Latest

Health & Wellness

What is the horse pose in yoga? Only ‘3 out of 10 students’ can do it

Horse pose, also known as horse face pose or vatayanasana, is a challenging yoga pose that boosts hip mobility, strength and concentration.

videocam
A yoga practitioner performs horse pose. Also known as horse face pose or vatayanasana, it is a very advanced posture in yoga that can boost hip mobility and strength. Photo: Shutterstock

Military

Why has Beijing turned down the heat in the Taiwan Strait in recent months?

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

videocam
Illustration: Henry Wong

Trends

Black leather gloves to effortlessly elevate your look this winter

With their luxe materials and exquisite detailing, these black leather gloves will elevate any look effortlessly.

Anne Hathaway and Simone Ashley at the Balenciaga spring/summer 2026 show at Paris Fashion Week in October. Photo: Handout

Americas

Trump-backed Nasry Asfura declared winner of Honduras presidential election

The vote count took weeks, fuelling international concern and doubts about the Latin American country’s fragile electoral system.

Nasry Asfura’s staff take part in the recount of electoral records in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on December 17. Photo: Reuters

Asia Opinion

Opinion | Seoul holds the key to US-North Korea denuclearisation talks

South Korea is taking steps to cool tensions – from moving to opening joint military drills to consultations to easing up on immediate denuclearisation demands.

videocam
President Donald Trump with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at a dinner event in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 29. Photo: AP
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

United States & Canada

Trump admin says 1 million more Epstein files discovered

After missing the deadline for releasing all the documents, the US Justice Department says it may need weeks to go through the new ones.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are seen in an undated file image. Photo: SDNY via TNS

United States & Canada

Trump says comedian Colbert should be ‘put to sleep’

Colbert’s show, in which he often takes aim at the US president, is scheduled to end soon, a decision fans say smacks of censorship.

4
Stephen Colbert attends an event in New York on December 9. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Bethlehem celebrates first festive Christmas since Gaza war

The city where Christians believe Jesus was born had cancelled celebrations for the past two years.

Palestinian scout bands parade at Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Wednesday. Photo: AP

China

Brazil weighs visa-free entry for Chinese tourists and business travellers

Brazil saw nearly 80 per cent growth in Chinese tourists in 2024 and would join only two neighbours offering visa-free entry.

videocam
If confirmed, the visa waiver would simplify travel for Chinese visitors to Brazil and could accelerate arrivals to destinations such as Iguazu Falls. Photo: Handout

Europe

Explainer | Trump vs EU: the European laws curbing big tech and irking US

The US is challenging EU digital regulations, accusing them of censorship and targeting American tech firms.

The EU’s tough tech laws clash with Trump’s stance as fines reshape Big Tech’s future in Europe. Photo: AFP
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Law and Crime

Hong Kong police make another arrest over deadly Tai Po blaze

Man, 48, arrested on suspicion of manslaughter is 16th person detained in connection with fire.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po was being renovated when the deadly blaze broke out last month. Photo: Jelly Tse

Africa

Algeria brands French colonisation a crime, demands reparations, apology

Deepening the rift with Paris, lawmakers unanimously list torture and nuclear tests as crimes requiring compensation for 132 years of rule.

7
The Algerian flag flies outside the National Assembly as parliament members vote on a bill seeking to criminalise France’s colonisation. Photo: AP

Society

Christmas Eve crowds gather in Hong Kong but festive atmosphere ‘more subdued’

Families at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront say celebrations are more muted this year after the deadly Tai Po fire last month.

People gather along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to take in the Christmas Eve sights. Photo: Karma Lo

Tech Trends

Chinese AI champion iFlytek forms new entity to expand into semiconductor design

Shandong Yixun Information Technology’s scope of operations includes integrated circuit design and other AI-related fields.

The latest move by iFlytek underscores the growing importance of semiconductor design in China. Photo: Shutterstock

Basketball

Who are the NBA’s ‘most viewed’ players and where does rookie Cooper Flagg rank?

Nine of the list of 10 players most watched across the league’s social media platforms this season will be in action on Christmas Day.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James remains one of the most popular players in the NBA, but is he No 1? Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Society

The write way: Hong Kong’s Christmas card loyalists keep the digital wave at bay

Despite ease of sending mass messages via social media, young and old traditionalists deliver festive greetings through handwritten paper cards.

