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Asia Opinion

Asian Angle | Malaysians’ embrace of Mandarin is a win for multiculturalism

A rise in Mandarin fluency is shown to help foster positive attitudes and reduce prejudice, but challenges remain in boosting inclusivity.

Pupils attend class at a primary school in Selangor, Malaysia. More non-Chinese Malaysians are embracing Mandarin. Photo: Shutterstock

China Business

Pop Mart’s Labubu: From Blackpink fave to fading frenzy

Elfin character loses value on speculative market, but gives investors faith in Pop Mart’s formula for monetising intellectual property.

Labubu toys appear at the opening of a Pop Mart store in Bangkok on July 5, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Science

China’s new technology achieves ‘unprecedented’ rare earth production speed

A new method for mining rare earth metals that is better for the environment has been developed by Chinese scientists.

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Conventional rare earth mining can have damaging environmental impacts, but a new method developed in China could be good news for the sector. Photo: Reuters/Stringer

Australasia

Australian state premier calls synagogue attack an escalation in antisemitism

The attempted arson in Sydney was the latest in a wave of incidents that have targeted the country’s Jewish community.

Anti-Semitic graffiti was removed after it was spray-painted on the side of the Synagogue on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE

China Opinion

Opinion | China’s work culture must change to give young people hope again

Shifting economic and societal forces are giving thoughtful leaders a chance to abandon crushing overwork and embrace a new corporate culture.

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People enjoy a day out at Dameisha beach in Shenzhen on January 6, 2024. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
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Southeast Asia

Living among the dead in a Manila cemetery

Thousands of Manila’s poorest eke out a living by hawking goods and cleaning tombs while living atop mausoleums in the Philippine capital’s oldest cemetery

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Big Tech

China’s AI disrupter DeepSeek bets on ‘young geniuses’ to take on US giants

DeepSeek prefers to hire new graduates, or those early in their AI career, in line with the company’s preference for ability over experience.

DeepSeek and ChatGPT icons are seen on an iPhone screen. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Society

Travel-loving Hongkongers losing interest in keeping pets, animal charity says

Rising number of cats are also being abandoned, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says.

A cat at the SPCA adoption centre in Wan Chai waits for a new home. Photo: May Tse

Tennis

Russian nearly man Rublev retains grand slam belief ahead of Australian Open

World No 9 Andrey Rublev face teenage prospect Joao Fonseca in first round clash in Melbourne, fit-again Nishikori backed to fire.

Andrey Rublev fires a backhand during his Bank of China Hong Kong Open loss to Fabian Marozsan. Photo: Elson Li

Trending in China

China school in trouble over suicide disclaimer mandate for students

Public pressure over requirement that pupils sign letter absolving school of blame should they kill or harm themselves sees authorities step in.

A school in China has been slammed for making pupils sign a suicide disclaimer to absolve the institution of responsibility should they take their own life. Photo: Shutterstock
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Opinion

My Take | Hong Kong’s pets need better protection and should not be left behind

A spate of poisonings has highlighted the broader need to update animal cruelty laws, more than five years since an overhaul was first proposed.

Former Miss Hong Kong 2020 winner Lisa-Marie Tse Ga-ye with her dog Leo, Peachy and Summer. Photo: Instagram/ lisamarie_tse

Arts

Language Matters | You may hate words like ‘skibidi’, but they define Gen Z and Gen Alpha

It would not be very demure of you to whine about Gen Z/Alpha slang like ‘rizz’ or ‘skibidi’ – these are words shaped by shared experiences.

Are the words Gen Z and Gen Alpha use childish or confusing to us? Perhaps, but they define our younger generations. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Anwar the statesman? Malaysia’s complex PM steps onto the world stage

As his country assumes the Asean chair for 2025, Anwar Ibrahim faces the challenge of reconciling his ideals with thorny global realities.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Once celebrated as a beacon of reform, his reputation has shifted since taking office. Photo: AFP

Chinese culture

Year of the Snake may be unlucky for Snakes. How to avoid misfortune

The Lunar New Year in 2025 heralds the Year of the Snake. It’s bad news if the Snake is your zodiac – you’ll be hit by the ‘12-year curse’.

The Year of the Snake is bad for Snakes. Photo: Getty Images

United States & Canada

Firefighters race to contain Los Angeles fires before menacing winds return

New sites under threat include the world famous J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles.

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Firefighters battle the Palisades fire in California on Sturday. Photo: Reuters
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Football

Plymouth stun Brentford, Walker quitting City, Alexander-Arnold answers critics

Plymouth pulled off shock of the FA Cup third round by beating a top-flight club for the first time in 40 years, while Kyle Walker wants out.

