China

Hong Kong authorities will extend the operating hours of Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay checkpoints while stepping up public transport to manage cross-border passenger flow after the countdown next Wednesday. Under special holiday arrangements, the Lo Wu checkpoint will remain open from New Year’s Eve until 2am the next day, while passenger and vehicle […]

Six labour unions with Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department have denounced banker turned film producer Checkley Sin Kwok-lam for comments about its chief’s handling of the Tai Po fire. The unions banded together on Thursday to slam Sin’s comments about the department’s strategies for battling the city’s deadliest fire in decades. The blaze raged […]

(251225) -- LAO CAI, Dec. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony is held to mark the delivery of essential supplies and new water heaters to Ban Phung kindergarten by the power firm China Southern Power Grid Lancang-Mekong International (CSGLMI) in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, Dec. 23, 2025. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese power firm donations bring brighter days to […]

Sammy Kam Chi-sum, the primary architect of Hong Kong’s contactless Octopus cards, is retiring after nearly 30 years with the company at the end of this month, before what he says is an inevitable transition to a technology that will not even require tapping for certain transactions. Octopus’s chief operations officer began his journey in 1995 when he […]

URUMQI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, factory workers were busy sorting, packaging, and loading apples that were picked earlier onto trucks bound for markets from Shanghai to Paris.Apples in Xinjiang are a geographical treasure. They are widely consumed in China and exported to countries such as France and […]

On a weekday night last week, passengers on an open-top double-decker bus jostled for a position to take selfies below a suspended lighting display at Mody Lane in Tsim Sha Tsui East, where Hong Kong residents have viewed the city’s dazzling Christmas lights for decades. With 175 illuminated stars spread across 25 rows of dangling lights, the fixture is […]

BEIJING/BRUSSELS: China escalated its trade dispute with the European Union by announcing steep provisional tariffs on EU dairy imports, a move widely seen as retaliation for Brussels' duties on Chinese electric vehicles. Beijing said it will impose duties of between 21.9% and 42.7% on certain EU dairy products from Tuesday, with most exporters facing rates […]

SHANGHAI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai's tourism authorities said the city recorded 6.29 million visits by foreign passport holders in the first 11 months of 2025, an increase of nearly 50 percent year on year. The city received about 8.28 million inbound tourists from January to November, up nearly 40 percent year on year, surpassing the full-year total […]

More Hongkongers are travelling over the Christmas holiday period compared with last year, with traditional destinations in Japan remaining popular despite geopolitical tensions and mainland Chinese locations such as Harbin and Yunnan gaining appeal. Some industry insiders said Japan remained popular among Hong Kong travellers despite recent news of […]

A 61-year-old taxi driver has been hospitalised in Hong Kong after her vehicle crashed through the back door of a school building in Kwun Tong, requiring fire services to extract her from the car. Police said they were alerted at 10.33am on Thursday that a cabby was injured and trapped inside her vehicle after crashing into the building of Delia Memorial […]

The deadly inferno that raged through a housing estate in Hong Kong last month has prompted youngsters at charity Kids4Kids to spring into action to help children affected by the blaze. Last month’s fire swept through seven of Wang Fuk Court’s eight blocks, raging for about 43 hours and claiming 161 lives. While the group was already planning a […]

Thousands of revellers packed into Central in Hong Kong at night to celebrate Christmas on Thursday, after many visited the city’s premier arts hub for picnicking and photo-taking. Locals and tourists alike were out in full force along Chater Road, many donning whimsical Christmas outfits and transforming the thoroughfare into a sea of festive cheer. The […]

(251225) -- MANZHOULI, Dec. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 3, 2025 shows cargo trucks queuing to go through the Manzhouli land port in Manzhouli City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Manzhouli City, a historic port city on the China-Russia border, has been unleashing its vigor in city development with continuously […]

"The global governance system proposed by the Chinese side should, in principle, reduce the potential for conflicts in the world and is based, first and foremost, on dialogue and consensus, not on confrontation," a Kyrgyz scholar told Xinhua.BISHKEK, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's global governance initiatives and visions are crucial for strengthening global […]

