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AdvertisementSCMP HighlightsPeople & CultureTrending in ChinaJapan’s love for Chinese noodles; AI’s Year of the Horse forecasts: 7 Lifestyle highlightsFrom AI’s predictions for the Year of the Horse to an ‘unlucky’ chocolate mahjong set, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPSCMPPublished: 3:30pm, 29 Jan 2026We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. How did China’s dan dan mian noodle dish become so popular in Japan?It seems an unlikely match. Japanese cuisine traditionally venerates light, clean flavours and the essence of each ingredient. So how did the country end up having such a spicy love affair with the dish?
2. Is the Year of the Snake’s 12th month lucky for you? Forecasts for all signsHow’s your luck in the Year of the Snake’s 12th month? Feng shui master Andrew Kwan gives his predictio..

Australia uncovers the world’s largest dinosaur footprints from 130 million years ago (Image source: National Geographic) Researchers have found some of the biggest dinosaur footprints ever. They are so huge that an adult could curl up inside one without a problem. It’s wild to imagine, honestly. This kind of find really turns our old ideas about prehistoric life on its head. This ancient print was uncovered along the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia and is given the title of “Largest dinosaur footprint” by Guinness World Records. They are embedded in fossil-rich sandstone that dates to the Early Cretaceous, which was roughly 130 million years ago. The site stands out because the prints aren’t just massive; they’re deep and come in all kinds of shapes, showing off the variety of dinosaurs that wandered through this part of northwest Australia. It’s more than just proof of some truly gigantic creatures. These tracks give us a real peek into the world of Gondwana, the ancient south..

Dubai gold prices have officially broken all records, surging past Dh630 per gram / AI Image The “City of Gold” has officially entered uncharted territory. On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Dubai gold prices shattered all previous records, with 24-karat gold soaring to a staggering Dh632 per gram. This historic peak follows a relentless rally that has seen the precious metal gain more than Dh111 per gram since the beginning of the month.To put this explosive growth into perspective, gold was trading at just Dh520 on New Year's Day; in less than 30 days, the market has witnessed a near 20% increase, marking one of the steepest and fastest price climbs in the history of the UAE retail market.Gold prices in DubaiThe surge isn't just limited to gold. The entire precious metals sector in Dubai is seeing significant movement as investors look for alternatives to traditional stocks and currencies. Below are the retail rates for today:Metal Type / PurityPrice per Gram (AED)Monthly Tren..

Photo released by Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) rescuers search for victims in Pasir Langu village after a landslide, in West Bandung district of West Java province, Indonesia, Monday (Credit: AP)

A devastating landslide in Indonesia's Pasirlangu village has claimed 34 lives, with 32 people still missing. The disaster, triggered by heavy rainfall last week, destroyed dozens of homes and forced over 650 residents to evacuate. Rescue teams are carefully searching the unstable area in West Bandung, Java island, amid fears of further landslides.”The identified bodies will be handed over to the victims' families for burial,” said national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Abdul Muhari on Tuesday evening. Local officials worry the number of missing people could be much higher than reported.The landslide has severely damaged more than 50 houses in the mountain village. Rescue workers are using both manual methods and heavy machinery to search for s..