Morgan Whittaker (centre) celebrates scoring his side’s winner against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong Opinion

Editorial | It’s time for expos to reinvent themselves

Such events can no longer rely on tradition. More attractive and creative offers and features are needed to entice customers to dig deeper.

People shopping on the last day of Hong Kong Brands & Products Expo, at Victoria Park, Causeway Bay on January 6, 2025. Photo: Sam Tsang

United States & Canada

Trump prosecutor Jack Smith resigns from US Justice Department

The special counsel says he has completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on the cases against the US president-elect.

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US Special Counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former president Donald Trump in August 2023. Photo: AP

Hong Kong Opinion

Editorial | Targeting medical mistakes a vital step towards a better system

Clearer guidance for disclosure of blunders is part of a ‘full body check’ for the Hospital Authority that is to be welcomed.

Henry Fan Hung-Ling, chairman of Hospital Authority, attends a press conference at Hospital Authority Building on November 22, 2024. Photo: Edmond So

Military

What does 2025 hold for China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun?

Key promotions have eluded Dong, two of whose predecessors fell in corruption probes, with implications for Beijing’s military diplomacy.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
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Entertainment

Meet Mette-Marie Kongsved, who Elijah Wood secretly married on New Year’s Eve

The couple met on the set of the 2017 film I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, and collaborated most recently on 2024’s adventure comedy-drama Bookworm.

Elijah Wood may have tied the knot with long time partner Mette-Marie Kongsved on New Year’s Eve. Photo: @Crumpemag/X

Entertainment

Painted Faces, moving film about Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung’s schoolmaster

1988 Hong Kong film follows Yu Jim-yuen, the master of the Peking opera school in Kowloon whose pupils included Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung.

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Lam Ching-ying and Sammo Hung in a still from Painted Faces. Photo: Celestial Pictures

Asia Opinion

Opinion | Why the US will not allow a nuclear-armed South Korea

While Seoul’s own nuclear defence would lessen the US security burden, it would also undermine American interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

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(From left) Incoming commander General Xavier Brunson, outgoing commander General Paul LaCamera, US Navy admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, and South Korea’s acting defence minister Kim Seon-ho inspect troops during a change-of-command ceremony for the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on December 20. Photo: EPA-EFE

Entertainment

Who is Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo’s husband, Jonathan Steinberg?

A new book reveals that Donald Trump almost chose Bartiromo as his running mate before selecting J.D. Vance – but what do we know about the conservative journalist’s low-key millionaire husband?

Meet Jonathan Steinberg, husband of Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo, who allegedly came close to being picked as Trump’s running mate. Photo: @mariabartiromo/Instagram

Watches

The art and jewellery designs redefining timepieces, from Cartier to Chanel

When telling time alone isn’t enough, these spectacular timepieces from luxury watchmakers are pushing the art of horology to the realms of the spectacular.

Dazzling designs (from left): Bulgari Serpenti Misteriosi Pallini, Vacheron Constantin Grand Lady Kalla and Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Secret Necklace. Photos: Handout
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United States & Canada

Trump Jnr got homeless Greenlanders to don Maga hats for free lunch: report

Trump employees recruited people on the street by promising them an expensive restaurant meal, according to a Danish radio station.

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A resident wearing a Maga hat stands in front of the Hotel Hans Egede during Donald Trump Jnr’s visit to Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Wellness

Run clubs have arrived in Hong Kong to combine exercise and community

This booming subculture is attracting runners of all abilities and from all walks of life to join up and enjoy a workout together – and buy the merch.

Running clubs, such as the She Runs Collective, are putting people through their paces all over Hong Kong. Photo: She Runs Collective

Entertainment

Who is Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s son Tyler?

During the first day of the new Congress last week, controversial Trump supporter Lauren Boebert brought her whole family along to see her being sworn in.

Lauren Boebert’s eldest son Tyler ran into trouble with the law last year. Photo: @laurenboebert/Instagram

Middle East

Israeli PM sends Mossad chief to Gaza ceasefire talks in sign of progress

Spy agency director David Barnea’s presence means high-level Israeli officials who would need to sign off on any agreement are now involved.

People protest against the Israeli government and to show support for the hostages in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Europe

German far-right party wants to limit Chinese role in ports, digital networks

The Alternative for Germany has added the demands to its election manifesto, saying key infrastructure should remain under local control.

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A Chinese flag flies in front of the country’s embassy in Berlin, Germany, in April 2024. Photo: dpa via AP
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