Hongkongers aim for self-sufficiency in old age, but survey finds ‘clear readiness gap’

While nine out of 10 Hongkongers aim to remain as self-sufficient as possible in their old age, they also expect 14 years of care dependency and 17 years of financial dependence, among the highest totals in Asia, according to survey results released on Monday.

Based on the responses of 1,000 Hongkongers aged 18 and above, the Manulife Asia Care Survey 2026 found clear gaps between awareness and action in both preventive healthcare and financial self-reliance.

Respondents said they expected


Hong Kong parents in welfare custody case say 2-month-old baby sick in hospital

The two-month-old baby of a Hong Kong couple involved in custody battles for their two children has been hospitalised after falling ill and could be tested for meningitis, according to his parents, who earlier caused controversy for failing to register the infant’s birth in the city and were arrested for alleged child neglect.

The father of two-month-old Danny, Tsang Wai-bong, said on Monday that he and his partner Kwan Pui-sin were only allowed to visit their child in a shelter once


3 dead, 5 injured in Philippine school shooting

Two suspects – one of them a 15-year-old Grade 9 student of San Jose National High School – are now in police custody

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Filipino officers install police line at a scene of a crime. Photo: EPA-EFE

Three people have died and five injured in a school shooting in Central Philippines , police said. Two persons of interest – one of them a 15-year-old Grade

‘Lying flat’ goes mainstream, Singapore mall finds God: 5 weekend reads you missed

From the hidden cost of China’s EV boom to a dad losing 27kg for his daughter, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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Driver escapes as Ferrari catches fire near Hong Kong light rail stop

A black Ferrari caught fire near a light rail stop. Photo: Handout
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Malaysia’s nationwide diesel subsidy gets citizens all pumped up

Diesel is currently US$1.05 per litre in Peninsular Malaysia, compared to a subsidised price of 50 US cents in Sabah and Sarawak

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A diesel pump in a Petronas station in the Malaysian state of Perak. Photo: Ivy Ong

Malaysian consumers and small business owners have welcomed the government’s decision to introduce subsidised diesel at 2.10 ringgit (50 US cents) per litre (0.3 gallons) nationwide from July 1, although some are seeking greater clarity

Blast at Qatar gas facility leaves at least 54 hurt, 18 missing

QatarEnergy reports explosion and fire during restart operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City

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QatarEnergy’s facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City on March 2. Photo: AFP

An explosion tore through Qatar’s key natural gas export terminal Sunday night as workers tried to resume operations there after Iran bombed it during the war, causing a fire that hurt at least 54 people as another 18 were still missing hours later


Zhipu AI market cap tops HK$1 trillion as shares of GLM-5.2 developer soar

New model ranks second globally on Code Arena list for front-end web development tasks, trailing only Anthropic flagship Claude Fable 5

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A view of Exchange Square in Central, which houses the headquarters of bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Photo: Jelly Tse

The market capitalisation of Hong Kong-listed artificial intelligence pioneer Zhipu AI surpassed HK$1 trillion (US$128 billion) on Monday, fuelled by investor optimism as the company goes head-to-head with its American rivals.

Shares of Zhipu, which trades


Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire probe rules out statutory powers, says evidence sufficient

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A judge-led panel investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has resumed its public inquiry after a six-week break to hear expert evidence on the cause of the blaze that killed 168 people last year.

The independent committee probing the Wang Fuk Court inferno began its fifth round of hearings on Monday, with three government experts scheduled to give evidence.

They include Lam Kin


Blockade lifted, assets to be returned to Iran in Swiss talks breakthrough

Iran’s delegation, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (centre), arrive for a quadrilateral meeting on Sunday in Switzerland. Photo: AFP

The US-Iran talks in Switzerland have led to the lifting of the blockade and the release of frozen assets for Iran, Tehran said, but the real test remains deconfliction in Lebanon.

“Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post on Monday.

“Oil

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