Secular News

Many young students in China have been inspired by the achievement of Wang Hong, the first Chinese woman to receive the Fields Medal – the world’s most prestigious prize in mathematics. But it is the 35-year-old’s candid remarks about feeling “discouraged” in her early years at an elite Chinese university that appear to have struck the deepest chord. Those comments have set off a broader debate about the country’s education system and whether it provides the support students need to develop...

The vessel with at least 250 people on board caught fire off Madura island.

The vessel with at least 250 people on board caught fire off Madura island.

An Indonesian ferry caught fire at sea on Sunday, killing five people and leaving another 41 missing after some jumped overboard, search and rescue officials said. A total of 225 people on the vessel were rescued, said the regional Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency, which provided the latest figures in an afternoon update. Some passengers jumped into the sea and were picked up by a nearby ship, according to Basarnas, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency. Four other vessels were on...

Renowned climber Nirmal Purja and nine others have died in an avalanche in Pakistan, according to Purja's expedition company.

The return of an exhibition featuring popular Japanese manga series Chiikawa to Hong Kong drew crowds and big spenders on a rainy Sunday afternoon, even though the organiser cancelled a much-anticipated roundabout due to safety reasons. While some fans expressed disappointment over the halted rides at the K11 Musea promenade on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, others welcomed the alternative arrangement, which allowed them to take photos with several characters on the stationary roundabout. Some...

At least 3 people were killed and 21 injured in a blast at a Moscow restaurant, officials said. A security guard stopped a woman carrying a bomb that detonated. Telegram channel Astra reported the venue was hosting a Russian general's party, citing military vehicles outside.

About 1 in 4 babies in the Pakistani fishing settlement of Rehri Goth are born prematurely. Researchers are trying to figure out how to bring the numbers down.

A major search and rescue operation is underway with five people dead and 41 more are missing after a ferry caught fire in the sea off Indonesia

Retiree Philip Kong says he realised Hong Kong’s healthcare system needed a wake-up call when he discovered that receiving treatment for his prostate condition in neighbouring Shenzhen could potentially cut his medical bill by nearly 90 per cent. The 75-year-old was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate earlier this year and set to pay HK$210,000 (US$26,780) for a scheduled surgery at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital – until a family friend, who is a urologist, suggested another option. The...

The Points Guy Brian Kelly is the top travel expert. He shares his essentials for every trip, including how he keeps his toddlers entertained on long flights.

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