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The Star
a day ago
- Climate
- The Star
Hong Kong shuts down for second time in a week due to heavy rain
People sheltering from the heavy rain in Hong Kong on July 10, 2025, after the city's weather observatory issued a red rainstorm warning signal. - AFP HONG KONG: Hong Kong issued its highest rainstorm warning, effectively closing down the city, just over a week after a typhoon downed trees in the financial centre. The local observatory hoisted the black rainstorm alert at 9.10am local time on Tuesday. More than 100mm (3.9 inches) of hourly rainfall was recorded, according to the observatory. Local media reported some underground railway exits were shut due to the rain. The torrential downpour comes as Hong Kong is still clearing up from Typhoon Wipha, which passed just to the south of the city on July 20, prompting the observatory to raise hurricane signal No. 10, its highest. Tuesday's rain is the most intense since October 2023, when record rainfall flooded the financial hub's streets and sent torrents of water rushing through subway stations. Showers are particularly heavy over the southside of Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, the observatory said Tuesday, attributing the conditions to a broad trough of low pressure. Heavy rain earlier led to 30 deaths in Beijing as eastern and central parts of China face more wild weather. China's weather agency forecast more heavy rain over the next three days in parts of the country, including Beijing, eastern Fujian and Shanghai. Under a Hong Kong black rainstorm warning, residents are advised to remain where they are until conditions improve, while public transport can be limited. Despite Tuesday's rains, Hong Kong is experiencing a much drier than normal year, with the city recording about two thirds of the average rainfall. Hong Kong is part of just 7% of cities flipping toward a more extreme dry climate, according to an in-depth study released in March by WaterAid, an NGO. Hong Kong's weather has been breaking records as temperatures rise. Last year was the city's warmest year since the city started keeping data in 1884. In November there were four tropical cyclones occurring concurrently over the western North Pacific and South China Sea - a first for that month since 1961. One of those, Toraji, triggered Hong Kong's first No. 8 storm warming for November in almost 80 years. - Bloomberg
Straits Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Hong Kong shuts down for second time in a week due to heavy rain
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The city's observatory hoisted the black rainstorm alert at 9.10am local time on July 29 and more than 100mm of hourly rainfall was recorded. Hong Kong issued its highest rainstorm warning, effectively closing down the city, just over a week after a typhoon downed trees in the financial centre . The local observatory hoisted the black rainstorm alert at 9.10am local time on July 29 . More than 100 mm of hourly rainfall was recorded, according to the observatory. Local media reported some underground railway exits were shut due to the rain. The torrential downpour comes as Hong Kong is still clearing up from Typhoon Wipha, which passed just to the south of the city on July 20 , prompting the observatory to raise hurricane signal No. 10, its highest. The rain on July 29 is the most intense since October 2023, when record rainfall flooded the financial hub's streets and sent torrents of water rushing through subway stations. Showers are particularly heavy over the southern side of Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, the observatory said on July 29 , attributing the conditions to a broad trough of low pressure. Heavy rain earlier led to 30 deaths in Beijing as eastern and central parts of China face more wild weather. China's weather agency forecast more heavy rain over the next three days in parts of the country, including Beijing, eastern Fujian and Shanghai. Under a Hong Kong black rainstorm warning, residents are advised to remain where they are until conditions improve, while public transport can be limited. Despite the rain on July 29 , Hong Kong is experiencing a much drier than normal year, with the city recording about two - thirds of the average rainfall. Hong Kong is part of just 7 per cent of cities flipping toward a more extreme dry climate, according to an in-depth study released in March by WaterAid, a non-governmental organisation . Hong Kong's weather has been breaking records as temperatures rise. The year 2024 was the city's warmest year since the city started keeping data in 1884. In November 2024 , there were four tropical cyclones occurring concurrently over the western North Pacific and South China Sea – a first for that month since 1961. One of those, Toraji, triggered Hong Kong's first No. 8 storm warming for November in almost 80 years. BLOOMBERG
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
On a roll: Who Gives a Crap toilet paper co-founder aims for ‘world domination'
