Secular News

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. How the Peranakan Chinese built one of Southeast Asia’s most powerful networks Born of trade and migration, the Peranakan community has forged a distinct identity that has bridged China and Southeast Asia for centuries. 2. Philippine court upholds murder verdict in...

The broadcaster and maths teacher is appointed an MBE for his services to public libraries.

The broadcaster and maths teacher is appointed an MBE for his services to public libraries.

Chinese tourists were milling around a small temple overlooking the glittering sea on an island near Taiwan on Tuesday when they heard thunderous booms from an islet in the distance.

Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies and daughter of its founder, hailed the company’s breakthroughs in 2025 in a New Year message that vowed to take advantage of “strategic opportunities” amid a “surge of intelligence in all aspects of life and work”. The US-sanctioned telecommunications gear maker, which plays a central role in China’s push for tech self-sufficiency, “built a solid foundation for computing” in 2025 with the expansion of its Kunpeng and Ascend chip...

Chinese artificial intelligence firm Zhipu AI kicked off a share sale on Tuesday to raise HK$4.35 billion (US$560 million), moving closer to becoming the first large language model (LLM) developer listed in Hong Kong amid a surge of technology initial public offerings (IPOs). The start-up, officially known as Knowledge Atlas Technology and marketed overseas as Z.ai, set its offer price at HK$116.20 for more than 37 million shares, with 10 per cent allocated to retail investors. The company plans...

Dear Eric: My husband’s family has a long-standing tradition of not buying Christmas gifts for adults, just the small children. It keeps Christmas less hectic and allows us to concentrate on what’s important: spending time together as a large extended family. Years ago, I suggested to my highly dysfunctional family a similar approach. Most of […]

Saudi Arabia bombed the port city of Mukalla in Yemen on Tuesday over what it described as a shipment of weapons for a separatist force there that arrived from the United Arab Emirates. The UAE did not immediately acknowledge the strike. The attack signals a new escalation in tensions between the kingdom and the separatist forces of the Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the Emirates. It also further strains ties between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which had been backing competing sides...

Authorities in Berks County are investigating whether human remains found Sunday belong to a man who disappeared nearly a year ago.

A firefighter was injured in a hit-and-run crash in Yeadon, Delaware County.

SPCA officials are asking anyone who knows more about the puppies or where they came from to contact them right away.

Kobe Watkins, 24, was arrested after he robbed BJ’s Meat Market in Lake City, police say