Tens of thousands were stuck for hours at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on Christmas Day, as nearly 670,000 people departed Hong Kong through its border checkpoints by Thursday afternoon. Hong Kong police and the MTR Corporation also warned on Thursday morning that Shenzhen Bay, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur line control points were crowded and that […]

SHENYANG, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- In a factory in Anshan, northeast China's Liaoning Province, workers were busy producing Easter crafts like rabbits and colored eggs, destined for American supermarkets."In the past, we mainly produced products based on orders for overseas customers, with a limited variety and simple manufacturing processes. Now, we have our […]

(251225) -- ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian police officers stand next to the motorcycles donated by China to the Ethiopian Federal Police Commission in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Dec. 23, 2025. TO GO WITH "China donates motorcycles to Ethiopian police" (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

Retired Hong Kong civil servant Ng Kook-yiu takes a shuttle bus every day from his transitional housing flat to the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. “I long to see my home, where I spent four decades of my life. It breaks my heart to see it each time, but it is still my home,” the 76-year-old said. Ng lived alone in the housing estate before the […]

BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee convened a meeting on Thursday to discuss and plan the Party's efforts to improve conduct, build integrity, and combat corruption for the year 2026.Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.In 2025, under the […]

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. Hongkongers woke up to a cold Christmas Day, with the weather expected to get even colder on Boxing Day and temperatures to drop to 13 degrees […]

NANJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese researchers has achieved significant progress in blood glucose control and weight reduction for the treatment of type 2 diabetes through a study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the home-grown medicine Mazdutide.In a Phase III clinical trial conducted by Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in east China's Jiangsu […]

New Delhi [India], December 25 (ANI): Former diplomat Mahesh Sachdev on Wednesday welcomed the US report, stating that it's a significant development as the US is now taking notice of China's tactics in Arunachal Pradesh.Speaking with ANI, Sachdev said, 'It's quite interesting to note that the US Defense Department is beginning to take notice of Chinese […]

Kyiv [Ukraine], December 25 (ANI): Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounded an alarm over Russia's sanctions dodging and global security risks, citing Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service head, Oleh Ivashchenko's report of Russia's attempts to circumvent international sanctions through energy companies and fictitious schemes.In a post on X, […]

Hong Kong police have arrested nine employees of a company suspected of submitting at least 45 forged certificates for surveying equipment used at five hospital expansion projects and a government construction site. The force said on Thursday that it had apprehended six men and three women, aged 23 to 48, from acoustic and environmental services consultancy […]

HOHHOT, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- In Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shiguai District was a major coal base during China's first Five-Year Plan period (1953-1957), serving as a key supplier for the country's north in the decades that followed.Nestled in the hinterland of the Yinshan Mountain Range, the 761-square-kilometer district has a coal […]

Ever wanted to peer through a bus window in Beijing? Join international students as they hop on the iconic "Da Yi Lu" (Bus No.1) for a cultural tour of Chang'an Avenue. From Tian'anmen Square to the modern CBD, they share space, stories, and perspectives with new friends.

SHANGHAI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- As the scent of freshly steamed bean paste buns drifts through the People's Park in downtown Shanghai and laughter erupts from a nearby English-language stand-up comedy club -- not at the unfamiliar, but at the recognizable -- China's latest chapter of inbound tourism begins to take shape.These are scenes of proximity, marking […]

“Justice is open to all – like the Ritz” is a quote often attributed to Sir James Mathew, a 19th-century Irish judge. This is another way of saying that while in theory justice and the courts are open to everyone, in practice only those who can afford to pay the hefty fees can get their day in court. The adversarial system, which is the model adopted […]

Taipei [Taiwan], December 25 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected six sorties of Chinese aircraft, eight naval vessels and one ship operating around the country as of 6 am (local time) on Thursday. As per the MND, of the six sorties, two crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone […]

The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance becomes operational in Hong Kong on January 20, and will enhance child protections. It contains a mechanism for the early and effective detection of child abuse cases. It requires particular professionals to report if, during their work, they come to suspect a child has been suffering serious harm, or is at […]

