https://www.scmp.com/rss/320633/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com dpa dpa Jose Mourinho has agreed a deal to return to Real Madrid as head coach 13 years after his departure, according to reports. The 63-year-old Portuguese is set to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over from new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso in January and has steered the club to a guaranteed second-place La Liga finish, although they sit 11 points behind champions Barcelona with one round of fixtures remaining. Mourinho spent three years in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2010 and 2013, winning... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3354008/jose-mourinho-agrees-return-real-madrid-boss-after-13-years-away-reports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3354008/jose-mourinho-agrees-return-real-madrid-boss-after-13-years-away-reports?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 13:53:49 +0000 dpa dpa The air at the North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre in Singapore is filled with the scent of lemongrass, mangoes, turmeric, fermented prawn paste and curry. The stalls are neatly stacked with everything from red Asian bananas to shrivelled sea cucumbers, frog’s legs, blue ginger and dragon fruit. Vidhya Nair, a Singaporean of Indian descent, is buying prawns and spices for our cookery class. She already has everything in her nearby studio but is taking us to the market so we can get an idea of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353916/where-eat-food-paradise-singapore-hawker-centres-michelin-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353916/where-eat-food-paradise-singapore-hawker-centres-michelin-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 04:47:20 +0000 dpa dpa A 67-year-old hiker has died after being attacked by a herd of cows in Austria, authorities said, in the latest fatal incident involving livestock in the Alps. The woman was attacked by what police described as a “mid-double-digit number” of cows in a pasture in the alpine district of Lienz in East Tyrol on Sunday afternoon. Her 65-year-old husband was also seriously injured. Authorities said the reasons for the animals’ aggressive behaviour remain unclear. The couple were not accompanied by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353904/hiker-killed-attack-herd-cows-austrian-alps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353904/hiker-killed-attack-herd-cows-austrian-alps?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 20:14:41 +0000 dpa dpa German police shot dead a tiger that escaped from a private facility near the eastern city of Leipzig, with a 73-year-old man seriously injured in the incident, authorities said on Sunday. Police said the man was inside the enclosure when the animal broke free in Schkeuditz, on the outskirts of Leipzig. He was described as a volunteer authorised to be on the premises and was taken to hospital with serious injuries. “The tiger left its enclosure. It was then found by police officers near a garden... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353900/german-police-kill-escaped-tiger-animal-handler-seriously-injured?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353900/german-police-kill-escaped-tiger-animal-handler-seriously-injured?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 17:19:36 +0000 dpa dpa Czech police have arrested a man suspected of stealing an almost 800-year-old religious relic from a Catholic church and encasing it in concrete. According to a police spokeswoman on Friday, the suspect admitted taking the skull, which is revered by believers as a relic of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk, from the Church of St Lawrence in the northern Czech town of Jablonne v Podjestedi on Tuesday. Investigators used special equipment to confirm the skull was hidden inside a solid concrete block... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353791/czech-police-recover-medieval-saints-800-year-old-skull-encased-concrete?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353791/czech-police-recover-medieval-saints-800-year-old-skull-encased-concrete?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 03:30:13 +0000 dpa dpa A paediatrician at a hospital near Berlin has been charged with sex offences in 130 cases, many of which are said to have taken place at the hospital, prosecutors said on Wednesday. The extent of the offences, which include serious sexual abuse of children and rape, had previously been unknown. The paediatrician has been in pre-trial custody since November, with prosecutors citing a risk of reoffending as a reason for the man’s continued detention. In January, it became known that the doctor was... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353478/paediatrician-germany-charged-sex-offences-130-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353478/paediatrician-germany-charged-sex-offences-130-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 17:39:38 +0000 dpa dpa The bodies of three women have been recovered from the sea off Brighton. Sussex Police said emergency services were called after concerns were raised for the women’s welfare at around 5.45am on Wednesday, and their bodies were pulled from the water near Madeira Drive. Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said the coastguard is completing an “extensive search of the water”, but the force is not searching for anyone else. The officer said CCTV inquiries are being carried out. Following the incident,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353475/bodies-3-women-recovered-sea-uks-brighton-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353475/bodies-3-women-recovered-sea-uks-brighton-city?