Latest news with #EmilyChan
Vogue
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
This Stupidly Simple Trick Helped Me Reduce My Screen Time by a Third
Earlier this year, I read a book that changed my life: Jenny Odell's How to Do Nothing. First published in 2019 and gifted to me by a friend and colleague shortly thereafter (thank you, Emily Chan), I had initially resisted opening it because I'd assumed that it was a self-help book that would tell me to switch off and decamp to a yurt in the countryside, living off the land and staring at the sky for entertainment. But no: Odell's tome is actually an art book disguised as a self-help book. She is an artist, writer, and academic who uses examples within contemporary art to make us consider the mechanics of the attention economy—how it keeps us absorbed, addicted, anxious, and unable to fully focus on anything beyond our devices. It is, very staunchly, not a book filled with tips and tricks, but one which seeks to reframe your thinking and make you more aware of the digital stimulants constantly competing for your attention—the ads glowing brightly in an attempt to catch your eye, the apps designed to keep you scrolling endlessly, and the bombardment of notifications that compel you to work through them before you can do anything else. Since reading it, I've become so much more conscious of how I interact with my phone. It's all well and good to be on it, or on your laptop, when you actually have something to do, but what about when you don't? Why am I listlessly swimming through a stream of content when I don't need to be? It's how I realized that I love the Letterboxd app—it's generally pretty dark, unstimulating, and free of notifications, which means I can pop on to look at it and easily pop out again. It's also how I reassessed my relationship with Duolingo. The latter is an app designed to keep users coming back daily, with its emphasis on streaks and leaderboards, but I came to understand that I could just tap into it when I wanted to learn something and then choose to put it away at other times. Yes, the app punishes me for not maintaining my streak (I have often seen the green owl mascot crying at my lack of consistency), but this is my small, intentional act of resistance.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Air quality alert: Breathing is not guaranteed as smoke from Canada's infernos chokes cities from Toronto to New York
After days of a heavy grey haze blanketing southern Canada, air‑quality alerts were lifted across most of Québec and Ontario on Sunday, June 8. Environment Canada reported that a shift in wind patterns and light rainfall pushed smoke eastward, lifting warnings over major cities like Toronto , Ottawa, and Montréal, but pockets of poor air remain east of Montréal, south of Québec City, and in northern Ontario toward the Manitoba border How it all started by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Over 200 active wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan churned out massive smoke plumes since early June, forcing thousands to evacuate and creating hazy skies across six provinces and the Northwest Territories. Those plumes raced across Canada and into the Eastern US, sparking health alerts in New York and parts of the Midwest. Live Events The science of the smoke Wildfire smoke is rich in PM2.5, tiny particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and the bloodstream. Researchers warn that even brief exposure can trigger asthma attacks, heart problems, and headaches, while cumulative exposure may increase risks of lung cancer and stroke. Some scientists have also raised alarms about toxic metals like arsenic and lead, released when fires spread through mining‑contaminated soils, intensifying long‑term risks. The human toll For north Toronto kindergarten teacher Emily Chan, the sky "smelled like burning plastic," and many of her students complained of sore throats. She recalled, 'We kept windows shut and cancelled outdoor playtimes.' In Montréal, retiree Marc Lecavalier said he felt his chest tighten during walks on the Île de la Cité, opting instead to sit inside with filtered air. Across the US border, in upstate New York, air‑quality warnings persisted on Sunday despite slight improvements, with the Adirondacks reaching an AQI of 150, "unhealthy for sensitive groups," while Finger Lakes briefly hit levels considered unhealthy for all. What's next Environment Canada expects a low‑pressure system to move through the Prairies and into Manitoba and northwestern Ontario by Monday, and bring much-needed rain to douse the fires. But as long as wildfires continue, the risk remains. Health officials still advise those in affected zones to stay indoors, avoid strenuous activity, and wear N95 masks if they must go outside. Experts predict smoke events will become more frequent and severe as climate change fuels longer fire seasons. For now, Canadians and Americans are getting a reminder: clean air isn't guaranteed.
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong charity aims to bring traditional Chinese medicine to African nation
A charity led by a former Hong Kong leader that offers overseas aid will promote traditional Chinese medicine treatments in the African nation Djibouti this year and plans to expand its operations to at least two more countries, its head has said. GX Foundation CEO Emily Chan Ying-yang said on Thursday that the charity was cooperating with Djibouti's Ministry of Health to introduce traditional Chinese medicines registered in Hong Kong to the country to support local primary health services. The charity, which currently works in eight countries in Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, also expected to expand services such as cataract treatment and dengue fever prevention to two or three more nations this year amid its mission to enhance the well-being of local populations, she said. The belt and road scheme is China's plan to grow global trade. Chan said that the foundation would also focus on bringing more young Hongkongers to join its humanitarian aid services overseas as part of its efforts to step up global exchanges and cooperation. 'Our projects have not only helped local people in need, but also organised young people and retired volunteers from Hong Kong to offer assistance on the ground,' Chan said. The foundation, established in Hong Kong in 2018 and chaired by former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, is a medical humanitarian aid charity. It is one of the few known Hong Kong-based NGOs serving belt and road countries.
