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Over 99% of Hongkongers have low immunity against ‘super flu’: researchers More than 99 per cent of Hong Kong residents have low immunity against the new “super flu”, a team of researchers has found, as they urged the public to get vaccinated against the rapidly spreading strain. Despite the low level of immunity among the city’s population, the team from the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) faculty of medicine on Tuesday assured residents that current vaccines were still as effective at preventing the spread of infection. “These data serve as a clear alert for Hong...

South China Morning Post

Over 99% of Hongkongers have low immunity against ‘super flu’: researchers

University of Hong Kong researchers urge public to get vaccinated against rapidly spreading strain, saying current vaccines are still effective.

A year after South Korea’s Jeju Air crash, the fight for truth continues Grieving mother Lee Hyo-eun returns every weekend to the airport where her daughter and 178 others died last year, desperate for the truth about South Korea’s deadliest airline disaster. Jeju Air flight 2216 was coming in to land at Muan International Airport from Thailand when it struck a flock of birds and was forced to make a belly landing that sent it crashing into a structure at the end of the runway. Only two flight attendants seated in the tail section survived. Lee vividly remembers that...

South China Morning Post

A year after South Korea’s Jeju Air crash, the fight for truth continues

Families of the victims say they harbour deep mistrust over how the investigation into the disaster that killed 179 people has been handled.

No need for needles? US approves Wegovy pill for weight loss US regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity. The US Food and Drug Administration’s approval handed drug maker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lilly’s oral drug, orforglipron, was still under review. Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of...

South China Morning Post

No need for needles? US approves Wegovy pill for weight loss

Novo Nordisk’s daily medication offers an oral alternative to blockbuster injections, with a launch expected in early January.

Philippines’ struggle for Chinese tourists, flood aid remarks spark ire: 7 Asia highlights 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. Mexico’s 50% tariff shock shuts Asia’s North American trade bypass For much of the past year, Asian exporters have been racing to stay ahead of a global tariff storm – re-routing shipments, reconfiguring supply chains and absorbing rising costs as the United States...

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Philippines’ Chinese tourism woes, police officer goes viral: 7 Asia highlights

From India’s anxiety over US-Pakistan deals to South Korea’s visa policy debate, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Where can Hongkongers and tourists find Christmas spirit in a subdued holiday season? Hong Kong is marking this Christmas and New Year in a subdued mood following last month’s Tai Po fire, which has claimed 161 lives so far. Many large-scale events have been postponed or scaled down, prompting residents and tourists to find quieter ways to celebrate amid a sombre atmosphere. The Post lists the major citywide celebrations that are still happening. Christmas Town A dazzling Christmas Town at Statue Square Gardens in Central is running from November 14 to January 4, featuring a...

South China Morning Post

Explainer | Where can Hongkongers, tourists find Christmas spirit in subdued holiday season?

The Post rounds up celebrations as many large-scale events have been postponed or scaled down after last month’s deadly fire.

Hong Kong’s Sigg Prize shared for the first time as M+ boss praises 2 ‘bold’ artists The Sigg Prize 2025 has been awarded jointly to Hong Kong animator Wong Ping and Macau-raised artist Heidi Lau, marking the first time the contemporary art prize has been shared between two artists since it was first awarded in 2019. The announcement was made on December 16 by M+, the museum in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District that organises the biennial competition named after the collector Uli Sigg. “We were deeply impressed by the works presented and decided to award two winners in...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong’s Sigg Prize shared for first time in the award’s history

Animator Wong Ping and ceramicist Heidi Lau share the Sigg Prize 2025, a contemporary art prize awarded by Hong Kong’s M+ museum.

Hong Kong to add more compatible chargers for Chinese EVs as Guangdong cars hit roads Hong Kong will provide more chargers compatible with Chinese electric vehicles, the transport chief has said, as the first batch of cars from Guangdong province enter the city’s urban areas under a new scheme. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Tuesday that nearly 100 mainland Chinese cars entered Hong Kong on the first day of the southbound travel for Guangdong vehicles scheme, almost reaching the daily quota. She added that the government would monitor if more cars would...

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong to add more compatible chargers for Chinese EVs as mainland cars arrive

‘It is an absolute joy to drive straight from Zhuhai to Hong Kong with just one pump of the accelerator,’ mainland driver says on southbound sc...

Hongkongers urged to quickly sign up for eMPF platform as defence against scams Cybersecurity experts have urged Hong Kong residents to prioritise the use of an official one-stop digital identity app to register their accounts on the city’s new centralised pension fund platform to prevent theft after scammers stole HK$1.8 million. Some also questioned why the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA), which manages the eMPF platform, did not deploy the government’s “iAM Smart” app as a mandatory process for verifying the identity of users from the outset. They...

South China Morning Post

Hongkongers urged to quickly sign up for eMPF platform as defence against scams

Cybersecurity experts call on residents to move quickly after HK$1.8 million stolen from three MPF accounts.

Swire Properties sells 2 Deep Water Bay homes for US$283 million in biggest deal in years Activity in Hong Kong’s ultra-luxury residential market is picking up, with Swire Properties selling two homes in Deep Water Bay for a whopping HK$2.2 billion (US$283 million). The two three-storey units at 6 Deep Water Bay Road had saleable areas of about 9,600 sq ft and 5,300 sq ft, with the transactions set to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, the developer said. Both units were acquired by the same buyer. On a per square foot basis, the deal works out to HK$147,010, “one of the...

South China Morning Post

2 Deep Water Bay homes sold for US$283 million in biggest deal in years

The two three-storey units at 6 Deep Water Bay Road fetched HK$147,010 per square foot, the highest since HK$150,000 for a 2015 deal.

More signs being installed in new section of Hong Kong’s Central Kowloon Bypass Hong Kong’s transport authorities are putting up more signs on the Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass to make directions clearer, following complaints of inadequate signage despite the newly opened thoroughfare operating smoothly on its first day. Secretary for Transport Mable Chan said that 50,000 vehicles had so far used the bypass’ new section since its launch the day before, as she conducted an inspection on Monday morning. “We can see that the traffic at Gascoigne Road...

South China Morning Post

Police asked to tackle reckless driving on Hong Kong’s new Central Kowloon Bypass

Transport Department says it has informed police of vehicles making U-turns at tunnel entrance and heading in opposite direction.