CHONGQING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's total cross-border e-commerce import and export value reached 1.37 trillion yuan in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 10.3 percent. The rapid growth of the cross-border e-commerce industry has led to a surge in job demand. The "cross-border e-commerce operations manager" has been added to the 17 new […]

TIANJIN, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- With a simple click of the mouse, a school emblem materialized from a computer screen into a nearby 3D printer. Layer by layer, the machine meticulously transformed lines of code into a solid form, seamlessly converting an abstract digital design into a tangible object that students could now hold in their hands."It's like […]

CHONGQING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's total cross-border e-commerce import and export value reached 1.37 trillion yuan in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 10.3 percent. The rapid growth of the cross-border e-commerce industry has led to a surge in job demand. The "cross-border e-commerce operations manager" has been added to the 17 new […]

14 countries condemn Israel's West Bank settlement planA group of 14 countries issued a joint statement on Wednesday, strongly condemning Israel's decision to establish 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that such moves violate the international law.The joint statement was co-signed by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, […]

YANGON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Soft orchestral music filled Studio A of Myanmar Radio and Television in Yangon, Myanmar, as voices rose in both Chinese and Myanmar verse, weaving together two literary traditions shaped by centuries of shared history.On Wednesday morning, poetry and song became more than performances. They became a bridge between the two […]

Tourists planning to spend Christmas in Hong Kong have fuelled a surge in guest house bookings since October, driving occupancy and room rates to their strongest levels in five years. But those arriving without reservations may end up paying double the price, according to an industry leader. David Leung Tai-wai also told the Post that the government’s […]

YIWU, Zhejiang, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- While shoppers worldwide are still on the hunt for last-minute gifts, the real pulse of the global Christmas economy is beating strong in east China's Yiwu, the renowned "world's supermarket."Kuwaiti merchant Kamel Mumen exemplifies a dynamic forward-thinking cycle. Amidst a rich variety of ornaments, he meticulously […]

LHASA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po, a leader of Tibetan Buddhism, flew back to Beijing on Tuesday after completing a six-month tour of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, during which he performed regular duties, Buddhist rituals and social activities.Panchen Rinpoche, a member of the Standing Committee of the National […]

Guwahati (Assam) [India], December 25 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday inaugurated the Assam Book Fair 2025 and presented the Yuva Lekhak Samman to 818 young writers at a programme jointly organised by the Assam Publication Board and the All Assam Book Publishers and Sellers Association at the playground of Khanapara Veterinary […]

(251224) -- CHONGQING, Dec. 24, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Tang Hexia (R) and Wen Yu (C) film a short video in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 10, 2025. China's total cross-border e-commerce import and export value reached 1.37 trillion yuan in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 10.3 percent. The rapid growth of the cross-border […]

(251224) -- YANGON, Dec. 24, 2025 (Xinhua) -- An artist sings during a classical poetry recitation and musical concert at Myanmar Radio and Television in Yangon, Myanmar, Dec. 24, 2025. The classical poetry recitation and musical concert, jointly organized by China's Guangxi Radio and Television and Myanmar Radio and Television under Myanmar's Ministry of […]

(251224) -- BEIJING, Dec. 24, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin meets with athletes, coaches and staff members at the Winter Sports Administration Center under the General Administration of Sport of China in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 24, 2025. Shen called on China's winter Olympic athletes to be better prepared for the Milan-Cortina […]

(251224) -- SHANGHAI, Dec. 24, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Members of Eastbound and Beyond pose for a photo with French tourists in east China's Shanghai in September 2025. TO GO WITH "China Focus: The 'cultural ferrymen' offering a more authentic glimpse into everyday China" (Xinhua)

The US has reportedly moved a large number of military aircraft and other equipment for possible war against VenezuelaThe US is reportedly expanding its military posture near Venezuela by deploying additional forces to the Caribbean amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, the Wall Street Journal has reported.The movements include special […]

Hong Kong police have made their 16th arrest in connection with last month’s deadly Tai Po blaze, detaining a man on suspicion of manslaughter. Police earlier arrested 15 people in connection with the fire, which engulfed seven of eight scaffolding-clad residential buildings in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate on November 26, killing 161 and displacing […]