The endangered native ponies of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides – a photo essay
The Guardian •

The endangered native ponies of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides – a photo essay

Fewer than 400 Eriskay ponies remain. One of the rarest native breeds in the world, their plight is unique because the community living on their tiny Hebridean island are fighting for them. The ponies wander the village and townsfolk care for them togetherOn the slopes of Beinn Sciathan, a rocky outcrop in the Outer Hebrides, white and grey ponies roam freely. Eriskay ponies, one of the rarest nat...

The endangered wild ponies of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides – a photo essay
The Guardian •

The endangered wild ponies of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides – a photo essay

Fewer than 400 Eriskay ponies remain. One of the rarest native breeds in the world, their plight is unique because the community living on their tiny Hebridean island are fighting for them. The ponies wander the village and townsfolk care for them togetherOn the slopes of Beinn Sciathan, a rocky outcrop in the Outer Hebrides, white and grey ponies roam freely. Eriskay ponies, one of the rarest nat...

As China mulls how to make open-weight AI less dangerous, report proposes 6-stage process

As China mulls how to make open-weight AI less dangerous, report proposes 6-stage process

SCMP •

Amid intensifying debate over the risks posed by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, Chinese developers dominating the open-weight ecosystem are grappling with a unique problem: how to ensure their user-modifiable models remain safe once they are released. To address the challenge, Z.ai and Beijing-based safety consultancy Concordia AI released a report on open-weight AI risk management...

Republicans pour cash into dozens of US House races previously seen as ‘safe’

Republicans pour cash into dozens of US House races previously seen as ‘safe’

SCMP •

Republicans are pouring money into ⁠more than three dozen US House races previously considered “safe” after internal polling showed they could be vulnerable in the November 3 election, according to three Republican operatives familiar with the party’s thinking. The shift is already starting to show in advertising reservations and campaign finance filings. Since September 1, major Republican groups...

‘Thrilled’: huge swarms of bogong moths surprise NSW residents and may point to species’ recovery

‘Thrilled’: huge swarms of bogong moths surprise NSW residents and may point to species’ recovery

The Guardian •

Researcher says sightings of the endangered moth have increased over the last two years but ‘this year has blown them out of the water’Swarms of bogong moths have surprised New South Wales residents over the last few days – with experts saying sightings of the endangered native insect are cause for excitement rather than alarm.Hundreds of moth sightings in coastal areas were posted over the weeken...

Oil prices jump after Trump rejects Iran’s truce offer

Euronews •

Oil prices rose while stocks and bonds fell after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reversing some of the optimism that lifted markets late last week.

Extra 1,000 prison beds announced in NSW as union warns against arresting ‘our way out of domestic violence’

Extra 1,000 prison beds announced in NSW as union warns against arresting ‘our way out of domestic violence’

The Guardian •

Minns government to spend $47.1m to recommission part of Silverwater jail while PSA says prison alone will not end violent behaviourThe reopening of part of Sydney’s Silverwater jail will deliver hundreds of extra beds amid record numbers of prisoners on remand, the state government says, as the prison officers’ union warns against “arrest[ing] our way out of domestic violence”.The Minns governmen...

Inside Malaysia’s plan to steal China’s durian market from Thailand

Inside Malaysia’s plan to steal China’s durian market from Thailand

SCMP •

Malaysia is pushing to take durian, whose powerful smell delights its lovers and repels its haters, beyond its roadside stalls and family orchards to convince fans of the spiky fruit that its varieties are worth seeking out. Devotees savour durians like wine. For Malaysian ones, the taste of their rich and creamy flesh varies widely across types. Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity ...

Cheers as murder charge dismissed for Queensland woman who helped terminally ill husband die

Cheers as murder charge dismissed for Queensland woman who helped terminally ill husband die

The Guardian •

Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs, 52, walks out of court after receiving suspended sentence over 2023 death of David Ronald MobbsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Queensland woman facing a potential life sentence after she gave her terminally ill husband a lethal cocktail of drugs has walked out of court to the sound of cheers.Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs, 52, pleaded not guil...

