Pope Francis Launches Jubilee Year, Calls for Peace Amid Global Conflicts
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis opened the sacred "Holy Door" of St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve, marking the start of a landmark Jubilee year that is expected to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome. Despite battling a recent cold, the 88-year-old pontiff was wheeled to the massive bronze door, where he ceremonially knocked, symbolically opening the portal...
Hong Kong Dazzles with Festive Christmas Spectacles
Hong Kong has transformed into a winter wonderland this holiday season, with elaborate light displays and festive installations turning the city into a breathtaking Christmas destination. The West Kowloon Cultural District leads the celebrations, featuring a spectacular "Christmas Town" centered around a massive, sparkling Christmas tree. The district's Christmas Market offers international culinary delights, while special Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics create...
P5.1-M Aid Offers Holiday Hope to Families Displaced by Mt. Kanlaon Eruption
CEBU CITY, Philippines — As the Christmas season approaches, 1,729 families displaced by the recent volcanic eruption of Mt. Kanlaon have received critical financial support, providing a glimmer of hope amid their challenging circumstances. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas distributed PHP5.1 million in relief assistance, with each affected family receiving PHP3,000 in cash aid....
Plastic Ban Enforcement Begins: Hong Kong Cracks Down on Disposable Products
Two months after implementing a sweeping ban on single-use plastics, Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has started issuing penalties to businesses failing to comply with the new environmental regulations. The department reported Monday that it has issued two fixed penalty tickets and 33 written warnings to premises found violating the comprehensive plastic reduction law. Restaurants are now prohibited from using...
DOH Chief Clarifies: PhilHealth is Health Insurance Not a Pension Plan
MANILA — In a pointed clarification aimed at dispelling public confusion, Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized Friday that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is strictly a health insurance provider, not a pension system. Addressing widespread misunderstandings about the agency's role, Herbosa noted critical distinctions between health insurance and pension plans, underscoring that each serves fundamentally different financial...
Suspect Charged with 5 Counts of Murder After Deadly Christmas Market Attack
MAGDEBURG, Germany — A 50-year-old Saudi Arabian resident faces multiple murder and attempted murder charges after driving a vehicle into a crowded Christmas market, killing five people and injuring dozens, local authorities reported Sunday. The attack in central Germany's city of Magdeburg claimed the lives of a nine-year-old boy and four women aged between 45 and 75, devastating the community...
Holiday Travel Surges as Hong Kong International Airport Marks Return to Pre-Pandemic Crowds
Hong Kong International Airport bustled with excitement Sunday as travelers eagerly embarked on Christmas holiday journeys, with the airport anticipating around 200,000 passengers daily during the festive season. Long queues stretched across check-in areas at Chek Lap Kok, reflecting a robust return to pre-pandemic travel patterns. Passengers expressed enthusiasm for destinations ranging from tropical getaways to winter wonderlands. Local resident Grace...
Deadly Christmas Market Attack Shakes German City of Magdeburg
MAGDEBURG, Germany — A tragic act of violence transformed a festive Christmas market into a scene of horror Friday evening, leaving five dead and 200 injured in this eastern German city, authorities reported Saturday. The alleged perpetrator, a 50-year-old Saudi-born doctor, drove his black BMW into a crowded market, killing a 9-year-old child and four adults in what prosecutors are...
HA Prepare for Potential Holiday Health Surge
The Hospital Authority announced Friday it will bolster medical resources and expand capacity to prepare for potential increases in patient volumes during the upcoming holiday season. As respiratory illnesses show signs of escalation, hospital officials are implementing strategic measures to manage anticipated healthcare demands. The authority will activate peak-period protocols starting Saturday, including a 10 to 20 percent increase in...
Vaccines Urged as Flu and COVID-19 Cases Rise in Hong Kong
Health officials in Hong Kong are calling on residents to get vaccinated quickly as seasonal influenza and COVID-19 activity increases, with a particular emphasis on protecting vulnerable populations. The Centre for Health Protection reported Thursday that influenza activity has risen from previous low levels, while COVID-19 transmission is also gaining momentum. The JN.1 variant currently dominates local infections. Vaccination efforts have...
