Life Style

Northwest England, October 1957. A fire breaks out in the Windscale reactor on the site of the nuclear complex now known as Sellafield. Radioactive gases contaminate an area of several hundred square kilometres. A number of people die in the accident.Based on this real event, the British development studio Rebellion has created a fictional scenario for the PC and console game Atomfall. Set in 1962, five years after the Windscale fire, the story is even darker and grimmer than the reality.In this action-survival game, you explore a post-apocalyptic northern England full of horror, secrets and uncertainty. People are suspicious, supplies are scarce and dangers lurk everywhere.You will encounter numerous characters on your journey, some of whom are helpful and informative, while others have i...

Tackling health and lifestyle issues could prevent thousands of cardiac arrests – in which the heart suddenly stops beating – a new study suggests.People who were more educated also seemed less prone to cardiac arrest, the study, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, suggested, while poor sleep patterns and a lack of exercise could be detrimental.A cardiac arrest usually happens without warning, causing sudden collapse and rendering the person unconscious and unable to breathe or breathe normally. Without immediate treatment, people die.Maintaining a positive mood can lower your risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Photo: ShutterstockThe latest study identified 56 risk factors associated with sudden cardiac arrest and found up to 63 per cent of cases might be avoidable.

After making waves in a gritty, adult-rated school action drama on Korean streaming platform Wavve, the second season of 2022 sensation Weak Hero has found new life and greater exposure under the wing of streaming giant Netflix.Weak Hero Class 2 wasted no time igniting buzz with its April 25 release – not just in Korea, but across Asia and Latin America – signalling a dramatic leap from domestic hit to international phenomenon.The series soared to No 1 in Netflix’s non-English-language content category in 32 countries.Based on the hit webtoon of the same name, Weak Hero follows the story of Yeon Si-eun, a model student born physically weak but fiercely intelligent, who mastered the art of fighting from a young age.Singer and actor Park Ji-hoon, taking the title role, reunites with the orig...

After having lived a little moreWhen I stand at the edge of deathWill I be able to thinkThat I truly held life tight (through writing).So begins “After Having Lived a Little More”, a contemplative two-page essay by Han Kang that drifts between lyrical poetry and prose.This brief meditation on the act of writing graces the final pages of the South Korean author’s latest book, Light and Thread, her first publication since winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in October 2024.

A man with a life-threatening peanut allergy is living a near-normal life after taking part in a “life-changing” study which gradually saw him exposed to peanuts.Richard Lassiter’s allergy is so severe that he has been admitted to hospital many times after accidentally eating peanuts.But now the 44-year-old eats four peanuts each morning which he said is like “taking his medicine”.Experts say that previous desensitisation studies are focused on children, so adults with a peanut allergy are not offered this type of treatment.18 adults with a peanut allergy were successfully desensitised to peanuts in the new study. Photo: AFPBut the new study indicates that this could be a potential treatment for adults moving forward.Health officials say the trial gives hope to thousands of people....

Galle Fort, a Unesco World Heritage site on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, is a beautiful and well preserved gateway to the country’s colonial past and cultural richness.Built by the Portuguese in 1588, it was fortified extensively by the Dutch in the 17th century and later influenced by the British. Its blend of diverse European and South Asian architectural styles is one of Galle Fort’s most captivating features.The fort’s thick walls, built of coral and granite, have withstood centuries of tropical weather and historical tumult.Once a hub of maritime trade, Galle Fort played a key role in connecting Sri Lanka with the world. Today it is a vibrant community where colonial-era buildings stand alongside bustling cafes, boutiques and art galleries.An example of this mix is Fort Bazaar, a...

There’s nothing we love more than a long weekend, and just as it did over Easter, Hong Kong’s bar scene has pulled out all the stops to offer yet another full line-up. Kick off festivities at Terrible Baby with a dose of Cantopop cocktails, head to Mostly Harmless for zero-alcohol offerings, indulge in casual izakaya-inspired bites with Neon Pigeon at Bourke’s, and finish the weekend with one of Taiwan’s best at Qura Bar – on a Monday!Friday, 2 MayTerrible Baby x 929Terrible Baby at Eaton. Photo: HandoutWhat: What better way to ring in a long weekend than with Canto- and Mando-pop inspired cocktails on the Kowloon side? Terrible Baby is hosting New York outpost 929, which builds cocktails inspired by pop hits. There’s Sleepless Night – a Ceylon-infused riff on a Manhattan with a milk foam ...

Steve Chen had never been in love. In spring 2024, though, it happened.The 25-year-old met his first girlfriend in a way he could not have imagined before: a live-streamed video chat.Frustrated with traditional dating and dating apps, Chen jumped on a new trend among young, single people in mainland China.Those looking for love go into video chat rooms hosted by what is called a “cyber matchmaker”, all while thousands of viewers watch and comment in real time.The number of single people in China over 15 reached a record high of 240 million in 2023, according to government data.Empathy is the most important thing. You need to be empathetic to what people sayCyber matchmaker Tian XinFacing a plummeting birth rate and an ageing population, the government has encouraged single people to marry ...

For those smart enough to have booked annual leave this Friday, you’re looking at a full five day weekend ahead. With the Labour Day holiday and Buddha’s birthday, there’s plenty of time to relax and enjoy the foodie delights Hong Kong has to offer.Portuguese classics dinner. Photo: Flint at JW Marriott Hotel Hong KongThursday, May 1Start as you mean to go on! Launch into the long weekend with a Mediterranean-inspired four-course dinner of Portuguese classics at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong’s Flint.Portuguese cuisine offers a vibrant tapestry of flavours, weaving maritime tradition with aromatic spices, and this menu does just that. Featuring speciality seafood starters and the ultimate Portuguese comfort food caldo verde, diners can choose between signatures like arroz de marisco rice or f...

Nearly a decade after an unofficial ban on K-pop performances in mainland China was imposed, Beijing appears to be easing up on South Korea’s cultural phenomenon.A South Korean boy band, Epex, is now gearing up for a concert in Fuzhou in May, raising expectations that Beijing may ease restrictions on K-pop culture on the mainland, Yonhap News reports.The timing may be a coincidence, but it adds to growing evidence that China is seeking to improve relations with regional partners as countries grapple with increasingly hostile and unpredictable trade policies in the US.In March, trade chiefs from South Korea, China and Japan met in Seoul, where they renewed calls for an open, fair flow of goods and pledged to deepen economic ties.The concert, scheduled for May 31, marks the first performance...