Latest

Offbeat

Man in China drops out of marathon, letting daughter finish in his place

02:03

Today in Photos

Syrian rebels take control of Damascus, topple the Assad regime

Syrian Kurds destroy the statue of Basel al-Assad, the late elder brother of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad as they celebrate the fall of capital Damascus to anti-government fighters, in the city of Qamishli on December 8, 2024. Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken Damascus in a lightning offensive on December 8, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. Photo: AFP

Food & Drink

7 spots in Hong Kong for matcha drinks, ice cream, cake and more

From a pet-friendly cafe to Hong Kong’s first home-grown matcha brand, the seven best places to go to taste the beloved powdered green tea.

Matcha, powdered green tea from Japan, is having a moment. Photo: Getty Images

Middle East

No longer a terrorist group? UK may reconsider HTS’s status after ousting Assad

Currently the UK, like many other Western nations including the US, designate HTS as a terrorist group, making it illegal to support or join it.

A rebel fighter stands atop of a military vehicle as he carries a Hayat Tahrir al-Sham flag in northwestern Idlib province, Syria on December 1. Photo: Reuters

Society

Hong Kong lawmakers sceptical about checks on mainland care homes for city’s elderly

Mainland will largely regulate facilities run by operators across the border, which are now eligible for scheme targeting elderly Hongkongers.

Hong Kong has rolled out subsidies for the city’s elderly residents to help them stay at 11 care homes in Guangdong province. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Advertisement
Advertisement

Football

Hong Kong discover AFC Asian Cup qualifying opponents, India among group rivals

Ashley Westwood aiming to lead city team to Saudi Arabia tournament, after predecessor Jorn Andersen broke 55-year major finals duck.

Wong Wai arrows home Hong Kong’s second goal in their 3-0 victory over Mongolia. Photo: Sam Tsang

Asia Opinion

The View | Asia’s property markets are shrugging off political risks

Despite the prominence of domestic and geopolitical strife, it is policy that ultimately matters most to markets in Hong Kong, Seoul, India and Japan.

videocam
A protester holding a cardboard cut-out of South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol takes part in a demonstration calling for his ouster, outside the National Assembly in Seoul, on December 8. Photo: AFP

Entertainment

K-pop’s Rain puts on electric performance at Hong Kong International Races

The Korean singer thrilled racing fans with songs from ‘It’s Raining’ to ‘La Song’ – fans called him a ‘star shining on the stage’.

K-pop star Rain thrilled fans with a selection of his songs at the opening of the Longines Hong Kong International Races at the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Diplomacy

Will China’s zero-tariff market access boost African fortunes?

More than 30 ‘least-developed countries’ can now export goods to China duty free, but lower value products mean limited upside for most, experts say.

Aside from duty-free arrangements, China has also expanded “green lanes” for African agricultural products to help improve market access for companies. Photo: Xinhua

Health & Environment

20-year-old Thai singer’s death sparks warnings about ‘neck-twisting’ massages

Thai doctors have been highlighting the risks of untrained masseuses following Chayada Prao-hom’s death.

Left: Thai singer Chayada Prao-hom, who died on Sunday. Right: An x-ray image posted by Chayada to social media. Photos: Facebook / Chayada Prao-hom
Advertisement
Advertisement

Law and Crime

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai ‘very cautious’ in interviews after security law passed

But he says call for sanctions could not have been hidden, even as law would prompt public to ‘conceal’ their thinking in their actions.

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai has been charged with conspiring to collude with foreign powers and publishing seditious materials. Photo: Winson Wong

Policy

China’s Politburo promises ‘active’ moves to bolster domestic demand in 2025

Decision-making body of Communist Party revives 2009-era language on monetary policy, echoing response to global financial crisis.

videocam
4
China’s decision-making Politburo has announced more measures will be on the way to stimulate domestic demand. Photo: Xinhua

Transport

Hong Kong van driver dies after passing out behind the wheel and striking kerb

Police say victim is believed to have collapsed while approaching Shing Mun Tunnel, striking kerb and wall after losing control of van.

The man was travelling towards Shing Mun Tunnel when he reportedly passed out at the wheel. Photo: Google Maps

People

Malaysia’s Najib accuses US of sabotaging his 1MDB defence

In a bombshell courtroom revelation, the ex-PM claims US collusion with Malaysia’s political opposition to undermine his defence.

videocam
Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak is escorted by police officers at Kuala Lumpur High Court in April. Photo: EPA-EFE

Banking & Finance

Chinese cosmetics firm Mao Geping prices shares at top end of range ahead of IPO

Shares were priced at HK$29.80, according to exchange filings.

