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Banking & Finance

SF Holding, J&T strike US$1 billion deal as Asian e-commerce booms

The agreement will help SF Holding expand its international businesses, according to the Shenzhen-based company.

The deal will see SF Holding acquire an 8.45 per cent stake in J&T for about HK$8.3 billion. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Tech Trends

Alibaba’s Qwen AI app hits 100 million users as update widens role in daily life

Chinese e-commerce giant deepens integration of its fast-growing app to enable voice-powered shopping, travel and digital tasks.

Qwen’s AI app aims to help people get things done in everyday scenarios, according to Alibaba. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong

Coleman Wong falls at final Australian Open hurdle, loses to Ymer in 3 sets

Hongkonger out-duelled in Melbourne by Sweden’s Ellas Ymer in third round of grand slam qualifying.

Coleman Wong lost in the third round of Australian Open qualifying. Photo: Xinhua

United States & Canada

Man shot by US officer in Minneapolis as tensions flare over crackdown

A week after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, an agent fired ‘defensive shots’ during a struggle involving a snow shovel and three people.

A federal agent walks through tear gas smoke after it was used on protesting community members in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Health & Environment

2 killed in Thai crane collapse just a day after 32 die in train accident

The back-to-back crane accidents have renewed scrutiny on Italian-Thai Development, the company responsible for both construction sites.

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A crushed car sits among the debris after a crane collapses at the under-construction Rama II Expressway on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua
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Economics

Pakistan’s arms deals cleared for take-off as orders soar for JF-17 jets

The jets, co-produced with China, proved their worth during the India-Pakistan tensions, when they destroyed an S-400 air defence system.

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A visitor takes a look at a JF-17 jet fighter during an air show in Dubai in 2017. Photo: Reuters

Transport

61 million passenger trips at Hong Kong airport in 2025, up 15% year on year

Airport Authority says strong figures came on the back of busy Christmas season, while cargo throughput for the year also rose 2.7 per cent.

The strong figures for 2025 came on the back of a busy Christmas season, which saw over 200,000 daily passenger trips over eight days in December. Photo: Eugene Lee

Southeast Asia

New deal eases logistics for Japan-Philippines drills amid China tensions

The agreement removes taxes on military supplies, including weapons and fuel used in joint exercises.

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A Japanese naval ship docks at the Manila Port, Philippines, last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Society

Hong Kong consumer watchdog urges better elderly services after 9,206 complaints

Among complaints received over the past three years was a woman who spent HK$400,000 on beauty treatments, the council says.

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has called on businesses to improve services for elderly customers after receiving more than 9,200 complaints in the past three years. Photo: Karma Lo

Food & Drink

Sourdough the star at Paul Lafayet co-founder’s new Hong Kong bakery concept

Social Goods sees Christophe Younes’ love of health and baked treats come together, with his mother helping realise his sourdough vision.

Social Goods founder Chris Younes holds a tray of sourdough loaves at the new bakery and cafe in Central, Hong Kong Island, on January 8, 2026. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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Science

Chinese military says it is developing over 10 quantum warfare weapons

People’s Liberation Army says it is working on advanced technology to provide better front-line mapping.

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The PLA said the technology was being tested on the front lines. Photo: Xinhua

Racing

Superstar McDonald ‘rapt to get call’ for Beauty Bolt ride in Classic Mile

The world’s best rider has been snapped up by the Kwok family to ride Tony Cruz’s consistent galloper in next month’s feature.

James McDonald aboard Fit For Beauty in the Kwok family colours. Photos: Kenneth Chan

International Rugby

All Blacks fire coach Robertson less than two years before World Cup

The 51-year-old said he was ‘gutted’ to be leaving the team; former Australia coach Dave Rennie has been linked to the job.

Scott Robertson said in a statement he was ‘gutted’ to be leaving. Photo: AFP

China Economy

Exclusive | European test pilots put China’s C919 airliner through paces in Shanghai

European Union Aviation Safety Agency test flights a crucial step in acquiring certification needed for global operation.

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C919s at the Singapore Airshow in February 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Entertainment

Review | Unexpected Family: Jackie Chan trades kicks for tears in sentimental drama

Chan excels as a man with Alzheimer’s disease in this well-meaning but ham-fisted film about the importance of family.

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Jackie Chan (right) and Peng Yuchang in a still from Unexpected Family (category I, Mandarin), directed by Li Taiyan.
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China Business

Hong Kong stocks waver as Chinese tech giants falter after positive start

Online travel-booking agency Trip.com slumps 20 per cent after China opens antitrust probe into the company.

