Residents affected by the catastrophic fire that recently ravaged a housing complex in Hong Kong began a difficult return to normalcy on Tuesday, retrieving essential personal items under controlled access, while authorities intensified structural assessments and the criminal investigation into the tragedy. The devastating blaze, which originated at Hong Fook Court, has tragically claimed 156…
The global economy is projected to slow substantially in 2025, with growth dipping to 2.6% from 2.9% in 2024, as heightened financial market volatility and sustained geopolitical uncertainty exert a drag on international trade and critical investment, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which released its comprehensive Trade and Development…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is poised to suspend federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in states that refuse to share detailed beneficiary data, escalating a nationwide conflict over programmatic oversight and data privacy. Announced during a White House cabinet meeting this week, the policy directive requires all 50 states to…
A severe domestic tragedy unfolded in Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun district this week, resulting in the death of a 50-year-old woman and the arrest of her husband on suspicion of murder and arson following a flat fire at Ting Fuk House in On Ting Estate. The incident occurred in the early hours of December 2,…
Following the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced the formation of a judge-led independent committee to thoroughly examine the disaster’s origins and rapid escalation, and to recommend systemic safety improvements. The announcement, made roughly a week after the tragedy, initiates a high-level review intended to…
The excitement surrounding Hong Kong’s popular Mark Six lottery intensified this week after Wednesday’s drawing, Dec. 3, 2025, failed to produce a grand prize winner, triggering a substantial rollover. The eagerly anticipated upcoming jackpot is officially estimated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) to reach a staggering HK$120 million for the next drawing, scheduled…
Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN) has formally apologized following widespread criticism after sales representatives repeatedly contacted survivors of a devastating high-rise fire for contract renewals while victims were hospitalized or recovering from the tragedy. The telecommunications company acknowledged its severe lapse in judgment and internal protocol failures, which caused significant distress to residents of Wang…
A catastrophic No. 5 alarm fire in Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court on Wednesday, November 26, has claimed over 100 lives, including a local hospital worker celebrated for his desperate attempt to save his family. The tragic conflagration, which saw flames engulfing multiple blocks, has sparked widespread public mourning across Hong Kong, highlighting the profound…
A 32-year-old Auckland man faces multiple charges, including theft, after allegedly consuming a high-value designer pendant inside a central city jewelry boutique. The incident revolves around an unrecovered Fabergé x 007 Special Edition Octopussy Egg Surprise Locket, valued at NZ$33,585 (approximately US$19,200), which authorities claim the man ingested while in the store. The unusual theft…
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Catastrophic flooding and landslides have ravaged Indonesia’s Sumatra island, resulting in a confirmed death toll of 708, with 504 individuals still missing and 2,600 injured, according to revised figures released by the national disaster agency on Tuesday evening. The crisis, driven by intense monsoon rains amplified by tropical cyclones, has affected an…
A devastating five-alarm blaze tore through Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on December 2, 2025, resulting in the confirmed deaths of at least 156 people and injuries to nearly 100 others, while also affecting hundreds of family pets. The catastrophic fire, which significantly impacted the residential estate currently undergoing major renovations, has…
After years evading international law enforcement, Chinese-Cambodian national She Zhijiang, the purported mastermind behind the notorious KK Park fraud enclave in Myanmar, has been extradited to China. Following his 2022 arrest in Bangkok, a Thai Court of Appeal upheld a Constitutional Court ruling on November 10, approving his compulsory transfer. She was subsequently flown from…
HONG KONG — Will Power Architects Company Limited, a consultancy firm based in Hong Kong, immediately suspended and terminated all business operations on Monday, December 2, following escalating legal scrutiny related to a major housing estate repair project. The decision comes as the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) intensifies an investigation into alleged corruption linked…
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that she is recommending comprehensive travel limitations on specific foreign nations, asserting these countries are fueling criminal activity within the United States. This proposed crackdown, unveiled following a high-profile shooting incident in Washington, D.C., signals an intensified focus on immigration enforcement by the administration. The recommendation, reportedly discussed…
Hong Kong authorities have detained a mainland woman linked to a sophisticated online donation fraud that exploited public sympathy following the devastating Tai Po fire. The arrest, made on December 1, 2025, stems from a swift police investigation launched after a fraudulent website, impersonating a legitimate social welfare group, attempted to illicitly solicit funds for…
Hong Kong residents gathered across the city on Monday, the seventh day of mourning, to commemorate the victims of the devastating five-alarm fire that recently engulfed Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The somber tributes included the public opening of a dedicated memorial hall at Kowloon Funeral Parlour and an outpouring of community solidarity near…
Hong Kong’s disease control authority reported another imported case of Chikungunya fever this week, involving an elderly female who recently returned from mainland China, underscoring the ongoing risk of international disease transmission despite colder seasons in parts of the world. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) confirmed that a 64-year-old woman residing in Eastern District…
Hong Kong authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden collapse and hospitalization of a 48-year-old mainland Chinese visitor earlier today near the Aberdeen waterfront. The incident occurred on Aberdeen Praya Road, prompting an urgent police response and raising questions about the visitor’s welfare. The Hong Kong Police Force received a report at 10:16…
Meteorological agencies across China have issued widespread blue alerts for a severe cold wave and accompanying high winds, advising residents to brace for rapidly falling temperatures as a powerful Arctic air mass sweeps across the nation. The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) renewed the alerts, confirming that the frigid front, which originated in the north, is…
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong is currently investigating an imported instance of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, prompting officials to reinforce the critical need for meticulous personal, food, and environmental hygiene practices among the public to mitigate intestinal illnesses. The affected individual is a 14-year-old boy who recently returned from…