Singapore’s ‘ageless’ photographer Chuando Tan turns 60 and fans still cannot believe it

Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP) Russian president Vladimir Putin has said a revised US proposal “could form the basis” of a future Ukraine agreement, but only if Kyiv pulls its troops out of areas Moscow claims as its own. If Ukraine refuses, he warned, Russia will take the territory by force. The comments come as Washington tries to restart peace talks with a new plan it hopes to discuss with both Moscow and Kyiv. The war is now close to four years old, with Ukrainian forces outnumbered and under strain along the eastern front. Speaking during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin said, “If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations,” Putin said during a visit to Kyrgyzstan. “If they don't, then we will achieve it by military means.”Russia currently controls around one-fifth of Ukraine. Kyiv has repeatedly said it will not give up any land. Washington’s first proposal, drafted without involving European allies, had suggested Kyiv withdraw f..

2,000 years ago, people in Vietnam used iron to permanently blacken their teeth (Image Source – Springer Nature) Archaeologists working in northern Vietnam have found chemical evidence that people were permanently blackening their teeth around 2,000 years ago. The study focused on human remains from the Dong Xa site, dated to the Iron Age and linked to the wider Dong Son cultural sphere. By analysing the surface of ancient enamel, researchers identified traces of iron compounds consistent with deliberate cosmetic treatment rather than natural staining. The results offer the first clear scientific confirmation that tooth blackening was already established in Vietnam two millennia ago. The findings also suggest that the technique relied on iron salts, likely mixed with plant materials rich in tannins, to create a deep, glossy black surface that altered the appearance of the teeth.
Study confirms tooth blackening was practiced in Vietnam 2,000 years agoThe research team used microscopic a..

AdvertisementRetailingBusinessWarm winter no match: China’s sportswear sector posts surprise growthPolicy support, Chinese New Year demand and Winter Olympics exposure lift China’s sportswear makers, with Li Ning and Anta leading gains
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPCao LiPublished: 6:00pm, 1 Mar 2026China’s major sportswear makers have shrugged off soft consumer spending and a warm winter, according to analysts.
Retail sales in China’s sportswear sector picked up in the first two months of 2026 and beat expectations, helped by fresh policy support and Chinese New Year demand, analysts said. Separately, Chinese households also tuned into the Winter Olympics, where domestic sportswear giants Li Ning and Anta had high visibility.
“We are turning more positive on the China sportswear industry for the first time in 12 months,” Jefferies equity analysts John Chou, Boya Zhen and Anne Ling said in a report.
AdvertisementJefferies forecasts sportswear retail sales to grow by more ..