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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Exclusive | Zheng Yongnian on US, Venezuela and why China doesn’t want ‘a separate kitchen’

Political scientist says the Western-led global order remains useful, and the Belt and Road Initiative isn’t a geopolitical project.

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Open Questions | How new C100 chief plans to foster ties between Chinese-Americans and China

US-Venezuela conflict
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Science

China applies to put up 200,000 satellites after calling Starlink a crash risk

US Federal Communications Commission says it approved SpaceX to launch 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites.

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Military

China set to supercharge radar, engine and AI in fifth-gen J-20 stealth fighter

Analyst tells state media Mighty Dragon’s airborne weapons are expected to have a longer range and stronger anti-interference capabilities.

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Society

Exclusive | Hong Kong surveyor’s undeclared role prompts rule review after deadly Tai Po fire

Arrested surveyor’s undeclared link to Wang Fuk Court triggers move from the government to tighten potential conflict of interest rules.

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Military
On January 5, Nicolas Maduro is escorted towards the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan after being abducted from Caracas by US forces. Analysts ask whether China has the capacity to carry out a similar opertion. Photo: Reuters

Could China execute special forces operation like US precision Maduro abduction?

Americas

Cuba defiant after Trump says island to receive no more Venezuelan oil or money

‘No one tells us what to do,’ said Cuba’s President Diaz-Canel after Trump ‘strongly suggested’ they make a deal before it is ‘too late’.

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Cubans gather in support of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in Havana on January 3. Photo: AFP
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Middle East

Iran will target US, Israel if Trump strikes over protest

Israel is also on high alert for the possibility of a US intervention to support ‌Tehran’s protest movement.

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Politics

Exclusive | Philippine army colonel faces charges after anti-Marcos post goes viral

Audie Mongao will also undergo psychiatric tests after he sparked a political storm by withdrawing support for the president.

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Business

The secret ingredient in your daily life: why Malaysian palm oil is used around the world

Found everywhere from food products to biofuel, this vegetable oil is preferred for its versatility, safety and sustainable production.

In partnership with:
MPOC
Palm oil is a versatile ingredient found in a wide range of everyday items, from ice cream and cake to lipstick and biofuel.

China Business

Foreign, Hong Kong retailers shut mainland China stores amid fierce competition

High-profile store closures included those of Lane Crawford, Ikea, Triumph, Zara Home and Zara.

Lane Crawford plans to close its store in Chengdu after February 28. Photo: agirlaboutdesign.com

Diplomacy

China urges Tanzania to back multilateralism, will ‘stand together’ with Africa

Top diplomat Wang Yi also reaffirms support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Society

31% of scam victims calling Hong Kong helpline had possible suicidal tendencies

Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre says its hotline service handled 3,983 debt-related cases in 2025.

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Business

Which stocks will Hang Seng shareholders buy with their US$14 billion windfall?

Investors could favour high-dividend stocks like HSBC and Bank of China as they seek stable returns and growth potential, analysts say.

Shares of HSBC could be a viable investment alternative for Hang Seng Bank shareholders, analysts say. Photo: Eugene Lee
SERIES: Year of the Horse 2026

Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Monkeys, from love to health

In the Year of the Fire Horse, Monkeys should focus on travel and avoid places with heavy yin energy, fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha says.

The Year of the Horse 2026 will be a time for those born in the Year of the Monkey to expand networks abroad. But married Monkeys are at risk of feeling alienated from their spouse. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

China

‘Strictly forbidden’: China warns hikers off Aotai Line after 3 die on trail

Group reportedly switched phones to flight mode while in restricted area, hampering emergency contact and rescuers’ attempts to find them.

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South Asia

India’s Modi to host German leader to bolster trade, defence ties

Merz’s visit is his first to an Asian country since he took office, ahead of a planned EU-India summit and as they work on a free-trade agreement.

Middle East

Hamas says it will dissolve its Gaza government when Palestinian body takes over

An Egyptian official said Hamas will meet other Palestinian factions this week to finalise the leadership committee’s formation.

Tent shelters housing displaced Palestinian families are set up on empty land in Gaza City on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Science

China turns mega-project failure into defining moment in modern engineering

In rendezvous beneath the Yangtze River, a multimillion-dollar tunnel boring machine meets its stalled twin with just 2mm of vertical error.

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The 6.4km (4-mile) Jiangyin-Jingjiang Yangtze River Tunnel is a major infrastructure project in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Handout

Science

China offers full-time job to top European immunologist Andrew Macpherson

Distinguished professor leaves Switzerland to take up role in China, attracted by its reputation for cutting-edge biomedical research.

