Nepal mourns climber Nirmal Purja after death is confirmed on Pakistan’s Broad Peak

British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, who died in an avalanche in Pakistan’s Broad Peak, was renowned for ascending all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre (26,000-foot) peaks in a record 189 days in 2019.
His feat was spotlighted in Netflix’s 2021 documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
The 43-year-old was leading a multinational expedition of nine other climbers on the world’s 12th-highest mountain when the avalanche struck at around noon on Thursday, according to Associated Press.
All were...



https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3362683/nepal-mourns-climber-nirmal-purja-after-death-confirmed-pakistans-broad-peak?utm_source=rss_feed

Trump holds off Iran strikes after Middle East allies outline deal

US President Donald Trump in a Saturday evening social media post claimed that Middle Eastern allies had reached the parameters of a deal to end the Iran war and said that he would hold off on ordering new strikes in the five-month-old conflict for now.
Trump added that the emerging deal “would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat”.
“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the...



https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362682/trump-holds-iran-strikes-after-middle-east-allies-outline-deal?utm_source=rss_feed

Public anger in Hong Kong over low signal during 2006 Typhoon Prapiroon – SCMP archive

This article was first published on August 4, 2006.
Observatory lashed over typhoon signal
by Agnes Lam, Clifford Lo and Martin Wong
The Observatory was under fire yesterday (August 3, 2006) for not hoisting a storm warning above the No 3 as Typhoon Prapiroon lashed some parts of the city with winds of up to 200km/h.
Unions said workers had been put in danger as they had gone to work as required because a No 8 signal had not been hoisted, while the swirling winds toppled cargo, blew down trees,...



https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362675/public-anger-hong-kong-over-low-signal-during-2006-typhoon-prapiroon-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed

From meteorites to Monet: Shenzhen’s new museums draw Hongkongers beyond dining

Dinosaur fossils, rare meteorites and French Impressionist masterpieces are among Shenzhen’s newest attractions drawing residents across the border on weekends, as Hong Kong’s northbound spending trend evolves beyond dining into cultural tourism.
Shenzhen recently unveiled a series of ambitious, mega-scale cultural facilities. Among them is the Shenzhen Natural History Museum, boasting 35,200 square metres of exhibition space detailing 4.6 billion years of the Earth’s evolution.
For Hongkonger...



https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362665/meteorites-monet-shenzhens-new-museums-draw-hongkongers-beyond-dining?utm_source=rss_feed

Are Singaporeans losing faith, or just dropping the labels?

As a teenager, Ashley Wong spent many Sundays in church, waiting for a feeling that never quite came to her.
Family and friends spoke of finding comfort and solace in Christianity during times of trouble, but prayer seemed to offer no such salve for her soul.
“There was a detachment that I couldn’t place,” said the 26-year-old marketing executive, who identifies as a freethinker. “I feel like maybe it just wasn’t for me.”
Going to a church “felt more like a chore than anything”, Wong said. “I’ve...



https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3362570/are-singaporeans-losing-faith-or-just-dropping-labels?utm_source=rss_feed

‘Especially meaningful’: John Lee on debuting 5-year plan with policy address

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said his annual policy address will serve as a progress report on the city’s five-year plan, describing the first simultaneous consultation of the two documents as “especially meaningful”.
In his first townhall meeting, held on Sunday as part of a public consultation exercise to gather feedback on Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and his fifth annual policy address, Lee pledged to consider residents’ views.
The city leader met more than 130 residents at South...



https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3362677/especially-meaningful-john-lee-debuting-5-year-plan-policy-address?utm_source=rss_feed

Trump faces ethics storm for ‘pimping’ fast access to his Truth Social posts

US President Donald Trump knows the world hangs on his every word. Now he wants you to pay for it.
The social media posts of the world’s most powerful man went on sale on Saturday, when his Truth Social business began offering sneak peeks of them to Wall Street traders willing to pay up. The move raises the prospect of big profits for Trump’s company and big questions about insider trading and using public office for private gain.
Similar fast speed feeds are sold by other social media firms and...



https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362674/trump-faces-ethics-storm-pimping-fast-access-his-truth-social-posts?utm_source=rss_feed

As more South Koreans shun drinking, Seoul nightlife reinvents to stay relevant

On a midsummer Thursday night, the entertainment district of Hongdae in Seoul is slowly coming alive.
Short for Hongik University, Hongdae neighbours several university campuses and typically attracts thousands of young people to its flashy streets.
Just a few blocks away from the main clubbing area, the atmosphere is quieter with hardly any patrons at a row of pubs and restaurants.
“Hongdae is not what it used to be like,” said Chris Kim, a 27-year-old who works in the fashion industry. “My...



https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3362621/more-south-koreans-shun-drinking-seoul-nightlife-reinvents-stay-relevant?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese police AI algorithm tracks bitcoin money laundering with 90% accuracy

Researchers from China’s national police academy have developed an AI framework that can detect illicit cryptocurrency transactions with nearly 90 per cent overall accuracy, according to a recent study.
Cryptocurrency transactions are growing rapidly, but their pseudonymous and cross-border nature can provide channels for money laundering and other illegal activities.
In an article published in the peer-reviewed Chinese publication Journal of Intelligence, corresponding author Dr Sun Jingchao...



https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3362493/chinese-police-ai-algorithm-tracks-bitcoin-money-laundering-90-accuracy?utm_source=rss_feed

‘Little Warren Buffetts’: Chinese parents pay top dollar to send kids to financial literacy camps

Every summer, mainland Chinese parents send their children to join a variety of costly physical training camps or even travel to Africa to observe animal migrations.
Over the past two years, new financial quotient (FQ) training classes aiming to cultivate “little Warren Buffetts” have gained significant popularity among parents concerned about their children’s futures, as reported by Phoenix Weekly.
“Poverty is not a status, but a mindset.” “You are a liability to your parents when you’re young,...



https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3362673/little-warren-buffetts-chinese-parents-pay-top-dollar-send-kids-financial-literacy-camps?utm_source=rss_feed

What Hong Kong’s districts can learn from Sham Shui Po’s governance

Old, dense and diverse, Sham Shui Po exemplifies many practical challenges associated with grass-roots governance in Hong Kong: ageing buildings, narrow alleys, low-income households, elderly residents living alone and routine issues that demand constant attention. As an ancient maxim states: “Government means rectitude. If you set a righteous example, who will dare to act otherwise?”
My extensive community work in Sham Shui Po has shown that political success at the grass-roots level is seldom...



https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3362171/what-hong-kongs-districts-can-learn-sham-shui-pos-governance?utm_source=rss_feed

Shady lip service: experts warn against illicit beauty treatments in Hong Kong

Beauticians from outside Hong Kong are performing illegal cosmetic procedures such as botulinum toxin and filler injections in the city, with middlemen setting up online “secret societies” or chat groups for customers to share information, industry experts have revealed.
A beauty industry expert and a plastic surgeon said they had seen or received reports of botched procedures by beauty practitioners allegedly from mainland China or overseas.
The industry insider said these beauticians did not...



https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362643/shady-lip-service-experts-warn-against-illicit-beauty-treatments-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed