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History

A Palestinian terrorist on a balcony at the Olympic Village in Munich where his group held Israeli athletes hostage. The Black September attack in 1972 is the subject of new thriller September 5. Photo: AP
American cinema

Thriller September 5 recalls hostage tragedy at 1972 Munich Olympics

‘Almost like Rear Window,’ director says of September 5, set in ABC Sports control room. Producer who was there recalls what it was like.

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Australia

‘War is messed up’: why young Australians don’t want to join the military

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | China has long kept a firm grip on news, with gossip harshly punished

Old Hong Kong

The little-known history of one of Hong Kong’s oldest neighbourhoods

Tai Kwun’s new exhibition unveils tales of ecology, history, religion and high stakes in one of Hong Kong’s oldest neighbourhoods.

The “Happy Valley: A Cultural Landscape” exhibition at Tai Kwun, Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy of JCCPS
Science

Ancient Chinese proved the Pythagorean theorem in 17 characters: mathematician

A leading academic has highlighted China’s rich mathematical history, including a startling fact about a well-known theorem.

Old Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s unique winter barbecue season through the years

As Hong Kong’s barbecue season – with all its unique attributes – gets under way, so too do the feral pig raids on the mountains of detritus.

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Wellness

Why Istanbul’s restored bathhouses are ‘not a luxury, but a need’

After becoming obsolete during the Ottoman Empire, some Istanbul bathhouses have reopened. To Turks, they’re more than just places to bathe.

Men at a Turkish hammam in Istanbul. Photo: AFP
Japan

Japanese demand end to ‘comfort women’ funds after politician’s conviction

Yoon Mee-hyang was jailed and fined for embezzling funds meant for Korean ‘comfort women’ in a case that dragged on for several years.

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Old Hong Kong

This forgotten border village shows Hong Kong’s history of change

How two ‘foreigners’ came to make a film about the last days of Kwu Tung, from its soy sauce factories to village house demolition.

Old Hong Kong

That time Hong Kong almost caught its first live telecast from Apollo 12

The event drew the largest viewing audience in the city yet, but the sound was indistinct, the screen motionless: nothing happened.

Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr stands with the US flag on the lunar surface during the Apollo 12 mission, in 1969. Photo: Nasa/Handout
Donald Trump

Language Matters | Before Trump makes us sick of the word ‘tariff’, its wonderful history

Proposed tariffs on US imports, particularly from China, stand to create ugliness, but there is beauty in the word’s dynamic history.

Then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump touts a plan to revive the US auto industry through aggressive tariffs on foreign imports and other measures during a speech to the Detroit Economic Club On October 10, 2024. Photo: TNS
Australia

Australian senator rejects censure for accusing Britain’s king of genocide

Indigenous activist Lidia Thorpe vowed to repeat her comments should Britain’s ‘colonising king’ return to Australia.

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Asia travel

Discover Vietnam’s war-torn past in its culturally rich capital

A visit to Hanoi, from its museums to local-run tours, reveals a city that remembers its turbulent past but is focused on its bright future.

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How my DNA test showed I’m less Chinese than I thought

Wee Kek Koon had always known he was ‘not quite Chinese’ in terms of genetics and ancestry but his recent DNA test results still floored him.

DNA testing kits can reveal unexpected insights into a person’s ancestry and genealogy. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore

As Singapore’s ruling PAP turns 70, can its dominance last?

Amid rising living costs and shifting voter sentiments, the People’s Action Party faces unprecedented challenges on its 70th anniversary.

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Supporters of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) wave party flags and placards ahead of the general election in 2015. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Japan’s Princess Mikasa, great-aunt to emperor, dies aged 101

The princess, who was the oldest member of the nation’s royal family, was 18 when she married the younger brother of wartime emperor Hirohito.

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Music

How beloved Cantopop classic The Bund took Hong Kong by storm

Featuring Frances Yip’s commanding voice, The Bund, theme tune to a TVB series of the same name, was also a hit among the Chinese diaspora.

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SCMP Highlights

Recap | Ancient king’s tomb unearthed, a Song dynasty fashion shock and more historical finds

From ancient Chinese kings to cutting-edge AI in archaeology, explore fascinating discoveries that rewrite history in some of our recent stories looking into the past.

Chinese scientists have created a digital reconstruction of a wealthy woman’s clothing from the Southern Song dynasty. Photo: Wuhan Textile University
Chinese culture

Why is there a cake voucher with your Chinese wedding invite? We explain

A cake voucher often accompanies an invitation to a Chinese wedding, part of a practice that dates back centuries.

Art

British Museum to receive donation of Chinese ceramics worth US$1.27 billion

Museum to receive 1,700 pieces of Chinese ceramics, donated by the Percival David Foundation.

Old Hong Kong

How Hong Kong’s Repulse Bay Hotel became a haven for the famous

Once the pinnacle of opulence and grandeur, the Repulse Bay Hotel hosted guests like Ernest Hemingway, George Bernard Shaw and Wallis Simpson.

Repulse Bay Hotel in Hong Kong, in the 1920s. Photo: courtesy of The Repulse Bay
Asia travel

Uncovering Hanoi, Vietnam’s rich culture and cuisine

Locals recommend the Vietnamese capital’s best street food, creative spaces and historical sights.

Hanoi, Vietnam’s captivating capital blends ancient history with modern energy. Photo: Getty Images
Japan

Japan’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine vandalised with kanji for ‘death’

It follows similar defacement incidents in June and August.

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Climate change

Opinion | How feng shui can inspire China’s quest for environmental justice

China’s efforts to mitigate climate change and protect nature reveal a modern commitment to principles embodied by an ancient discipline.

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Australia

British chef pulls children’s book from sale after causing offence in Australia

Jamie Oliver’s ‘Billy and the Epic Escape’ was criticised for employing tropes and stereotypes about Indigenous Australians.

British chef Jamie Oliver. Photo: Picture Alliance / Axel Heimken / dpa
Science

Chinese women wore tank tops, transparent clothing 800 years ago: study

Digital reconstruction of treasure trove found in 800-year-old tomb reveals forward-thinking fashion of the day, according to scientists.

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Chinese scientists have created a digital reconstruction of a wealthy woman’s clothing from the Southern Song dynasty. Photo: Wuhan Textile University
Germany

Berlin Wall divide that once shaped German women’s lives still echoes today

Women’s lives that have diverged so starkly under communism and capitalism have become much more similar again.

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | The wells where a Chinese scholar and emperor’s consort met their ends

In 1900 a scholar jumped in a Beijing well out of shame. A palace consort died in a Forbidden City well too. Was she ‘martyred’ or killed?

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History
The latest news, analysis and opinion on History. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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