4 d. ago ‘Dying en masse’: Japan’s oyster farmers face ruin as waters heat up

Oysters in Japan are dying en masse in parts of the country’s top production area, likely due to warmer sea temperatures, officials said on Monday. In some coastal areas surrounding the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan – an area that accounts for more than three quarters of Japan’s farmed oyster production – around 90 per cent of cultivated oysters are dead. “I’ve never experienced this in my whole career,” said Tatsuya Morio, who has farmed oysters for more than 20 years. Shoichi Yokouchi, an...

Society

9 d. ago Developing | Xi Jinping sends condolences as at least 13 die in massive Hong Kong blaze

Developing | Xi Jinping sends condolences as at least 13 die in massive Hong Kong blaze  South China Morning Post

Events

9 d. ago Xi Jinping sends condolences as at least 13 die in massive Hong Kong blaze

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to the victims of a raging fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood in a late evening statement, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Thirteen people including a firefighter were killed and at least 15 others critically injured in an inferno ravaging a housing estate in Tai Po, as flames lashed over bamboo...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine and Russia exchange deadly strikes as negotiators race to refine deal

Russia rained missiles and drones overnight on Kyiv, killing six people, authorities said Tuesday, as three people died in Russia’s Rostov region in massive Ukrainian strikes. The heightened attacks came after US President Donald Trump initially gave Kyiv until November 27 - the American holiday of Thanksgiving - to respond to his proposal to end the fighting, a timeline and blueprint that European leaders have baulked at. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said four people...

Events

3 w. ago ‘Empty and numb’: Laos methanol poisoning survivor mourns friend a year on

A year after her childhood friend died in a mass methanol poisoning incident in Laos, British traveller Bethany Clarke is still grappling with grief and a lack of answers. On November 12 last year, Clarke had joined 28-year-old lawyer Simone White and another friend for a spontaneous side trip to Vang Vieng, a riverside party town popular with backpackers. After a night out at a hostel serving complimentary shots, all three fell dangerously ill. White would not survive. Six tourists died in...

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine faces blackout crisis after Russian missile barrage on power grids

Ukraine was scrambling to turn lights and heating back on Sunday after Russian attacks targeting energy infrastructure reduced the country’s power generating capacity to “zero”. Moscow, which has escalated attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure in recent months, launched hundreds of drones at energy facilities across the country overnight into Saturday. The attacks interrupted electricity, heat and water supplies in several cities, with state power firm Centerenergo warning generating capacity “is...

Events