Thailand’s 2025 of turmoil: border war, scam crackdowns and PM musical chairs It was a year defined by war with Cambodia, but also the unravelling of cyber scams around Thailand’s borders, the rise and demise of political dynasties and another period of musical chairs in the prime minister’s office. There was also national mourning with the death of Queen Mother Sirikit, a towering figure over recent Thai history, and the omnipresence of Lalisa Manobal – or Lisa of South Korean girl group Blackpink – who rapped, acted, gyrated and produced content that seized the...

South China Morning Post

From PM purge to border bombs: Thailand’s year of upheaval

As the country mourns the loss of Queen Mother Sirikit amid political chaos and a sluggish economy, Lisa’s global reign lights up Thai public.

Greater Bay Area assets poised to lead surge in China’s expanding C-REIT market With the first wave of commercial Chinese real estate investment trusts (REITs) set to launch in the next two years, Greater Bay Area assets are likely to be in strong demand, according to Deloitte China. “GBA assets will likely be oversubscribed,” according to Ryan Wu, deputy managing partner for Hong Kong Chinese enterprises services with Deloitte China. He was speaking at the recent APREA GBA Conference on the fast-growing C-Reits market, which has recently expanded to include commercial...

South China Morning Post

Greater Bay Area assets poised to lead surge in China’s expanding C-REIT market

By the end of last month, China had nearly 80 C-REITs, raising a total of over US$28.3 billion, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

How Japan’s space industry can regain thrust after H3 rocket failure Japan’s latest rocket failure has triggered much soul-searching and resurrected a debate about whether the country’s space programme, long defined by caution and incremental progress, is equipped for a market that now rewards speed, repetition and a tolerance for failure. On Monday, the domestically built H3 rocket, Japan’s new flagship launcher, failed, costing the country a satellite and drawing sharp criticism from the Japanese media. Local media called the incident a “significant setback” to...

South China Morning Post

Can Japan’s space industry regain thrust after H3 rocket failure?

Failure is inevitable, aerospace experts say, so Japan needs to be less afraid of making mistakes and move on.

Hong Kong developers test demand for ultra-luxury homes with new launch on The Peak Hong Kong property developers are bringing new trophy homes to market, as Wharf Holdings kicked off a tender on Friday for three mansions at its ultra-luxury Plantation Road project on The Peak. The tender marked one of the most closely watched super-luxury home offerings in 2025, following a recent string of high-value transactions that pointed to renewed confidence in the market among affluent buyers. The three mansions, with saleable areas ranging from 5,629 to 6,122 square feet, include the...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong developers test ultra-luxury home demand with new launch on The Peak

As property prices stabilise and rents are on the rise, affluent buyers are being enticed with a fresh supply of high-end homes.

Quiet courage of ordinary people can rebuild a world in crisis My son, who is almost four, has recently become obsessed with the universe. He can recite the planets of the solar system and tell anyone who will listen that Pluto – his favourite – was once a planet but was reclassified as a “dwarf planet” in 2006. Now that he has a sense of scale and size, he has developed a habit of comparing everything: an ant is smaller than a leaf, the Earth is smaller than the sun, the sun is just a dot in the galaxy, and the galaxy is a tiny part of the universe. “And...

South China Morning Post

Opinion | Quiet courage of ordinary people can rebuild a world in crisis

It’s easy for us to feel powerless as deadly wars rage on, but the resilience of ordinary men and women gives us hope for the new year.

Dozens of Chinese EV makers under pressure to fold or trim operations in 2026: analysts Dozens of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers face a do-or-die moment in 2026, according to analysts, amid weakening domestic demand that is expected to see perennial loss-making firms exit the world’s largest car market. About 50 unprofitable mainland Chinese EV makers are under pressure to scale down their business or wind down operations, as the country’s automotive sector is projected to report a sales drop next year – the first such contraction since 2020 – owing to the industry’s...

South China Morning Post

Dozens of Chinese EV makers under pressure to fold or trim operations: analysts

Grappling with expiring cash subsidies and tax incentives, China’s car market is forecast to see deliveries slump next year.

Myanmar polls open amid civil war as junta seeks to prolong power Overshadowed by civil war and doubts about the credibility of the polls, voters ‌in Myanmar were casting their ballots in a general election starting on Sunday, the first since a military coup toppled the last civilian government in ‍2021. The junta that has since ruled Myanmar says the vote is a chance for a fresh start politically and economically for the impoverished Southeast Asian nation. But the election has been derided by critics – including the United Nations, some Western countries and...

