China

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. An inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades will commence its third set of public evidential hearings on Monday. The sole witness to testify on the day, Kong Cheung-fat, was re-elected into the owners’ […]

About 270 residents of Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court are returning to their flats on Monday to pack their belongings, nearly five months after the deadly blaze, with authorities deploying more than 1,000 staff to assist them. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said 269 residents from 78 households in Wang Sun House would return to […]

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, […]

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 […]

(260419) -- XINZHENG, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony to worship Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, is held in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province, April 19, 2026. The third day of the third month on the Chinese lunar calendar, which fell on Sunday this year, is widely believed to be the birthday of Huangdi. As a legendary common ancestor of […]

(260419) -- WANGMO, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Performers dance in an event celebrating the Sanyuesan Festival in Wangmo County, Qianxinan Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 19, 2026. The Sanyuesan Festival is a traditional festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month by various ethnic groups in […]

(260419) -- SHANGHAI, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Professor Zhu Fenghan, the lead editor of a sixty-volume compendium documenting more than 23,000 ancient Chinese bronze artifacts lost abroad, poses for a photo during a press conference for the books' release in east China's Shanghai, April 19, 2026. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Collected works on Chinese bronze […]

(260419) -- NANGARHAR, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Students attend a Chinese language class at Nangarhar University in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 12, 2026. Under the framework of Afghanistan's Confucius Institute, a Chinese language course was established at Nangarhar University in 2018. Since then, it has provided opportunities for […]

A robot, jointly developed by Macau University of Science and Technology and the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine in southern China, has modernized and enhanced the accessibility of traditional Chinese medicine.LISBON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Suzana Carvalho, a resident of the Portuguese capital Lisbon, stood before a robot […]

XI'AN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- In an increasingly uncertain global economy, many multinational companies are still choosing to deepen their presence in China. They are attracted by a combination that remains difficult to match: a well-developed industrial chain, a vast market and a stable policy environment that continues to support foreign investment.It also […]

Munich [Germany], April 19 (ANI): The World Uyghur Congress has called on the international community to take action following new testimony from a former Chinese police officer, which it says sheds light on the continued system of repression in China's Xinjiang region.In a press release, the organisation cited a recent investigation by news outlet Der […]

The Hong Kong Sevens ended in a high-octane finale on Sunday with costume-clad rugby fans filling the stands at Kai Tak Stadium, but some nearby restaurants said they struggled to match last year’s takings, blaming an influx of new rivals for diluting profits. The atmosphere on Super Sunday was electric as a sea of excited spectators, some clad in […]

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China has seen notable declines in the incidence and mortality rates of several common cancers, with the overall five-year survival rate for cancer patients steadily rising, according to data released by the National Cancer Center.The incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer in China fell by around 4.5 percent […]

SHENZHEN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- At this year's Spring Festival Gala, a martial arts performance titled "Wu BOT" amazed audiences. Dozens of humanoid robots took the stage alongside martial artists, executing precise kung fu moves -- squatting, leg sweeping, and side flipping -- in perfect sync. Their seamless coordination and stunning moves quickly made […]

Washington DC [US], April 19 (ANI): The East Turkistan Government in Exile has alleged that human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Turkic communities in China's Xinjiang region remain ongoing, citing new testimony and recent international warnings.In a press release, the group referred to findings published by researcher Adrian Zenz, which […]

Hong Kong should take a more proactive approach to removing barriers hindering the cross-border flow of people, capital, goods and data with neighbouring Shenzhen, analysts have said, as the new leadership of the mainland China tech hub signals a fresh push for deeper integration. The calls for action followed the appointment of Jin Lei, an economist and […]

(260419) -- ROME, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema (R) speaks at the 4th China-Italy Friendship Cities Cooperation Dialogue in Rome, Italy, April 16, 2026. TO GO WITH "China, Italy boost friendship, cooperation at dialogues" (Xinhua/Li Jing)

(260419) -- SHENZHEN, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A Pony.ai's self-driving taxi is pictured in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 28, 2026. Guangdong Province has emerged as a leading hub for robotics and AI in China, offering a highly autonomous industrial ecosystem, strong large-scale manufacturing capacity, and diverse […]

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Beijing E-Town hosts the humanoid robot half-marathon on April 19, 2026, following the world's first edition in 2025. In the second edition of the event on Sunday, humanoid robots made remarkable progress and demonstrated technological breakthroughs to become faster and more stable in running. The number of participating teams […]

About 1,900 families who lived in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will return in batches to their fire-ravaged homes from April 20. Nearly five months after the deadly blaze in Tai Po engulfed seven of the estate’s eight buildings, the government arranged for residents to visit the devastated flats to collect their belongings and bid farewell to their […]

(260419) -- SHENZHEN, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Yang Qian (C), chief operating officer of X Square Robot, makes an introduction as a robot performs the task of picking up flexible items, at the company in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 27, 2026. TO GO WITH "Economic Watch: China's home-cleaning robot service grabs […]

(260419) -- TEHRAN, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Iran Cong Peiwu (R) and Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) President Pirhossein Kolivand attend a signing ceremony for the handover certificates of China's emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran in Tehran, Iran, April 15, 2026. China has decided to provide 58 tonnes of emergency […]

New posts00:14Iranian Military Command Vows Revenge For US Seizure Of Cargo ShipIran's top joint military command accused US forces of violating a cease-fire by shooting at and seizing an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman and vowed to retaliate "soon," according to state media.State media quoted a spokesperson as saying early on April 20 that […]

New posts21:41Trump Says US 'Intercepted' Iranian-Flagged Cargo Ship In The Gulf Of OmanPresident Trump announces US forces have intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to pass through a US maritime blockade and now have "full custody" of it."Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as […]

New posts14:31Trump Says US Negotiators Returning To Pakistan, Claims Iran Committed 'Total Violation' Of Cease-FireUS President Donald Trump (file photo)US President Donald Trump says US representatives are returning to Islamabad for renewed talks with Iran, while accusing Tehran of a Total Violation of the current cessation of hostilities, claiming that […]