China’s ‘smart’ diabetes probiotics; life sentence for Hui Ka-yan: SCMP’s 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. Chinese team aims to put ‘smart’ diabetes probiotic on US shelves within 2 yearsChinese researchers have engineered a probiotic that could make diabetes care as simple as drinking a cup of yoghurt or swallowing a capsule.2. Saga of China Evergrande founder Hui Ka-yan ends with life sentenceA court in Shenzhen has sentenced China-evergrande-group" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="116136" data-entity-type="organization">China Evergrande Group founder Hui Ka-yan to life imprisonment for “multiple combined crimes”, confiscating all Hui’s personal property. Photo: CCTVA court in Shenzhen has sentenced China-evergrande-group" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="116136" data-entity-type="organization">China Evergrande Group founder and former chairman Hui Ka-yan to life imprisonment for “multiple combined crimes”, confiscating all of Hui’s personal property.3. Claims Hegseth close to exit raise questions over future US-China defence tiesSpeculation is growing that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is at increasing risk of losing his job, raising questions about the possible implications for China-relations" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="110704" data-entity-type="event">US-China relations, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.4. Shoving incident in Singapore over man patting girl’s head stirs heated debateA 73-year-old man, Yeo Song Khoon, is seen patting a girl’s head at a food court in Roxy Square in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: Instagram/being1tonA simple pat on a child’s head has sparked debate in Singapore after an elderly man was shoved to the ground by a girl’s father.5. China becomes first to recover orbital launch rockets with 2 distinct pathsIn a global first, leading Chinese commercial rocket company LandSpace has recovered a stainless-steel booster after an orbital launch, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to develop lower-cost, reusable rockets. Photo: CCTVIn a global first, leading Chinese commercial rocket company LandSpace has recovered a stainless-steel booster after an orbital launch, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to develop lower-cost, reusable rockets.6. Owner of dog in fatal pet attacks charged with failing to properly control animalA 60kg dog that fatally mauled two smaller pets in Yuen Long could be euthanised if surrendered by its owner. Photo: Threads/yyy.yuuHong Kong authorities have charged the owner of a large dog that mauled two smaller pets earlier this week with failing to properly control the animal, which is currently under government custody.7. Chinese doctor stuns maths world by cracking decades-old problem using ChatGPTWhen Beijing-based neurosurgeon Jin Shanmu pulled up a chair at his computer, he was not looking to make mathematical history. He was simply trying to crack a problem related to brain ultrasounds.Further Reading