Echoing Putin, Serbia’s president resigns in bid to become prime minister

Echoing Putin, Serbia’s president resigns in bid to become prime minister

SCMP •

Embattled Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic resigned on Sunday in a well-telegraphed move as he seeks to transition to the role of prime minister as a way of staying close to power in the Balkan nation. Parliamentary Speaker Ana Brnabic, his ally, will take over the presidential role for an interim period. Serbia will hold presidential elections by the end of the year, Vucic said on public televi...

Cathay Pacific’s journey from single post-war plane to aviation powerhouse – SCMP archive

Cathay Pacific’s journey from single post-war plane to aviation powerhouse – SCMP archive

SCMP •

Eighty years ago, former World War II pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow registered Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong. Operations began with a single, converted Douglas DC-3 nicknamed “Betsy” which initially flew much-needed goods between Australia and post-war Shanghai. Today, the airline operates a fleet of 180 aircraft and, together with its budget arm HK Express, transported 37 million...

Xiaomi-backed robotics chip designer clears hearing, eyes US$100m Hong Kong IPO: sources

Xiaomi-backed robotics chip designer clears hearing, eyes US$100m Hong Kong IPO: sources

SCMP •

Zhuhai Amicro Technology, a Xiaomi-backed chipmaker, is preparing to begin premarketing for a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) of more than US$100 million as early as this week, according to people familiar with the matter. The company passed its listing hearing with bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) last week, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for a share sale in t...

Nepal rescuers search for 12 missing after Himlung avalanche kills 4

Nepal rescuers search for 12 missing after Himlung avalanche kills 4

SCMP •

Rescue teams on Monday searched for a dozen people swept away by an avalanche that killed at least four on a Nepalese mountain during severe weather. Rescuers from the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, which is leading the efforts, said they recovered two more bodies on Monday in addition to two others who were found on Sunday. The tragedy happened at Mount Himlung, a 7,126-metre (23,380-...

Avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung mountain leaves 2 dead, 14 missing

Avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung mountain leaves 2 dead, 14 missing

SCMP •

At least two people had been killed and 14 remained missing after an avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung peak, an official said on Monday, as rescuers resumed their search. The avalanche swept through the base camp of the 7,126-metre (23,400-foot) peak near the Chinese border early on Sunday, burying tents under deep snow. “Two bodies were found as rescuers worked until 6pm last night,” said Tul Singh Gu...

Avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung mountain leaves 2 guides dead, 14 missing

Avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung mountain leaves 2 guides dead, 14 missing

SCMP •

At least two people had been killed and 14 remained missing after an avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung peak, an official said on Monday, as rescuers resumed their search. The avalanche swept through the base camp of the 7,126-metre (23,400-foot) peak near the Chinese border early on Sunday, burying tents under deep snow. “Two bodies were found as rescuers worked until 6pm last night,” said Tul Singh Gu...

Avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung mountain leaves 2 workers dead, 14 missing

Avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung mountain leaves 2 workers dead, 14 missing

SCMP •

At least two people had been killed and 14 remained missing after an avalanche at Nepal’s Himlung peak, an official said on Monday, as rescuers resumed their search. The avalanche swept through the base camp of the 7,126-metre (23,400-foot) peak near the Chinese border early on Sunday, burying tents under deep snow. “Two bodies were found as rescuers worked until 6pm last night,” said Tul Singh Gu...

Cathay extends Dubai, Riyadh flight suspension through January as Iran war drags on

Cathay extends Dubai, Riyadh flight suspension through January as Iran war drags on

SCMP •

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has extended its suspension of passenger flights to the Middle East until the end of January next year, marking the third postponement since the US-Israel war on Iran began. The airline said on Monday that passenger services to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia would remain cancelled through January 31, 2027. “Affected travel...