https://www.scmp.com/rss/519527/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters On the tourist-packed ⁠Rock of Gibraltar, one of the most common sights is monkeys ⁠begging for food – and sometimes stealing sweet and salty snacks from unsuspecting visitors. Scientists now have documented an unusual behaviour among these macaques that may help them ward off a bellyache from all this junk food. Researchers said the monkeys have been observed eating soil more frequently, a behaviour they said may help the macaques avoid stomach upset from consuming human snacks. They found that... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351054/gibraltars-monkeys-may-be-eating-soil-cope-junk-food-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351054/gibraltars-monkeys-may-be-eating-soil-cope-junk-food-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:19:53 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Francois Penz, former head of the department of architecture at the University of Cambridge and a pioneer in the interdisciplinary field of architecture and film, has joined Nanjing University on a full-time basis. The school of architecture and urban planning of Nanjing University announced the appointment on its social media account on March 17. Penz is an emeritus professor at the university, a former director of The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, a fellow of Darwin... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347941/cambridge-top-architect-francois-penz-relocates-china-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347941/cambridge-top-architect-francois-penz-relocates-china-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Rina Lai Rina Lai For most of my career in developmental and educational psychology, I have been guided by a single question: what do children truly need to flourish in the world they are entering? I don’t mean the world their parents inherited or the one textbooks were designed for, but the one unfolding – volatile, technology-saturated and deeply uncertain. Eight years ago, during my PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, I was certain I was close to finding the answer; I immersed myself in building... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for middle powers to band together amid a fragmenting world order is a vision analysts say appeals to many Asian nations, but lacks a blueprint to bring them all together. Speaking in Switzerland last month, Carney urged mid-sized and smaller countries to unite against the economic coercion of great powers, warning that nations failing to act collectively risked being “on the menu” rather than “at the table”, in a thinly veiled rebuke of the United... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342400/canada-wants-middle-power-alliance-will-asia-pacific-sign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342400/canada-wants-middle-power-alliance-will-asia-pacific-sign?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:31:42 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 81st instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. My mother often used to wonder whether she was on a ship. As we gazed across the lawn at home, she would ask, “Am I on a ship?” Sometimes it was her first question when she woke in the morning. “Is this my cabin?” she would ask as she looked around her. “I used to share it with somebody. I wonder where she’s gone.” Or: “Will we dock soon?” I used to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340853/when-dementia-makes-finding-right-words-hard-what-carers-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340853/when-dementia-makes-finding-right-words-hard-what-carers-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:15:16 +0000 dpa dpa A massive international grey market in mobile phone SIM cards is fuelling large-scale manipulation and fraud online, a University of Cambridge study has found. The researchers say physical and virtual SIMs from providers like SMSActivate, 5Sim, SMShub and SMSPVA were being used to verify fake accounts on social media platforms and e-commerce services. “We find a thriving underground market through which inauthentic content, artificial popularity and political influence campaigns are readily and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3336187/how-global-grey-market-sim-cards-powers-fraud-and-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3336187/how-global-grey-market-sim-cards-powers-fraud-and-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:29:24 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Nigel Slater, former pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge and a distinguished figure in chemical engineering and biopharmaceuticals, has officially embarked on a new chapter in China’s rapidly rising biomedical frontier. The veteran academic, who spent over three decades shaping science and innovation at Cambridge, has joined Zhejiang University in Hangzhou as part of a strategic move fuelled by both personal ambition and global scientific realignment. For Slater, the journey from... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3335143/cambridge-university-ex-vice-chancellor-nigel-slater-joins-chinas-biotech-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3335143/cambridge-university-ex-vice-chancellor-nigel-slater-joins-chinas-biotech-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s leader has said late entertainment mogul Run Run Shaw’s vision of celebrating education and the pursuit of knowledge with his prestigious science prize is central to the city government’s own aspirations. Speaking at the award ceremony for the prestigious Shaw Prize on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also paid his respects to late Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Chen-ning Yang, who was one of the local award’s founding council members. The award, dubbed the “Nobel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3329845/hong-kongs-john-lee-champions-shaw-prize-vision-pays-tribute-late-physicist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3329845/hong-kongs-john-lee-champions-shaw-prize-vision-pays-tribute-late-physicist?