Makeup artist Mao Geping. Photo: Weibo
Advertisement
Advertisement

Politics

Fall of Syria’s Assad catches Middle East powers and the West off guard

Several foreign governments have put out cautious feelers to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after it toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

videocam
An image of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, riddled with bullets, on the facade of a government office after the opposition’s takeover of Hama, Syria. Photo: AP

Tech War

WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics surge on slimmer chances of Biosecure Act’s passage

The bill’s absence from the proposed amendments to the US National Defence Authorisation Act comes as a reprieve for the two biotech firms.

WuXi AppTec says it provides US lawmakers and federal agencies with information about the services it provides to customers in the US and around the world. Photo: Shutterstock

Europe

Zelensky says Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers – far lower than Trump’s claim

US President-elect Donald Trump says Ukraine has ‘ridiculously lost’ 400,000 soldiers in the war to date.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky honouring Ukraine’s war dead. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via EPA=EFE

Racing

Heavyweight fight between McDonald and Purton continues at Happy Valley

Pair clash with strong books at the city circuit’s nine-race card on Wednesday.

James McDonald and Zac Purton lock horns at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Photos: Kenneth Chan

Politics

Zhuhai car attack: senior heads roll in south China city where dozens died

The mayor and public security director, along with district officials, have been replaced in rare cluster of appointments.

videocam
4
People leave tributes at the scene of the deadly attack in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, southern China in November. Photo: Reuters
Advertisement
Advertisement

Global Economy

Global Impact | Waves continue in South China Sea as China warns against ‘provocative actions’

In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we recap the latest in the South China Sea.

videocam
A China Coast Guard ship is seen from the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra. Photo: TNS

China Personalities

China KOL mimics famous athlete in sexy video, igniting objectification debate

‘No matter how hard she tries to look like Wu Yanni, she cannot run as fast as her,’ says a commenter.

A Chinese KOL, right, provocatively mimics national athlete Wu Yanni, top left and bottom, in a video, igniting debate over the objectification of female athletes. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Ifeng News

Society

Hong Kong Streetathon organiser ‘sorry’ after runners covered extra 9km

RunOurCity Foundation CEO Andes Leung says more could have been done to prevent half-marathon participants going beyond standard distance.

RunOurCity organised the first Hong Kong Streetathon in 2014, which has grown into one of the city’s signature racing events. Photo: Eugene Lee

Africa

Mystery ‘Disease X’ outbreak widens as WHO sends team to DR Congo

Dozens of people have died in southwest Congo after contracting a mysterious illness, dubbed Disease X.

A hospital in the Panzi health zone in southwestern Congo. Photo: AP

Racing

More Group One glory the priority for Ka Ying Rising

David Hayes will set his elite speedster for the Centenary Sprint Cup before making a call on the Classic Mile.

A victorious Ka Ying Rising returns under Zac Purton. Photo: Kenneth Chan
Advertisement
Advertisement

Americas

Gang leader’s witchcraft accusations sparked Haiti massacre that left 110 dead

Rights group says gang leader ordered massacre with machetes and knives after his child became sick.

People take cover from gunfire during clashes between police and gangs in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on December 2. Photo: AP

China Business

Country Garden pledges to deliver homes amid restructuring, litigation

Company will square off again with creditors in Hong Kong on January 20 over its debt obligations.

videocam
A Beijing condominium developed by Country Garden in February 2024. Photo: Kyodo

Science

The hi-res imaging technique that could sharpen remote sensing and astronomy

A team in China have come up with a way to improve the resolution of digital sensors.

Tests in the laboratory and outdoors indicated that HSI significantly improved imaging quality for various targets, including flying drones, researchers say. Photo: Shutterstock

Transport

Hong Kong to require taxis to install GPS, e-payment and camera systems

Transport and Logistics Bureau says it aims for all cabs to have e-payment options by end of 2025, and surveillance systems a year later.

23
Transport authorities hope the upgrades can boost the industry’s service quality. Photo: May Tse

South Asia

Sonia the elephant dies days after reunion with sister in Pakistan

Sonia was separated from her sister Madhubala almost 15 years ago. She died of apparent heart failure following their reunion.

Elephants are seen at the safari park in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday. Photo: AP