Full throttle: Chinese EV makers to corner one-third of global market by 2030, UBS says China’s carmakers are on track to capture about one-third of the global auto market by 2030 and generate most of their profits overseas, according to UBS, underscoring the resilience of the country’s electric vehicle (EV) advantage despite mounting trade barriers in the West. The Swiss bank said its forecast had remained unchanged from two years ago, even as Chinese carmakers accelerated factory construction in Europe and some global rivals scaled back electrification plans. “The main drag was...

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China’s EV makers to corner one-third of global market by 2030, UBS says

Analysts see China’s EV edge enduring, citing overseas profits and supply chain strengths despite tariffs and Western protectionism.

Hong Kong’s new smoking rules just kicked in. But is everyone sticking to them? Some smokers are still lighting up at bus stops in Hong Kong despite new rules banning them from doing so while queuing, the Post has observed, with authorities saying they have stepped up inspections at tourist spots and ramped up promotion efforts. The new rules that took effect on Thursday included a ban on anyone smoking at designated boarding points for public transport when waiting in a queue of two or more people. But on the first day of the policy, a Post reporter spotted someone smoking...

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Hong Kong’s new smoking rules just kicked in. Is everyone sticking to them?

New rules include ban on anyone smoking at designated boarding points for public transport when waiting in queue of two or more people.

Chinese rocket firm LandSpace moves closer to US$1 billion IPO in Shanghai Chinese rocket maker LandSpace aims to raise 7.5 billion yuan (US$1 billion) from an initial public offering (IPO) in Shanghai, after becoming the first home-grown aerospace firm to have its listing application accepted via a fast-tracked process. The Beijing-headquartered company, regarded as a challenger to Elon Musk-led SpaceX, said its listing aimed to “actively respond to national strategic plans and urgent market demands”, according to its prospectus. The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE)...

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Chinese rocket firm LandSpace moves towards US$1 billion IPO

Listing is the first accepted under a fast-track process for pre-revenue rocket companies, as China prioritises space development.

US grants TSMC annual licence to import American chipmaking tools into China The US government ‍has granted an annual licence to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) to import American chip manufacturing equipment to its fabrication facilities in Nanjing, the capital of eastern China’s Jiangsu province, according to the company. The approval “ensures uninterrupted fab operations and product deliveries”, TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said in a statement on Thursday to Reuters. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have also received...

South China Morning Post

US grants TSMC annual licence to import American chipmaking tools into China

The approval ‘ensures uninterrupted fab operations and product deliveries’, according to the world’s largest contract chipmaker.

Zelensky says deal to end Ukraine war ‘10 per cent’ away as Putin pushes for victory Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday his country was “10 per cent” away from a deal to end the war with Russia, but cautioned that the most important issues were unresolved and warned against rewarding Moscow. US-led efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II have gained pace in recent weeks, but both sides remain at odds over the key issue of territory in a post-war settlement. Russia, which occupies around 20 per cent of Ukraine, is pushing for full...

South China Morning Post

Zelensky says deal to end war ‘10%’ away as Putin pushes for victory

Ukraine’s leader says the final stretch of negotiations will determine the ‘fate of Europe’ as Moscow toughens its stance.

We must not give corrupt officials any hiding place, Xi Jinping tells cadres President Xi Jinping has sent a new warning to Chinese cadres – “no one should harbour any illusions” that they can get away with corruption as there will be no let-up in the long-running anti-graft campaign. He told officials at a key political meeting in October there would be no place for the corrupt to hide, according to excerpts from his speech released on Wednesday. “[We must] maintain a high-pressure stance against corruption at all times, investigate and punish corruption cases according...

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We must not give corrupt officials any hiding place, Xi tells cadres

Chinese leader told key meeting in October that the fight against graft remained ‘grim and complex’, according to excerpts from speech.

Hong Kong public hospitals’ emergency services run smoothly despite higher fees Emergency services at Hong Kong’s public hospitals have operated smoothly on the first day of the new year despite raising fees for non-urgent cases, but some patients from minority groups said they were unaware of the changes. Starting on Thursday, New Year’s Day of 2026, patients visiting accident and emergency rooms at Hong Kong public hospitals with less urgent conditions will have to pay higher fees of HK$400 (US$50) per visit. Meanwhile, the fees for those classified as critical and...