South China Morning Post

‘Military has destroyed our lives’: Myanmar votes in election amid civil war

The multiphase election, which the junta insists is ‘free and fair’, comes nearly four years after it took power in a coup.

Paris Metro stabbings suspect moved to psychiatric hospital, prosecutors say The suspect in the stabbing of three women in the Paris metro has been released from custody and moved to a psychiatric hospital, prosecutors said on Saturday. The man was arrested suspected of stabbing three women in the Paris Metro on Friday as the capital’s end-of-year festivities were in full swing. The three victims were attacked at three different locations along the Line 3 metro track that runs across central Paris. They were injured but not critically. Continued police custody was not...

South China Morning Post

Paris Metro stabbings suspect moved to psychiatric hospital, prosecutors say

The suspect, a Malian citizen jailed in January 2024 for aggravated theft and sexual assault, attacked 3 women on the city’s Metro on Friday.

Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O–Lam Tin Tunnel fully reopens after fuel truck crash Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O–Lam Tin Tunnel has resumed full operations nearly seven hours after it was forced to partially close when a fuel truck tipped over inside. Police received a report at 12.52pm on Saturday that a medium-sized truck had crashed into the right wall of the tunnel while driving along Cha Kwo Ling Road in the direction of Tseung Kwan O. The force added that the driver, a 53-year-old man, had sustained injuries to his head. “The crash had broken some traffic signs and damaged...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O–Lam Tin Tunnel fully reopens after fuel truck crash

Police received report at 12.52pm on Saturday that medium-sized truck had crashed into right wall of tunnel.

Russia likely moving nuclear hypersonic missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus Moscow is likely stationing new nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missiles at a former airbase in eastern Belarus, a development that could bolster Russia’s ability to deliver missiles across Europe, two US researchers have found by studying satellite imagery. The researchers’ assessment broadly aligns with US intelligence findings, said ‌a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share information not authorised for public release. Russian President Vladimir...

South China Morning Post

Russia likely moving new nuclear missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus

Experts say deployment of the Oreshnik a strategic shift to deter Nato and extend Moscow’s missile range in Europe.

Nexperia China eyes new wafer suppliers in 6 months amid legal fight with Dutch chipmaker Nexperia China, the estranged unit of the Dutch chipmaker, is pushing forward with efforts to secure new wafer suppliers in six months, as the firm’s Netherlands head office and mainland Chinese owner Wingtech Technology started direct talks last week. In its shareholders meeting in Shanghai on Friday, Wingtech said Nexperia China’s plant in Dongguan, in southern Guangdong province, continued to operate amid “a significant gap in wafer supply”, reports from several state-backed media...

South China Morning Post

Nexperia China eyes new wafer suppliers amid legal fight with Dutch chipmaker

Nexperia owner Wingtech says the China unit produced more than 11 billion chips since mid-October, despite wafer supply constraints.

Soaring to the top: China appoints first female captain for flights on home-grown C919 China has appointed its first female pilot to exclusively captain flights on its home-grown C919 jet, with more aspiring women waiting in the wings as the nation expands its talent pool and systemically transitions elite pilots who used to fly Boeing and Airbus jets to operate the narrowbody airliner. Yu Yue, who made a high-stakes switch from her decade-long career flying the US-made Boeing 737 to be a C919 captain this year, has become a source of inspiration for many in the country. According...

South China Morning Post

Soaring to the top: China appoints first female captain for C919 flights

Promotion of former Boeing 737 pilot Yu Yue, who holds a ‘zero error’ record, called an inspiration to women across the nation.

Thailand, Cambodia sign ceasefire deal after weeks of deadly border clashes Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an “immediate” ceasefire on Saturday, the two countries said in a joint statement pledging to end weeks of deadly border clashes. “Both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire after the time of signature of this Joint Statement with effect from 12 hours noon (local time) on 27 December, 2025, involving all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas,” said...

South China Morning Post

‘Very happy’: Thailand, Cambodia sign ceasefire deal to end border clashes

Both sides agreed to freeze all troop movements and allow civilians living in border areas to return home as soon as possible.

