Latest

Video | Trump slaps 25% extra tariffs on Iran’s trading partners

Trump announces tariffs ‘effective immediately’ on economies doing business with Tehran, including India and China, Iran’s largest trading partner.

U.S. President Donald Trump points while sitting next to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as they attend a meeting with oil industry executives, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Americas

Honduras rejects ‘illegal’ recount order of vote won by Trump-backed candidate

Electoral body labels recount decree ‘unconstitutional’, confirming Trump-backed Nasry Asfura as winner despite outgoing president’s protests.

Nasry Asfura delivers a speech as he presents his government plan in Tegucigalpa, Honduras on November 11, 2025. Photo: AFP

China

Mandarin pop star Jay Chou to take on top pros at Australian Open ‘Slam’ event

The singer, who has committed to donating all his winnings to charity, admits he is nervous about losing quickly or failing to touch the ball.

Jay Chou will play in the event on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday with a wild card. Photo: Instagram@jaychou

Chinese culture

What the Chinese surname Ma, meaning ‘horse’, symbolises and how it spread

Ma is one of mainland China’s most common surnames and is interestingly even prevalent among Chinese Muslims. We look at its history.

As the Year of the Horse 2026 approaches, we explore the origins and prevalence of the Chinese surname Ma, which literally translates as “horse”. Photo: Shutterstock

Military

US moves for AI dominance to outpace China with new ‘overwhelming’ strategy

Pentagon chief urges preventing adversaries from gaining tech edge as he unveils strategy that includes integrating Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok.

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US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth speaks at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour. Photo: Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS
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Middle East

German chancellor says Iran’s leadership may be in ‘final days’

Friedrich Merz warns that a government relying on violence is ‘effectively finished’ as the reported death toll from Iran’s protests passes 640.

Iranians at a pro-government rally in Tehran on January 12. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

Southeast Asia

‘Urgently needed’: Malaysia’s chief justice demands more judges as caseloads soar

Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid warns court backlogs expose judicial shortages and urgent calls for reform in Malaysia’s legal system.

Malaysia’s Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh. Photo: Handout

China Opinion

Opinion | Can Europe rebuild its strength to trade with China without fear?

To break the pattern of trade escalations with Beijing, Brussels must move beyond tariffs and invest in its own competitiveness.

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Employees work on the assembly line of vehicles at a workshop of FAW-Volkswagen on December 9, 2025, in Chengdu in China’s Sichuan province. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Society

Hong Kong’s Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao to cease operations in Canada

Employees working for Toronto and Vancouver editions were notified of decision via termination letters sent by parent company from Hong Kong.

Ming Pao Canada said its final day of operations would be January 31. Photo: Handout

People

Australian Labor MPs apologise over ‘disgusting’ rating game at festival

The three Labor MPs were overheard playing the game about male politicians at a festival, triggering a complaint.

People attend Hobart’s Taste of Summer – a food and music festival held annually on the city’s waterfront during the holiday season in Australia. Photo: Handout
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Arts

Hong Kong artist’s ceramic forest inspired by old Shanghai’s wooden staircases

At the Shanghai Biennale, Jaffa Lam explores the climate crisis and community with her Longquan-celadon-style ceramic columns.

“Windbreak” (2025), by Jaffa Lam, an installation of ceramic columns, is part of the 15th Shanghai Biennale that runs until March 31, 2026, at the Power Station of Art in Huangpu. Photo: Jaffa Lam and Shanghai Biennale

Law and Crime

Executive of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily ‘regrets’ not standing up to Jimmy Lai

Lawyer for associate publisher of defunct tabloid cites client’s objection to Lai’s idea for satirical online show and praise from industry peers.

Jimmy Lai arrives at West Kowloon Court in a Correctional Services Department vehicle on Tuesday. Photo: Edmond So

Science

Biotech pioneer Alexey Amunts leaves Germany for China

‘Shenzhen adds another dimension; it is a place where ideas do not remain ideas for long,’ Amunts says of new position.

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Alexey Amunts, who is internationally recognised for his breakthroughs in visualising life’s molecular machinery at near-atomic resolution, has joined China’s SMART academy in Shenzhen. Photo: Handout

Politics

Money for babies, combat pay: Thailand’s poll turns into a cash splash contest

From US$2,000 for newborns to debt write-offs, Thai political parties are dangling a raft of handouts in a bid to woo voters on February 8.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of Thailand’s Democrat Party, greets a woman and her baby during an election campaign event in Bangkok on Saturday. Photo: EPA

China

Chinese social media users hit out at Fan Zhendong’s Saarbrücken teammates

Reigning Olympic table tennis champion won both of his matches, but his German club team lost 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

Chinese social media users have hit out at the performances of Fan Zhendong’s teammates after his German club team’s loss in the Bundesliga. Photo: handout
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Celebrities

Meet Bobbi Salvör Menuez, who plays Landman’s first non-binary character

Married to artist Quori Theodor, the trans actor was in films like Nocturnal Animals and My Animal, and worked as a model and costume designer.

