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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.

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French citizen Laurent Vinatier sits in a cage prior to a court session in Moscow in October 2024. Photo: AP

Football

Grandfather encouraged me to play for Algeria, says son of French legend Zidane

Luca Zidane plays as goalkeeper to avoid direct comparisons with his World Cup-winning father, and switched national allegiance at age 27.

Luca Zidane had a comfortable time in goal as Algeria beat Sudan 3-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Europe

Andrew’s daughters join UK royals for traditional Christmas Day service

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

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

Transport

Hong Kong to extend Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay checkpoint hours for New Year’s Eve

Lo Wu checkpoint to stay open until 2am next day while Shenzhen Bay will operate overnight to manage post-countdown crowds.

Rail passengers return to the mainland via Lo Wu control point after midnight on New Year’s Day this year. Photo: Nora Tam

Tech Trends

Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra, backed by Leica, challenges Apple’s iPhone Pro Max in imaging

The 17 Ultra’s US$998 starting price is nearly 8 per cent higher than the previous generation owing to the soaring cost of memory chips.

Xiaomi’s new 17 Ultra premium smartphone. Photo: Weibo
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Science

China’s military maglev achieves 0-700km/h acceleration in less than 2 seconds

Feat seen to catapult China into global top tier of ultra-high-speed maglev technology and unlock new possibilities for hyperloop transport.

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Footage of the test aired by state broadcaster CCTV shows a vehicle flashing across the maglev track, leaving a trail of mist in its wake. Photo: CCTV

Society

Hong Kong firefighter unions slam Ip Man producer Checkley Sin over blaze remarks

Producer of Ip Man film series took to social media on Monday to claim internal messages accuse fire service director of mismanaging blaze.

The unions slammed Checkley Sin for his remarks earlier this week. Photo: Nora Tam

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.

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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

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.

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

Other Sport

Olympic snowboarding champ Su becomes first Chinese winner of Big Air World Cup

Former child actor scores back-to-back World Cup wins and also adds another Guinness World Record to his name after ‘back-to-back 1980’ move.

Su Yiming of China greets spectators after the Big Air final in Beijing on December 6. Photo: Xinhua
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China Business

UBTech’s US$237 million Fenglong deal tightens humanoid robot supply chain

Hong Kong-listed UBTech is buying a 43 per cent stake in Zhejiang Fenglong, as China’s robotics firms increasingly eye A-share acquisitions.

Chinese robotics firms are increasingly turning to acquisitions of mainland-listed companies to deepen industrial capabilities and secure access to domestic capital markets. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

Tracing China’s long links with Kenya, from Admiral Zheng He to belt and road

National museum in Nairobi celebrates 620th anniversary of Ming dynasty navigator’s voyages and 62 years of modern bilateral ties.

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Visitors at the National Museums of Kenya on the opening day of the display which explores the legacy of Chinese Admiral Zheng He. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong Economy

Architect of Hong Kong’s Octopus card retires with dreams of ‘tap-free’ access

Chief operations officer Sammy Kam and marketing director Rita Li look back on the highs and lows of their careers in a cutting-edge company.

Rita Li, the sales and marketing director for Octopus, and chief operations officer Sammy Kam hold up items of memorabilia at their office in Kowloon Bay. Photo: Edmond So

Food & Drink

Maximalist cocktails are back, but not the garish ones of yesteryear

From Seoul to London to New York, bars buck the minimalist trend with boldly flavoured, classy drinks that create a multisensory experience.

A Beyond the Sea cocktail at the London bar Nightjar. Featuring a briny foam to evoke sea spray and served in a giant shell, the cocktail epitomises bartenders’ move towards elaborate tipples made with a thoughtful approach. Photo: Nightjar

People

With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?

The High Court will rule on abuse of power and money laundering charges, with Najib facing the prospect of lengthy prison terms if found guilty.

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak attends the verdict of his house arrest bid at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Malaysia on Monday. Photo: Reuters
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Policy

China broadens foreign investment list in renewed pitch for overseas capital

The catalogue, which lists the sectors carrying policy incentives for overseas investors, has hundreds of new entries, many in advanced manufacturing.

China’s revised catalogue of encouraged industries has added many sectors, including medical equipment. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Tech Trends

Trip.com suspends partnership with Cambodia amid border clashes, cyber concerns

In the first 10 months of 2025, Cambodia received 1 million Chinese tourists, accounting for over 20 per cent of all international visitors.

