South China Morning Post - December 09, 2025

TAI PO TRAGEDY FIRST TEST FOR LAWMAKERS

Politburo pledges action to tackle economic and trade ‘struggles’ in 2026

Trump softens stance on China with ‘rebalance’

POSTS FROM THE PAST

DNA bid to help identify Tai Po victims

EXPORTS LIFT TRADE FIGURE TO RECORD

German minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on rare earths and chips

Steel bars brought in to reinforce building ravaged by fire

Insurers told to move quickly for fire victims

Winning role landed at the sixth attempt

Four incumbents taste defeat amid 44% turnover of seats

Fresh faces to be youngest in two decades, averaging 51

Winning role landed at the sixth attempt

DAB picks up far fewer votes but retains position as dominant force

POLL SHOWS ‘EMERGING POLITICAL DIVERSITY’

70%

Power players

Multiple targets for revived defence budgets

¤130b

Separatists, tech theft on spy chief’s priority list

Lab fungus produces meat-like protein

[We must] … rigorously prevent and combat foreign forces from stealing our core technologies and sensitive data with legal weapons

IMF hands it to Shanghai

Company tests wireless coupling of multiple cargo trains

MINISTER URGES FURTHER OPENING UP

Do not shift burden onto gig workers: tax chiefs

JETS FACE-OFF TRIGGERS DUELLING PROTESTS

Ferry service between countries halted after concerns raised over travel safety

JAPAN MONITORS LIAONING CARRIER STRIKE GROUP

Hegseth pledges ‘flexible realism’ in ties with Beijing

MACRON IN WARNING ON TRADE SURPLUS

Taiwan RedNote ban sparks download backlash

Scientists find way to extract hypersonic weapon fuel boron from seawater

PEACE DEAL IN PERIL AS BORDER ROW REIGNITES

Ex-minister Rafizi challenges Anwar’s anti-graft credentials

Japanese youth most hostile to immigration, survey finds

Naval upgrade

Blue House will again be seat of power

NEPAL BECOMES NEW MARKET FOR ‘BRIDE BUYERS’ FROM CHINA

Mammoth clean-up

Trump road map omits North Korea denuclearisation

Australian firefighter killed as state bushfires rage

Tight timeline forces Japan to withdraw from major Vietnam nuclear project

BENIN ‘UNDER CONTROL’ AFTER COUP THWARTED

Bold British defence plans face doubt over funding

Liberation day

UN slams global ‘apathy’ as aid plea for 2026 slashed

Kennedy Centre honours stars including Stallone, but Trump takes spotlight

100 children kidnapped in Nigeria released

I would like to assure you that the situation is completely under control and therefore invite you to calmly go about your activities starting this very evening

Affordability crunch

HARRY’S VIEW ON A U.N. APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN HELP > A15

How HK can distinguish itself as climate finance hub

New Legco must push for better governance and deepen reform

HKIC a success in more than returns

Cracks in the bloc

Young people must be part of city’s mental health support

Cambodia is tackling the scourge of online scams head-on

Investigators should look into chimney effect of Tai Po fire

Malaysia’s home-grown electric vehicle deserves applause

Thanks for the memories

Fully charged

AGEING CITY OPENS NEW INSURANCE FRONTIERS

Regulator calls for performance-based pay system for asset managers

CSRC in push to build global investment banks

China models ‘make up 30% of global AI usage’

-1.23%

¥51tr

METAX I.P.O. ATTRACTS OVER 5m INVESTORS

Rich deposits

Mainland tycoon pays HK$250m for penthouse

DeepSeek boss reaps gains from Moore Threads offer

¥40m

China car brands ‘can benefit from Spain blueprint’

On the line of duty

CRYPTO FIRM GATE EYES HK RETURN

Asset manager sees opportunities in AI stocks

Baidu mulls spin-off of Kunlunxin chip unit

Ant affiliate signs WNBA star Ionescu as ambassador

THE NEVER-ENDING SEARCH FOR A PLACE TO BE, HOME OR AWAY

Change and chaos in store for the Year of the Fire Horse

French almond growers are reviving traditions

Aristo Sham will also be coming in January 2027 together with a young Australian cellist named Benett Tsai, making his Hong Kong debut

Without limits or barriers, virtually

Premiere Performances tunes up well ahead of its 20th anniversary season

Daily Crossword

Universal Crossword

Bridge

Kokonotsu Supersudoku

Sudoku

Target

Yesterday’s solution:

FROM BUSH TO HK: LUDWIG ON KOKOROE’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

Irish quartet hit the ground running at Sha Tin

TRACK STARS

RISPOLI IS BACK WITH A SPRING IN HIS STEP

The big stretch

Foil fencers must ‘fix something’ for Olympic bid

Wong and Doo to face ‘group of death’

‘I did it my way’, new F1 king Norris says

HAYES EYES LUCRATIVE TRAINERS’ BONUS WITH SUPER SQUAD FOR THE VALLEY