Bobbi Salvör Menuez as Paigyn Meester in Landman, which is set for its season finale. Photo: @ hi_its_bobbi/Instagram

China Business

UBS projects rosy view of Chinese stocks in 2026 as investors diversify holdings

‘Chinese assets’ appeal will further increase this year because of a sharpened focus on diversified investments,’ UBS’ Thomas Fang says.

A Chinese trader looks at an electronic trading board at the Shanghai stock exchange. Photo: Reuters

Racing

Lui leaving nothing to chance as he looks for January Cup glory at Happy Valley

The top trainer saddles Chancheng Glory, Speed Dragon and Winning Wing in his pursuit of a second win in the Group Three race.

Trainer Francis Lui is targeting Group Three glory at Happy Valley. Photos: Kenneth Chan

Southeast Asia

Malaysian petrol station operators fume as foreign fuel cheats go unpunished

Foreign cars exploiting Malaysia’s subsidised RON95 fuel spark calls for stricter penalties on vehicle owners, not just petrol stations.

A fuel station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Health & Environment

Beijing calls on Hong Kong to take lead in globalising traditional Chinese medicine

China’s health chief Lei Haichao wants the city to be global hub for testing and research, as John Lee vows policy alignment with national goals.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, Director of the Liaison Office Zhou Ji, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Minister of the National Health Commission Lei Haichao, Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yu Yanhong, and Zhao Xudong, Director General of the Fifth Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, at the launch ceremony for the Chinese Medicine Hospital. Photo: Dickson Lee
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Arts

Damien Hirst and Do-ho Suh among top artists showing in Seoul in 2026

Seoul’s 2026 art scene will also see the opening of the Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul and the return of the Gwangju and Busan biennales.

Nest/s (2024), by Do Ho Suh. A comprehensive survey of Suh’s practice will be mounted at the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, in September 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Do Ho Suh Studio

Middle East

Iranians use Musk’s Starlink to pierce internet blackout during protests

Smuggled satellite terminals offer a high-risk lifeline as Iran’s protest death toll reportedly climbs past 600.

Cars burn in a street during a protest in Tehran on January 8. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

Diplomacy

How a snap election in Japan could put Takaichi in a stronger position with China

A decisive win could give Tokyo ‘limited room for concessions in its negotiations with Beijing’ and more room to manoeuvre with Washington.

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Media reports have suggested Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call a snap general election to capitalise on her high approval ratings. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong’s SHKP secures HK$1.4 billion land deal in Northern Metropolis

Property giant says site could yield over 1.2 million sq ft of floor area and 2,700 flats, making it one of the biggest housing projects in the area.

According to SHKP, the site in Kwu Tung South could yield over 1.2 million sq ft of floor area and more than 2,700 flats. Photo: Eugene Lee

Southeast Asia

Indonesia’s Prabowo quells US$32 billion capital doubts with first stay at site

The government said Prabowo’s visit showed his ‘commitment to ensuring the development in the area proceeds according to plan’.

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A view of the presidential palace in the planned new capital city of Nusantara in Indonesia. Photo: Reuters
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People

Fast and furious: Malaysian streetwear boss suspended after road rage video

The Stoned & Co co-founder, seen on camera tailgating and blocking a car after being honked at, has apologised for his ‘poor judgment’.

This screengrab from a dashcam video shows the moment the Stoned & Co co-founder is honked at to get out of the way. Photo: Instagram/sensual.96s

Health & Environment

WHO, ex-Hong Kong leader CY Leung’s charity pledge to boost health ties

WHO chief praises GX Foundation for focusing on practical solutions as both sides target vector-borne diseases.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (left) meets with CY Leung in Geneva. Photo: GX Foundation

United States & Canada

Former US Navy sailor gets 16 years for selling ship secrets to Chinese contact

Jinchao Wei, 25, provided information about the USS Essex and other ships in exchange for about US$12,000.

Crew on the deck of the USS Essex during a visit to Hong Kong in 2010. Photo: Sam Tsang

China Economy

China’s PBOC sets onshore yuan fixing at strongest point in nearly 16 months

Analysts note how Beijing’s policy goals, such as internationalising China’s currency and curbing overcapacity, are aligning with a firmer exchange rate.

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The People’s Bank of China set the yuan’s midpoint rate, also known as the daily fixing rate, at 7.0103 to the US dollar on Tuesday. Photo: dpa

Trending in China

China girl, 12, pens essay to thank ‘second dad’, offers him US$140 after job loss

Youngster says she was left ‘shivering in the wind’ after death of father; love from uncle saved her from the darkness.

A 12-year-old Chinese girl has written a touching essay expressing gratitude to her uncle, or “second father”, following the death of her real dad. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin