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For years, Nepal’s government has faced pressure to reduce rubbish in the Himalayas, where decades of commercial mountaineering have left large amounts of discarded gear, human waste and other debris on some of the world’s tallest peaks.Last week, the authorities in Kathmandu finally took firm action. They approved a landmark five-year plan to clean up Nepal’s mountains, seeking to curb waste through stricter monitoring and limiting the number of climbers on Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.“There was an absence of a unified document that clearly defined the responsibilities of several stakeholders who are involved and how to tackle the…

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia fired more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles at Ukraine in a large-scale attack that began during the night and stretched into daylight hours Tuesday, officials said. At least three people were killed, including a 4-year-old child, two days before Christmas.The barrage struck homes and the power grid in 13 regions of Ukraine, causing widespread outages in bitter temperatures, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, a day after he described recent progress on finding a peace deal as “quite solid.”The bombardment demonstrated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention of pursuing the invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said…

China has drafted a law on Antarctic affairs, as Beijing looks to protect its interests and strengthen its role in the governance of the southernmost continent.The draft “Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law” was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, on Monday for the first review, state media reported.“The legislation on Antarctic activities and environmental protection will help better coordinate, manage and regulate Antarctic-related activities … and will also provide strong legal support for China’s participation in global Antarctic governance,” according to official news agency Xinhua.It said the administrative permission system –…

Russia’s shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China soared last month, consolidating Moscow’s role as the top energy supplier to the world’s second-largest economy even in the face of Western sanctions.Imports of LNG from Russia surged 142.6 per cent, year on year, to 1.6 million tonnes, displacing Australia to become one of China’s top two biggest suppliers alongside Qatar last month, according to the latest customs data.Russian LNG accounted for 23.5 per cent of China’s total shipments in November, more than doubling its 11 per cent share from a year prior.Meanwhile, Australian shipments of LNG continued to slide, falling…

As climate change fuels more frequent floods and storms across Southeast Asia, forests and wildlife are being pushed to their breaking point, with conservationists and scientists warning of a worsening impact on ecosystems due to a lack of oversight and countermeasures.In late November, cyclone-driven rains battered Indonesia’s Sumatra island, triggering floods and landslides that killed more than 1,000 people, left hundreds missing and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes, according to officials.The recent natural disasters have also caused wildlife fatalities. On November 29, villagers in an isolated part of Aceh, Sumatra, discovered a dead elephant buried in mud after…

The Long March 12A, China’s first state-owned reusable rocket, made its debut launch on Tuesday morning but the recovery of the first stage was a failure.It was China’s second failed bid this month to return an orbital-class booster to Earth, a feat that has so far only been achieved by the US.The second stage of the rocket entered its predetermined orbit after its launch at 10am, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.The reusable rocket, designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in…

Hong Kong stocks rose for a second day on Tuesday, buoyed by the festive mood and investor optimism that the gains will extend into the next year.The Hang Seng Index rose 0.2 per cent to 25,852.50 at 11am local time, adding to the 0.2 per cent gain in the previous session. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.5 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 0.5 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3 per cent.Leading the pack, logistics firm ZTO Express Cayman advanced 1.3 per cent to HK$167.20, and Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing rose…

Hong Kong stocks rose for a second day on Tuesday, buoyed by the festive mood and investor optimism that the gains will extend into the next year.The Hang Seng Index rose 0.2 per cent to 25,852.50 at 11am local time, adding to the 0.2 per cent gain in the previous session. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.5 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 0.5 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3 per cent.Leading the pack, logistics firm ZTO Express Cayman advanced 1.3 per cent to HK$167.20, and Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing rose…

The success of the government’s Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) in establishing an ecosystem for start-ups to raise funds has put a damper on the Christmas plans for employees of some local venture capital (VC) firms.“After partnering with the HKIC, the number of deals we are working on this year has tripled compared to last year,” said David Chang, founder and CEO of leading VC firm MindWorks. He added that 2025 was one of the busiest years for the firm since its establishment 11 years ago.“I have told some of my staff that they will not have Christmas holidays as…

Three in four multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in mainland China have maintained or increased their investments in 2025, according to a recent KPMG survey, despite Washington stepping up efforts to decouple from Beijing and its allies following suit.The survey published on Monday, polling 137 senior executives from global companies operating in the world’s second-largest economy between June and September, revealed that only 1 per cent reported preparing to exit the market. About 20 per cent said they may reduce investment, while the rest had yet to decide.Companies planning to expand said they would pursue greenfield investment, mergers and acquisitions or…