Amber Lam says handwritten messages on Christmas cards help build personal bonds with loved ones. Photo: Getty Images

China

China, Russia clash with US at UN; Taipei mayor visit: SCMP daily highlights

From Beijing accusing Washington of violating international law to a study on animal fats, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, speaks during a Security Council briefing on threats to international peace and security in New York on Tuesday. Venezuela requested a Security Council meeting, citing escalating tensions resulting from “US aggression” against the country. Photo: EPA

Diplomacy

China vows to retaliate against ‘unreasonable’ US semiconductor tariffs

Beijing has pledged to ‘take corresponding measures’ in response to the levy, which Washington says is designed to counter economic threat.

videocam
8
The new tariffs are due to take effect in 18 months’ time. Photo: Reuters

Companies

AI-for-Science start-up DP Technology raises US$114 million in Series C round

The Beijing-based AI-for-Science firm said the Series C round would fund hiring and R&D, as interest grows in using AI to speed up scientific discovery.

AI for Science (AI4S) startup DP Technology announced on Wednesday that it had completed Series C financing round, raising over 800 million yuan. Photo: Handout

Boxing

Biggest fight in Japanese boxing history: ‘Monster’ Inoue has plan for Nakatani

Two of world’s best pound-for pound boxers must first clear Mexican opposition before Nakatani can have shot at Inoue’s title.

Naoya Inoue after defeating Ramon Cardenas in a junior featherweight title match in May in Las Vegas. Photo: AP
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

China Economy

Hard work, long hours fuelled China’s rise. Now, it weighs longer breaks

China, one of the world’s hardest-working countries, is adopting incentives to increase time off – and potentially boost consumer spending.

videocam
17
Workers at the construction site for the main tower of Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, China. Photo: Xinhua

United States & Canada

Trump’s US$100,000 H-1B visa fee upheld by judge, as lottery system ends

The US awards 85,000 H-1B visas annually via lottery, with Indian nationals accounting for nearly three-quarters of recipients.

US President Donald Trump displays an executive order creating the “Trump Gold Card” and introducing a fee of US$100,000 for H-1B visas in the Oval Office in September. Photo: TNS

Politics

Young people’s input needed on pressing Hong Kong issues, incoming lawmaker says

Lawmaker-elect Grace Chan also says there is room for more effective communication within the social welfare sector.

videocam
Grace Chan beat two other candidates for the social welfare seat. Photo: Edmond So

Military

China’s PLA simulated battles near Mexico, Cuba and Taiwan, CCTV report shows

Rare insight revealed on state television in footage from a PLA wargaming event in central China where dozens of systems were demonstrated.

videocam
27
Screen shows red and blue opposing unit “indicators”, represented by aircraft and ships, manoeuvring near the coasts of Cuba and Mexico in footage recorded at a PLA wargaming event held in China’s Henan province. Photo: CCTV

Tech Trends

ByteDance, other major Chinese tech firms lead local consumer AI market: report

ByteDance-owned Doubao remains the country’s top consumer AI app, as DeepSeek’s namesake chatbot takes the No 2 spot.

ByteDance’s top-ranked Doubao AI app. Photo: Shutterstock
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

People

Indian doctor suspended, charged after allegedly assaulting patient

Dr Raghav Narula is accused of speaking disrespectfully to a patient at a hospital in Shimla, but has denied wrongdoing in the confrontation.

6
Screenshot from a video filmed by an attendant at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital on Monday showing a masked doctor punching a man lying on a bed. Photo: X

Hong Kong

Hong Kong tops global daily step rankings again, with average of more than 10,000

Report links position to city’s urban design and public transport network, making walking essential daily, and its strong hiking culture.

Hong Kong’s strong weekend hiking culture played a large part in keeping the city top of the rankings. Photo: Eugene Lee

Global Economy

China expands digital-yuan push to Singapore and Asean trade routes

PBOC pledges to integrate e-CNY into the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, boost adoption in Southeast Asia via China’s CIPS payment network.

A customer makes a payment using China’s digital currency, or e-CNY, at a store in Beijing. Photo: Getty Images

Health & Wellness

How laughter is good for your heart, immune system, pain – even if it’s fake

Studies show that laughter reduces stress, boosts immunity, heart health and even lowers pain – ‘it’s like you’ve taken pain medication’.

videocam
Giggles and laughter, even when forced, can boost heart health, immunity and mood. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Taipei mayor cuts Shanghai visit short to oversee security after mass stabbing

Chiang Wan-an has trimmed his visit to joint forum, one of only a few events attended by officials from Taiwan and mainland China.

videocam
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has said that ensuring the safety of citizens remains the “top priority” in the aftermath of a fatal mass stabbing incident in the city. Photo: Handout