China

Attendance at Hong Kong’s flagship Rugby Sevens could be dampened by the latest conflict in the Middle East, as softer hotel bookings hint at possible consequences from flight disruptions and rising travel costs. The coming three-day tournament, running from Friday to Sunday and traditionally drawing tens of thousands of overseas visitors each year, […]

The number of secondary school students diagnosed with mental illness in Hong Kong has doubled over the last five academic years, with the increase potentially under-reported due to reluctance among some pupils and parents to disclose health information, education authorities have said. The data aligns with a trend recorded by the Health Bureau showing a […]

Taipei [Taiwan], April 15 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of five sorties of Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels and three ships operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday.Of the five sorties, four entered Taiwan's southwestern part, ADIZ.In a post on X, the MND said, '5 sorties of […]

BEIJING, 15th April, 2026 (WAM) -- The People's Bank of China on Tuesday announced that it will carry out a 500-billion-yuan (about US$72.89 billion) outright reverse repo operation on Wednesday to maintain ample liquidity in the banking system, Xinhua News Agency reported.The operation will be carried out with a fixed quantity through interest-rate […]

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged businesspeople to serve as the “main force” driving the city’s economic development by investing in innovation and the Northern Metropolis project, calling on them to demonstrate their patriotism through “concrete actions”. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also […]

by Xinhua writer Ji HangJINAN, April 15 (Xinhua) -- As spring blooms across China and students enjoy their spring break, I traveled to Heze, a city in east China known as the "peony capital," home to more than 1,500 years of peony cultivation and 1,308 varieties of this flower.On the way, I wondered how Heze would differ from Luoyang, another famous peony […]

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. A judge-led panel investigating the causes of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, which killed 168 people in Tai Po, began its 12th day of evidential hearings on Wednesday. Representatives from the Fire Services […]

(260415) -- BEIJING, April 15, 2026 (Xinhua) -- To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and president of Vietnam, takes a high-speed train to Xiong'an New Area of north China's Hebei Province on April 14, 2026. To Lam arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a state visit to China through Friday. Upon his arrival in Beijing, […]

(260415) -- ALGIERS, April 15, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Dong Guangli, Chinese Ambassador to Algeria, addresses the first International Symposium on Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning between China and Arab African countries in Algiers, Algeria on April 14, 2026. The symposium was held on Tuesday in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with topics ranging from […]

Hong Kong authorities should consider the impact of technological developments when drafting policies, observers have said, noting the government’s decision to halt plans for basketball betting reflected a lack of thorough discussion. Their remarks on Tuesday followed the government announcing the suspension over concerns about new “prediction market” […]

For Hong Kong’s 3.3 million PayMe users, everyday transactions such as buying coffee or splitting bills with friends could soon involve stablecoins, with HSBC preparing to introduce the digital currency in the second half of this year. That comes after HSBC Holdings, together with a Standard Chartered-led joint venture, became the first to obtain a […]

Indonesia has agreed to buy crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas from Moscow amid global supply shocksBRICS member Indonesia has agreed to purchase crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia, citing energy security concerns amid growing global supply disruptions, the Energy Ministry in Jakarta has said.Indonesia's crude purchases from Russia […]

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The global economy is entering a period of heightened risk as the war in Iran disrupts energy markets, with the International Monetary Fund warning that a prolonged conflict could push growth into recession. On April 14, the IMF cut its global growth outlook and outlined multiple scenarios showing how escalating tensions in the Middle East […]

The Russian Foreign Minister has arrived in Beijing for an official two-day visit Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for a two-day official visit, where he held extended talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. The foreign ministers were to focus on a "number of high-prio

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Spain should strengthen cooperation in multiple fields and encourage exchanges in various areas, so as to bring about more outcomes in the comprehensive strategic partnership and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.Xi made the remarks when meeting with Spanish […]

(260414) -- BEIJING, April 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing, capital of China, April 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): The India U17 women's football team suffered a 0-3 defeat against Russia in the second of three friendly matches at the Matsesta Football Centre in Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday.Valeria Menyailova struck twice early in the second half (49', 52') after Sofia Svyatnaya (18') had opened the scoring, as the hosts capitalised on […]

Beijing [China], April 14 (ANI): China has once again attempted to push 'fictitious names' for Indian territories, despite a categorical rejection and 'heavy slamming' from New Delhi just days ago.The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday doubled down on its claim that the renaming falls within its 'sovereignty,' referring to Arunachal Pradesh by the […]

BEIJING, 14th April, 2026 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has concluded an official visit to the People's Republic of China, aimed at further enhancing the UAE-China comprehensive partnership across priority sectors, advancing economic and development cooperation between the two nations.During the […]

(260414) -- NANCHANG, April 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Humanoid robots work on the assembly line at a tablet manufacturing workshop in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, April 14, 2026. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Chinese humanoid robots deployed on assembly lines for precision tasks" (Xinhua/Li Haiwei)

Washington DC [US], April 14 (ANI): The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile has strongly criticised Kazakhstan over the conviction of 19 of its citizens, calling the move a suppression of dissent and an act of compliance with Beijing, as stated in a press release issued by the organisation.According to the ETGE press release, the individuals were convicted […]

Beijing [China], April 14 (ANI): Amid the West Asia crisis and a tightening US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met in Beijing, marking their first in-person meeting this year. The discussions come amid escalating geopolitical tensions across multiple regions, […]

The US has announced a blockade of Iranian oil-linked shipping, tightening pressure on already constrained Middle Eastern exportsThe US has tightened its grip on energy exports from the Persian Gulf with a new naval blockade on Iranian supplies, risking fresh shocks to already fragile global markets.The move appears intended to increase pressure on Tehran […]

