https://www.scmp.com/rss/519386/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The tiny Caribbean island of Dominica is creating the world’s first marine protected area for one of earth’s largest animals: the endangered sperm whale. Nearly 800 square kilometres (300 square miles) of blue waters on the western side of the island nation that serve as key nursing and feeding grounds will be designated as a reserve, the government announced on Monday. “We want to ensure these majestic and highly intelligent animals are safe from harm and continue keeping our waters and our... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3241533/also-citizens-caribbean-island-dominica-create-first-marine-protected-area-sperm-whales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3241533/also-citizens-caribbean-island-dominica-create-first-marine-protected-area-sperm-whales?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Nov 2023 11:42:24 +0000 Xu Jingkun has become the first Chinese sailor to complete the Route du Rhum solo race, finishing the run across the Atlantic in just over 16 days. The 33-year-old sailed into Guadeloupe in 29th place in his category, after a journey that attracted a huge following across China, which the Paralympian said made the loneliness of the sea not lonely at all. Xu said his aims extended beyond the race itself, with inspiring others and gaining experience for a world solo voyage among the forces driving... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3201370/paralympian-xu-jingkun-becomes-first-chinese-sailor-complete-epic-route-du-rhum-solo-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3201370/paralympian-xu-jingkun-becomes-first-chinese-sailor-complete-epic-route-du-rhum-solo-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:33:23 +0000 The night was a typically hot and humid one in Guangzhou. Martial Henri Merlin, serving governor-general of French Indochina for less than a year, had arrived by train that afternoon from Hong Kong. It was June 1924 and he was on his way home to Hanoi after visiting Tokyo, ostensibly promoting greater trade with French Indochina. His short time in Guangzhou was to be spent entirely on Shamian Island, divided into two foreign concessions controlled by France and Britain since 1859, measuring... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3199814/how-vietnamese-revolutionary-leader-ho-chi-minh-was-inspired-guangzhou-hotel-bombers-anti-colonial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3199814/how-vietnamese-revolutionary-leader-ho-chi-minh-was-inspired-guangzhou-hotel-bombers-anti-colonial?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Nov 2022 05:15:09 +0000 Sailor Xu Jingkun is breaking boundaries for disabled sailors on the Route du Rhum, and battling violent storms in the Atlantic Ocean that have already forced a host of others to abandon the race. Considered one of the hardest solo sailing races in the world, the Route du Rhum takes competitors from Saint Malo, Brittany, Metropolitan France to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Xu, in his boat China Dream-Haikou, hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams. He lost his arm as a child, and his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3199768/route-du-rhum-chinese-paralympian-xu-dare-not-sleep-he-battles-violent-storms-race-across-atlantic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3199768/route-du-rhum-chinese-paralympian-xu-dare-not-sleep-he-battles-violent-storms-race-across-atlantic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Nov 2022 02:20:58 +0000 Powerful storm Fiona lashed into eastern Canada on Saturday, cutting power to thousands and washing houses into the sea as it pummelled the area with fierce winds and rains “like nothing we’ve ever seen,” police said. Two women were swept into the ocean in Newfoundland, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported. One was rescued, but the other is still missing. Mayor Brian Button of Channel-Port aux Basques, at the southwestern tip of Newfoundland, told CBC News that the scene there was one of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3193695/powerful-storm-fiona-hits-canadas-nova-scotia-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3193695/powerful-storm-fiona-hits-canadas-nova-scotia-after?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Sep 2022 11:04:19 +0000 A hurricane that is expected to transform into a massive post-tropical storm will bring hurricane-strength wind, heavy rain and large waves to Atlantic Canada in what meteorologists said Friday has the potential to be one of the most severe storms in the country’s history. Fiona is due to make landfall Saturday morning. The Canadian Hurricane Centre issued a hurricane watch over extensive coastal expanses of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. The US National Hurricane Centre... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3193658/hurricane-fiona-canada-braces-what-could-be-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3193658/hurricane-fiona-canada-braces-what-could-be-one?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:34:53 +0000 Hurricane Fiona knocked out power across Puerto Rico on Sunday before making landfall, dumping torrential rain and wreaking “catastrophic” damage in several areas of the US island territory before spinning off towards the Dominican Republic. Landslides, blocked roads, fallen trees and power lines, as well as a collapsed bridge in the town of Utuado in the central mountainous region were among the destruction already levied by Fiona, Governor Pedro Pierluisi told an evening press conference. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3192949/hurricane-batters-puerto-rico-thousands-without-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3192949/hurricane-batters-puerto-rico-thousands-without-power?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Sep 2022 18:58:37 +0000 Hong Kong ranks seventh among places where people are most likely to live beyond 100 years old, trailing Japan in Asia, a global survey has found. The city had 47 centenarians for every 100,000 residents in 2020, according to the study by Lottie, a British elderly care service provider. Elderly Hongkongers turn to expressive arts therapy to ease Covid blues Hong Kong was estimated to have 3,561 residents aged 100 or above in 2020, more than 84 per cent of whom were female. Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3184848/hong-kong-ranks-7th-among-places-where-people-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3184848/hong-kong-ranks-7th-among-places-where-people-are?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Jul 2022 06:37:36 +0000