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Middle East
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Warships are seen in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, on Tuesday. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire via dpa

Diplomacy

US urges Beijing to end military pressure against Taiwan

New Year’s Day message from the US State Department follows drill around island that saw over 30 warships deployed, according to Taipei.

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US sanctions Chinese companies and tankers with Venezuela links

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Dozens dead, 115 hurt in Swiss bar fire during New Year’s celebration

United States & Canada

Trump blames bruised hand on aspirin, denies falling asleep in meetings

The US president says his hand was ‘whacked’ from a high five with Bondi, and his previously reported MRI was actually a CAT scan.

US President Donald Trump closes his eyes during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. Photo: AP
US President Donald Trump closes his eyes during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. Photo: AP

Russia & Central Asia

Ukraine says it faked death of anti-Kremlin Russian fighter Kapustin

Kyiv says it did so to protect the Russian Volunteer Corps leader, after his assassination was ordered by Moscow’s special forces.

Middle East

Saudi Arabia sets executions record in 2025, putting 356 people to death

The surge comes amid Riyadh’s ongoing ‘war on drugs’ and marked the first time more foreigners were executed than Saudis in a calendar year.

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Africa

41 young men die in South Africa from circumcision procedures

The procedures were done as part of traditional initiation, a rite of passage into manhood for young men from various ethnic groups.

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Boys stand in a field during traditional Xhosa male circumcision ceremonies into manhood in Qunu, South Africa, in June 2013. Photo: AP
Boys stand in a field during traditional Xhosa male circumcision ceremonies into manhood in Qunu, South Africa, in June 2013. Photo: AP

Middle East

6 killed in Iran as cost-of-living protests turn violent

Security forces clash with demonstrators in three cities, marking the first deaths since economic unrest began in Tehran.

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Diplomacy

Beijing’s Venezuela plans, Mexico-China tariffs: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Brazil car factories to Beijing’s Venezuela plans, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in December 2025.

Diplomacy

China’s Ukraine war role, EU vs Shein and Temu: 7 global relations reads

From a ‘blindsided’ Dutch minister to Brussels’ China de-risking, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in December 2025.

Ukrainian recruits attend military training in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine. Photo: Press service of the 65th Mechanized Brigade via EPA

Russia & Central Asia

CIA concludes Ukraine did not target Putin’s residence in drone strike

CIA findings contradict Moscow’s allegations. Kyiv calls the claim a pretext to escalate war and stall peace talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year’s Address on December 31, 2025. Photo: EPA/Sputnik
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year’s Address on December 31, 2025. Photo: EPA/Sputnik

Middle East

Iran executions hit 35-year high with 1,500 killed in 2025: rights group

Drug offenses fuel ‘unprecedented’ surge as Tehran uses capital punishment to ‘create fear’, says rights activist.

World

World welcomes 2026 with fireworks, lightshows and hopes for peace

From Paris to Dubai to Sydney, crowds ring in the new year with exuberant celebrations.

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Americas

Bolsonaro’s house arrest bid fails, as Brazil court rejects health claims

Brazil’s Supreme Court rejected the former president’s request, citing no health decline, so the ex-leader remains in prison.

Bolsonaro is seen at his residence in Brasilia in September 2025. Photo: AFP

Europe

Trump takes swipe at Clooney and France after actor gets citizenship

US president mocks film star as the French government defends granting citizenship to George and Amal Clooney.

George Clooney and Amal Clooney have become French citizens. Photo: AFP
George Clooney and Amal Clooney have become French citizens. Photo: AFP

United States & Canada

Trump says pulling National Guard from Chicago, LA and Portland, for now

US president claims credit for falling crime in US cities as he yields to a series of major legal defeats.

Americas

US Coast Guard searches for survivors after strike on alleged drug boats

US strike in international waters kills three people while others jumped overboard and may have survived.

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Politics

The China-US face-off: a visual guide to Xi and Trump’s key people

Discover the power players in Xi and Trump’s teams; the key people setting the agenda on diplomacy, the military, the economy, security and science.

The China-US face-off: a visual guide to Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s inner circles

United States & Canada

Power players: a visual guide to Trump’s team and their views on China

Discover who is in Donald Trump’s inner circle, their backgrounds, stances on China and the roles they will play in shaping the future of the US.

Diplomacy

‘No worries’: Trump plays down Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan

Trump dismisses ‘routine’ drills in Taiwan Strait even as US arms sales hit record high and Pentagon repeats 2027 timeline.

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Africa

US launches strike on Islamic State targets in Nigeria, Trump says

US strikes targeting militants were carried out in cooperation with the Nigerian government.

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A missile is launched from a military vessel at an unidentified location, in a screen grab obtained from a video released by the Department of War on December 25, 2025. Photo: US Department of War via Reuters
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Open Questions series

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
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MULTIMEDIA
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World ushers in New Year with dazzling fireworks display

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Former Bangladesh leader Khaleda Zia dies

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