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:29:34 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Six Hong Kong institutions have been listed among the world’s top 200 universities, a record for the city, with the British compiler of the table attributing their higher rankings to increased investments in research and staffing. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the city’s oldest, rose from 35th to 33rd place, the highest among all the local institutions, while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) registered the biggest jump, moving from 66th to 58th. Renowned British... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3328255/6-hong-kong-universities-set-new-record-global-top-200?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3328255/6-hong-kong-universities-set-new-record-global-top-200?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Nora Mankel Nora Mankel China’s recent advances in the development of high-performance chips, including research published on the new Meteor-1 parallel optical computing integrated chip, could transform the artificial intelligence industry, say analysts. In recent months, several research teams have made strides that could boost generative AI, which has an increasing computing demand for AI model development, training and deployment. Electronic chips, which have made everything AI possible so far, appear to be reaching... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3317327/chinas-optical-chip-advances-such-meteor-1-light-way-ai-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3317327/chinas-optical-chip-advances-such-meteor-1-light-way-ai-development?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin A German molecular biologist has won Hong Kong’s prestigious Shaw Prize this year for his development of a cutting-edge imaging technology that helps scientists understand how viruses attack the human body and come up with new treatments. Professor Wolfgang Baumeister, director emeritus and scientific member of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany, was on Tuesday named one of the winners of the Shaw Prize, dubbed the “Nobel Prize of the East”. Baumeister was awarded the 2025 Shaw... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312029/german-scientist-wins-hong-kongs-shaw-prize-pioneering-3d-imaging-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312029/german-scientist-wins-hong-kongs-shaw-prize-pioneering-3d-imaging-work?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 15:00:19 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese graduate from the University of Cambridge became a zookeeper in Shanghai for better health, but her career choice has left many people awestruck. Ma Ya, 25, from eastern China’s Jiangsu province, made a bold decision to give up her higher-paid job at a biopharmaceutical company and now works as a zookeeper at the renowned Shanghai Zoo. The average monthly salary for a new researcher at biopharmaceutical companies is around 10,000 yuan (US$1,400), while that of a zookeeper is about half... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3300299/chinese-woman-cambridge-masters-degree-declines-biotech-job-become-zookeeper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3300299/chinese-woman-cambridge-masters-degree-declines-biotech-job-become-zookeeper?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng About 80 per cent of the sand used in China’s construction industry today is manufactured, marking a turning point in engineering, and offering hope to solve a major crisis for the world, according to a new study. Sand has been used in buildings for at least 60,000 years. It is the second most used resource on Earth after water. Rapid population growth and urbanisation in recent decades have accelerated the depletion of natural sand reserves. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3273891/china-builds-manufactured-sand-easing-worry-about-overmining-and-environmental-cost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3273891/china-builds-manufactured-sand-easing-worry-about-overmining-and-environmental-cost?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Aug 2024 06:00:13 +0000 This is the 41st instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I do the Wordle word game every day, and if I have time, Connections. I frequently have a stab at Spelling Bee. I don’t do them just to pass time. I worry that not doing them may dull my brain. I’m not unusual – lots of people play these mind games to protect their brains from atrophy. But how useful are they? Remaining cognitively active, studies... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3271346/how-brain-training-apps-puzzles-and-reading-keep-mind-sharp-and-ward-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3271346/how-brain-training-apps-puzzles-and-reading-keep-mind-sharp-and-ward-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2024 10:15:08 +0000 Israel’s first attack on Yemen’s Houthis, who have defied months of strikes by the United States and Britain, is likely to only embolden the rebels, analysts say. Saturday’s strike on the port city of Hodeidah, which the rebels say killed six people and triggered a massive fire, will provide the Houthis with “political capital”, said Maged Al-Madhaji, co-founder of the Sanaa Centre for Strategic Studies think tank. “They legitimise Houthi claims that they are waging a war with Israel,” which... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3271316/israels-yemen-strike-will-embolden-houthis-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3271316/israels-yemen-strike-will-embolden-houthis-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jul 2024 14:00:25 +0000 US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate is creating excitement in India as the potential vice-president has praised his Indian-American wife Usha Chilukuri Vance for her support. Trump is seen by some political observers as the front-runner in the November election following a failed assassination attempt on him last week. Meanwhile, his Democrat rival, President Joe Biden, is battling poor health amid calls by critics and some Democrats for him to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3271094/who-usha-vance-indian-american-wife-trumps-running-mate-evokes-pride-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3271094/who-usha-vance-indian-american-wife-trumps-running-mate-evokes-pride-india?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jul 2024 07:50:11 +0000 Usha Chilukuri Vance, Yale law graduate and trial lawyer, was thrust into the spotlight this week after her husband, J.D. Vance, was chosen as Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Chilukuri Vance, 38, was raised in San Diego, by Indian immigrants. Her mother is a biologist and provost at the University of California at San Diego; her father is an engineer, according to JD Vance’s campaign. She received an undergraduate degree at Yale University and a master of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3270720/meet-usha-vance-child-indian-immigrants-and-trump-vp-pick-jd-vances-lawyer-wife?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3270720/meet-usha-vance-child-indian-immigrants-and-trump-vp-pick-jd-vances-lawyer-wife?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jul 2024 22:35:22 +0000 From ancient Shaolin techniques to iconic movie stars like Bruce Lee, delve into the history, philosophy, and cinematic impact of kung fu with our martial arts series. Standing in his “18 dragon subduing palms” stance, a large sculpture of Guo Jing – one of the best-known protagonists in Chinese wuxia martial arts fiction – has welcomed new arrivals at Hong Kong International Airport since March. The 3.5-metre-tall (11-foot) statue commemorates 100 years since the birth of the character’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3269587/how-jin-yong-and-liang-yusheng-became-legends-wuxia-martial-arts-novels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3269587/how-jin-yong-and-liang-yusheng-became-legends-wuxia-martial-arts-novels?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jul 2024 23:15:09 +0000 Ann Cao,Alice Yan Ann Cao,Alice Yan Alibaba Group Holding’s annual global maths contest finished on Saturday with all eyes on a 17-year-old vocational school student who has bested hundreds of competitors from prestigious universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Tsinghua University, generating intense interest and speculation online. The Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition, which has been hosted by Alibaba’s Damo Academy annually for the past six years, except 2019, held the finals... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3268011/17-year-old-girl-alibaba-maths-finals-sparks-awe-controversy-after-beating-mit-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3268011/17-year-old-girl-alibaba-maths-finals-sparks-awe-controversy-after-beating-mit-students?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2024 01:00:13 +0000 [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Life can take you on many paths, ultimately guiding you towards the same goal. No one understands this better than Professor Eddie HUI, who joined as Chair Professor to City University of Hong Kong’s (CityUHK) Department of Public and International Affairs (PIA) and became Head of PIA this February. With a diverse background encompassing research, consultancy and professional expertise, Hui brings a wealth of knowledge... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/harmony-urban-jungle/article/3266938/charting-complexities-cities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/harmony-urban-jungle/article/3266938/charting-complexities-cities?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jun 2024 03:30:11 +0000 City University of Hong Kong (CityU) may take four to five years to double the non-local undergraduate intake allowed under a newly expanded quota, its head has stressed, warning that rushing to achieve the goal will leave students suffering from a lack of adequate facilities. Professor Freddy Boey, who has been leading CityU for a year, said mainland Chinese students would inevitably continue to make up most of the non-local students in the city’s tertiary institutions. The Singaporean added he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3265656/hong-kongs-cityu-may-take-4-5-years-double-non-local-student-intake-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3265656/hong-kongs-cityu-may-take-4-5-years-double-non-local-student-intake-president?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jun 2024 01:30:15 +0000 Six public universities in Hong Kong rose in a global ranking, with the city’s oldest institution climbing to 17th place, its best showing since the table began in 2004. Ben Sowter, senior vice-president of the Britain-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), said Hong Kong universities were among the most improved institutions in the world this year after achieving significant gains in their reputation among employers and research performance. “Despite its exceptional... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3265370/6-7-public-universities-hong-kong-rise-global-ranking-table?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3265370/6-7-public-universities-hong-kong-rise-global-ranking-table?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:18 +0000 Chow Hang-tung, a former vice-chairwoman of the now-dissolved alliance behind Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Square vigil, was arrested on Tuesday in the first sedition case after the city’s domestic national security law was enacted two months ago. The activist was among six people detained for posting allegedly seditious content on a Facebook group in the run-up to the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown. The Post profiles the activist, who has been detained since 2021 on charges associated... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3264475/who-hong-kongs-chow-hang-tung-former-cambridge-university-student-and-barrister-turned-political?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3264475/who-hong-kongs-chow-hang-tung-former-cambridge-university-student-and-barrister-turned-political?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 May 2024 15:12:17 +0000 The role of head of design at luxury hotel group Maybourne was made for Michelle Wu Wai-sze. Literally. “The job didn’t exist before then. I started from scratch as a one-woman band,” she tells me when we meet at London hotel Claridge’s, the jewel in the Maybourne crown. Wu grew up in Hong Kong – her parents and brother still live in the city – but is now based in the British capital, where Maybourne is headquartered and has three further hotels: The Berkeley, The Connaught and the just-opened,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3263471/claridges-berkeley-maybourne-riviera-luxury-hotels-have-hong-kong-born-michelle-wu-thank-their-looks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3263471/claridges-berkeley-maybourne-riviera-luxury-hotels-have-hong-kong-born-michelle-wu-thank-their-looks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 May 2024 23:15:09 +0000 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dropped his latest propaganda song a fortnight ago, and the synth-pop track is seemingly winning over TikTokkers, BBC News reported. With its upbeat tempo and catchy melody, “Friendly Father” is reminiscent of an Abba track – but with a Soviet-sounding twist. While experts say the song is a calculated attempt to feed state propaganda to the masses, TikTokkers are just enjoying the tune. Posts about the song have garnered millions of likes. “On Spotify when,” one... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3261476/tiktok-grooves-upbeat-north-korean-propaganda-song-praising-kim-jong-un?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3261476/tiktok-grooves-upbeat-north-korean-propaganda-song-praising-kim-jong-un?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 May 2024 07:16:07 +0000 A UK team of archaeologists on Thursday revealed the reconstructed face of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman, as researchers reappraise the perception of the species as brutish and unsophisticated. Named Shanidar Z after the cave in Iraqi Kurdistan where her skull was found in 2018, the latest discovery has led experts to probe the mystery of the 40-something Neanderthal woman laid to rest in a sleeping position beneath a huge vertical stone marker. The lower part of her skeleton is believed... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3261109/face-75000-year-old-neanderthal-woman-unveiled-uk-researchers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3261109/face-75000-year-old-neanderthal-woman-unveiled-uk-researchers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 May 2024 23:51:53 +0000 [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong’s construction sector is on the brink of a ‘golden decade’, with an annual turnover expected to exceed HK$300 billion. This includes new infrastructure, railway, commercial, and housing development projects undertaken by both public and private sectors.   As per the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address, the Government plans to proceed with the Northern Metropolis mega-project. This includes the Shenzhen Park... https://www.scmp.com/presented/property/topics/doctor-international-real-estate-and-construction/article/3253209/polyus-doctor-international-real-estate-and-construction-direc-programme-nurtures-future-property?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/property/topics/doctor-international-real-estate-and-construction/article/3253209/polyus-doctor-international-real-estate-and-construction-direc-programme-nurtures-future-property?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:00:25 +0000 China has promoted a veteran police officer who oversees cooperation with the US in the fight against fentanyl as assistant public security minister. The promotion of Hu Binchen, the 53-year-old director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, to assistant minister rank and as member of the ministry’s Communist Party committee, was announced by the State Council, China’s cabinet, on Tuesday. The ministry also promoted Liu Zhongyi, 59, director of its Criminal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3258775/china-names-high-profile-law-enforcer-working-us-fentanyl-fight-assistant-public-security-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3258775/china-names-high-profile-law-enforcer-working-us-fentanyl-fight-assistant-public-security-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:32:02 +0000 HSBC, Hong Kong’s biggest lender, plans to increase the visibility of its family office and digital banking services to attract ultra-high-net-worth clients to its private banking unit, according to a senior executive. “We have seen a strong growth in ultra-high-net-worth customers in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in mainland China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia in recent years, who demand wealth management services,” said Lok Yim, the newly appointed head of HSBC... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3254752/hsbc-woos-asias-ultra-rich-set-family-offices-hong-kong-suite-digital-and-wealth-planning-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3254752/hsbc-woos-asias-ultra-rich-set-family-offices-hong-kong-suite-digital-and-wealth-planning-services?