Muslims gather for rain prayers in Indonesia's wildfire-hit South Sumatra
Authorities in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province have held a mass Islamic prayer for rain as forest and peatland fires fueled choking haze across parts of the country
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Freddie Mercury’s ‘splendid things’ to go on display at V&A
Eight costumes spanning Queen frontman’s career will feature in a free trail developed with his former fianceeEight famous costumes worn by Freddie Mercury, including the outfit featured on the cover of Queen’s debut album and the catsuit from the video for Bohemian Rhapsody, are to go on display at the V&A in London this autumn to mark what would have been the singer’s 80th birthday.Freddie M...
NHS England to offer women ‘gamechanging’ free home testing kits for cervical cancer
NHS has target of eliminating the cancer by 2040, but up to 4 million eligible women are not up to date with screeningMillions of women in England who have missed cervical screening appointments will be offered free home testing kits on the NHS.The move comes amid concerns that only two-thirds of women attend in-person cervical screening appointments when asked to do so, leaving as many as 4 milli...
Europe’s heatwaves threaten insurers’ earnings, rating agency S&P says
Rise in claims linked to heat-related deaths and illness, especially among older people, could drive up premiumsEurope’s intense heatwaves could hit insurers’ earnings as companies face a rise in claims linked to heat-related deaths and worsening health conditions, the rating agency S&P has said.While a long summer of extreme heat will have increased drought and wildfire-related claims, the ra...
At least 35,000 excess deaths recorded in Europe’s back-to-back heatwaves
True figure likely to be much higher as it only covers about half of continent and does not include August totalsAt least 35,000 more people died during Europe’s four record-breaking, back-to-back heatwaves this summer than would normally be expected, according to incomplete figures from barely half the continent.Excess mortality in three of the EU’s larger countries – Germany, France and Spain – ...
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Bangladesh tribunal orders 3 journalists held until trial in 2024 uprising case
A special tribunal in Bangladesh asks authorities to keep three journalists jailed until their trial
‘An intrusion’: data centre fights test Southeast Asia’s AI ambitions
Residents of Section 9 in Kota Damansara thought they knew what was coming to the vacant land opposite their homes. The site, beside a community forest in the Malaysian township, was expected to become a high street retail development. Instead, they learned that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had received an application for two three-storey data centre blocks – part of the vast physical infrast...
Debate star and physicist Guo Yanliang leaves a top European quantum lab for China
Guo Yanliang, a champion debater who honed his argumentation skills in international contests and on online variety shows, has left one of Europe’s top quantum laboratories to set up his own research group in Beijing. Guo, 33, says he sees scientific research as a debate between different opinions, which made him more compatible with China than Europe. This year, he returned to China to take a pos...
Spain's housing crisis: Why young people are swapping cities for villages
13% of would-be homebuyers plan to move to towns with fewer than 10,000 residents. Often single 35-year-olds on average incomes, they see depopulated Spain as their only escape from a housing market that has shut them out.
Moving to the countryside for a home: young people flee city housing costs
13% of would-be homebuyers plan to move to towns under 10,000 residents. Often single 35-year-olds on average incomes, they see depopulated Spain as their only escape from a housing market that has shut them out.
Rare tornado near Carcassonne in France causes damage and injuries
Footage shows a rare tornado making its way through southern France.
Australia news live: Major Sydney property developer collapses leaving buyers in limbo; Greens senator opts out for 2028 over partner’s health
West Australian newspaper uses moniker on front page. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNumber of NSW households in urgent need of priority housing hits highest level in over a yearThe number of NSW households in urgent need of priority social housing has reached 13,776, the highest in more than a year.The waitlist has sat [at] around 70,000 since M...
Iran says it is ready for what US calls 'greatest financial offensive ever'
The US calls its latest sanctions on Iran an "economic D-Day", but Tehran says it has a plan to counter them.
Liberals criticise ‘unimpressive and underwhelming’ rail loop plan as Victorian premier pushes ahead after hinting at pause
A day after suggesting other projects were more important to Victorians, Ben Carroll says train line will go ahead but at a slightly reduced costFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian opposition has described Ben Carroll’s plan to scale back new train stations along the Suburban Rail Loop to shave just over 5% ...
