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Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

An outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, China. It has since spread across the world and the World Health Organisation has declared a global pandemic. Seeking to distinguish the virus from the disease it causes, the virus has been named SARS-CoV-2 and the disease Covid-19.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

Chrystia Freeland, who stepped down as finance minister and deputy prime minister. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

Canada

Canada’s finance minister quits as Trudeau deals with declining popularity

Shock move raises questions about how much longer Justin Trudeau – the prime minister of nearly 10 years – can stay on.

17 Dec 2024 - 8:58AMvideocam

John Lee

Editorial | Xi puts faith in Lee to deliver on Hong Kong economic development, reform

14 Dec 2024 - 6:30AM

China society

Opinion | Why China shouldn’t be complacent as Western expat numbers drop

13 Dec 2024 - 7:33AMvideocam

United States

US hotels welcome Indian tourist boom as East Asian demand falters

This comes amid fewer visitors from China, Japan and South Korea as demand from East Asian nations remains lower than pre-pandemic levels.

12 Dec 2024 - 12:31AMvideocam

People wait in line to buy theatre tickets in Times Square. The US tourism industry has had a slow year, with companies such as Hilton and Airbnb bracing for weaker revenue. Photo: AFP== FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

About 90% of vulnerable Hongkongers got last Covid jab more than 12 months ago

Concern group urges residents to get inoculated against Covid-19 as city enters winter flu season.

8 Dec 2024 - 6:34PM

Hong Kong property

Hong Kong’s hotel industry faces ‘worrying’ troubles in tax and Trump

A 3 per cent tax on hotel guests on January 1 and looming troubles from the Trump presidency could undermine the city’s tourism sector.

8 Dec 2024 - 4:03PMvideocam

Tourism

Editorial | China benefits on all fronts as visitors soar

Tourism, business and mutual understanding are among the winners as travellers from more countries receive visa-free access.

6 Dec 2024 - 12:01AM

Tourists pose for selfies in front of the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. The number of foreign visitors flocking to China is starting to resemble pre-pandemic levels. Photo: Xinhua

Science

How close is the next pandemic? Chinese researchers have new clues

China’s top infectious disease expert says a strain of avian influenza virus is adapting and could make the leap from birds to mammals.

6 Dec 2024 - 12:50AMvideocam

Hong Kong

Editorial | Hong Kong drug trials institute a healthy step forward

City closes in on fulfilling its ambition to be medical hub with its own approval authority for drugs and vaccines at cross-border tech zone.

5 Dec 2024 - 6:15AM

Medicine

White House hosts Aids Memorial Quilt for first time

Marking World Aids Day, President Joe Biden lauded the Aids advocacy movement and praised Dr Anthony Fauci.

2 Dec 2024 - 11:38AM

The Aids Memorial Quilt on the South Lawn of the White House. Photo: Reuters

Asean

Opinion | Pragmatic Southeast Asia will adapt to Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda

The region is already bracing itself for the reinstatement of a more transactional and nationalist policy agenda in the White House.

16 Nov 2024 - 5:58AMvideocam

Aviation

China-Canada direct flights to ‘surge’ to meet demand as talks yield results

At least five airlines will increase flights within the next two months, connecting Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen with Toronto and Vancouver.

13 Nov 2024 - 10:55PMvideocam

China property

China unveils new tax breaks to boost home sales, free up household cash

‘Pretty sizeable’ reductions would ease burdens on buyers and sellers, accelerating listings and sales, analyst says.

14 Nov 2024 - 10:22AM

US presidential election 2024

Asia-Pacific to see slowing economic growth amid trade tensions: Apec

Protectionism ‘harms economic relations’ among 21 member countries, group’s report says, as unease rises over Donald Trump’s agenda.

13 Nov 2024 - 4:47AMvideocam

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte waves at the government palace in Lima on November 12, 2024. Peru is hosting this year’s summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, an intergovernmental group that promotes free trade. Photo: Reuters

Education in Hong Kong

Annual tests find secondary pupils’ English levels reach record low in Hong Kong

Proficiency in Chinese, English and maths among Primary Three pupils also fell to worst levels in about 20 years, according to test results.

