World

United States & Canada

Russia & Central Asia

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

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.

28 minutes ago

Jimmy Kimmel takes aim at Trump in ‘alternative Christmas message’ to UK

3 hours agovideocam

Israel’s rising air defence sales become its ‘most potent’ foreign policy weapon

3 hours ago

Africa

The brutal life of child recruits under a shadowy African rebel group

Kidnapped, drugged and forced to loot, survivors detail life inside the ADF’s hidden forest camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

3 hours ago

A charred wreckage of a truck following an attack by Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces rebels, in the town of Ntoyo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in September. Photo: Reuters

Europe

Inside Chernobyl: Ukraine races to repair radiation shield as war drags on

While engineers scramble to patch drone damage at Chernobyl, Ukraine’s president holds ‘substantive’ talks with US envoys.

3 hours ago

China

China’s reusable rocket failure, PLA growth leaves US ‘vulnerable’: 7 highlights

From Hong Kong’s crowded border at Christmas to jailed ex-Malaysian PM’s request rejected, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

4 hours ago

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Europe

Pope calls for end to all wars in first Christmas as pontiff

‘May the clamour of weapons cease … and may the parties involved find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue’.

25 Dec 2025 - 7:54PMvideocam

A Palestinian man lifts a baby next to the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza on Christmas Eve. Photo: AFP

Europe

Britain’s King Charles calls for ‘reconciliation’ in Christmas speech

UK monarch praises the courage of those who risked their lives for others during his fourth Christmas broadcast as king.

26 Dec 2025 - 8:37AM

Americas

Brazil’s Bolsonaro backs son’s presidential bid, undergoes hernia surgery

The former president, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup, was allowed to leave prison for the operation.

26 Dec 2025 - 10:00AM

Russia & Central Asia

‘Christmas under fire’: Ukraine, Russia report fatal air strikes

Ukraine has been warding off a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:07PMvideocam

Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire on Thursday following a drone strike by Russia in the Chernihiv region. Photo: Handout via Ukrainian Emergency Services/AFP

Europe

Daughters of King Charles’ brother Andrew join royals for Christmas service

Their father, who was recently stripped of his titles ‍over ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was absent from the church.

26 Dec 2025 - 9:40AM

Britain’s Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie after attending the Royal Family’s Christmas Day service. Photo: Reuters

Russia & Central Asia

‘Ball in French court’: Russia makes ‘proposal’ over jailed NGO researcher

Laurent Vinatier is in prison in Russia and facing more spying allegations, but Moscow says it has reached out to Paris.

25 Dec 2025 - 11:37PMvideocam

United States & Canada

Southern California drenched by powerful Christmas storm, flash flooding

Governor declares state of emergency amid deaths, rescues, evacuations, floods and potential mudslides.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:57PMvideocam

United States & Canada

Trump’s Justice Department says may have found a million more Epstein files

After missing the deadline for releasing Epstein-related records, the US Justice Department says it may need a ‘few more weeks’.

25 Dec 2025 - 12:15PM

A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol in Washington in November. Photo: AFP

China Business

Mercedes-Benz buys US$191 million stake in Chinese autonomous driving developer

The German carmaker obtains a 3 per cent stake in Chongqing Qianli Technology.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

The three-pointed star logo of German carmaker Mercedes-Benz. Photo: Getty Images

Europe

Zelensky details US-backed 20-point peace plan for Russia and Putin

Zelensky weighs land concessions to Putin in a US-backed deal, seeking a ceasefire and a demilitarised zone in Donetsk to end Russia’s war.

24 Dec 2025 - 5:35PM

Americas

Trump-backed 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.

25 Dec 2025 - 9:22AM

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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.

20 Mar 2025 - 2:37PM

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.

26 Aug 2025 - 10:25AM

United States & Canada

Trump flew on Epstein jet 8 times in the 1990s, according to prosecutor email

US government releases nearly 30,000 pages of additional records from the Epstein files, some which contain multiple Trump references.

24 Dec 2025 - 9:40AM

United States & Canada

Trump announces new class of ‘battleships’ named after himself

According to Trump, the ships, the first of which will be named the USS Defiant, will be substantially larger than existing US destroyers.

23 Dec 2025 - 2:27PM

The new class of ship will become the centerpiece of Donald Trump’s ‘Golden Fleet’ programme. Photo: AFP

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Open Questions series

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

20 Oct 2025 - 11:18AM

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

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

5 Oct 2025 - 8:13AMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

11 Aug 2025 - 9:13AMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

4 Aug 2025 - 11:00AMvideocam

Illustration: Henry Wong

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

10 Feb 2025 - 12:57PMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

10 Feb 2025 - 6:49AMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

20 Oct 2025 - 11:18AM

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

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

5 Oct 2025 - 8:13AMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

11 Aug 2025 - 9:13AMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

4 Aug 2025 - 11:00AMvideocam

Illustration: Henry Wong

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

10 Feb 2025 - 12:57PMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

10 Feb 2025 - 6:49AMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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Macroscope | Why Wall Street remains bullish on China amid economic slowdown

Nicholas Spiro

26 Dec 2025 - 7:50AM

Opinion | US and China must get serious about AI risk

Jake Sullivan

24 Dec 2025 - 8:23AM

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Nikola Mikovic

23 Dec 2025 - 9:34PM

Albert Bakhtizin

Opinion | Forget the US dollar. Watch water and energy resources instead

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23 Dec 2025 - 9:30AM

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Opinion | Why China has moved to curb steel exports

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23 Dec 2025 - 7:49AM

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Opinion | As UK universities lose prestige, Asian institutions stand to benefit

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22 Dec 2025 - 9:37PM

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Japan’s ‘laughing ritual’ draws thousands

Kim Jong-un visits new resort with daughter

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Kim Ju-ae attended opening ceremonies for the country’s lavish new mountain resort on December 20, 2025.

Japanese rocket fails to launch satellite into orbit

Japan’s next generation “H3” rocket, carrying the advanced optical satellite “Daichi 3”, leaves the launch pad at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, southwestern Japan on March 7, 2023. Japan’s next-generation H3 rocket failed after liftoff on March 7, with the space agency issuing a destruct command after concluding the mission could not succeed. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP) / Japan OUT / JAPAN OUT

Indonesian women prepare food for Sumatra floods victims

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