A Hong Kong university has been ranked the 11th best in the world
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has moved up six spots since last year's list to now claim the title of the 11th best university in the world. QS' data shows that HKU's academic reputation scored 99.3, while the employment outcomes of their alumni scored 99.8. This stellar ranking on the global chart means HKU has beat out various other universities that are also known for their academic excellence, such as Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (ranked at number 12), Peking University (ranked at number 14), the University of Pennsylvania (ranked at number 15), Tsinghua University (ranked at number 17), Yale (ranked at number 21), and Princeton (ranked at number 25).
The only Asian university ranking higher than HKU is the National University of Singapore, which came in the list at number eight. But Hong Kong's other tertiary institutions also made commendable rankings, with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) climbing up four spots from last year to now sit at number 32, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) rising three spots to reach rank 44. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University rose three spots from last year to just sit under the top 50 ranking at number 54, and the City University of Hong Kong at 63.
Among the full list that considers 1,500 global universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has once again retained its top ranking for the 14th consecutive year, while Imperial College London has also retained their second place from the 2025 rankings. Stanford University, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University round out the best five universities in the world for 2026.
See the full list on QS' website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
13-07-2025
- The Sun
‘Sunday scaries' is real health threat ‘increasing your risk of heart attack', experts warn
CALL it "Sunday scaries" or "Monday blues", dreading the start of a new week can trigger long-term stress and take a toll on your heart health, scientists warn. The anxiety isn't just workplace related - retirees also displayed signs of heightened stress on Mondays after they'd stopped working. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong dubbed this the "Anxious Monday" effect. It suggests dysregulation of the body's stress management system - which is known to drive heart disease - is linked to the start of the week, regardless of work status, researchers said. Previous research has shown a 19 per cent increase in heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths on Mondays, the study authors also pointed out. They believe spikes in Monday heart attacks were unlikely to be random. Lead author Professor Tarani Chandola from the department of sociology, faculty of social sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), said: 'Mondays act as a cultural 'stress amplifier'. 'For some older adults, the week's transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. "This isn't about work - it's about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end." Feelings of stress and anxiety are linked to cardiovascular disease through a key biological mechanism called hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation. The HPA axis is the body's main way of responding to stress and results in the release of cortisol - known as the stress hormone - in the body. HPA axis dysregulation is characterised by excessive levels of cortisol production, which has previously been linked to a higher risk of heart disease and death, researchers explained. Feeling stressed Watch our 4-minute at-home yoga workout scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and tension It's also known to contribute to hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune dysfunction. The study team set out to examine whether "HPA-axis dysregulation is greater on Mondays than on other days, and whether this association is greater for working compared to non-working adults", they wrote in the Journal of Affective Disorders. They assessed data from over 3,500 older adults taking part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, including hair samples that showed cortisol levels in participants' bodies. People who reported feeling more anxious on Mondays had 23 per cent higher cortisol levels in their hair samples than those who felt anxious on other days. This was also seen among retirees, challenging assumptions that workplace stress alone explains "Monday blues". For many of us, stress can be a part of our daily life - to the point that we don't pick up on red flags until it's too late. Stress can affect you physically and mentally, as well as causing changes to your behaviour, the NHS notes. You may experience some of the following signs when struggling with stress: Headaches or dizziness Muscle tension or pain Stomach problems Chest pain or a faster heartbeat Sexual problems Difficulty concentrating Struggling to make decisions Feeling overwhelmed Constantly worrying Being forgetful Being irritable and snappy Sleeping too much or too little Eating too much or too little Avoiding certain places or people Drinking or smoking more If stress is taking a toll on your life, that's a sign to seek help for it. Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professional. You could also contact Samaritans, call: 116 123 or email: jo@ if you need someone to talk to If you need more support, you can get free talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on the NHS. You can refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP. Source: NHS Researchers concluded: 'This study found strong evidence for an association between reporting anxiety on Mondays and HPA-axis dysregulation. 'The anxious Monday association with HPA-axis dysregulation measured subsequently was evident among both working and nonworking older adults, with no reduction in the association among those not at work." The findings suggest social patterns - not just job demands - embed themselves in human physiology, with lasting health risks, researchers said. Previous studies have pointed to higher stress hormone levels among people on weekdays versus weekends, but the latest research is the first to pinpoint Mondays as uniquely disruptive. Researchers hope addressing Monday-specific stressors could pave the way for new strategies to combat heart disease. "Hospitals and clinics need to plan for increased CVD events on Mondays," they also suggested. "Most people should adapt to their feelings of Monday anxiety over their working life course. "However, for some people, there is a lack of adaptation to Monday anxiety, and this does not appear to diminish when they stop working."
