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Russia & Central Asia

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

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.

2 hours agovideocam

Southern California drenched by powerful Christmas storm, flash flooding

42 minutes agovideocam

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

3 hours agovideocam

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.

2 hours ago

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

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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

Nasry Asfura has been declared the winner of Honduras’ presidential election. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Bethlehem celebrates first festive Christmas since Gaza war

After two years of cancelled festivities, the ‘City of the Nativity’ revives its iconic parades and tree lighting as a fragile truce holds in Gaza.

25 Dec 2025 - 10:59AM

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.

6 hours agovideocam

United States & Canada

Trump hits out at ‘dead man walking’ Colbert in late-night blast

US president calls on CBS to ‘put to sleep’ Stephen Colbert’s show now, before its scheduled end in May 2026.

25 Dec 2025 - 10:10AM

Stephen Colbert attends an event in New York on December 9. Photo: AFP

China

Brazil weighs visa-free entry for Chinese tourists and business travellers

Brazil saw nearly 80 per cent growth in Chinese tourists in 2024 and would join only two neighbours offering visa-free entry.

25 Dec 2025 - 12:38AMvideocam

If confirmed, the visa waiver would simplify travel for Chinese visitors to Brazil and could accelerate arrivals to destinations such as Iguazu Falls. Photo: Handout

Europe

Explainer | Trump vs EU: the European laws curbing big tech and irking US

The US is challenging EU digital regulations, accusing them of censorship and targeting American tech firms.

25 Dec 2025 - 12:00AM

Africa

Algeria brands French colonisation a crime, demands reparations, apology

France’s rule over Algeria from 1830 until 1962 remains a sore spot in relations between the two countries.

25 Dec 2025 - 8:46AM

United States & Canada

Trump’s US$100,000 H-1B visa fee upheld by judge, as lottery system ends

The US awards 85,000 H-1B visas annually via lottery, with Indian nationals accounting for nearly three-quarters of recipients.

24 Dec 2025 - 8:42PM

US President Donald Trump displays an executive order creating the “Trump Gold Card” and introducing a fee of US$100,000 for H-1B visas in the Oval Office in September. Photo: TNS

Global Economy

Burglary of JD.com warehouse in France prompts investigation, speculation

The theft, with over 50,000 items stolen by some estimates, casts a shadow over the Chinese e-commerce giant’s first Christmas in France.

24 Dec 2025 - 5:30PMvideocam

A worker sorts packages for delivery at a JD.com warehouse in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Russia & Central Asia

Moscow blast kills 2 police near site of Russian general’s car bombing

Moscow hit by second bombing in three days, following a series of assassinations Russia blames on Ukraine.

25 Dec 2025 - 8:34AM

East Asia

US to grant Seoul exception on nuclear submarine fuel supply

Seoul to formalise right to build nuclear-powered submarines via Aukus-style waiver requiring approval from Trump and US Congress.

24 Dec 2025 - 6:34PM

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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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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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