(260414) -- NEW YORK, April 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People attend a celebration marking the UN Chinese Language Day at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 13, 2026. A celebration titled Chinese Language Shining Civilizations was held at the UN headquarters in New York to mark the UN Chinese Language Day on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Hong Kong landlords who fail to fix water seepage affecting flats below face a minimum inspection bill of HK$17,000 (US$2,170) if they take no action within 28 days of notification under a pilot scheme designed to fast-track such cases. The plan, launched by a joint office under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and Buildings Department, […]

(260414) -- BEIJING, April 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Gerry Brownlee, speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, in Beijing, capital of China, April 14, 2026 (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

A resident of Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po has said that a drawer in her flat had been rummaged through, prompting a police investigation and rekindling burglary fears in the sealed residential complex. Police launched the probe after a resident surnamed Lee raised concerns about a possible burglary early on Tuesday. A […]

New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): Former senior diplomat Vidya Bhushan Soni highlighted China's subtle but significant role in bringing Iran to the negotiating table, a move he described as a major diplomatic gain.Speaking to ANI, he said that there's still hope for an agreement, despite no formal deal being reached. 'You look at each other and see whether […]

The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay is considering extending its trial period and limiting operating hours for cabbies to gain full access to the resort-style seaside community amid opposition from some residents. The Islands District Council’s Traffic and Transport Committee held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the paper presented by Hong Kong […]

BEIJING, 14th April, 2026 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with UAE Nationals studying at Beijing-based universities and institutes, on the sidelines of His Highness' official visit to the People's Republic of China.At the outset of the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed extended the […]

US President Donald Trump suggested that talks with Iran could resume in a day or two, while the US military said that no ships slipped through anaval blockadetargeting vessels headed to or from Iran in the first 24 hours of the restrictive measure focused on the Strait of Hormuz.Trump ordered the blockade afterUS-Iranian peace talksin Islamabad on April […]

Ships linked to Iran are reported to have transited the Strait of Hormuz on April 14, the first full day of aUS naval blockadetargeting vessels "entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas."Data from ship tracking services listed at least four ships, two of which had recently called at Iranian ports, that had passed or were passing through the […]

A Hong Kong retiree has been jailed for a year under the domestic national security law over seditious remarks on social media, after suggesting that last year’s Wang Fuk Court fire could trigger unrest similar to the 2019 anti-government protests. Former salesman Raymond Chong Wai-man, 61, pleaded guilty on Tuesday at West Kowloon Court to knowingly […]

This embassy intrusion is a mirror -- reflecting the real threat posed by the rise of Japan's "neo-militarism." That mirror will not be shattered by the Japanese government's perfunctory attitude. Instead, it will constantly remind the world that denying a history of aggression and evading diplomatic responsibility will never win trust, but only invite […]

Beijing [China], April 14 (ANI): Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mao Ning on Tuesday listed out the four-point proposal given by Chinese President Xi Jinping for lasting peace in the Middle East.Mao said that the proposal was based on the principle of peaceful co-existence, sovereignty, among others.In a post on X, she said, 'President […]

Beijing [China], April 14 (ANI): China on Tuesday sharply criticised the United States over its recent military actions, warning that they could further destabilise an already fragile ceasefire in the West Asian region, as reported by Al Jazeera. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the US move to blockade vessels at the Strait of Hormuz […]

New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): India's oil security framework has come under renewed scrutiny following the escalation of tensions in West Asia in 2026, which disrupted global energy markets and exposed vulnerabilities in the country's import-dependent energy system, according to a report by Carnegie India.The West Asia crisis has underscored the need […]

New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): Robinder Sachdev, Foreign Affairs Expert on Tuesday said that the probability of further talks between the US and Iran is dismal.Sachdev, in a conversation with ANI, said that it also remains to be seen how the US blockade of Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz turns out.'Point is that it seems that getting back to a […]

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade started 2026 with strong momentum, posting robust double-digit growth in the first quarter (Q1), a performance that underscores the economy's resilience and reinforces its role as a key stabilizer for the global economy amid widespread volatility.According to data released Tuesday by the General […]

The number of non-local students admitted to government-funded degree programmes at Hong Kong’s public universities with Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) qualifications has risen fivefold in four years, according to the Education Bureau. By comparison, the number of local DSE candidates who qualified for those universities fell by 5 per cent over the […]

Diamond-studded necklaces, golden pectorals and ceremonial small swords are among about 200 jewellery and decorative pieces, covering 4,000 years of history across five continents, to be showcased in Hong Kong from Wednesday. Titled “Treasures of Global Jewellery from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Body Transformed”, the show at the Hong Kong […]

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. blockade is dangerous and irresponsible, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday, responding to a query that the U.S. military has begun blocking shipping traffic in and out of Iran's ports.China urges all parties to abide by the ceasefire arrangement, stay on course for dialogue and peace […]

JIUQUAN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday launched the Lijian-1 Y12 carrier rocket to send eight satellites into space.The rocket blasted off at 12:03 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China. It successfully sent the satellites into their planned orbits.This launch marked the 12th flight mission […]

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed the need for China and Spain to strengthen cooperation in fields including trade, new energy and intelligent economy, and to encourage exchanges in culture, education, scientific research and sports.Xi made the remarks when meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who […]

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Shao Hong will attend the inauguration of President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou-N'Guesso in Brazzaville on April 16, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Tuesday.Shao, also vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political […]