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Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Pink pond in Chinese village sparks fear of toxic water
A video of the pink pond at a village in China's central Henan province has gone viral since June 18. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM WEIBO A group of residents in China woke up on June 18 to find that a pond in their village had turned pink mysteriously, raising concerns that their underground water might be contaminated. Worried about the quality of the water, residents of Matun village in central Henan province alerted the authorities to investigate the cause of the abnormal hue of the pond that was formed next to a dike along a river. A video of the rosy water quickly went viral. The village's party secretary Wang Kuaijing said the pond is 'still water', and the pinkness could be the result of a 'reaction when new water combines with existing water' in the pond, reported Jiupai News. She added that drinking water in the village had been tested and the results did not show any abnormalities. The local government said it has set up a team with officers from various departments to retrieve samples of the water and to investigate the businesses operating on both sides of the river for any wrongdoing. Water bodies, such as saltwater marshes, turning pink have also been reported in other parts of the world, and the phenomenon has been attributed to natural causes, such as an algal bloom. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Actress Michelle Chen weeps at Stefanie Sun's first concert at Beijing's National Stadium
Michelle Chen (right) was among the 50,000 spectators who turned up for Stefanie Sun's concert in Beijing on June 13. PHOTOS: MAKE MUSIC, MICHELLE CHEN/WEIBO Taiwanese actress Michelle Chen wept during Singapore pop star Stefanie Sun's concert at Beijing's National Stadium. The 42-year-old was among the 50,000 spectators who turned up for the Beijing leg of Sun's concert tour on June 13. 'She is my favourite Chinese-language female singer and I have waited for this concert for a very long time,' Chen wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo on June 14 morning. 'I had a chance to watch it more than 10 years ago, but missed it due to work,' she wrote in Chinese. 'I didn't expect that it would be many years later before I got to watch her in concert.' Sun, 46, kicked off her first world tour in a decade, titled Aut Nihilo, in April with four concerts in Singapore. She also performed in Shanghai later in April and Shenzhen in May. 'I wanted to cry the moment you appeared on stage, as you were part of my youth for many years,' Chen wrote. 'Fortunately, I cried for only half of the show as there were fast songs.' The actress, who is best known for the Taiwanese coming-of-age romance film You Are The Apple Of My Eye (2011), then quoted part of the Chinese-language title of the movie in her post. 'During those years I listened to your songs, the songs felt like they were carrying one part of innocence, two parts of stubbornness and three parts of freedom,' she wrote. 'I found myself in the songs and pursued my dreams.' The actress shared her concert ticket, two photos of herself at the event and two short videos of Sun performing. Taiwanese actress Michelle Chen attended Stefanie Sun's concert in Beijing on June 13. PHOTO: MICHELLE CHEN/WEIBO Sun's concert at Beijing's National Stadium, which is nicknamed the Bird's Nest, was her first at the venue since her debut in 2000. Sun will be holding a second show there on June 15. She became the fourth Chinese-language female singer to hold a concert at the stadium after Hong Kong's Karen Mok and G.E.M. as well as Taiwan's A-mei. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
03-06-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Is it ghost fire or alien jellyfish? Rare red sprite lightning in Tibet dazzles social media
Chinese photographer Dong Shuchang, who captured the red sprites, produced a slow motion close-up video of the rare sight on May 31.- SCREENSHOT FROM PAULOWNIA DONG SHUCHANG/WEIBO SINGAPORE: Blink and you will miss it. A rare red lightning phenomenon illuminated the dark sky above Tibet over the weekend, setting social media on fire. Known as a red sprite, it is an electrical discharge that occurs above thunderclouds, between 40km and 80km above the ground. Lightning flashes usually go downwards from the clouds to the ground, according to the BBC. But like a shot from a flare gun, a sprite goes in the other direction, appearing like backwards lightning. According to National Geographic, atmospheric nitrogen gas gives the bursts their distinctive red glow. Chinese photographer Dong Shuchang, who captured the rare sight on May 31, wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo that the first time he caught a similar occurrence was in May 2022. 'I decided to produce a slow motion close-up video and hope that more people will be able to witness this magical phenomenon in our magical skies.' His video of the breathtaking lightning went viral on Chinese social media, with netizens comparing the surreal scene to a ghost fire and alien jellyfish. 'Am I the only one who finds this terrifying?' said one comment, while another described it as 'mother nature's fireworks'. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
