Secular News

Newly elected lawmakers should be “representatives of the public” rather than mere commentators, Hong Kong’s leader has said after the swearing-in of all 90 legislators, warning against “soft resistance” and acts that stir conflicts under the guise of critique. Meanwhile, veteran lawmakers Starry Lee Wai-king and Ronick Chan Chun-ying, front-runners for the Legislative Council presidency, remained tight-lipped about their bids on Thursday, a day before the nomination period is set to...

BBC Sport looks at some of the players hoping for a big 2026 for various reasons.

BBC Sport looks at some of the players hoping for a big 2026 for various reasons.

BBC Sport looks at some of the players hoping for a big 2026 for various reasons.

BBC Sport looks at some of the players hoping for a big 2026 for various reasons.

Nathan Ake rejects interest from West Ham; Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain join Manchester United in battle for Yan Diomande's signature, and Brennan Johnson in line for medical at Crystal Palace.

Judging by investor sentiment in the final quarter of last year, the spectacular rally in mainland Chinese and Hong Kong equities is over. The CSI 300 index of Shanghai- and Shenzhen-listed stocks declined 0.2 per cent while the MSCI China Index fell by over 7 per cent. The Hang Seng Index, meanwhile, lost 4.5 per cent. While most Wall Street banks remain bullish on Chinese stocks, some have turned more cautious. Morgan Stanley believes 2026 will be “a year of stabilization after 2025’s high...

The 2025 total is the highest since 2022, when nearly 46,000 migrants made the crossing.

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...

How did live music evolve into a billion-dollar business for global stars?

How did live music evolve into a billion-dollar business for global stars?

Zohran Mamdani officially became the 111th mayor of New York City. New York Attorney General Letitia James swore in Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, in a small ceremony with his family just after midnight on New Year's Eve.