It has been ubiquitous in middle class British bathrooms since a flush of growth during the Covid pandemic. Now Who Gives a Crap is aiming to wipe out the Andrex puppy, Cushelle's koala and Little Duck's little duck with a more ethical version of toilet roll. Its product, made from recycled paper or bamboo and wrapped in colourful paper, has risen rapidly to become the UK's third biggest non-supermarket brand. Now, the company – which claims to be the first ever online specialist loo roll maker – is aiming for 'world domination' with a rollout into Tesco supermarkets, and beyond. The Australian brand gives 50% of its profits to clean water and sanitation projects, and raising money for good causes is a key part of the company's purpose, according to its co-founder, Simon Griffiths. After experiments with a 'click to give' donations website and then a bar that sold beer and wine from developing countries, he settled on the idea of linking philanthropy to an everyday product that could reach every household. Griffiths says a trip to the loo inspired a 'quarter-second epiphany' on what that product could be, alongside the company's risque name and its mission to raise funds to provide access to clean water and sanitation in developing countries via partners including WaterAid. From the beginning, the company promised to donate half its profits to sanitation projects and as sales around the world have rapidly grown, it has raised close to £10m so far for projects such as eco-friendly waterless toilets in Kenya and school toilet blocks in Timor-Leste. Sales at its UK arm rose 17% to £45.5m in 2024 when operating profits more than doubled to £2.8m, according to the most recent figures available at Companies House. The company does not reveal international profits, but it donated £2.43m to sanitation projects last year, suggesting they have hit almost £5m. The brand is aiming to more than double donations to A$50m (£24m) by 2028 and within a decade collect 'hundreds of millions' of donations by adding new products and new countries. 'The reason why we exist is because there's still 2 billion people without access to adequate sanitation today, globally,' Griffiths says. 'If you're going to solve that problem that affects billions of people, you need to eventually be everywhere. That's not something we plan to do in the next 12 months. In 30 years' time, I think we will want to be in every supermarket in the UK.' The brand, which began online, is already in more than half of Australian supermarkets and went on to Tesco shelves earlier this month in the UK after launching in Whole Foods Market and Waitrose in 2023 . However, further expansion may be tough during a cost of living squeeze and the imposition of US tariffs on Chinese-made goods which is pushing up prices in what is now its biggest market – just ahead of the UK. Even in the UK, the ethical stance comes at a price for shoppers, with its 100% recycled rolls priced at 39p for 100 sheets for a six-pack at Tesco – on a par with Cushelle's six-pack but a considerable mark-up on the 16p for the supermarket's recycled own-brand and ahead of the 32p for 100 sheets for Andrex's 'family soft' nine-roll pack. He cheerfully admits that its success so far is down partly to the colourful paper wraps on its loo rolls, which people like to show off in their bathrooms, as much as its environmental and ethical considerations. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion From the outset the plan was to provide a stylish and ethical counterpoint to 'this sea of white and purple and different colours and pictures of puppies and pillows and feathers and things that were entirely unrelated to toilet paper' on supermarket shelves, Griffiths says. He has said the company might be only a fifth of the size it is today if it wasn't for the wrapping. Having started with 100% recycled loo roll made using waste – such as old letters and cardboard boxes – it now also sells a version made from bamboo. Other products include recycled tissues and, perhaps more controversially, recycled plastic bin bags and dog poo bags. The group is also expanding geographically including entering Canada this year – taking it to 37 countries in total. It is a long way from the toilet seat where Griffiths sat for 50 hours as part of a 2012 crowdfunding campaign that raised A$50,000 to back the first order and where it also signed up the brand's first 1,000 customers. Expansion today is underpinned by A$41.5m in 2021 from investors including Verlinvest, the Belgian investment company behind the oat milk Oatly and the fair trade chocolate brand Tony's Chocolonely. So far, a rising number of shoppers seem persuaded that the product is worth paying more for than bog-standard rivals and Griffiths insists it is more than a passing fad with every decision based on 'trying to do the right thing'. 'We've been around now for about 12 years in Australia. I don't think there's a risk of us kind of going out of fashion in the same way that you might see with clothing,' he says.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Man who pays £1,400 a month to live in one of London's smallest flat in millionaire neighbourhood reveals what the one problem is - and it's NOT the size
A Londoner who pays £1,400 a month to live in the smallest flat in a millionaire neighbourhood has laid bare the true issue with his home. Cesar Mendez, 47, lives in a 11.7 square-metre former janitor's cupboard, yet despite its tiny size, its lavish Kensington location means its worth around £250,000. The lodger says his miniscule flat warrants splashing out £1,400 a month due to its close locale to the Natural History Museum and regular sightings of the Royal Family. And although the 'amazing' flat offers little to no room, the Tenerife native is adamant that it is the perfect size for him, but there is one issue. Revealing the true problem with his humble abode, Mr Cesar shared that it becomes difficult to keep tidy, and a lack of washing machine also proves to be a challenge. Boasting of the pros, he said: 'The location is incredible - but there are pros and cons - there's no washing machine so I have to take my clothes to get washed. 'For me it's fine. I'm not very tall, so it's OK. The only problem is you have to keep it clean all the time. If it's not tidy, there's no space and you go crazy.' He quipped: 'Have you seen any other flat under 12 square metres? If I had a girlfriend, we would fight all the time because it's such a small place.' Despite the downside, Mr Mendez shared there are several advantages that outweigh his cleaning difficulties. The avid runner, who has participated in 100 marathons across seven continents for Water Aid, said his flat's proximity to Hyde Park was a major plus. He added that, due to its centrality in the capital, he regularly sees members of the Royal Family driving past, escorted by police motorcades. 