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Diplomacy

Xi Jinping welcomes Trump into China’s hidden heart: Zhongnanhai

Centuries-old trees and ‘most beautiful’ roses take centre stage as US leader taken on rare stroll around secluded, symbolic seat of power.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping leads US counterpart Donald Trump through the Yundou Gate, inscribed with couplets from the Qianlong Emperor, inside the Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing on Friday. Photo: AP

Entertainment

Why Stranger Things star Maya Hawke actually likes her new album for once

Maya Hawke talks about her fourth album, Maitreya Corso, which she made with husband Christian Lee Hutson, and life after Stranger Things.

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US actress Maya Hawke arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. Photo: AFP

Economics

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

Eight more countries will invest in the project as they accelerate regional trade diversification in sectors ranging from AI to energy.

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Containers at the Manila North Harbour Port in Manila, Philippines. Development of the Luzon Economic Corridor will involve eight more countries. Photo: AP

Africa

Africa calls multi-nation health meeting amid fatal Ebola outbreak

There have been 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far in the DRC, around five months after the last outbreak was declared over.

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Health workers dressed in protective gear work at an Ebola treatment centre in Beni, Congo, in 2019. File photo: AP

China Economy

After Trump visit, China’s top party journal doubles down on manufacturing push

The real economy must remain the bedrock of future growth, according to latest Qiushi article.

Welding robots at an industrial park of Sany, China’s leading heavy equipment manufacturer, in Changsha, central China’s Hunan province, on May 12. Photo: Xinhua
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Diplomacy

Video | Xi gives Trump a rare tour of Beijing’s Zhongnanhai

The US president was shown around the imperial garden inside the highly restricted Beijing compound, which serves as China’s political headquarters.

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Football

CCTV, Fifa, agree World Cup TV deal covering 4 tournaments until 2031

State broadcaster says agreement with governing body was reached on Friday and will cover men’s and women’s events.

The 2026 Fifa World Cup will be televised in China after all. Photo: AP

100 Top Tables

3 young chefs helping to define Shenzhen’s new fine dining wave

The city is known for cheap weekend eats, but a new contingent of young chefs is now burnishing its reputation for fine dining too.

Culinary creativity at Fumée in Shenzhen. Photo: Handout

Trending in China

China couple diagnosed with rare autoimmune disorder together lost newborn baby

Stricken pair thought to be first in China to fall ill with debilitating condition at same time; disorder may have come from pet hamster.

A young Chinese couple was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder a year after their wedding. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

China Business

Chinese EV makers hunt for idled plants in Europe as they expand global influence

BYD, the world’s largest electric car maker, says it is in talks with Stellantis about using European marques’ idled assembly facilities.

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A BYD Sealion 7 on display at the Baltic Motor Show in Riga, Latvia, on April 24. Photo: EPA
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China

Gallery | In pictures: Trump and Xi cap ‘very successful’ meeting in Beijing

US President Donald Trump on a walk through Zhongnanhai Garden with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, on May 15, 2026. Photo: AP

People

Thailand bars Chinese tourist for life after airport auto-gate outburst

The man reportedly became frustrated when the gates did not open after he slammed his passport on the reader.

The tourist is seen on CCTV kicking the autogates when they do not open for him. Photo: Handout

Tech Trends

‘Panic’ over capacity crunch in mature node chips drives orders to Chinese fabs

AI demand shifts chip production to China, boosting SMIC’s capacity and revenue as global foundries focus on high-margin AI chips.

In the last quarter of 2025, SMIC was the world’s third-largest foundry with a 5.2 per cent market share. Photo: Shutterstock Images

China

Quan Hongchan’s emotional post over mum’s health woes divides internet

China’s three-time Olympic diving gold medallist sparks concern and well-wishes but is also attacked for drawing attention to herself.

China’s Quan Hongchan has been the target of criticism online after a growth spurt changed her physique and affected her diving, resulting in an investigation by sports authorities. Photo: YouTube

Diplomacy

Video | Xi, Trump aim for ‘stable, strategic’ relationship

The two leaders agreed to make stability a key goal of relations over the next three years – and beyond, according to state media.