4 Nov 2024 - 10:04PM

The results from the Territory-wide System Assessment have prompted an academic to call for urgent efforts to address falling English, Chinese and maths levels if such trends continue. Photo: Dickson Lee

Science

China’s ‘bat lady’ Shi Zhengli opens path for new coronavirus research

Shi and a team of Chinese, US and Swiss researchers have developed a customised virus receptor that could pave way for new treatments.

4 Nov 2024 - 8:24PMvideocam

Hong Kong

Editorial | Covid case sends jabs reminder to Hong Kong parents

Ordeal of 10-month-old Hong Kong girl, whose condition has improved, gives reason to get children vaccinated against coronavirus and flu.

2 Nov 2024 - 6:15AM

US-China relations

Biden urged to help US families hit by halted China adoption scheme

Some 300 children on mainland had been matched with adoptive American families when the ban was announced in August.

2 Nov 2024 - 4:28AMvideocam

Toddlers are brought out for a walk at an orphanage in Shanghai on November 21, 2005. Beijing started to allow foreigners to adopt children from China in 1992. Photo: Reuters

American cinema

How Grand Theft Auto and World of Warcraft became virtual film sets

Filmmakers explain using Grand Theft Auto to host Shakespeare’s Hamlet and setting the life story of a dying gamer in World of Warcraft.

1 Nov 2024 - 10:00AM

Coronavirus vaccine

AstraZeneca’s China president under ‘ongoing investigation’: company

Drug maker has yet to elaborate whether Leon Wang is in custody, nor have his whereabouts been disclosed.

31 Oct 2024 - 6:03AM

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong infant critically ill after Covid infection, public urged to get jabs

Centre for Health Protection says child being treated at Kwong Wah Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit.

29 Oct 2024 - 12:45AM

The infant is currently being treated at Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei. Photo: Jelly Tse

Science

Chinese study might explain why men are more vulnerable to respiratory disease

Researchers say different structures in nasal microorganisms might explain why women can fight off certain infections more easily.

27 Oct 2024 - 4:07PMvideocam

Scientists in China studies the nasal biome of nearly 1,600 healthy young adults and said they identified “extensive sex differences in the respiratory tract community”. Photo: Shutterstock

US-China relations

Janet Yellen, senior China finance official discuss Beijing’s stimulus measures

US Treasury chief reiterates Washington’s concerns about industrial overcapacity and impact on American workers and firms.

26 Oct 2024 - 4:24PMvideocam

Crime

US funeral home owners accused of stashing bodies plead guilty to fraud

Jon and Carie Hallford allegedly stored 190 decaying bodies in a bug-infested building and sent grieving families fake ashes.

25 Oct 2024 - 1:29PM

Wellness

Baby massage relieved her postnatal depression. Now she teaches it

Baby massage classes helped Hong Kong-based Jen Cooper beat severe postnatal depression. Having seen their benefits she became an instructor.

19 Oct 2024 - 11:15AM

Baby massage eased postnatal depression for Jen Cooper (centre), who is now a teacher of baby movement classes in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So

US presidential election 2024

Why US elections are losing their shine for educated Chinese

Observers cite rise of Donald Trump, the American pandemic death toll and China-US tension as contributing to changing Chinese attitudes.

19 Oct 2024 - 1:33AMvideocam

Wellness

Is a colleague struggling with their mental health? Signs to look for

Experts explain what leads to depression at work, red flags from lateness to illness, and how employers can maintain morale and productivity.

16 Oct 2024 - 5:20AM

China-Australia relations

Editorial | Lobsters deal whets appetite for better China-Australia ties

Lifting of ban by mainland China on the Australian seafood raises hopes of a continuing improvement in relations between two countries.

15 Oct 2024 - 1:04AM

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