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:30:13 +0000 Seema was 14 when she first decided she did not want to have children. At the time, her mother laughed it off as a childish fancy, telling Seema she would one day change her mind. But nearly 20 years later, the 34-year-old financial analyst in New Delhi has not wavered on her stance – deeply straining her relationship with her parents. “They have not spoken to me in almost three years,” Seema said, asking to use only her first name to protect her identity. “I don’t know if they will ever come... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3253866/across-asia-new-class-childless-choice-couples-emerge-meet-dinks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3253866/across-asia-new-class-childless-choice-couples-emerge-meet-dinks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Mar 2024 01:30:13 +0000 OpenAI’s recent text-to-video model Sora has fired a fresh warning shot to China about its gap with the world’s top artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, triggering questions about why the country has no equivalent product in an echo of the kind of soul-searching local researchers and investors went through after the 2022 launch of ChatGPT. Just a few years ago, China had envisioned itself eventually dominating the global AI race by leveraging the country’s vast troves of data to develop... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3253034/openais-sora-pours-cold-water-chinas-ai-dreams-text-video-advancements-prompt-more-soul-searching?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3253034/openais-sora-pours-cold-water-chinas-ai-dreams-text-video-advancements-prompt-more-soul-searching?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:00:17 +0000 A China-led team of astronomers has detected an exotic binary system which is home to the smallest star ever discovered. Known as a hot subdwarf, the star is just seven times the size of Earth and is smaller than Saturn, according to researchers from Tsinghua University, Yunnan Observatories as well as Australia, Europe and the US. The tiny star and its larger white dwarf companion are about 2,760 light years from Earth. It was detected with the Tsinghua University-Ma Huateng Telescope for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3252327/china-led-research-team-pinpoints-smallest-star-and-its-ghostly-lone-companion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3252327/china-led-research-team-pinpoints-smallest-star-and-its-ghostly-lone-companion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Feb 2024 02:00:15 +0000 There is an unpleasant but necessary annual ritual that is vital to protecting one’s health and saves lives around the globe. Unfortunately, for many, getting the vaccine for influenza conjures up unpleasant memories of a yearly visit to the doctor’s office, lengthy queues, a painful jab and a sore arm. That may become a thing of the past. Imagine only having to get a dose once every 3 years, and having it as a nasal spray. This is the aim of a project being carried out through the Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252302/yearly-flu-jabs-may-one-day-be-past?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252302/yearly-flu-jabs-may-one-day-be-past?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Feb 2024 21:00:29 +0000 A great joy of travelling across China is enjoying the immensely diverse range of high-quality regional foods, ranging from spicy Sichuan peppers and Cantonese dim sum to halal Xinjiang cuisine. This diversity is common worldwide, and new research out of China suggests that regional cooking differences stretch back to ancient times. By analysing DNA from broomcorn millet remnants from between 1700BC and 700AD, archaeologists determined that the grain was usually steamed in the eastern parts of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3250980/steamed-vs-baked-scientists-use-china-remnant-dna-reveal-ancient-regional-cooking-differences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3250980/steamed-vs-baked-scientists-use-china-remnant-dna-reveal-ancient-regional-cooking-differences?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:00:15 +0000 Hong Kong medical researchers will be working with international experts to develop two vaccines that provide protection against more strains of influenza virus and also last longer, the Post has learned. The ambitious project will be carried out through the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute, a joint initiative between the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the University of Cambridge and the Seoul-based International Vaccine Institute. An insider said HKU researchers had been working on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3251851/can-hong-kong-play-leading-role-creating-longer-lasting-flu-vaccines-researchers-join-global-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3251851/can-hong-kong-play-leading-role-creating-longer-lasting-flu-vaccines-researchers-join-global-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:30:22 +0000 Despite being born and raised in Hong Kong, Filipino-Chinese Michael Rivera says he still needs to change the way he interacts with different communities or risk being marginalised because of his multi-ethnic background. “I grew up here in Hong Kong. I have a Filipino dad, a Chinese mother and went to international schools,” said Rivera, who has a PhD in biological anthropology from the University of Cambridge and teaches the “Making Race” course at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). “But I felt... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3250871/university-hong-kongs-first-course-race-and-racism-equips-students-tackle-tough-topics-sensitivity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3250871/university-hong-kongs-first-course-race-and-racism-equips-students-tackle-tough-topics-sensitivity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 04:00:13 +0000 Khalid Abdalla is continuing to make political statements at high-profile events, with his most recent head-turning appearance being at the red carpet at the 75th Emmys in Los Angeles on Monday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Symbol (@thesymbolmedia) The 43-year-old actor, who played Princess Diana’s late boyfriend Dodi Fayed in Netflix’s hit TV series The Crown, posed for photographers with his hand held up, where he wrote the message... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248898/who-crowns-khalid-abdalla-egyptian-british-actor-and-activist-he-played-late-princess-dianas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248898/who-crowns-khalid-abdalla-egyptian-british-actor-and-activist-he-played-late-princess-dianas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:00:13 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter Stephen Hawking will forever be remembered for his scientific breakthroughs around black holes and the universe, but an unfortunate circumstance has brought the late theoretical physicist back into the limelight. It’s raised some eyebrows, and even kicked off a slew of memes across the internet. Hawking, who died in 2018 at age 76, is one of about 150 names to be included in the recently unsealed documents with links to the late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Although being on the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248252/inside-stephen-hawkings-controversial-past-late-cambridge-physicist-was-named-jeffrey-epsteins-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248252/inside-stephen-hawkings-controversial-past-late-cambridge-physicist-was-named-jeffrey-epsteins-list?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jan 2024 21:00:19 +0000 Hong Kong sought to return to a state of normality in 2023 after three years of Covid-19, with authorities aiming to restore the city’s pre-pandemic status as an economic and international hub. But even as the borders reopened and Hongkongers ventured outdoors unmasked, the city continued to face various public health challenges as well as enjoy some opportunities. The Post recaps some of the major health-related milestones in 2023. 1. Borders fully reopen On February 6, mainland China fully... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3246833/hong-kong-public-health-challenges-2023-lifting-covid-measures-rise-suicides-among-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3246833/hong-kong-public-health-challenges-2023-lifting-covid-measures-rise-suicides-among-students?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:30:12 +0000 A newly inaugurated alliance of top scientists from six global institutions, including the University of Hong Kong (HKU), will prioritise studying influenza and coronaviruses as part of efforts to prepare for the next potential pandemic. Pandemic Research Alliance founding members professors Zhong Nanshan and Yuen Kwok-yung on Monday also called for calm in response to outbreaks of mycoplasma pneumoniae around the world, including in mainland China, stressing that the disease was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3243820/hong-kong-disease-expert-global-research-alliance-vow-focus-studies-flu-and-coronaviruses-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3243820/hong-kong-disease-expert-global-research-alliance-vow-focus-studies-flu-and-coronaviruses-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:38:52 +0000 Chinese President Xi Jinping has hailed Liangzhu as physical proof of China’s 5,000-year civilisation and “a real treasure for the world”, elevating the ancient city ruins amid a sweeping push to reinforce the country’s historical status as a global power. State news agency Xinhua reported that Xi’s remarks were made in a letter – read out on Sunday by the Communist Party’s propaganda chief Li Shulei – to around 300 Chinese and foreign attendees of the first Liangzhu Forum. “The Liangzhu ruins... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3243804/5000-year-old-liangzhu-ruins-take-centre-stage-chinas-official-history-xis-backing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3243804/5000-year-old-liangzhu-ruins-take-centre-stage-chinas-official-history-xis-backing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:00:12 +0000 Hong Kong’s ambitious plans to become a regional innovation and biomedical hub have received a welcome boost. In the past two weeks, drug giant AstraZeneca said it would have a research base up and running here as soon as late next year, and the city will host research laboratories linked to the United Nations and a British university to produce vaccines for new infectious diseases. AstraZeneca’s new R&D facility to develop cell and gene therapies will be the first of its kind to be established... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3243015/rd-plans-drug-giant-astrazeneca-shot-arm-hong-kongs-biomedical-hub-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3243015/rd-plans-drug-giant-astrazeneca-shot-arm-hong-kongs-biomedical-hub-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:15:11 +0000 Top research laboratories linked to the United Nations and a British university will open in Hong Kong next year as part of the city’s ambitious plan to develop and produce vaccines for emerging infectious diseases and make them readily available, the Post has learned. The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) under the United Nations and the University of Cambridge in Britain were expected to set up laboratories at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) as part of the establishment of the Global... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3241795/un-and-top-british-university-set-vaccine-research-labs-hong-kong-part-new-global-research-institute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3241795/un-and-top-british-university-set-vaccine-research-labs-hong-kong-part-new-global-research-institute?