The Herald Scotland
10-07-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Are bees deadly? What to know after recent bee attacks
The attack is believed to have been prompted by the presence of Asian hornets, sometimes nicknamed "murder hornets," an invasive species that also has a growing presence in the U.S. The good news is that swarming bee attacks of this severity are rare. Bees and wasps, like plenty of other wildlife, are not known to be particularly aggressive toward humans and generally only attack if their hive has been threatened. While bees and wasps are generally not a risk to people (in fact, their dwindling numbers are a bigger risk to humans as a whole, thanks to the vital role they play in our ecosystem and food chain), stories like the attack out of France are enough to inspire some measure of anxiety. Are bees a potentially deadly danger Americans contend with each time they step out the door? Here's what to know. When bee attacks turn deadly While only an average of 72 Americans died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can and does happen, especially in the spring and summer months when North American hives tend to be the most active. Several major bee attacks have been reported in multiple U.S. states in 2025 alone. On Sunday, July 7, bees stung members of a crew working on a nursing home roof in Arizona, killing one and seriously harming two others. In May, a 66-year-old Texas man was killed when a swarm of bees stung him enough times to cause his circulatory system to stop functioning properly. Just weeks before, another Texas resident was attacked by a massive throng that killed three of her horses. Why do bees and wasps attack? Generally speaking, bees and wasps aren't aggressive simply for the sake of being aggressive, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Like most creatures with natural predators, bees have developed mechanisms to protect themselves and their nests. If they perceive humans as a threat, whether that be due to swatting them or disturbing their nest, they may sting as a defense mechanism to ward the threat off. Some bees also release a type of "warning" or "danger" pheromone when they sting that attracts other bees to the fight against the perceived threat at hand, like summoning a small insect army. To avoid drawing the ire of a nest, be aware of your surroundings and avoid nests and swatting at bees hanging out nearby, suggests Mayo Clinic. Cover food when eating outside, avoid floral-smelling colognes and perfumes and wear protective clothing like long sleeves and pants when working or playing outdoors. What should you do if you become a target? If you find yourself at the top of a bee or wasp swarm's public enemy list, stay calm and get out of the area quickly. Your best bet is to run to the nearest shelter, suggests an advisory from the University of Arizona, and keep running until you get there. Protect your face, especially your mouth and eyes, by covering the area with whatever you have on hand - a mask, handkerchief, coat, towel, hat or, as a last resort, your shirt could work. Do not try to freeze, play dead or jump into a body of water, the advisory says. When should I go to the ER after a bee or wasp sting? The most common cause of serious illness or death from bee stings is an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction affects your skin, airways, stomach and heart, per the Cleveland Clinic. Although this will vary from person to person, initial symptoms are typically characterized by hives, swelling or edema and breathing difficulties. As symptoms progress, you may begin to experience "tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and then swelling of the face to tongue and lips and eyes," Dr. Payel Gupta, medical director of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at LifeMD, previously told USA TODAY. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal. Epinephrine is a life-saving medication used to treat anaphylaxis, and it is injected as a shot in your thigh, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anaphylaxis can happen within seconds, which is why it's so important to call 911 and seek medical care at the onset of symptoms, Gupta said. What if you're not allergic to bees? In some cases, victims of bee attacks can die without having a known allergy, especially if they receive an excessive number of stings. Stings contain venom, which usually can be fought off by the body fairly easily. However, being stung dozens of times can make anyone feel sick as their body works to handle the venom and, in the exceedingly rare case that someone is stung hundreds or even thousands of times, the venom may be enough to cause serious illness or even death, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who are not allergic but have been stung multiple times should still seek medical attention, says the Mayo Clinic, and children or those who have existing respiratory issues are especially at risk for an adverse reaction to a larger number of stings.