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China Economy

China’s outbound travel set to soar by 10 million trips – but halve in Japan

Chinese tourist flows to Japan could plunge to as low as 4.8 million this year from 9.3 million in 2025 amid political dispute, survey finds.

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OPINION
Chow Chung-yan

Opinion | Forget Venezuela and Greenland – here is the real trillion-dollar question

Chow Chung-yan
Alice Wu

Opinion | Hong Kong courts cross-border drivers – then traps them in licence queues

Alice Wu
Kun Tian

Opinion | Hong Kong’s fertile ground for AI IPOs aligns with China’s tech strategy

Kun Tian
Alex Lo

My Take | The days of EU and Nato may be numbered under von der Leyen and Kallas

Alex Lo
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SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong must stay on its toes to keep queues for public services fair

SCMP Editorial
Harry’s View | 12 Jan 2026
January 12, 2026
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LATEST

Law and Crime

Jimmy Lai trial: Hong Kong judges to hear mitigation arguments from defence

Hong Kong Opinion

Opinion | Hong Kong courts cross-border drivers – then traps them in licence queues

Hong Kong

US sacrifice Hong Kong fencing title bid with Olympic gold already in their sights

Diplomacy

Opinion | Forget Venezuela and Greenland – here is the real trillion-dollar question

People & Culture

Filipino woman worships green statue for 4 years, finds out it is animated character Shrek

Society

Expert panel formed in Hong Kong to probe chronic water loss at Yuen Long estate

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SCMP Series
Beijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy
Revisiting US-China relations
Year of the Horse 2026
China Inc. goes global
Illustration: Henry Wong
SCMP SeriesBeijing’s recalibration of its Taiwan policy

Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in the second half of 2025?

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

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Beijing is pinning hopes for Taiwan reunification on KMT – but not all of them

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‘Urgent’: has mainland China changed tone for Taiwan peaceful reunification?

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Open Questions series

Global Economy

Open Questions | ‘Embrace the moment’: on China, Daniel Kritenbrink puts pragmatism first

Former US ambassador to Vietnam says a return to the past for US-China relations is unrealistic, but both economic powers benefit from ties.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Diplomacy

Open Questions | How new C100 chief plans to foster ties between Chinese-Americans and China

The Committee of 100’s president Paul Cheung has high hopes for Chinese-Americans’ relationship with China in these uncertain times.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | Political scientist Ivan Krastev on European vertigo in a post-American world

While melancholy Europe frets that the US and China will shape the future, middle powers are jostling for a place at the big table.

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Diplomacy

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China Future Tech
China Future Tech
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Tech

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo’s Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models ‘help people flourish’, CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

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The questions in FAI-C were reviewed by a panel of Biblical experts, including theologians, pastors, psychologists and scholars of ethics. Photo: SCMP

Tech Trends

Chinese smart eyewear makers shine at CES with focus on challenging Meta

‘The rise of smart glasses is riding directly on advances in AI,’ LLVision founder and CEO Wu Fei says.

Tech Trends

Chinese firms, led by AgiBot, outpace US rivals in 2025 humanoid robot shipments

‘Chinese vendors are setting benchmarks in large-scale production,’ Omdia analyst Lian Jye Su says.

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Tech Trends

MiniMax and Zhipu’s stellar Hong Kong IPOs supercharge China’s AI ambitions

Zhipu’s coding assistant is wooing subscribers with a monthly fee of about US$3, a fraction of what Anthropic charges for Claude.

MiniMax became a darling of investors with its gain of 80 per cent when the stock debuted on Friday. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Diplomacy

How the US raid in Venezuela has triggered Brazilian fury and a Chinese opening

Latin America’s largest economy seeks ‘delicate balance’ between Trump’s ambitions and boosting ties with Beijing, its top trading partner.

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Illustration: Brian Wang

Banking & Finance

What does HSBC’s buyout of Hang Seng Bank mean for its future and investors?

HSBC’s historic US$13.6 billion buyout of Hang Seng Bank aims to cut costs, tackle bad debts and fuel growth, but challenges abound.

Military

China’s role in Korean peninsula stability tested amid nuclear submarine moves

Seoul’s calls for Chinese mediation seen to underscore Beijing’s central role in preserving stability between two Koreas.

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China Economy

Shanghai unveils US$10 billion investment spree as US-China tech race heats up

Shanghai announces 50 new projects across an array of hi-tech industries as China’s cities heed Beijing’s call to double down on innovation.

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Shanghai has unveiled a slew of new investments in hi-tech industries worth more than US$10 billion. Photo: AFP
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