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How are Hong Kong’s public hospitals handling the first day of fee changes?

Some patients say they were unaware of the HK$400 fee for less urgent conditions when visiting accident and emergency rooms.

Chinese zodiac predictions, secrets to a long and healthy life: 5 Lifestyle highlights We have selected five Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Is the Year of the Snake’s 11th month lucky for you? Forecasts for all signs Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs in health, love, work and finances. 2. The 15 best K-dramas of 2025 ranked, from Melo Movie to Squid Game 3 The year 2025 was another big one...

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Chinese zodiac predictions, secrets to a long life: 5 Lifestyle highlights

From Chinese zodiac sign forecasts to 2025’s K-dramas ranked, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

North Korea hates K-culture but loves blatantly copying Seoul’s trends as craze grows Even as North Korea spent 2025 pushing a political strategy centred on ignoring South Korea, the country simultaneously copied South Korean products, designs and cultural content – from food packaging to football fan zones – revealing what analysts describe as a contradictory yet calculated pattern of imitation. While Pyongyang continues to warn against the inflow of South Korean culture, it has selectively adopted popular elements and repurposed them as its own through what observers call...

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Ramen, drinks, fan zones: how North Korea clones K-culture while hating Seoul

From food to photo booths, Pyongyang is imitating South Korean culture through what analysts call ‘subjective adaptation’.

Woman found dead in Hong Kong flat as husband arrested over drug possession A woman has been found dead in a Hong Kong flat, with her husband, who called police for help, arrested on suspicion of possessing dangerous drugs. The force said it received a call at 4.13pm on Wednesday from the 48-year-old Frenchman, saying his 30-year-old Filipino wife had passed out in their home at Avignon in So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun. Both were Hong Kong residents. Officers and emergency personnel arrived at the scene and confirmed the woman was dead. A source said on Thursday that the couple...

South China Morning Post

Professor arrested in Hong Kong over drug possession as wife found dead in flat

Police received call from Filipino woman’s husband at 4.13pm on Wednesday after she passed out in their Tuen Mun flat.

Debate on Singapore’s elite schools flares as ex-student recalls ‘privileged’ years A viral video has reignited a debate on elite schools in Singapore, with users sharing their own childhood experiences and views on whether such an educational environment may lead to insular views of society and indifference to those less better off. In an online clip, user Erica Lee recounts her time in an elite primary school and how her classmates’ families travelled several times a year for the holidays, had chauffeurs to ferry them to and from school, and threw extravagant birthday parties...

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‘Felt left out’: ex-students’ videos on Singapore’s elite schools spark debate

When she was in an elite primary school, her classmates were shocked to find out that most Singaporeans lived in public flats.

Is China’s truck-mounted catapult system enabling merchant aircraft carriers? Pictures have emerged in China that appear to show a truck-mounted electromagnetic catapult system for large drones on a cargo ship apparently converted for military use, triggering speculation on social media platforms. Some images circulating online since the weekend show three linked eight-wheeled low-loader trucks in a line with a large combat drone mounted on a shuttle-like fixture at the rear. The configuration appears to form a ground-based launch track with visible details suggesting an...

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Is China’s truck-mounted catapult system enabling merchant aircraft carriers?

Scalable truck-based launch track pictured on modified cargo ship raises questions about drone war potential.

China-Europe travel market’s resilience keeps Air France-KLM optimistic despite headwinds Despite China-EU trade frictions, Paris and other European cities remain the top destinations for Chinese travellers, with growing China-France trade and visa-free entry spurring companies like Air France-KLM to explore new opportunities. The Franco-Dutch airline group reported strong inbound demand from Europe in 2025, driven by China’s visa-free policy for travellers from more than 30 European nations, covering both business and leisure segments. In the first three quarters, the company posted...

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Why Air France-KLM remains bullish on China-Europe travel market despite hurdles

Chinese travellers drive leisure and business bookings as airline eyes long-term growth despite Russian airspace restrictions.