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:26:42 +0000 [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Macao’s recent sustainable and diversified growth has led to a balanced industrial structure, reducing its dependence on the gaming sector and fostering other economic drivers. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Macao’s GDP will surge by 58.9 percent in 2023 and 20.6 percent in 2024, considering the low base. Service exports are projected to rise by 101.2 percent this year, with an inflation rate of 1.2... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/macao-attracts-top-global-talent/article/3240639/diversified-development-macao-presents-plenty-opportunities-international-talents-thrive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/macao-attracts-top-global-talent/article/3240639/diversified-development-macao-presents-plenty-opportunities-international-talents-thrive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:00:33 +0000 Britain’s King Charles arrived in Kenya on Monday for his first visit as monarch to a Commonwealth nation, where he faces widespread calls for an apology for abuses committed during colonial rule. The palace says Charles, who is travelling with Queen Camilla, is expected to tackle “the more painful aspects” of Britain’s historic relationship with Kenya during the four-day state visit. This will include the “Emergency” of 1952-1960, when colonial authorities imposed a state of emergency in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3239735/king-charles-heads-kenya-calls-colonial-apology-grow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3239735/king-charles-heads-kenya-calls-colonial-apology-grow?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:52:14 +0000 Hong Kong is stepping up collaborations with neighbouring mainland Chinese cities in a push to become a health and medical innovation hub as outlined in the national development plan. Among measures announced by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his second policy address on Wednesday was the establishment of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone next year. It is part of the city’s efforts... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3239195/john-lee-policy-address-2023-hong-kong-banks-cross-border-collaboration-boost-medical-innovation-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3239195/john-lee-policy-address-2023-hong-kong-banks-cross-border-collaboration-boost-medical-innovation-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:42:13 +0000 Researchers in Europe and the US have called for the creation of an international map of supply connections between firms to improve transparency in global trade and help Western companies comply with sanctions. “As policymakers increasingly recognise, supply chains are critical for ensuring compliance with tax laws, human rights and environmental standards,” the researchers said in an article published in the journal Science on Friday, citing US legislation to ban imports from Xinjiang Uygur... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3238540/scientists-say-western-sanctions-against-china-toothless-without-better-supply-chain-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3238540/scientists-say-western-sanctions-against-china-toothless-without-better-supply-chain-data?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Oct 2023 22:00:08 +0000 Louisa Mak, the Cambridge-educated lawyer-turned-TV personality in Hong Kong, is once again embarking on a new venture. She will be taking on the role of a non-executive director at the Legendary Education Group, receiving significant annual compensation exceeding HK$1 million (US$127,700), Sing Tao reported. The package includes a director’s fee of HK$360,000 (US$46,000) and a consultancy fee paid to her LM Workshop, where she will provide advice on commercial strategies and the development of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3234485/miss-hong-kong-education-trailblazer-louisa-mak-studied-law-cambridge-rose-fame-tv-show-host-did?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3234485/miss-hong-kong-education-trailblazer-louisa-mak-studied-law-cambridge-rose-fame-tv-show-host-did?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:37:50 +0000 [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Many companies have accelerated the adoption of technology in employee development, as they increasingly shift towards a globally distributed workforce. Technology has provided employees with greater flexibility and convenience, enabling them to learn anytime, anywhere, and with anyone. However, the use of technology should not be merely a matter of expediency. Research has shown that advanced technologies such as AI and... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/tech-optimises-talent-development/article/3233320/harnessing-technology-key-future-ready-employees-and-sustainable-talent-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/tech-optimises-talent-development/article/3233320/harnessing-technology-key-future-ready-employees-and-sustainable-talent-development?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Sep 2023 06:47:03 +0000 Singapore’s presidential hopeful Tharman Shanmugaratnam says voters can count on him to act with “independence of mind”, but should not see the presidency as “an alternative power centre” to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). In a wide-ranging interview with the Post, he also brushed aside speculation that his seniority and popularity would eclipse Lawrence Wong, the much younger PAP minister slated to take over as prime minister. “The president should never outshine the prime minister,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3231902/singapores-president-must-not-outshine-prime-minister-alternative-power-centre-says-tharman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3231902/singapores-president-must-not-outshine-prime-minister-alternative-power-centre-says-tharman?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Aug 2023 08:07:03 +0000