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AdvertisementUnited StatesUSPoliticsUS court rules California ban on openly carrying guns is unconstitutionalThe ruling affects California’s counties with more than 200,000 people, where about 95 per cent of the state’s population lives
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPReutersPublished: 12:44pm, 3 Jan 2026A US appeals court ruled on Friday that California’s ‍ban on openly carrying firearms in most parts of the state was unconstitutional.A panel of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals sided 2-1 with a gun owner in ruling that the state’s prohibition against open carry in counties with more than 200,000 people ⁠violated the US Constitution’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
About 95 per cent of the population in California, which has had some of the nation’s strictest gun-control laws, lives in counties of that size.
AdvertisementUS Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke, who was appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, said the Democratic-led st..

Putin, Trump (File photos) Days after Russia claimed that Ukraine tried to target President Vladimir Putin’s official residence in a drone attack, Russian authorities on Thursday said they had shared what they described as evidence linked to the incident with the United States.The Russian defence ministry released a video on Telegram showing a meeting between Igor Kostyukov, chief of Russia’s main intelligence directorate, and a representative from the US military attache’s office in Moscow. Russian officials said the meeting was held to present materials connected to the alleged drone strike. ‘Kyiv Forced Injured To…’: Russia Levels Shocking Charge After Deadly Kherson Attack “I am Igor Kostyukov, chief of the main intelligence directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of Russia. I have invited you for an important matter. I would like to inform you that we have found the debris of unmanned aerial vehicles involved in this attack,” Kostyukov said at the start of the meeting..

In a poignant recount of her father's immigrant story from the 1960s, broadcaster Narinder Kaur illuminated the struggles he faced while working tirelessly in a steel foundry. She passionately spoke of his unwavering dedication amidst adversity, battling both racism and physical hardships to forge a better future for his family. British broadcaster and television personality Narinder Kaur has called for immigrants to be given fair chances as the UK enters 2026, sharing a personal story about her father’s life and hard work.In a post on X, Kaur wrote that she normally would not share a photo and the early life of her father as a poor immigrant, but this time made an exception only to speak out against growing anti-immigrant rhetoric. “My dad came from India in the early 60s and went straight into hard labour. No help. Not a penny given. Double shifts at the steel foundry for YEARS. The kind of work that ruins your body and shortens your life. Heat, noise, pain, exhaustion—day after..

AdvertisementHong KongChina Future TechSemiconductorsBaidu chip unit Kunlunxin files for Hong Kong IPO amid China’s push for tech self-relianceLast year, 20 Chinese semiconductor IPOs raised over 45 billion yuan (US$6.4 billion), with six of them listing in December
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPThemis QiPublished: 12:50pm, 2 Jan 2026Baidu’s artificial intelligence chip subsidiary Kunlunxin (Beijing) Technology has confidentially applied for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, as the search and AI giant becomes the latest to join an investment frenzy amid China’s drive for tech self-reliance.
The Kunlunxin prospectus was submitted on Thursday but details such as the size and structure of the IPO had not yet been finalised, Baidu said in a statement on Friday.
Baidu’s Hong Kong-listed shares rose 7.5 per cent to HK$141.30 as of the noon trading break.Advertisement“The US tech blockade has made it even more urgent for China to move quickly up the value chain, bui..

AdvertisementNorth KoreaThis Week in AsiaPoliticsNorth Korean palace visit by Kim’s daughter renews succession debateState media has released images of the first recorded visit of Kim Ju-ae, the teen daughter of Kim Jong-un, to the country’s most sacred site
Reading Time:4 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPPark Chan-kyongPublished: 12:45pm, 2 Jan 2026An appearance by the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a sacred palace has renewed scrutiny on whether she is being groomed for succession in the secretive regime.Kim Ju-ae, believed to be around 13 years old, made her first recorded visit on Thursday to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the holiest site in the country dedicated to its hereditary rule, sparking speculation she could receive an official title at a coming party congress.
While some observers see her prominent positioning in released photographs by state media as a powerful succession signal, others caution that the imagery may just be intended to project stabil..

HasanAbi hinted he may quit Twitch streaming in 2026 during a heated livestream, expressing frustration with his community’s behavior toward fellow creators. He criticized viewers for misplaced aggression, warned of bans, and admitted he “hates Twitch streaming.” While no final decision was announced, his comments signaled burnout and raised real questions about his future on the platform. HasanAbi may quit Twitch streaming in 2026, a statement that sent ripples through his audience after a tense moment on a recent livestream. The political commentator was not jesting at the thought. It emerged in an uncivilized call where impatience overtook his customary restraint, and there came the shebang criticized in a relationship that he has long nurtured with his audience.The moment felt less like a threat and more like exhaustion speaking out loud. HasanAbi addressed what he sees as misplaced aggression within his community, especially when it spills over onto people he considers friends. Hi..

Candace Owens shared a fast paced video filled with pop culture and political memes, featuring references to Stranger Things, Justin Bieber, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Charlie and Erika Kirk. The montage blended celebrity controversy with internet humor, fueling speculation about her teased 2026 return and reinforcing her strategy of using viral content to drive attention and online debate. Candace Owens ended the year on a positive note, and her words did not go unheard in the social media. The right-wing analyst looked back at a prolific 2016 of her podcast and implied that she is not done yet. Her post spread fast not only due to its celebrating nature, but also to what it implied in the future.Owens has positioned 2025 as a milestone, and she credits it to her audience that has made her show top the world charts. Meanwhile, she was playing into the scandal that has always surrounded her brand. Combining gratitude and defiance helped her remind the followers that it is the momentum and..

AdvertisementHong Kong healthcare and hospitalsHong KongHealth & EnvironmentHong Kong public hospitals’ emergency services run smoothly despite higher feesBut some minority group patients say they were unaware of the HK$400 fee for less urgent conditions
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPLeopold ChenPublished: 12:45pm, 1 Jan 2026Updated: 12:51pm, 1 Jan 2026Emergency 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 emergency cases would be waived.
AdvertisementPreviously, emergency services were charged at a flat rate of HK$180.
The new fee regime is..

AdvertisementSCMP HighlightsChinese zodiac predictions, secrets to a long and healthy life: 5 Lifestyle highlightsFrom Chinese zodiac sign forecasts to 2025’s K-dramas ranked, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPSCMPPublished: 12:34pm, 1 Jan 2026We 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 signsFeng 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 3The year 2025 was another big one for Korean dramas, with a wide range of exciting new shows. While the industry may not have produced as many stand-outs as in previous years, the past 12 months still delivered emotional highs.
3. Chi..

Pakistan army chief field marshal Asim Munir hosted his daughter’s wedding last week in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where she was married to her first cousin, Abdul Rehman, according to Pakistani media reports. The ceremony was attended by senior political leaders and top military officials but was kept low-key due to security considerations, with no official photographs released.Among those present at the ceremony were Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz, the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and several serving and retired senior army officers, including former army chiefs.Pakistani journalist Zahid Gishkori said around 400 guests attended the event, which was deliberately kept subdued. Gishkori, in a video posted on social media platform YouTube, confirmed the family connection between the bride and groom. “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir's d..