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China

Winter Olympics hero Wu Dajing retires after failing to qualify for 2026 Games

Wu Dajing won China’s only gold medal of the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang and took another at the Beijing Olympics four years later.

Wu Dajing celebrates after the mixed team relay final at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo: Xinhua

Travel & Leisure

Inside central Vietnam’s first integrated resort, a stone’s throw from Hoi An

Hoiana Resort & Golf has four properties, more than 20 restaurants and bars, a golf course and a casino, and is close to Hoi An Ancient Town.

Guests at Hoiana Resort & Golf have access to a four-kilometre-long secluded beach, as well as multiple pools. Photo: Hoiana Resort & Golf

People

Malaysian rapper Namewee defies scandals to release Lunar New Year single

Namewee is still helping police in an investigation over the death of a Taiwanese influencer and faces a drug possession charge.

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Controversial Malaysian rapper Namewee has released his latest Lunar New Year song, “Type C Malaysia”. Photo: YouTube/Namewee

Tech

Beijing mulls intervention in Meta’s Manus deal amid AI ‘brain drain’ fears

The blockbuster Meta-Manus deal is cheering investors but worrying Beijing, where officials see a risky precedent for Chinese AI start-ups.

Chinese authorities are considering whether to step in over Meta Platforms’ acquisition of Manus. Photo: Getty

Science

China creates world’s first clone-hybrid rice that could double global output

Team developed 6 apomictic rice varieties tested over multiple generations in Hainan and Zhejiang provinces.

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Photo: Getty Images
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Asia

Video | North Korean leader visits site of memorial for Ukraine dead

North Korean leader was also seen taking part in a tree-planting ceremony alongside his daughter Kim Ju-ae and wife Ri Sol-ju at the memorial museum site.

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Football

Strasbourg latest victims of multi-club system, as Chelsea take Rosenior

Liam Rosenior’s switch to Premier League giants exposes harsh realities of new ownership model that has already hurt other clubs.

Liam Rosenior’s switch to Chelsea has sparked renewed debate about multi-club ownership in football. Photo: Reuters

100 Top Tables

Your Hong Kong weekend food guide for January 9-11

Indulge in a culinary journey this weekend, from limited-time yakitori to a Nordic-inspired afternoon tea, and a brand new weekend Mediterranean brunch.

This weekend’s dining highlights include a grill master’s offerings at Yakitori Yamato. Photo: Handout

Today in Photos

Gallery | In pictures: the first ‘supermoon’ across China in 2026

The moon rises above illuminated ice sculptures during the opening ceremony of the 42nd Harbin China International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin on Monday. Photo: AFP

China Personalities

Hong Kong singer G.E.M. praised for debut sci-fi novel, nominated for China Galaxy Award

Dubbed country’s Taylor Swift, Cantopop star says inspiration for book came from ‘atomised’ life people led during Covid-19 pandemic.

Cantopop singer G.E.M. is celebrating the recent nomination of her debut sci-fi novel for the prestigious Galaxy Award in China. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo
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Southeast Asia

‘Pasta tasted like grass’: Singapore school battles backlash over meal quality

Hwa Chong Institution defended its hybrid canteen model and promised improvements amid criticism over food standards.

An image of a bento box meal purportedly served to students at Singapore’s Hwa Chong Institution was shared on social media. Photo: Reddit/Taenyfan95

Society

Tai Po housing site ‘viable option’ for fire victims: Hong Kong councillors

Lo Hiu-fung says government should consider plot, about 1.5km from fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, if it wants to help victims resettle as soon as possible.

The fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po in late November last year killed at least 161 people. Photo: Dickson Lee

Tech Trends

US visa denials cast a shadow over Hong Kong’s largest-ever delegation to CES

Hong Kong’s CES delegation includes start-ups from fields of health tech, artificial intelligence and new materials.

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The 2026 CES logo outside the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 5. Photo: AFP

China EVs

Tesla hits record sales; China carmakers eye third of global market: 7 EV reads

From automakers doubling down on discounts to Chinese robotaxis in the Middle East, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Beijing has urged the sector to rein in price wars since July amid deflationary pressures, with even market leader BYD reporting its biggest net profit drop in more than four years. Photo: Xinhua

Politics

The Maduro effect: regime change fears grip Asia’s autocrats after US raid

Fearing they could be next, wary rulers are expected to embrace Moscow and Beijing to insulate themselves from US adventurism.

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Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro is led into custody by US Drug Enforcement Administration officers at an airbase in New York on Saturday. Photo: Handout/Reuters
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Society

Hong Kong police appeal for help in search for missing father, 11-month-old son

Force urges residents to come forward with information about Mukit Alam Pratama and Mukit Shznjz Putra Pratama, reported missing in Sham Shui Po.

