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Passengers board an Air China flight at an airport in Beijing. China’s major airlines are facing criticism for charging extra seat selection fees. Photo: Getty Images

‘A violation’? China’s airlines in the hot seat over hidden extra fees

Seat selection fees are becoming more common in China as airlines grapple with squeezed profit margins, but consumers are pushing back.

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A Chinese home-grown business jet is on the way. Will it rival Gulfstream?

China consumption
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Diplomacy

China-Africa partnership leaps into the future as Beijing expands access: envoy

Cooperation between African nations and China now growing to include AI, green energy and fintech, ambassador says during Rwanda summit.

Diplomacy

Beijing lodges protest after Taiwanese official’s reported secret Israel trip

Chinese embassy urges Israel to ‘correct its erroneous actions’ in response to reported visit by the island’s deputy foreign minister.

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Society

Bump in recent sales, but 183-year Hong Kong umbrella shop set to fold for good

Yau Yiu-wai, 73, fifth-generation owner of Sun Nga Shing Umbrella Store, values craftsmanship and offers repairs, but says trade no longer viable.

Science
The sun sets over solar panels deployed at the Kubuqi Photovoltaic Desert Control Project, near Ordos, in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region. Photo: AFP

China’s green tech revolution will outlast geopolitics: Arif Aga

Southeast Asia

Thai-Cambodia clashes continue even as Trump says both have agreed to ceasefire

The US president says he has salvaged the truce he brokered, but both nations insist there is still work to do to end the deadly hostilities.

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A wounded Thai soldier is transferred to a hospital in Surin province, Thailand, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
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Diplomacy

‘Concrete symbols’: China-built Ecowas HQ latest infrastructure gift to Africa

Beijing’s strategy to project influence through gifting prestigious presidential palaces and parliamentary buildings labelled ‘unique’.

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Politics

Syria’s year of ‘epic’ transformation earns it Trump’s protection

Washington is lifting sanctions and has rebuked Israel for its attacks, as the US throws its weight behind Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration.

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Lifestyle

A nation by design: how Singapore’s creative spirit drives its development

As the city state celebrates its 60th anniversary of independence this year, we look at how design has shaped its growth, from building its modern skyline from the ground up to enhancing the quality of life for an ageing population and allowing citizens to live healthier lives

In partnership with:
DesignSingapore Council
Marina Bay, envisioned as a place for people to live, work and play around the clock, is now home to many of Singapore’s iconic landmarks. This centrepiece of the cityscape has continued evolving to support its sustainable development.

Society

Hong Kong government ‘confident’ of finding new site to rehouse fire victims

Identifying site for new Tai Po project is one of several resettlement options considered for those left homeless by deadly inferno.

Authorities are prioritising collecting views from displaced Wang Fuk Court residents. Photo: Karma Lo

Politics

Former Hong Kong commerce minister Gregory So dead at 67

Lawyer served as commerce chief from 2011 to 2017 and oversaw broadcast regulation, including controversial licence bid by businessman Ricky Wong.

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China Economy

Forging ahead: China’s copper heartland vows to build US$28 billion empire

Shandong province plans to create a world-class smelting hub by 2027 to secure supply chains for the strategic metal as prices sizzle.

Politics

China’s fake name scandal sparks warnings about government credibility and graft

Construction bids, social security card records and university lists among public documents found to feature imaginary people.

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Institutions across China have been caught using entries from the same popular names list on documents unearthed by the media and online sleuths. Photo: Weibo/ 中国新闻周刊

Society

Towering traditions: Hong Kong’s centuries-old Kam Tin Jiao Festival returns

Massive bamboo structure takes centre stage as indigenous Tang clan hosts five-day festival honouring heritage, faith and family.

The 30-metre tall bamboo structure, which serves as the centrepiece of the Jiao Festival organised by the indigenous Tang clan of Kam Tin. Photo: Edmond So

Politics

Will Philippines favour Eurofighter Typhoon for its military upgrade?

The Eurofighter, which is estimated to cost US$117 million each, has drawn buying interest from Bangladesh and other countries.

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Politics

Incoming Hong Kong legislator Christine Fong disavows fiery mode of politics

Long-time district councillor and ‘Queen of Votes’ in recent Legco election pledges to ‘share honour and disgrace’ with government.

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Big Tech

Meta sees role reversal as it adopts Alibaba’s Qwen to train AI models

Throughout 2023 and 2024, Chinese firms keen to catch up with the US used Meta’s Llama to help them build their own models.

The Qwen logo is seen in this illustration taken, January 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure targeted in war’s 4th winter

Kyiv and its allies say Moscow aims to cripple Ukraine’s power grid to deny residents access to heat, light and running water.