Back reforms and align with nation, outgoing Legco chief tells new Hong Kong lawmakers Incoming lawmakers should prioritise helping the Hong Kong government advance policy reforms and strengthen integration with national development, the outgoing Legislative Council president has said as he prepares to step down. Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen also said on Saturday that the new lawmakers would need to assist the government in devising a prudent and pragmatic budget, set to be unveiled in February, and tackling the aftermath of the Tai Po fire that broke out on November 26 and claimed at...

South China Morning Post

Back reforms and align with nation, Legco chief tells new Hong Kong lawmakers

Andrew Leung ‘confident new lawmakers can draw on their professional expertise … to fully support government in driving reform’.

Hong Kong’s Operation Santa Claus strengthened by Morgan Stanley’s enduring support Morgan Stanley’s fundraising drive for Operation Santa Claus (OSC) has kept the firm on course to remain the campaign’s top corporate supporter for the ninth consecutive year, extending a partnership of nearly three decades that has engaged employees across divisions, seniority levels and borders. According to Gokul Laroia, CEO of Asia at Morgan Stanley, the global financial services firm’s enduring support for OSC reflected its long-term commitment to giving back to the community, as...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong’s Operation Santa Claus boosted by Morgan Stanley’s enduring support

Firm on course for its 10th successive year as charity’s top corporate supporter, raising millions for local causes and Tai Po fire recovery.

Shorter quarantine time drives rise in pet imports from mainland China to Hong Kong Hong Kong has seen an increase in applications to import pets after the city cut the quarantine period for cats and dogs from mainland China from 120 to 30 days. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) also said that a greater number of quarantine units at its new Kai Tak complex had further reduced waiting times for pet owners relocating to Hong Kong and hoping to bring their animals with them. The department said it received 291 applications for pet quarantine in the...

South China Morning Post

Shorter Hong Kong quarantine time drives rise in pet imports from mainland China

City recorded 291 import applications in first 10 months of the year, up from 283 in 2024 as quarantine time reduced from 120 to 30 days.

Safety fears as Japan prepares to restart nuclear plant ‘built on tofu’ Campaigners against nuclear energy have condemned Japan’s decision to resume operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant, claiming that the facility will be unable to withstand a major earthquake as it was “built on tofu”. Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), the operator of the Niigata prefecture plant, on Wednesday applied for a final examination of the facility to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA). Approval is likely to be a formality as the prefectural assembly already gave the nod on...

South China Morning Post

‘Built on tofu’: safety fears as Japan prepares to restart nuclear plant

While Fukushima operator Tepco says it is ‘committed to safety’ at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, critics believe it is a disaster waiting to happen.

Trump says Ukraine’s Zelensky ‘doesn’t have anything until I approve it’ ahead of talks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday in pursuit of a deal to end Russia’s nearly four-year invasion, though the latest comments from Moscow raise doubts about how close a final agreement really is. Zelensky told reporters on Friday that he would discuss sensitive issues with Trump including the future of the Donbas region in Ukraine’s east and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The Ukrainian leader said he plans to...

South China Morning Post

Trump says Zelensky ‘doesn’t have anything until I approve it’ ahead of talks

The two leaders are expected to discuss issues like the future of the Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Greater ambition: how Hong Kong and bay area neighbours could host Asian Games, Olympics Wheels were turning in more ways than one at a packed Hong Kong Velodrome last month when cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing rode to her third gold medal of the 15th National Games. Roared on by home spectators, it symbolised the successful realisation of the decision for the city to co-host the Games alongside Guangdong and Macau, its partners under the Greater Bay Area development plan. It created a scene officials hope to see replicated on an even bigger scale: historic achievements in front of...

South China Morning Post

Greater ambition: how Hong Kong and bay area could host Asian Games, Olympics

The cooperation showcased by the co-hosted National Games has further fuelled calls to launch a bid to welcome the world.

Chinese chipmaker CXMT in crosshairs of South Korean prosecutors over Samsung tech leak Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted 10 people, including former Samsung Electronics executives, for allegedly leaking the company’s technology to Chinese chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Tuesday said five people had been arrested, including a former Samsung executive who allegedly recruited key personnel and leaked the company’s proprietary technology to CXMT, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency. They face charges for...

South China Morning Post

China’s CXMT in crosshairs of South Korean prosecutors over Samsung tech leak

Prosecutors in Seoul indict 10 people, including ex-Samsung executives, for allegedly leaking the firm’s technology to memory chipmaker CXMT.