In the Thursday statement, Trip.com also moved to quell fears regarding data security. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong Christmas lighting designer still at it after 40 years

At 67, Terence Wong shows no signs of slowing down and speaks passionately about his craft, including his dazzling display at Mody Lane.

Terence Wong has been creating Christmas lighting displays in the city for more than four decades. Photo: Dickson Lee

Other Sport

Ex-China table tennis player believes clubs hold key to return of Wang, Sun

Doubts remain over whether the two world No 1s, who withdrew injured at the WTT Finals, will make Chinese Table Tennis Super League Finals.

Wang Chuqin (left) and Sun Yingsha withdrew from their singles semi-finals through injury at the WTT Finals. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

China sharpens criticism of Japan ‘neo-militarism’, warns of ‘dangerous signal’

Amid heightened tensions, commentator says Beijing has sufficient policy tools in reserve should Tokyo endanger China’s core interests.

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Japanese ground troops take part in an exercise in Okinawa prefecture in June. Chinese state media says the resurgence of Japanese militarism has dealt a serious blow to bilateral relations and undermined regional peace and stability. Photo: AFP
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Tech

Hong Kong to broaden crypto rules with new licences for dealers and custodians

New frameworks mooted for virtual asset dealing and custodian services, as Hong Kong forges ahead with plans to become a digital-asset hub.

Regulators said on Wednesday they would finalise legislative proposals for two new licensing frameworks. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong Economy

Japan popular with Hong Kong travellers over Christmas, Harbin gaining appeal

Despite row with China, Japan remains popular with Hongkongers, with mainland cities such as Harbin and Yunnan gaining appeal.

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A street in Kamakura, in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, packed with tourists on December 17. Photo: Kyodo

Celebrities

Meet Bruno Gouery, who plays eccentric Frenchman Luc on Emily in Paris

The French actor also played Didier in The White Lotus alongside Jennifer Coolidge, and starred in a Johnny Depp-directed film last year.

Bruno Gouery at the premiere of Emily in Paris’ season five in Paris. Photo: AFP

Gender & Diversity

Explainer | How China Dai women use chickens to find husbands, reject unwanted suitors

Women in 1.3 million-strong ethnic minority group use price of a cooked chicken, secret meetings in the woods to find the ideal partner.

We explain why women from China’s Dai ethnic minority group use chickens as a matchmaking tool. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina

South Asia

Aspiring Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman welcomed home after 17 years abroad

The political heavyweight is to lead the BNP through an election after ex-premier Sheikh Hasina’s exit following a student-led uprising.

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman waves to crowds from a vehicle after his arrival in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
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Economics

Duopoly of Air India, IndiGo to face challenge from 2 new airlines

The approval for Al Hind Air and FlyExpress to operate in India comes amid mounting calls to challenge the dominance of Air India and IndiGo.

Aircrafts queue up on the tarmac before taking off at Mumbai airport. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

‘Starting anew’: Indonesians in flood-struck Sumatra hold Christmas mass

Many in the congregation are still sheltering at evacuation sites after the fatal disaster wreaked havoc on the island four weeks ago.

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The Angkola Protestant Church is seen amid flood devastation at Aek Ngadol village in North Sumatra province on Christmas Day. Photo: AFP

Global Economy

From Shein to Labubu, French shoppers are buying Chinese for Christmas

This year’s wave of popularity for Chinese brands has not waned in France’s capital, with Shein’s store packed and Labubu dolls dotting trees.

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Shoppers queue for the opening of the first physical space for Chinese online fast-fashion retailer Shein in Paris. Photo: Reuters

Law and Crime

Hong Kong taxi driver hospitalised after crashing into school building

Incident at Delia Memorial School (Hip Wo) leaves 61-year-old driver trapped, requiring fire services to extract her.

A taxi driver has been hospitalised after her vehicle crashed through the wall of a school building in Kwun Tong. Photo: Handout

Society

Charity vows to give every Hong Kong fire-affected child a new toy

Kids4Kids also strives to promote ‘three Cs’ – creativity, character and community – to help children become future changemakers.

Kids4Kids aims to foster creativity, build character, and inspire kids to bring about positive change in their community. Photo: Handout