https://www.scmp.com/rss/520249/feed Cynthia is a winter intern for the Post and a final-year journalism student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She used to work as a part-time metro news reporter at The Standard and freelanced for Wanderlust Travel Magazine in the UK. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The 41st Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival opened on Sunday, attracting more than 800,000 visitors on its first day. The annual event is held in China’s northeastern province of Heilongjiang. This year’s show has expanded to cover 1 million square metres (11 million sq ft), with around 300,000 cubic metres of ice and snow used to make landmark buildings and sculptures – the largest amount ever used for the festival. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3293621/chinas-harbin-winter-festival-opens-record-breaking-ice-and-snow-display?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3293621/chinas-harbin-winter-festival-opens-record-breaking-ice-and-snow-display?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 01:47:42 +0000 Imported construction workers from India are replacing Palestinians who used to work in Israel, as part of the Israeli government’s plan. Palestinian construction workers have been banned from entering Israel due to security reasons since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. Many Indian workers have seized the chance, saying they can earn a better living in Israel. However, the imported workers are still far from filling the gap left by the 80,000 Palestinian construction workers. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3292958/indian-workers-slowly-replacing-palestinians-israels-construction-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3292958/indian-workers-slowly-replacing-palestinians-israels-construction-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 02:00:25 +0000 The de facto leader of Syria’s new administration took a conciliatory approach when speaking about his country’s future in a wide-ranging interview with BBC News on Wednesday. Abu Mohammad al-Golani said Syria’s numerous sects would work together to move the country forward. But he said success would depend on the West lifting sanctions imposed on the country during the rule of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3291784/syrias-new-de-facto-leader-abu-mohammad-al-golani-takes-conciliatory-tone-interview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3291784/syrias-new-de-facto-leader-abu-mohammad-al-golani-takes-conciliatory-tone-interview?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:10:38 +0000 Li Wenli, a 56-year-old woman from a rural part of Pingliang, Gansu, China, has surprised many with her artistic talents in writing, painting, singing and dancing. Despite a traditional upbringing and never leaving her hometown for 40 years, she eventually pursued her passion for art. She moved to Beijing in 2017, creating over 500 paintings and nearly 200,000 words of literature. In 2023, she became the lead dancer in the dance drama “Gala,” fulfilling her childhood dream. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3291594/chinese-domestic-worker-proves-its-never-too-late-achieve-your-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3291594/chinese-domestic-worker-proves-its-never-too-late-achieve-your-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:00:12 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Aleksander Solum,Cynthia H. W. Chan Connor Mycroft,Aleksander Solum,Cynthia H. W. Chan For Abdulwahab Tahhan, a Syrian student in Hong Kong, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime may mean reuniting with his friends and loved ones for the first time in 12 years. The 37-year-old PhD student in communications at Baptist University, who fled his country shortly after a popular uprising against now-deposed president Assad evolved into a brutal civil war, is among the millions who see the success of rebel fighters as a turning point. Tahhan first sought asylum in the United Kingdom... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3290800/new-history-assads-fall-brings-joy-hope-syrian-students-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3290800/new-history-assads-fall-brings-joy-hope-syrian-students-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2024 07:10:00 +0000