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 15:14:00 +0000 dpa dpa There is no perfect way to raise children. But if you are despairing because of unruly kids, adopting some Japanese parenting methods could be the way to go. Japanese parenting emphasises unconditional love, community and harmony with nature, as ways to nurture well-behaved, respectful and creative children, says author Lisa Katayama, who used Japanese methods to bring up her own two children after moving from Tokyo to the United States. And now she has shared the core principles involved with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3353249/10-japanese-parenting-tips-raise-your-children-be-well-behaved-mindful-and-creative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3353249/10-japanese-parenting-tips-raise-your-children-be-well-behaved-mindful-and-creative?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 11:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa A small neighbourhood bakery in Paris is being overwhelmed with fans after its owner won the prestigious Grand Prix de la Baguette competition. “This is a non-negotiable must-try,” a fan enthused on Instagram. “The crunch is unreal!” Sithamparappillai Jegatheepan is the owner of the Fournil Didot bakery, in Paris’ 14th arrondissement. He submitted his baguette to run alongside 143 other bakers taking part in the competition in March. “I took part for the first time and won straight away,” he... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353237/paris-crowns-new-best-baguette-maker-prestigious-bakery-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353237/paris-crowns-new-best-baguette-maker-prestigious-bakery-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 11:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa The White Lotus is jetting off to Cannes for its fourth season, once again putting the spotlight on the ultra-wealthy. While the show – which follows the exploits of guests and staff at a fictional luxury resort chain – involves some pretty unpleasant characters, it is hard to fault the glitzy Cannes location. Filming for the hit HBO anthology series is under way at the Hotel Martinez, but staff at the five-star Hyatt hotel will not tell me much. “It’s going to be gigantic,” general manager... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3353090/inside-white-lotus-season-4s-luxury-5-star-hotel-cannes-france?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3353090/inside-white-lotus-season-4s-luxury-5-star-hotel-cannes-france?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 07:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa British paratroopers landed on a “golf course covered in rocks” to supply medical personnel and oxygen to Britain’s most remote overseas territory as it deals with a suspected hantavirus case, an army commander said on Sunday. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed on Friday that a British national had disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius to the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where they live, with a suspected case of hantavirus. Six paratroopers, a Royal Air Force (RAF)... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353102/paratroopers-jump-britains-most-remote-inhabited-island-hantavirus-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353102/paratroopers-jump-britains-most-remote-inhabited-island-hantavirus-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 05:10:53 +0000 dpa dpa Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2) This month, skywatchers will get the rare chance to see something that happens only once in a blue moon – in fact, it is the very phenomenon that gave rise to the phrase “once in a blue moon”. The so-called blue moon is the name given to a full moon that appears for the second time in the space of one month. This is rare since there are 29.5 days to a full lunation - the time between two successive identical lunar phases, such as from full moon to full moon –... https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/steam-studio/article/3352606/watch-night-sky-rare-event-behind-phrase-once-blue-moon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/steam-studio/article/3352606/watch-night-sky-rare-event-behind-phrase-once-blue-moon?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Doris Wai,dpa Doris Wai,dpa Listen to the podcast and answer the questions in the quiz. If you’re still unsure about a question, read the script provided to help you. This week’s podcast is voiced by SCMP health and wellness editor Cathy Hilborn Feng and Young Post production editor Dannie Aildasani. SCMP Young Post · Listen: World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris (adapted from spa; voiced by Cathy Hilborn Feng and Dannie Aildasani Script Adapted from dpa Voice 1: Elsa’s Ice Palace, the home built by the Disney character... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learning-zone/study-tools/listening-practice/article/3352457/listen-what-expect-new-world-frozen-disneyland-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learning-zone/study-tools/listening-practice/article/3352457/listen-what-expect-new-world-frozen-disneyland-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 22:30:08 +0000 dpa dpa In May 1941, it premiered in a New York cinema and was a box-office bomb. Now, 85 years later, Citizen Kane is considered by many to be the greatest film ever made. The black-and-white film by Hollywood’s wonder boy Orson Welles – who was 25 at the time – tells the story of fictional media mogul Charles Foster Kane, in whom contemporaries believed they could easily recognise media mogul William Hearst (1863-1951). The film was a flop – at least at first – so what is it about this work of cinema... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352865/how-citizen-kane-went-box-office-flop-greatest-film-all-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352865/how-citizen-kane-went-box-office-flop-greatest-film-all-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 08:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa For decades, TV series fans sat on the sofa, cursing. The tension built on screen, the characters were on the verge of finally kissing, breaking up or being murdered – then the credits rolled. There was a week’s wait until the next episode of Dallas, Game of Thrones or Friends. But then streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ put an end to this cliffhanger stress. They put all the episodes online at once – cementing the binge-watching movement that had been growing since the era... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352319/weekly-releases-vs-binge-watching-what-will-win-how-streamers-are-changing-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352319/weekly-releases-vs-binge-watching-what-will-win-how-streamers-are-changing-models?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 dpa dpa Two marine rescue volunteers died after their boat capsized while attempting to help a yacht in distress off the east coast of Australia, according to New South Wales police. On Monday evening, a member of the public reported that a yacht appeared to be struggling at a breakwall in Ballina in northern New South Wales, police said. A vessel of volunteer service Marine Rescue NSW with six crew on board was responding to the call when “their vessel capsized while crossing the Ballina Bar in heavy... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3352433/2-marine-rescue-volunteers-die-after-boat-capsizes-australias-new-south-wales-coast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3352433/2-marine-rescue-volunteers-die-after-boat-capsizes-australias-new-south-wales-coast?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 02:29:02 +0000 dpa,Reuters dpa,Reuters Toto Wolff warned Kimi Antonelli not to get carried away by the fervour of the Italian public as he put his young driver alongside tennis superstar Jannik Sinner. Antonelli’s victory at the Miami Grand Prix was his third in a row, becoming the first Italian to achieve that since Alberto Ascari in 1952. The Mercedes driver held off the challenge of reigning champion Lando Norris on Sunday. The 19-year-old will head to Montreal in three weeks’ time 20 points clear of Mercedes teammate George... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3352347/formula-1-mercedes-boss-hopes-italian-public-are-fair-superstars-antonelli-sinner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3352347/formula-1-mercedes-boss-hopes-italian-public-are-fair-superstars-antonelli-sinner?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:10 +0000 dpa dpa Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3) Humanoid robots outpaced humans in a half-marathon in Beijing last month, though they were left in the dust a year ago. On the 21km course, human participants joined robotic contenders from 100 companies and research groups. The remote-controlled robot Lightning technically finished first with a time of 48 minutes and 19 seconds. But under the event’s scoring rules, the robot Shandian won with a time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Last year, the fastest robot... https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3351908/robot-crowned-champion-after-beating-humans-beijing-half-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3351908/robot-crowned-champion-after-beating-humans-beijing-half-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 23:30:08 +0000 dpa dpa Saros, the successor to the roguelike game Returnal, is shaping up to be one of the best games of the year. Finnish developer Housemarque has refined a great deal, added new elements and pushed the game close to a fully fledged third-person shooter, while remaining true to its roots and delivering a wild, challenging experience. The game, a PlayStation 5 exclusive, opens with a striking introductory sequence: a telescopic survey has discovered a previously unknown, seemingly inexhaustible... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352004/saros-review-returnal-successor-one-best-games-2026-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352004/saros-review-returnal-successor-one-best-games-2026-so-far?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 07:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa This pain cannot simply be a bout of side stitches. And what does the strange tingling in your fingers mean? Just a few clicks away on the internet await possible explanations for your symptoms, some of which can be very alarming. So now you are really worried. This is a case of what has become known as cyberchondria. It is not a formal diagnosis, but an unfounded fear of, or heightened attention to, serious physical illnesses based on perusal of internet content, explains Dr Heiko Graf,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351795/if-googling-your-symptoms-puts-you-anxiety-spiral-you-could-have-cyberchondria?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351795/if-googling-your-symptoms-puts-you-anxiety-spiral-you-could-have-cyberchondria?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 07:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa In a half-marathon in Beijing last month, humanlike robots outran the human racers. Compare this with a year ago, when the robots were left in the dust. The robots were from 100 companies and research groups. On the 21km course, barriers separated the robots’ running track from the human competitors. The course was designed to test the robots’ abilities on more than 10 types of terrain. Engineers fixed their robots along the way at stations that had batteries and tools. The remote-controlled... https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/china/article/3351951/robots-speed-ahead-human-runners-beijing-half-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/china/article/3351951/robots-speed-ahead-human-runners-beijing-half-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press,dpa Agence France-Presse,Associated Press,dpa Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique admitted his team will probably need to score several more goals away to Bayern Munich next week to be sure of reaching another Champions League final after a remarkable 5-4 victory in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. “I just asked my staff how many goals they thought we would need next week and we all think we will need to score at least three,” said the Spaniard, who masterminded PSG’s 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in last season’s final. That... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351835/psg-coach-predicts-more-goals-thrills-return-leg-after-win-over-bayern-ucl-classic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3351835/psg-coach-predicts-more-goals-thrills-return-leg-after-win-over-bayern-ucl-classic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:08 +0000 dpa dpa By Lauren Taylor “I can see Elsa’s palace!” my five-year-old exclaims with pure joy, the first time it comes into view at Disneyland Paris. On the other side of a lake is a realistic-looking, snowy mountain, on which Elsa’s Ice Palace is perched. The World of Frozen – an immersive experience based on the popular film franchise inside Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park) – is now open to the public, and we are among the first to access this huge new section of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3351017/world-frozen-disneyland-paris-delights-guests-magical-olaf-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3351017/world-frozen-disneyland-paris-delights-guests-magical-olaf-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Sabastian Sawe said he was living proof “nothing is impossible” after becoming the first athlete to break the two-hour barrier in an official competition to win the London Marathon in a world record 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. The Kenyan defended his 2025 title, beating debutant Yomif Kejelcha by 11 seconds. The Ethiopian runner-up also crossed the line in an astonishing 1:59:41 hours, while Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda finished third in 2:00:28. All three were faster than the previous... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3351516/london-marathon-star-sawe-says-nothing-impossible-after-sub-2-hour-record-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3351516/london-marathon-star-sawe-says-nothing-impossible-after-sub-2-hour-record-run?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:15:10 +0000 dpa dpa Forget complicated wellness routines and expensive supplements: the latest health trend taking over social media looks a lot like an Italian grandmother’s daily life – and experts say it might actually work. “Nonnamaxxing”, a viral movement circulating widely on TikTok, encourages people to adopt the simple, intentional habits of an Italian grandmother, or “nonna”. The concept has captured Gen Z’s attention, but its appeal stretches across generations. At its core, the trend champions the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351279/what-nonnamaxxing-viral-health-trend-embraces-italian-grandmothers-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351279/what-nonnamaxxing-viral-health-trend-embraces-italian-grandmothers-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:15:09 +0000 dpa dpa Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2) Biologists have found a compound in python blood that helps them eat big meals and go months without eating while staying healthy. Some pythons can grow to be more than six metres long. They can eat a whole antelope and survive for months or even years without eating. Still, their hearts and muscles stay strong. Leslie Leinwand of the University of Colorado Boulder and Jonathon Long of Stanford University did this study together. The US scientists wanted to learn... https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/steam-studio/article/3350962/biologists-find-what-keeps-pythons-healthy-even-if-they-havent-eaten-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/steam-studio/article/3350962/biologists-find-what-keeps-pythons-healthy-even-if-they-havent-eaten-months?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 dpa dpa Not many 85-year-olds are as fit as Ringo Starr. The former Beatle has released yet another album. On it, he indulges his lifelong passion for country music – with some high-profile guests. Working on his 2025 album Look Up with T Bone Burnett was so much fun that he is now following it up. The restless Brit has been back in the studio with the American country icon and has emerged with his 22nd studio album, Long Long Road. The album title has something autobiographical about it, and, at 85,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351280/ringo-starr-his-new-country-album-long-long-road-its-road-ive-taken?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351280/ringo-starr-his-new-country-album-long-long-road-its-road-ive-taken?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Pope Leo has called for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty on Saturday, a day after the US administration mulled expanding the penalty. “The dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed,” Leo said in a video message marking the 15th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in his home state of Illinois. “The Catholic Church has consistently taught that each human life, from the moment of conception until natural death, is sacred and deserves... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351441/pope-leo-urges-worldwide-abolition-death-penalty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351441/pope-leo-urges-worldwide-abolition-death-penalty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:51:23 +0000 dpa dpa An attack by “unknown armed terrorists” has been carried out on military barracks and other targets in the capital Bamako, the military in Mali reported on Saturday. Attacks had also occurred in other locations in the country, the general staff reported. Fighting was ongoing, a brief statement said. Witnesses reported intense fighting in a town near the capital where junta leader General Assimi Goita lives, and in other key cities. Mali, a landlocked West African country, has been ruled by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3351434/mali-junta-reports-terrorist-attacks-several-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3351434/mali-junta-reports-terrorist-attacks-several-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:19:42 +0000 dpa dpa Argentina has called for talks with the UK over the Falkland Islands after reports the US could review its position on the South Atlantic territory in retaliation for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s lack of support for the war in Iran. Downing Street had earlier insisted the sovereignty of the Falklands was “not in question”. That came after a leaked internal Pentagon email set out options for President Donald Trump’s administration to punish Nato allies for refusing to join the US-Israeli strikes... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351428/argentina-renews-call-uk-talks-over-falklands-us-confirms-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351428/argentina-renews-call-uk-talks-over-falklands-us-confirms-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:26:32 +0000 dpa dpa German prosecutors have charged a 46-year-old man on suspicion of serious sexual abuse of children via live streaming. The man, from the district of Heidenheim in southwestern Germany, is alleged to have paid female accomplices in the Philippines to carry out sexual abuse against girls aged between four and 13 in six instances, the Cybercrime Centre of the Karlsruhe Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday. Videos of the sexual abuse were reportedly streamed live to the man, while he directed... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351352/german-man-accused-live-streaming-child-abuse-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351352/german-man-accused-live-streaming-child-abuse-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:24:26 +0000 dpa dpa Biologists have found a compound in python blood that helps the reptiles eat huge meals and go months without eating while staying healthy. Some pythons can grow to be more than six metres long. They can swallow a whole antelope and survive months or even years without eating. Still, their hearts and muscles stay strong. Leslie Leinwand of the University of Colorado Boulder and Jonathon Long of Stanford University did this research together. The US scientists wanted to understand the python’s... https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/world/article/3351214/how-can-pythons-survive-months-no-food-their-blood-holds-secret?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/world/article/3351214/how-can-pythons-survive-months-no-food-their-blood-holds-secret?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:00:12 +0000 dpa,Doris Wai dpa,Doris Wai American biologists Leslie Leinwand of the University of Colorado Boulder and Jonathon Long of Stanford University have found a compound in python blood that helps the reptiles eat huge meals and then go months without food while staying healthy. Pythons can grow as long as a telephone pole. They can swallow an antelope whole and survive months or even years without eating, all while keeping their hearts strong and maintaining their muscles. Leinwand’s earlier research showed that after a meal,... https://www.scmp.com/yp/news/world/article/3351212/scientists-find-compound-helps-power-pythons-metabolism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/news/world/article/3351212/scientists-find-compound-helps-power-pythons-metabolism?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:00:20 +0000 dpa dpa Background: A recent study by the Pew Research Centre found that 64 per cent of American teenagers use artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. In addition to using AI to find information or get help with their school assignments, they are also using chatbots to help them choose what to eat. Researchers found that the meal plans generated by AI were too low in calories and carbohydrates and too high in protein and fat. Adolescents can be awkwardly self-conscious or even obsessive when it comes to... https://www.scmp.com/yp/news/article/3350740/teens-using-ai-diet-tips-risk-malnutrition-researchers-find?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/news/article/3350740/teens-using-ai-diet-tips-risk-malnutrition-researchers-find?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 dpa dpa Taking a “golden gap year” is an emerging trend among retirees, with increasing numbers of older people planning to see the world when they retire. Retirement travel is being widely documented on social media by people like retired British teachers Jackie and Richard Pickles, whose Early Retirement Wanderlust YouTube channel shares their campervan travels through the UK and Europe. Another experienced retirement traveller is Tina (who does not like to reveal her surname), who started the YouTube... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350445/10-tips-retirement-travel-planning-ai-what-pack-your-bag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350445/10-tips-retirement-travel-planning-ai-what-pack-your-bag?