South Wales Guardian
01-07-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Girls and black children face inequalities in transplant treatment, study shows
Academics found that some children in need of a kidney transplant are facing inequalities in their care. Black children are less likely to be put on the transplant waiting list, as are those from more deprived backgrounds, researchers from the University of Bristol found. There are currently 137 children aged 17 and under on the kidney transplant waiting list in the UK. Researchers set out to examine whether inequalities exist in access to kidney transplantation among children in the UK by analysing the UK Renal Registry and NHS Blood and Transplant data between 1996 and 2020. They found that girls were 12% less likely to be put on a transplant waiting list compared to boys. Children from the poorest backgrounds were 33% less likely to be put on the waiting list compared to those from the wealthiest. And black children were 19% less likely to be put on the waiting list compared to their white peers. Once children are on the waiting list, the disparities related to gender and income appeared to reduce, but disadvantages for black children persisted. 'We were particularly struck by how early these disparities appear in the transplant process,' said Dr Alice James, lead author of the study. 'It's not just about who gets a transplant, but who even gets considered in the first place. 'Those from black ethnic backgrounds face systemic disadvantages even after being placed on the waitlist, including fewer living donor opportunities.' When looking at kidney transplants given by a living donor within two years of being on the waiting list, the odds of getting a transplant are lower among those from poorer backgrounds and children of black or Asian ethnicity, according to the study, which has been presented to the ESOT (European Society for Organ Transplantation) Congress 2025. Dr James added: 'It is notable – and particularly disquieting – that such disparities are evident even in a paediatric population within a universal healthcare system like the NHS. 'The persistent disadvantage faced by children from black ethnic backgrounds even after wait-listing is especially striking, suggesting systemic or cultural barriers that extend beyond access alone.' On gender inequalities seen in the study, she added: 'The gender disparity in wait-listing, with girls being less likely to be wait-listed, may reflect implicit gender biases in clinical decision-making, differences in parental advocacy, or variation in disease presentation and severity between sexes. 'There may also be social factors influencing clinicians' assumptions about transplant suitability or family engagement in the transplantation process. 'While evidence is limited in paediatric populations, adult studies suggest that women are often perceived as less suitable candidates due to comorbidities or psychosocial factors— perceptions that may inadvertently extend to female children.' Fiona Loud, policy director at Kidney Care UK, said: 'This research is shocking and it's not good enough to see such heartbreaking inequalities so early in life. 'There are around 1,000 children receiving kidney replacement therapy via either dialysis or transplant in the UK. 'This is a relatively small number which should mean we have a real opportunity to change this and make sure we improve things for the future for children and young people. 'But right now it is very hard for families whose children have kidney failure. 'More work needs to be done to explore local barriers and raise awareness of the value and importance of living kidney donation through personalised and community education programmes.' Professor Derek Manas, medical director for organ and tissue donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, which is responsible for allocating organs to people on the list, said: 'These results will help hospital clinical teams across the UK to further understand and mitigate this issue. 'NHS Blood and Transplant does not decide which individual patients are added to the transplant waiting list, but we do manage how organs are allocated to patients and the research found that once patients are on the waiting list, they had equitable access to donations, irrespective of ethnicity or deprivation. 'The transplant community has come a long way in ensuring equity once listed but this study confirms we all have more to do. 'Kidneys also need to be matched and people from the same ethnicity are more likely to be a match. 'There are currently not enough donors from black and Asian backgrounds and we urge people to show their support for donation on the NHS Organ Donor Register and to tell their families they want to donate.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'The decision to place somebody on the transplant list should never be affected by their gender, ethnicity or family income and this analysis is a stark reminder that, whilst we have made progress on tackling health inequalities, much remains to be done – and this will be at the heart of the 10 Year Health Plan. 'More widely, we know kidney failure disproportionately impacts people from Black African and Black Caribbean heritage so we would always encourage more donors from these backgrounds to come forward, and we have recently launched a new simple genetic blood test for these groups to help reduce the risk of kidney failure.'