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A Ukrainian power plant worker walks in front of a damaged production hall after a Russian missile attack this month. Photo: AP

Society

Hong Kong inferno exposes regulatory silos, lax oversight: who is accountable?

Industry insiders also ask whether housing authorities should have played bigger role in supervising renovation at Wang Fuk Court.

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Economics

Southeast Asia’s rich buy sky garages while the middle class lose their homes

As wealthy buyers seek penthouses with living-room supercar parking, struggling families battle banks to keep a roof overhead.

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OPINION
Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | From climate change to health, global problems need investors to step up

Anthony Rowley
Walter Woon

Opinion | From Singapore to Taiwan, Japan must face its past for Asia’s future

Walter Woon
17
Letters

Letters | The case for separating the Dutch and Chinese arms of Nexperia

Letters
Chang Zi Qian

Being Chinese | The 30-word identity pitch of an overseas Chinese

Chang Zi Qian
Wee Kek Koon

Ancient China’s Labubu-like doll craze also saw fans splurge silly money

Wee Kek Koon
Harry’s View | 13 Dec 2025
December 13, 2025
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Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong expo vendors expect 20% sales boost amid bigger crowds, good weather

Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure targeted in war’s 4th winter

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police arrest man, 71, for alleged attack on 2 others over smoking spat

Companies

Yau Tong project sells out amid hopes of home market recovery in 2026

Entertainment

Marvel Cosmic Invasion review: Iron Man, Wolverine et al unite for beat ’em up

Politics

Record tally of spoiled votes in Hong Kong poll ‘not due to pressure on public’

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Chinese biotech firms set to crack the global market within a decade, according to industry experts. Photo: Getty Images
SCMP SeriesChina Inc. goes global

‘Major breakthroughs’: Chinese biotech firms plan global expansions after domestic success

Strong manufacturing base a driving force behind overseas expansion, but industry leaders and analysts say hurdles remain.

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Waste to wealth: why China is building incinerators around the world

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

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Open Questions series

China Economy

Open Questions | Economist Huang Yiping on why China’s AI push must be ‘job-oriented’

Dean of Peking University’s National School of Development says ‘balance’ needed in AI development to protect employment, ‘human well-being’.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Diplomacy

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo on Taiwan reunification, lessons from the Ukraine war

Commentator and former senior colonel on Beijing’s row with Japan, lessons from the Ukraine war and why playing global policeman is a trap.

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China Economy

Open Questions | ‘A mistaken view’: US economist Nicholas Lardy on the ‘peak China’ hypothesis

The veteran China watcher talks Beijing’s need for financial reform and how US-China economic convergence could still be on the horizon.

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China Economy

Open Questions | Chinese economist Lu Feng on why the time is ripe for a consumption rebalance

Peking University professor says China’s next five-year plan could provide the necessary momentum to shift more public resources to households.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
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China Future Tech
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Big Tech

China’s DeepSeek challenges Google DeepMind with new AI model

DeepSeek’s V3.2-Speciale equals Google’s Gemini 3 Pro in reasoning capabilities, the Chinese start-up says.

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A shop advertising DeepSeek in Hong Kong. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Big Tech

Meta sees role reversal as it adopts Alibaba’s Qwen to train AI models

Throughout 2023 and 2024, Chinese firms keen to catch up with the US used Meta’s Llama to help them build their own models.

Global Economy

China-free supply chain? US firm has a rare earth strategy – but can it work?

Backed by Washington, REalloys seeks to break dependence on China but says achieving fully self-sufficient supply chain will take time.

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Big Tech

Huawei bolsters AI ambitions with foundation model unit, recruits global talent

In a recruitment ad posted in October, the Shenzhen-based firm said it was building a world-class AI team, wooing global talent.

Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, showcases the company’s Mate 80 smartphones at a launch event on November 25, 2025. Photo: Handout

Science

US green tech retreat echoes mistake of China’s Qing dynasty before collapse

While Washington pulls back on climate, Beijing is making it possible for developing nations to leapfrog into a cleaner energy era.

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Diplomacy

First China ore shipment rewards Guinea leader’s push for Simandou alliance

Mining minister says China and Rio Tinto were pressed to work on shared infrastructure because ‘we do not want railways running everywhere’.

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Science

How China pulled off a critical mineral tech revolution in just 10 months

‘Unique’ Chinese efficiency turns European firm’s vision into reality by building the world’s first large-scale silica-removal technology.

4

China Economy

Are US, EU and Japan banking on defence spending for an economic boost?

As advanced economies ramp up military expenditures, they have multiple goals - including a reduced reliance on China in defence supply chains.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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