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Diplomacy

Putin follows Trump to China, Xi hosts US president, Baidu earnings

This week: Putin set to visit China after Trump, China agrees to buy Boeing planes, US restates Taiwan position and April exports weather Strait of Hormuz shutdown. Next week: Baidu and Nvidia report earnings, April retail sales may accelerate, Europe-China space mission makes second take-off attempt, and more.

President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump in Beijing. Photo: AP

Europe

‘Stay inside’: Finland warns of drone scare near capital Helsinki

The early hours warning – the first for the capital city – said a drone could be heading towards an area on the south coast.

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A view of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. File photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Gunfire, farce and fugitive Philippine Senator Bato dela Rosa

‘Call me a coward’, ICC fugitive Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa told the cameras, as he holed up in the Senate in a bid to escape justice.

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A protester holds a placard of Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa during a rally calling for his arrest outside the Senate on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

China Economy

China to start certifying cities and workplaces as ‘birth-friendly’

Campaign aims to name 40 cities and 200 workplaces as being supportive of childbirth every three years.

A nurse feeds a neonatal patient at the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province in Kunming on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

The ‘real test’ for China and the US after Xi-Trump summit

True challenge will be finding ways to ‘cooperate constructively within an inherently competitive relationship’, Chinese analyst cautions.

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US President Donald Trump bids farewell to Chinese President Xi Jinping as he wraps up his state visit, in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Reuters
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China Opinion

Outside In | Xi-Trump summit aside, 2 meetings in Asia matter for global trade

As Trump travelled to Beijing for the kind of bilateral dealmaking he prefers, two groups have continued their multilateral efforts.

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US tech bosses and officials attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14 as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrive. Photo: AP

Science

Top Singapore-based physicist moves to China after superconductor breakthrough

Prominent young professor becomes doctoral supervisor at leading Chinese research university amid high-level recruitment drive.

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Stephen Lin Er Chow (right), pictured with colleagues from the research team that designed the new copper-free superconducting material. Photo: NUS Faculty of Science

Health & Environment

Thai researchers make huge discovery with Southeast Asia’s largest dinosaur

Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, named after a snake from folklore and the province where it was found, weighed as much as nine adult elephants.

An artist’s impression of the Cretaceous period sauropod dinosaur Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis. Photo: Patchanop Boonsai/AFP

K-drama

Review | The Wonderfools: Park Eun-bin lifts fun but flawed superhero K-drama

Korean drama The Wonderfools mixes comedy, romance and action as three misfits gain superpowers and grapple with a sinister conspiracy.

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Park Eun-bin as Eun Chae-ni, a terminally ill misfit who acquires superpowers, in a still from The Wonderfools. Photo: Netflix

Politics

In Malaysia, ex-ministers challenge Anwar’s attempt to project strength

Rafizi and Nik Nazmi are holding an event to announce a new ‘political direction’ on the same day as Anwar’s party meets.

Rafizi Ramli accompanies Anwar Ibrahim as he speaks during a news conference on October 26, 2022. Photo: AP
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Global Economy

Australian trade minister to visit China to secure fuel during Iran war crunch

Beijing tightened jet fuel exports after the war broke out, forcing Canberra to seek alternative suppliers.

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Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell attends a press conference following a meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in May 2023, in Beijing. Photo:

100 Top Tables

Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for May 15-17

Sip on CMYK cocktails at Mhp, enjoy regional bar takeovers at Sips by the Sea, and discover new distilleries at the Whisky Festival.

Sips by the Sea at K11 Musea Sky Bar. Photo: Handout

Society

‘Tell good stories of Hong Kong’ amid global turmoil, John Lee urges local media

City leader speaks at Newspaper Society of Hong Kong’s annual press awards, where South China Morning Post takes home eight prizes.

SCMP publisher Tammy Tam (second from right), executive editor Zuraidah Ibrahim (back row, fourth from left) and the publication’s award-winning journalists. Photo: Elson Li

Law and Crime

Former Wang Fuk Court representative and wife held over fraud, money laundering

Man who testified at Tai Po fire inquiry and wife suspected of abusing Covid loan scheme with proceeds later withdrawn and partly transferred.

Jason Kong, a former management committee member of the owners’ corporation at Wang Fuk Court, has been arrested alongside his wife on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. Photo: Elson Li

Diplomacy

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, May 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China right after the Trump-Xi summit.

US President Donald Trump gestures towards Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to gardens in the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing. Photo: Reuters