Hong Kong welcomes 6 babies into world in first hour of New Year’s Day Three girls and three boys were born in Hong Kong’s public and private hospitals in the first hour of New Year’s Day. The CUHK Medical Centre, a private teaching hospital owned by Chinese University, delivered the city’s first baby of 2026 at 12am. The newborn is a boy and his family’s first child. Two minutes later, United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong delivered a baby girl, weighing 3.02kg (6.66lbs). Another baby, a boy, was born at Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei at 12.06am, weighing...

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Hong Kong welcomes 6 babies into world in first hour of New Year’s Day

‘I cried. It was the most genuine emotion I have ever felt,’ says mother of city’s first baby boy of 2026.

Trump takes swipe at George Clooney after actor obtains French citizenship US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Paris was welcome to Hollywood star George Clooney after the actor got French citizenship - and took the opportunity to bash France, too. Trump, whose administration has backed anti-immigration parties in Europe, said key ally France had a “horrendous” problem with crime and immigration. An official decree on Monday showed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had become French citizens. “Good...

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Trump takes swipe at Clooney and France after actor gets citizenship

US president mocks film star as the French government defends granting citizenship to George and Amal Clooney.

China’s Moonshot AI raises US$500 million in latest funding round: report Chinese artificial intelligence unicorn Moonshot AI has raised US$500 million in its recent Series C funding round, according to a report, as start-up rivals MiniMax Group and Zhipu AI gear up for their initial public offerings (IPOs). Moonshot AI, developer of the highly lauded Kimi AI models, saw IDG Capital lay out US$150 million to lead the latest financing round, with existing stakeholders Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings also participating, Chinese technology news outlet LatePost...

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China’s Moonshot AI raises US$500 million in latest funding round: report

The Kimi AI model developer is now valued at US$4.3 billion, with cash reserves worth US$1.4 billion.

The politicians, athletes, everyday people who made headlines in Hong Kong in 2025 Hong Kong’s headlines in 2025 were shaped by a wide cast of newsmakers, from political heavyweights to everyday residents. Among them were former lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, gold medallist fencer turned legislator Vivian Kong Man-wai and a local mother who won widespread praise for speaking out after a hot-air balloon festival fiasco. The Post looks back at the figures who dominated the headlines over the past year. Regina Ip “Don’t block my way to the meeting … Move away,” the 75-year-old...

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The politicians, athletes, everyday people who made headlines in Hong Kong in 2025

From Regina IP and Vivian Kong to Jimmy Lai and Ryan Choi, the Post looks at the headline makers of 2025.

Is Hainan the next Hong Kong? That’s the wrong question to ask On December 18, China made a bold move on the global economic chessboard. It launched a massive free-trade experiment by turning the entire island province of Hainan – an area, comparable in size to Belgium, whose gross domestic product was US$113 billion last year – into a duty-free customs zone. A new narrative has now taken hold: with its free-trade port status, Hainan is on track to rival or even supplant Hong Kong. Having followed this development closely, I believe this comparison is...

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Opinion | Is Hainan the next Hong Kong? That’s the wrong question to ask

If it leverages its special status to enhance Hainan’s experiment, Hong Kong would not be boosting a rival but securing its own indispensable role.

Trump issues first vetoes, as ally who backed Epstein vote fears ‘retaliation’ US President Donald Trump issued the first vetoes of his second term, killing two bills sponsored by Republicans in Congress, including one from a prominent lawmaker who bucked the administration over the release of files pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump vetoed legislation late on Tuesday to help complete a water pipeline project, a measure backed by congresswoman Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican who is close to the White House. Trump, in his veto message, said he rejected the bill to...

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Trump issues first vetoes, as ally who backed Epstein vote fears ‘retaliation’

The US president killed two Republican-sponsored bills, including one from Maga lawmaker Lauren Boebert.

How China cracked US ‘super code’, health benefits of lard: 7 science highlights We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. How China cracked US ‘super code’ that controls most power grids in the world China is no longer using American software to run its power grid. The Southern Regional Electricity Market (SREM) – the world’s largest unified power market – has switched fully to Tianquan, a solver developed by Chinese engineers...

South China Morning Post

How China cracked US ‘super code’, health benefits of lard: 7 science highlights

From China building world’s largest smart transformer to health benefits of lard, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.