Force is urging residents to come forward with information about Mukit Alam Pratama and Mukit Shznjz Putra Pratama reported missing in Sham Shui Po. Photo: Handout

Big Tech

ByteDance boosts Shenzhen presence with ‘second headquarters’ for Douyin unit

The Chinese short video giant’s new base in Nanshan district was announced by the city’s publicity department on Tuesday.

ByteDance operates Douyin, China’s most popular video-sharing platform. Photo: Shutterstock

Science

China’s stealth design software PADJ-X finds potential flaws in US B-21 bomber

Chinese researchers use ‘all-in-one’ algorithmic system to test for vulnerabilities in classified aircraft, paper says.

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Northrop Grumman unveils its B-21 Raider stealth bomber in December 2022 at its California facility. Photo: AP

East Asia

‘Keep it secret’: report reveals details of ex-Japan governor’s sex scandal

Former Fukui governor Tatsuji Sugimoto sent messages such as ‘I want to kiss you’ to at least four female staff members.

The former governor of Japan’s Fukui prefecture sent 1,000 lewd texts to staff, according to an investigative report. Photo: Shutterstock

Society

Cleaner hit by left-hand drive car in Hong Kong, second such accident in a week

Group representing industrial accident victims calls for review of cleaners’ equipment, as another was fatally struck by truck on New Year’s Eve.

A 74-year-old cleaner was struck by a left-hand drive Geely car operating on a trade licence plate at a Hong Kong public housing estate on Wednesday. Photo: Now TV
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Health & Wellness

She broke Hong Kong powerlifting records. Now she’s battling bad health advice

Jaclyn Hei Tsang is on a mission to debunk online health myths and unfounded advice by setting the record straight on her Instagram page.

Tsang in training in Stockholm, Sweden ahead of a competition in 2023. Photo: instagram.com/jaclyn.tsang

China Economy

China, South Korea sign US$44 million in trade deals after years of friction

High-level summit strengthens bilateral ties after years of strained relations, as China shores up regional relationships amid row with Japan.

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(L-R) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his wife, Kim Hea Kyung take a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, by using a Xiaomi smartphone following a state dinner in Beijing on Monday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap/South Korea Out

China Business

Hong Kong stocks’ strong 2026 start loses steam on rising China-Japan tensions

Beijing plans to place an immediate ban on exports to Japan with potential military use, with the possibility of additional measures.

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A man walks past an electronic board showing the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

South Asia

‘Buyers are indefinitely gone’: Indian exporters lay bare pain from tariffs

The slow-moving trade talks and steep levies are hurting major sectors, forcing firms to seek new markets and offer deep discounts.

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People work at a garment factory in Tiruppur, India. Photo: Reuters

Society

Temperature in Hong Kong hits 10.9 degrees Celsius, lowest so far this winter

Observatory says city will experience cold mornings from Wednesday to Friday, but temperatures are expected to rise slightly over the weekend.

A resident goes for a swim in waters off Hung Hom Promenade in Kowloon, despite the cold weather on Wednesday. Photo: Karma Lo
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Tech Trends

Alibaba’s Amap rolls out AI-powered 3D virtual tours for offline destinations

Flying Street View feature offers virtual tours of restaurants and venues as platform nears 1 billion monthly users.

A new feature on the Amap app allows users to take 3D virtual tours of restaurants and other offline venues. Photo: Shutterstock

Beauty News

Style Edit: Willow Smith, Dior Addict – and beauty on one’s own terms

Smith follows on from Jennifer Lawrence, Jisoo, Anya Taylor-Joy and Cara Delevingne, who have each brought their own spirit to Dior Beauty.

Willow Smith fronts the campaign for Dior Addict’s new perfumes and lip oils. Photo: Handout

Military

China’s Hurricane 3000 microwave weapon can ‘sweep and kill’ drone swarms at 3km

The Hurricane 3000 has a longer range than its US Army equivalent and can carry out ‘diverse air defence missions’, developer Norinco says.

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The high-power microwave system was showcased during the September 3 Victory Day parade in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Asia Opinion

Opinion | Why coastguards, not warships, are shaping future of South China Sea

The test is not claimants resolving their disputes but whether they preserve the infrastructure that keeps encounters from becoming a crisis.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

Tennis

Partisan tennis crowd holds no fear for Gabriel Diallo ahead of Coleman Wong clash

Canadian relishing prospect of meeting friend, doubles partner and local hero in second round of ATP 250 event in Causeway Bay.

Gabriel Diallo (top) and Coleman Wong competing in the Hong Kong Open doubles on Monday. Photo: Eugene Lee