid rising fuel prices driven by the oil supply crisis. According to official data released on Tuesday by the Federal Chamber of […]

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for striving to break new ground in the high-quality development of China's service sector.Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction conveyed at a national […]

Up to 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s fishing vessels have suspended operations nearly a month ahead of a planned moratorium, according to a sector representative, as the doubling of “red oil” prices caused by the war in the Middle East has made going out to sea untenable for operators. Representatives for the local transport and maritime sectors welcomed […]

The ultimate success of these talks will hinge on whether the United States and Israel will demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace. Any breach of trust would only compound the profound difficulties of this crisis, fatally undermining the prospects for a lasting peace.BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A collective sigh of relief swept the globe as the United […]

New posts11:32Zelenskyy Hails US-Iran Cease-Fire, Says Ukraine Ready To 'Respond In Kind' To RussiaUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the cease-fire between the United States and Iran, calling it the "right decision to ending the war," adding that Ukraine is "ready to respond in kind if the Russians stop their strikes.""Ukraine has always […]

New posts12:53Kuwait, UAE Report Missile And Drone AttacksHours after the United States announced a temporary cease-fire with Iran, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said they were fending off Iranian missile and drone attacks.Separately, Iran announced that its oil facilities on Lavan Island were targeted in the morning of April 8.The UAE Defense […]

New posts04:00US Senator Shaheen Welcomes Iran Cease-Fire But Wants 'Real Accounting' Of WarUS Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says she welcomes a temporary cease-fire to stop the fighting with Iran, though concerns remain over what the war has achieved, citing a sharp increase in gas prices, the […]

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 8 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Rajya Sabha MP Rathiji 'Salma' on Wednesday took a jibe at the Centre over Pakistan's role in the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.In an X post, Rajithi wrote, 'The war has come to a halt due to Pakistan's intervention. Poor 'Vishwalguru'! How are you, Sanghis […]

New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): Indian benchmark indices opened with significant gains on Wednesday as global investor sentiment improved following the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. BSE Sensex stood at 77,230.04 points, marking an increase of 2,613.46 points or 3.50 per cent at 9:15 am. Simultaneously, NSE Nifty 50 stood […]

Washington DC [US], April 8 (ANI): After the US and Iran agreed to a two week ceasefire and held out hopes for lasting peace, Pakistan took much of the credit for playing mediator between the two countries. However, Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, Jonathan Schanzer feels […]

(260408) -- NANJING, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, leads a KMT delegation to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. An independent committee examining the causes of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, which claimed 168 lives at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, concluded its second round of hearings on Wednesday. Chung Kit-man, […]

Taipei [Taiwan], April 8 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of two sorties of Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and an official ship operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday.Both the sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southeastern part ADIZ.In a […]

New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): Asian stock markets spiked on Wednesday morning after the news of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Oil prices fell sharply following the de-escalation of military tensions in the Middle East and the promised reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.Japan's Nikkei 225 led the rally with a 5.28 per cent […]

Hong Kong authorities will set up a company this year to accelerate the development of an innovation hub near the border, with firms already expressing interest in moving into the San Tin Technopole, a senior tech official has said. Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi Kit-ming also told the South China Morning Post that […]

TIANJIN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Before a family gets home, their car has already spoken to the house. This means that when they arrive at their house, the air-conditioner is on and the air purifier is running.Once in the kitchen, AI glasses identify ingredients, read the heat of the stove and tell the cook when to add salt or turn over the food. Meanwhile, a […]

BEIJING, APRIL 7 (Xinhua) -- A World Health Day 2026 Event is held by the National Health Commission in Beijing on Tuesday.

(260408) -- BELGRADE, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic speaks during an event titled "Serbian Specialty Products to Shandong" at the Belgrade Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, Serbia, April 7, 2026. The event brought together officials and business representatives from both countries, […]

Seven murals celebrating the Thai and Chiu Chow heritage of Hong Kong’s Kowloon City will be erected in the district known for its ethnic Thai population and traditional stores under a public scheme to encourage building renovations in the area. The first on Jenford Building has been completed on South Wall Road in the heart of the city’s “Little […]

A new research institute in Hong Kong is set to ramp up efforts to develop “AI for all” as early as this month, mapping out a strategy to strengthen the government’s capabilities while ensuring all residents and sectors benefit from the technology, a senior official has said. Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi […]

"The Security Council should not rush to vote on a draft resolution when serious concerns have been raised by members," China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said.UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt a draft resolution that "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of […]