Rare red sprite lightnings in Tibet dazzle social media
Chinese photographer Dong Shuchang, who captured the sprites, produced a slow motion close-up video of the rare sight on May 31. PHOTO: SCREENSHOT FROM PAULOWNIA DONG SHUCHANG/WEIBO Is it a ghost fire or alien jellyfish? Rare red sprite lightnings in Tibet dazzle social media Blink and you will miss it. A rare red lightning phenomenon ignited the dark sky above Tibet over the weekend, setting social media on fire. Known as 'red sprite', it is an electrical discharge that takes place above thunderclouds that are between 40km and 80km above ground . Lightning flashes usually go downwards from the clouds to the ground, according to the BBC . However, like a shot from a flare gun , a sprite goes in the other direction, which appears to be like backwards lightning. According to the National Geographic , atmospheric nitrogen gas gives the bursts their distinctive red glow. Chinese photographer Dong Shuchang, who captured the rare sight on May 31, wrote on Chinese social media Weibo that the first time he caught a similar occurrence was in May 2022. 'I decided to produce a slow motion close-up video and hope that more people will be able to witness this magical phenomenon in our magical skies.' His video of the breathtaking lightnings went viral on Chinese social media, with netizens comparing the surreal scene to a ghost fire and alien jellyfish. 'Am I the only one who finds this terrifying?' says one comment, while another calls it 'Mother Nature's fireworks'. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Singapore actor Ayden Sng gets publicity boost in China for upcoming shows
Singaporean actor Ayden Sng is represented in China by Chinese production company Huanyu Entertainment - co-founded by Yu Zheng. PHOTO: YU ZHENG/WEIBO Singaporean actor Ayden Sng's career in China has been given a boost after top Chinese producer and screenwriter Yu Zheng posted about him on social media. Sng, 31, is represented in China by Chinese production company Huanyu Entertainment – co-founded by Yu – as part of a partnership between Huanyu and Mediacorp's artiste management arm The Celebrity Agency. 'Recently, many friends have noticed our artiste Ayden Sng , who is one of the top 100 handsome faces in the world,' Yu wrote on May 24. The 47-year-old was referring to the Mediacorp artiste placing ninth on TC Candler's The 100 Most Handsome Faces list released in December 2024. 'He looked cool in his previous magazine photoshoot, but I didn't realise that he could be so thoughtful when he was making coffee offline,' Yu added. Sng recently acted in Chinese period romance drama Perfect Match, his first production in China, which aired in January and February. Best known for helming the period drama Story Of Yanxi Palace (2018), Yu said that many netizens have since noticed that Sng was the actor who played the role of Yan Zimei in Perfect Match. 'Now that you know, please pay more attention to Ayden Sng's Weixiao Yihaodian and Feud,' Yu said, referring to Sng's upcoming shows. Sng thanked Yu under the post, writing: 'I will definitely work hard and live up to your trust.' The actor is set to appear in Chinese upcoming reality show Weixiao Yihaodian, which can be translated as Smile Cafe No. 1. The series features 35 celebrity trainees who will go through almost a month of professional training before they are divided into groups. They will then go to different cities in China to run beverage stores, and take part in product development and store operations, according to a synopsis of the show. The reality show is led by veteran Chinese actor Tang Guoqiang, who is best known for portraying Chinese leader Mao Zedong in movies and TV series. Sng, who has changed his Weibo name to 'Ayden Sng of Weixiao Yihaodian', shared about the reality series on his account. 'I will do my best to develop food and beverages and present perfect works for you,' he wrote in Chinese, posting a promotional poster of himself on the show. Sng will also act in upcoming Chinese fantasy series Feud, which stars Chinese actress Bai Lu and Chinese actor Joseph Zeng. In Singapore, Sng has been nominated for Most Popular Rising Star Award at Mediacorp's Star Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for July 6. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