'Having Hyde Park five minutes away from the flat is amazing,' Mr Mendez continued. 'I work in Mayfair, too, and it takes me 10 to 15 minutes to cycle to work. 'I have seen King Charles, Prince William and Queen Camilla around the area.. Police stop the cars for them to go through. 'I see them a lot - maybe once every two weeks. 'My neighbours are really nice; some of them are Chinese and some other neighbours are Italian - I think there's eight flats in the whole building.' The flat was recently put up for sale with a guide price of £230,000, due to its desirable location, and is now under offer from a prospective buyer. He also revealed, due to its centrality in the capital, he regularly sees members of the Royal Family driving past, escorted by police motorcades Even though it is due to be sold in the coming weeks by estate agents Purplebricks, Mr Mendez hopes to continue living in the beloved flat. Nick Minns, who is selling the flat that used to belong to his mother, harbours fond memories of the flat himself from when he lived in the tiny space for six months. He said he once even had a party - but held the main festivities in the hallway and used the property as a 'booze cupboard'. On another occasion he had a tall friend stay over and says he had a limb 'in every part of the flat'. 'We had a party on the stairwell once,' Mr Minns explained. 'The flat was just the booze cupboard. 'We had a friend stay over and he had a different body part in every room.' Nick Gaunt, a Local Property Partner at Purplebricks, admitted it was 'unusual' to have a property at a guide price of £230,000 in the area. 'To find any property, however small, with such a prestigious postcode and at this price is very unusual,' he said. 'As such, we're not surprised that it has got snapped up very quickly, especially given its location, investors are likely to see beyond its square meterage and to the fact it makes a smart investment for any buyer.'
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I stopped for tea and helped to build the Pyramid Stage'
A man who was driving through Somerset when he saw a Glastonbury Fair sign says he stopped in for a cup of tea, before ending up helping to build the Pyramid Stage. Brian Johnson, who is now a WaterAid volunteer at the festival, was making his way from Cambridge to Cornwall with his then girlfriend in 1971 when he saw the sign nailed to a tree. He said: "We thought it might be nice to stop for a cup of tea and a bun but we actually ended up helping to build the first Pyramid Stage." He said they drove down to Worthy Farm and Michael Eavis' partner, Jean, gave the pair "a spanner and a pint of milk" and told them they might have something "useful" for them do. The first Glastonbury Festival, which was known then as the Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival, took place in September 1970. The following year, it was moved to June to coincide with the summer solstice and became known as Glastonbury Fair. Mr Johnson told BBC Radio Somerset it was "really interesting" to be involved in the construction of the famous stage and said he "didn't know much" about festivals at the time. Constructed from metal and plastic sheeting, the stage was deliberately placed on the Glastonbury-Stonehenge ley line (a network of lines which are said to connect sites with spiritual and cultural significance). He added: "The idea of the Pyramid was that it concentrated cosmic energy into the performers, which I think is great and is part of what makes it such an iconic symbol now." The WaterAid volunteer said it was at this festival he met David Bowie but only "caught the last bit" of his set as he "slept in". David Bowie's first appearance at the Glastonbury Festival took place at about 5am on 23 June 1971. Wateraid continues to be a huge part of Glastonbury Festival, having been a charity partner since 1994. It supports water and sanitation services on site while spreading the message everyone deserves access to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene. A set of polaroid film photos from this year's festival has revealed what it is like to work behind the scenes as a volunteer. Liz Lace and Lucas Myers shared a sneak peak into their first shift on Wednesday handing out free water and cleaning toilets on site. Ms Lace described the experience as "really fulfilling", allowing her to enjoy all the festival has to offer while simultaneously "doing something worthwhile". This year marks Mr Myers' fourth time volunteering with the charity, working on the 'loo crew' to keep more than 3,000 toilets clean. The 21-year-old described the team of volunteers as "one big family". "Meeting other volunteers from all walks of life means every conversation back at the camp is unique, and have been some of my best times at the festival," he said. "I really enjoyed taking the photos and capturing moments of volunteers enjoying themselves, rolling their sleeves up and spreading the important message of WaterAid's mission – that change starts with clean water and decent toilets." Ms Lace acted as a 'water welcomer', helping festival-goers stay hydrated by filling up bottles for those passing through the gates and exploring the site. The 60-year-old has been to every Glastonbury Festival since 1993 except one, following the birth of her daughter. "My favourite thing about volunteering at the festival has been meeting all the lovely people. Everyone was so happy to chat and get involved," she said. "This is my fourth time volunteering here and over the years I've made some firm, lifetime friends." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. 'Never a dull' moment for Glastonbury volunteers Brain injury survivor volunteers at Glastonbury Couple in 80s thrilled to be Glastonbury volunteers WaterAid Glastonbury Festival
