King Charles’ US state visit to go ahead as planned after Washington media gala shooting

The state visit by Britain’s King Charles to the US would take place as planned, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday, following a shooting at a Washington media gala.
The incident late on Saturday at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association came less than 48 hours before Charles and Queen Camilla begin a four-day state visit to the United States.
The palace said Charles was “greatly relieved” that Trump, the first lady Melania and other guests were unharmed and later on...



https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351501/king-charles-us-state-visit-go-ahead-planned-after-washington-media-gala-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed

Mali junta in crisis after defence minister is killed and key city ‘captured’

Mali’s military rulers faced a security crisis on Sunday after coordinated nationwide attacks by jihadist fighters and separatist rebels this weekend killed the defence minister and reportedly left a key northern town in rebel hands.
There was no word from the junta leader General Assimi Goita, who has not been seen since the attacks began at dawn on Saturday.
The offensive, synchronised by Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the jihadist Group for the Support of...



https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3351500/mali-junta-crisis-after-defence-minister-killed-and-key-city-captured?utm_source=rss_feed

16 dead in strikes as Chernobyl anniversary highlights nuclear risks of Russia-Ukraine war

Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory and Russia killed at least 16 people, authorities said, as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster prompted fresh warnings about the risks posed by attacks near the plant during Russia’s more than four-year invasion of its neighbour.
The death toll from Russian drone and missile strikes on the city of Dnipro rose to nine, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said on Sunday.
One man was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on the port city...



https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3351499/16-dead-strikes-chernobyl-anniversary-highlights-nuclear-risks-russia-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed

Wildfires in Japan’s north worsen, 1,400 firefighters deployed

Japan has deployed 1,400 firefighters and dozens of Self-Defence Force personnel to battle mountain blazes that have been raging in the north for five days and threaten to reach homes in the ‌picturesque coastal town of Otsuchi, officials said on Sunday.
Fanned by dry, windy weather, two more wildfires broke out elsewhere in the north on Sunday – one in Kitakata city and the other in Nagaoka, potentially stretching firefighting resources thin as local authorities send personnel to neighbouring...



https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3351496/wildfires-japans-north-worsen-1400-firefighters-deployed?utm_source=rss_feed

Scientists in China create a predator-like material to hunt for uranium in the ocean

An international research team in China has developed a microscopic “predator-like” material capable of swimming through water and hunting uranium ions, a breakthrough that could open new possibilities for nuclear fuel extraction and cleaning up radioactive pollution.
The light-powered material, a metal-organic framework (MOF) micromotor created by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, can autonomously move through water while capturing uranium ions....



https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351260/scientists-china-create-predator-material-hunt-uranium-ocean?utm_source=rss_feed

Doctor in long delayed hearing over blunder says he thought baby was choking

A Hong Kong doctor accused of a blunder that left a boy permanently disabled 16 years ago said he did not return to the hospital to examine the infant as he mistook the emergency for a choking case, the Medical Council heard on Sunday.
Testifying for the first time at the hearing, Dr Sit Sou-chi contested an allegation that he had failed to conduct all necessary and immediate investigations of newborn Li Yuanjian, the son of a mainland Chinese couple, after he had a seizure on December 22, 2009,...



https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351495/doctor-long-delayed-hearing-over-blunder-says-he-thought-baby-was-choking?utm_source=rss_feed

Can parents and children playing video games together level up their relationship?

Parents and children who play video games together rate their relationships as 20 per cent stronger than those who do not, according to a survey by a Hong Kong non-profit organisation.
The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong on Sunday urged parents to take a new approach to supervising their children’s gaming habits, encouraging families to take part in such activities together rather than just observing.
The group issued the call after conducting a survey of the experiences and attitudes of parents,...



https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351491/can-parents-and-children-playing-video-games-together-level-their-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed

Middle East shipping crisis elevates China-Europe railway’s profile

The China-Europe railway network has evolved in the past decade from a nascent logistical experiment into a growing commercial alternative to maritime and air freight. In the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran, it might now be assuming an unanticipated role as a key security provider for transcontinental supply chains.
What began as sporadic trial runs has matured into a sprawling web of rail connections that currently links 235 cities across 26 European countries with more than 120 Chinese...



https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3350835/middle-east-shipping-crisis-elevates-china-europe-railways-profile?utm_source=rss_feed

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

In the face of a prolonged US energy blockade of Cuba, solar panels from China have come to the rescue and provided a model of independence from fossil fuels that is resonating globally amid what is being called the worst energy crisis in history.
Within the 12 months through February, solar’s share of national power generation in Cuba increased from 6 per cent to more than 20 per cent, according to Microgrid Media, a California-based publication that tracks global renewable energy capacity.
“By...



https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351455/china-poised-reap-rewards-energy-shock-heats-race-renewables?utm_source=rss_feed

China warns EU to remove firms and citizens from Russian sanctions list

China has demanded that the European Union remove Chinese businesses and individuals from its latest sanctions list related to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing also warned the bloc that it would take whatever measures were necessary to protect the rights and interests of its citizens and companies.
“[We should] find a way to resolve our respective concerns through dialogue and consultation,” the ministry said, adding that the consequences of not lifting the sanctions...



https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351486/china-warns-eu-remove-firms-and-citizens-russian-sanctions-list?utm_source=rss_feed

Ukrainians gather to remember Chernobyl disaster despite Russia’s war

People streamed into the central square of Slavutych in the early hours of Sunday, placing candles on a large radiation hazard symbol laid out on the ground as a midnight commemoration began for those killed in the Chernobyl disaster 40 years ago and the thousands who risked deadly radiation exposure to contain its aftermath.
Residents show up for the vigil each year despite wartime curfews and official warnings against large gatherings during Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The April 26, 1986 disaster...



https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351480/ukrainians-gather-remember-chernobyl-disaster-despite-russias-war?utm_source=rss_feed

China backs Myanmar’s push to ease diplomatic isolation, stamp out telecoms scams

China has pledged to help Myanmar’s new government to engage more with multilateral platforms and eradicate telecoms scam operations.
Capping a five-day trip to Southeast Asia on the weekend, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s junta leader-turned-president, on Saturday that China “firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”.
“This year marks the first year of Myanmar’s new government. Both sides should seize...



https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351479/china-backs-myanmars-push-ease-diplomatic-isolation-stamp-out-telecoms-scams?utm_source=rss_feed