Philippine retailers tweak recipe to feed consumer demand for cheaper goods
From switching ingredients to staggering price increases, Philippine companies are rethinking strategies to cover rising costs without losing customers squeezed by inflation and a weak peso. The Philippines is now grappling with the second-weakest growth and fastest inflation among Southeast Asia’s economies after a corruption scandal weighed on confidence and the Iran war stoked consumer prices. ...
Woolworths’ Ooshies craze causes Coles sales slump with parents shopping at rival supermarket to collect toys
Coles full-year results show that despite gaining market share over past 12 months, sales fell over four weeks of ‘competitor’s collectables campaign’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWoolworths’ latest Disney “Ooshie” collectables have not only captivated Australian children, they have led to a short-term slump in comp...
Hawk Fire burns more than 15,000 acres, forcing mass evacuations in Nevada
Wildfires across the western United States are forcing mass evacuations, destroying homes and raising fresh questions over who pays for the damage and whether some burned forests will ever return.
Chinese woman, 31, faces lifelong walking issues after water-only diet cuts 20kg in weeks
A woman from central China undertook a fasting regimen for half a month and lost 20kg, but ultimately suffered from a serious brain disorder from which she may never fully recover. The 31-year-old woman from Henan province, who wishes to remain anonymous, was recently reported by local media to have developed walking difficulties and memory deterioration after consuming nothing but water for 15 co...
Trump administration plans to revoke 200,000 visas of asylum seekers
The move is the latest in the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. If it happens, the move would mark the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history.
Indonesia intensifies aerial firefighting as wildfire haze spreads to Malaysia
Indonesia has intensified ground and aerial firefighting operations as forest and peatland fires fueled by El Nino-driven drought and a prolonged dry season scorched tens of thousands of hectares, sending choking haze across parts of Southeast Asia
Mideast live: Iranians line up at gas stations after the US announces expanded sanctions
Long lines formed at gas stations in Tehran on Tuesday after the US announced expanded sanctions against Iran and its trading partners. China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that Beijing – which buys some 90 percent of Iranian oil exports – would “firmly safeguard” its own interests. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Middle East live: China to 'firmly safeguard' its interests after US threatens Iran's trade partners
A day after Washington announced sweeping new sanctions on Iran and its trading partners, China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that China – which buys some 90 percent of Iranian oil exports – would “firmly safeguard” its own interests. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Middle East live: China to 'firmly safeguard own interests' after US vows Iran sanctions
China is closely monitoring developments as the US lays out its plans for the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran. Following the threat to Beijing's economic partner, China will “firmly safeguard its own rights and interests,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Mideast live: Oil tanker struck by projectile in Strait of Hormuz off Oman
An oil tanker was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, causing damage but no casualties, the the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said early Tuesday. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Hong Kong needs clearer framework for handling high heat on work sites
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Public debate over Hong Kong’s recent heatwave has rightly focused on protecting frontline workers. However, one group remains largely absent from the discussion: site managers and...
Woodside scraps long-term emissions and clean energy targets despite windfall oil profits caused by Iran war
Australia’s biggest oil and gas company recorded a 27% increase in sales profit to $1.67bn in the six-month reporting periodFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWoodside Energy has scrapped its long-term emissions and clean energy targets, even after enjoying a period of windfall oil profits caused by the Iran conflict.Aus...
Gang attack in Haiti leaves at least 47 dead as anger mounts over police failures
At least 47 people were killed and 22 more injured in an overnight gang raid on a neighbourhood overlooking Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince, the UN said on Monday, prompting anger over the lack of protection from repeated deadly attacks. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti said estimates could still change. The hillside community of Kenscoff, in a strategic position overlooking routes...
Scots College trio who allegedly sexually assaulted teen girl have faced ‘repercussions’, judge says
Three boys, two aged 14 and one aged 13, on bail and yet to enter a plea after alleged assault in Sydney’s eastFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThree teenage boys from a prestigious Sydney private school who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have faced court for the first tim...
Scots College students charged with sexual assault of teen girl appear in court
Three boys, two aged 14 and one aged 13, on bail and yet to enter a plea after alleged assault in Sydney’s eastFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThree teenage boys from a prestigious Sydney private school who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have faced court for the first tim...
Scots college students charged with sexual assault of teen girl appear in court
Three boys, two aged 14 and one aged 13, on bail and yet to enter a plea after alleged assault in Sydney’s eastThree teenage boys from an elite Sydney private school who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have faced court for the first time.On Tuesday, the three boys, two aged 14 and one aged 13, from Sydney’s Scots College had their matter heard in Surry...