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Car crash in Japan after collision of 2 trucks (Video/X@volcaholic1) A massive crash on Japan’s Kan-etsu Expressway killed one person and injured 26 as the country began its end-of-year holiday season, officials said.The Gunma Prefectural Highway Police said the pileup began late Friday in Minakami, about 160 km northwest of Tokyo. It started when two trucks collided on the snow-covered road, triggering a chain reaction involving more than 50 vehicles, police added.A 77-year-old woman from Tokyo died in the crash. Of the 26 injured, five were reported in serious condition.Videos shared on social media showed fire erupting at the far end of the pileup, spreading to more than a dozen vehicles. Firefighters extinguished the fire after about seven hours.A warning about heavy snow was issued late Friday as many Japanese began their year-end and New Year holidays.Authorities said that the heavy snow had resulted in the accident. Parts of the expressway remained closed for investigation and c..

China on Friday announced sweeping countermeasures against 20 US defence-related companies and 10 senior executives, freezing their assets and banning business dealings in response to Washington’s approval of large-scale arms sales to Taiwan.The Chinese foreign ministry said the sanctions were imposed under China’s anti-foreign sanctions law and would take effect immediately. Pentagon Drops Bombshell: U.S. Losing Top Allies To China Over Stealth Fighter Jets?The move follows the US administration’s approval of a major arms package for Taiwan valued at over $10 billion, according to the US state department. Under the measures, all movable and immovable assets of the sanctioned companies located in China will be frozen, while Chinese organisations and individuals will be barred from conducting business or cooperation with them. Restrictions were also imposed on 10 senior executives, including Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, limiting their assets and activities related to Ch..

AdvertisementThailandAsiaSoutheast AsiaThailand, Cambodia sign ceasefire deal after weeks of deadly border clashesThe truce came following three days ‌of talks between the ‍Southeast Asian neighbours
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 12:23pm, 27 Dec 2025Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an “immediate” ceasefire on Saturday, the two countries said in a joint statement pledging to end weeks of deadly border clashes.
“Both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire after the time of signature of this Joint Statement with effect from 12 hours noon (local time) on 27 December, 2025, involving all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas,” said the statement from the countries’ Special General Border Committee, issued by the Cambodian side.
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AdvertisementHong Kong politicsHong KongPoliticsBack reforms and align with nation, outgoing Legco chief tells new Hong Kong lawmakers‘I am confident that the new lawmakers can draw on their professional expertise … to fully support the government in driving reform and innovation,’ Andrew Leung says
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPMatthew ChengPublished: 12:10pm, 27 Dec 2025Incoming lawmakers should prioritise helping the Hong Kong government advance policy reforms and strengthen integration with national development, the outgoing Legislative Council president has said as he prepares to step down.
Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen also said on Saturday that the new lawmakers would need to assist the government in devising a prudent and pragmatic budget, set to be unveiled in February, and tackling the aftermath of the Tai Po fire that broke out on November 26 and claimed at least 161 lives.
According to Leung, China’s 15th five-year plan, which outlines the nation’s development bluepr..

US President Donald Trump in his Christmas message on Thursday (local time) launched a sharp attack on his critics, calling them “sleazebags” and accusing them of having close ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before “dropping him like a dog” and then “blaming Trump.” He also fired shots at Democrats and “fake media coverage” further warning “enjoy what may be your last Merry Christmas.”Sharing a post on Truth Social, Trump posted, “Merry Christmas to all, including the many Sleazebags who loved Jeffrey Epstein, gave him bundles of money, went to his Island, attended his parties, and thought he was the greatest guy on earth, only to 'drop him like a dog' when things got too HOT.”He claimed these critics “falsely claimed they had nothing to do with him, didn’t know him, said he was a disgusting person, and then blame, of course, President Donald J Trump.” Trump further went on to assert that he was “actually the only one who did drop Epstein, and long before it ..