Hong Kong stocks have outperformed their US peers so far this year. Photo: China News Service/VCG

Southeast Asia

‘I know I’ll cry’: BTS frenzy grips Malaysia as fans worry about scalpers

The K-pop band is returning to Malaysia for two shows in Kuala Lumpur after over a decade, sparking fan frenzy and ticket battles.

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Members of BTS perform during the 2022 Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, US. Photo: Reuters

Banking & Finance

Hong Kong, Shenzhen ‘to deepen’ ties in finance, AI for a world-class tech hub

Post’s China Conference: Greater Bay Area highlights Hong Kong’s role as ‘superconnector’ and ‘super value adder’.

Joseph Chan, undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, says Hong Kong can leverage its strength in financial services to support Shenzhen. Photo: SCMP

World

Musk’s Grok barred from undressing AI images after global backlash

‘Spicy Mode’ feature had allowed users to create sexualised deepfakes of women and children.

Grok has been allowing users to manipulate images of women and children to sexualise them. Photo: dpa

Economics

Trump’s 500% tariff push raises risk of India-US trade freeze

Such punitive tariffs would erode India’s export competitiveness and force the country to reorient its trade elsewhere, analysts warn.

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A train carrying cargo containers rides along a railway track in Ajmer, India, in August 2025. The US is India’s largest export market, receiving about 18 per cent of its total goods exports. Photo: AFP
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100 Top Tables

Hong Kong’s bar scene was extra volatile last year – what’s in store for 2026?

From Bar Leone, to Quinary and Draft Land, the city’s bar scene is increasingly oriented towards simplicity, accessibility and community.

How are Hong Kong’s bars adapting to changing trends in drinking and socialising in 2026? Photo: Jonathan Wong

Law and Crime

Legal Tales | Time to end bid-rigging in Hong Kong with criminalisation, tougher enforcement

In the wake of the Tai Po fire, an all-too-common practice in building management and maintenance comes under the spotlight – and must be redressed.

The catastrophic blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court has exposed widespread bid-rigging in Hong Kong’s building management and maintenance industry. Photo: Sam Tsang

China Opinion

Opinion | Without pension reform, China is leaving its rural elderly out in the cold

What looks like a side-effect of ‘coal-to-gas’ heating programmes is really a structural issue: rural pensions are not enough to live on.

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A worker sweeps snow in the town of Zhengding in north China’s Hebei province on January 5, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

Americas

Trump prevails in US Senate showdown over Venezuela war powers

A 51–50 vote kills war powers resolution after Trump pressure flips two key Republican defectors.

US fighter jets parked on the apron at the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters

Politics

Jailed Chinese AI chatbot developers appeal in landmark pornography case

Defendants given prison sentences for creating sexual content for profit via their AI emotional companions.

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The case, related to AI-generated images, has prompted debate in China’s legal community. Photo: Shutterstock
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Hong Kong

Hong Kong triathlon coach to lay down key Olympics message, signpost LA route

Andrew Wright urges talented city squad to take advantage while going is good – ‘we don’t know what future looks like’.

Cade Wright hands over to Robin Elg after her outstanding leg in the National Games relay. Photo: Eugene Lee

Trending in China

China midwife accidentally severs baby’s finger, results in reattachment surgery

Nurse admits blunder, blames newborn’s moving fingers as she cut umbilical cord; infant’s father says wife is ‘distraught’ about incident.

A Chinese midwife accidentally severed a baby’s middle finger during a caesarean section and the infant was transferred to a larger hospital for surgery. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Baidu

Politics

Hong Kong lawmaker Duncan Chiu leads Legco affluence list with 54 properties

Five of Hong Kong’s new lawmakers own more than 10 properties, while nine have overseas holdings.

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Duncan Chiu speaks during the first meeting of the eighth Legislative Council on January 14. Photo: Karma Lo

China Business

China-EU tariff agreement on EVs will cut shipments but boost profits

Agreement on price floors will allow mainland carmakers to avoid price wars and nurture brand reputation, analysts say.

People view BYD cars during the Brussels Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium, on January 10, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

Food & Drink

Mouthing Off | Dry January is a silly social campaign and ‘no-lo’ drinks are pointless

Andrew Sun asks that with alcohol consumption at record lows in many places, why do we need Dry January and no- or low-alcohol drinks?

(From left) Carlsberg 0.0, Peroni 0.0, Budweiser 0.0 and Kirin’s Perfect Free are four non-alcoholic beers available for sale in Hong Kong shops. Photo: Cathy Hilborn Feng