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3) A study has found that cats and dogs are not the only animals that enjoy human touch – chickens do too. Researchers report that gentle interactions can trigger positive emotions in young chicks. In a study by researchers at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, 20 baby hens were given a choice between two different areas, each marked with a colour. In one area, the hens could interact with a person who gently stroked them and talked softly. In the other... https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3349205/new-research-shows-chickens-delight-human-touch-and-positive-interactions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/posties/kids/eye-news/article/3349205/new-research-shows-chickens-delight-human-touch-and-positive-interactions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:10 +0000 dpa dpa The head of Ukraine’s police patrol, Yevhen Zhukov, has handed in his resignation after two police officers were seen fleeing the scene when a gunman opened fire in Kyiv, killing at least six. “As an officer with combat experience, I have decided to tender my resignation from my current post. I believe this is the right thing to do,” said the police general at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday. It comes after an unknown gunman killed at least six people and injured more than a dozen others in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350652/police-patrol-chief-quits-over-shameful-response-kyiv-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350652/police-patrol-chief-quits-over-shameful-response-kyiv-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:27:31 +0000 dpa dpa Video game developer Capcom brought forward the release date for its long-awaited space sci-fi adventure Pragmata to April 17 amid global excitement over the successful Artemis II moon mission. Players slip into the spacesuit of Hugh Williams, a spacecraft engineer in the near future who travels to the Cradle moon station run by the Delphi Corporation. The base was founded to mine and research the raw material Lunafilament, which is used to expand the base and to build support robots using 3D... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3350400/pragmata-review-moon-set-game-released-early-amid-artemis-ii-buzz-amazing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3350400/pragmata-review-moon-set-game-released-early-amid-artemis-ii-buzz-amazing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa While many Europeans are considering putting long-haul flying on the back burner as jet fuel costs and airfares climb, those with a trip already booked for Malaysia may need to watch out if ambling around with a camera slung across a shoulder. Following an early April warning about unlicensed street photography, city authorities in Kuala Lumpur, the country’s capital, have confiscated equipment from six people, five of them non-Malaysians, pending payment of fines levied under street hawking... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350550/malaysia-unlicensed-street-photography-becomes-focus-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350550/malaysia-unlicensed-street-photography-becomes-focus-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:39:31 +0000 dpa dpa When it comes to daily step goals, 10,000 is the benchmark many of us aim for. Most smartwatches come preset with this target, and while their reminders can encourage us to stay active, they can sometimes leave us feeling discouraged when we fall short. With National Walking Month in May approaching, we consulted experts to explore the key benefits and drawbacks of the 10,000-steps-a-day goal. Where did the 10,000-step goal come from and is it backed by science? While the standard is widely... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350242/pros-and-cons-aiming-10000-steps-day-and-why-less-can-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350242/pros-and-cons-aiming-10000-steps-day-and-why-less-can-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip killed more than 38,000 women and girls between October 2023 and the end of 2025, a UN report published on Friday showed. Palestinian health authorities put the estimated total death toll by the end of 2025 at just over 71,000, rising to more than 72,000 by mid-April as Israel continued sporadic attacks despite a ceasefire with the Islamist group Hamas. According to the analysis by UN Women, this means over half of all the victims in Gaza by the end of 2025 were... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350527/israeli-attacks-killed-over-38000-women-girls-gaza-october-2023-un-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350527/israeli-attacks-killed-over-38000-women-girls-gaza-october-2023-un-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:42:52 +0000 dpa dpa On social media, English teacher Jak Kurdi often shares his love of books and writing. Growing up in a household that prioritised reading, he could vividly picture the worlds on the page, his imagination carrying him into each scene. “I remember as a kid having a very, very vivid imagination,” says Kurdi, 28, who teaches at Wilson Middle School in Plano, in the US state of Texas. “I was an avid reader, and then slowly I started to realise that, I think in my adulthood, I’ve lost it.” He later... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350456/do-you-have-trouble-visualising-things-maybe-you-have-aphantasia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350456/do-you-have-trouble-visualising-things-maybe-you-have-aphantasia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa A study has found that cats and dogs are not the only animals that enjoy human touch – chickens do too. Researchers report that gentle interactions can cause young chicks to have positive emotions. The researchers were from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. They gave 20 baby hens a choice between two different areas, each marked with a colour. In one area, the hens could interact with a person who gently petted them and talked softly. In the other area, a person was there but... https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/world/article/3350270/researchers-find-chickens-enjoy-gentle-interactions-humans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/spark/news/world/article/3350270/researchers-find-chickens-enjoy-gentle-interactions-humans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:00:10 +0000 dpa dpa Rudolf Goetz effortlessly moves the weights up and down on the ab machine. Pushing 40kg (88lb) weights on the leg press are not a problem for the 100-year-old, either. “Many others would be groaning under the weight at 50 or 60,” says trainer and gym owner Marc Baldow with a laugh, as he watches his oldest member diligently go through his workout routine. Goetz trains twice a week at the gym in Fuerstenwalde, a small town east of Berlin in Germany, without making any fuss, despite his story... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350019/youre-never-too-old-work-out-says-100-year-old-who-hits-gym-twice-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350019/youre-never-too-old-work-out-says-100-year-old-who-hits-gym-twice-week?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:15:09 +0000 dpa dpa New research suggests that gifted men are less conservative in their political views than men of average cognitive ability. A study conducted in Germany found that men with higher IQs are less inclined to traditional values, but the lead author, psychologist and intelligence researcher Maximilian Krolo of Saarland University said the researchers did not find these differences among women. The study was based on the Marburg Giftedness Project, for which more than 7,000 children in primary school... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350097/men-higher-iqs-are-less-conservative-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350097/men-higher-iqs-are-less-conservative-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:47:35 +0000 dpa dpa Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has hit out at the “delay” and “timidity” in helping Ukraine after travelling through the country unprotected during a 72-hour trip for a documentary. The former prime minister travelled beyond the capital Kyiv to the so-called kill zone near the city of Zaporizhzhia where he witnessed first-hand the war between Russia and Ukraine. The 61-year-old said Ukraine can and will win the war, but that “we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges” to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349952/ex-uk-pm-boris-johnson-criticises-timidity-over-ukraine-after-visit-film?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349952/ex-uk-pm-boris-johnson-criticises-timidity-over-ukraine-after-visit-film?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:34:27 +0000 dpa dpa US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that there would be an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight in the White House grounds to mark his 80th birthday on June 14. Trump, a UFC fan, made the announcement on social media. This year marks the 250th anniversary of US independence and the initial plans were for the fight to take place on July 4, US Independence Day. On Saturday, Trump was attending a UFC fight in Miami with several family members and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, when... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349785/trumps-80th-birthday-bash-feature-ufc-fight-white-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349785/trumps-80th-birthday-bash-feature-ufc-fight-white-house?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:37:29 +0000 dpa,Doris Wai dpa,Doris Wai Listen to the podcast and answer the questions in the quiz. If you’re still unsure about a question, read the script provided to help you. This week’s podcast is voiced by Wasi Anjum Mirza, a production editor on SCMP’s digital desk, and Cathy Hilborn Feng, SCMP’s health and wellness editor. SCMP Young Post · Listen: social media’s impact on well-being (voiced by Cathy Hilborn Feng and Wasi Anjum Mirza) Script Adapted from dpa Voice 1: In North America and western Europe, young people are much... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learning-zone/study-tools/listening-practice/article/3348864/listen-world-happiness-report-shows-social-medias-impact-well-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learning-zone/study-tools/listening-practice/article/3348864/listen-world-happiness-report-shows-social-medias-impact-well-being?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:41 +0000 dpa dpa Defending champion Rory McIlroy basked in the warm Georgia sunshine and the glory of his return to Augusta to lay down a marker in his bid for rare back-to-back Masters wins with a share of the first-round lead. Following a nondescript seven holes in which he struggled with his driving, the Northern Irishman, seeking to become only the fourth man after Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo to retain the green jacket, burst into life with five birdies in eight holes. A round of 67 catapulted... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3349584/rory-mcilroy-claims-share-early-lead-hunt-back-back-masters-wins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3349584/rory-mcilroy-claims-share-early-lead-hunt-back-back-masters-wins?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:11:03 +0000 dpa dpa Russia has formally designated Nazi crimes against the Soviet population during World War II as genocide and criminalised their denial, after President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the country’s criminal code, the Kremlin said on Thursday. The term “genocide of the Soviet people” has increasingly been used in Russia in recent years. Authorities have also proposed repurposing a closed museum dedicated to the Soviet-era Gulag system into one focused on victims of Nazi crimes. Moscow has... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349569/russia-criminalises-denial-soviet-genocide-nazis-during-world-war-ii?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349569/russia-criminalises-denial-soviet-genocide-nazis-during-world-war-ii?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:21:17 +0000