The Young Reporter

Just after the US presidential debate on Sept 11, Taylor Swift wrote to her 280 million Instagram followers to declare her support for Vice President Kamala Harris saying she “fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them”.    View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) The next month, superstar Beyoncé made a surprise appearance at Harris’s Houston rally in the closing days of the campaign.  In addition to tech billionaire Elon Musk, popular podcast host Joe Rogan and Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson endorsed former President Donald Trump. Controversial influencer Logan Paul even interviewed Trump on his podcast “Impaulsive” in June.  During the presidential election campaign, a constellation of A-list celebrities leapt from the stage to the political arena, rallying behind both presidential candidates. However, despite the star-studded spectacle, Harris’s disappointing election results suggested that such an approach may be less effective than anticipated.  The trend of celebrity endorsements is not new in American politics. In the 2016 and 2020 elections, notable figures such as Lady Gaga and Jay-Z campaigned for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden respectively. John Affleck, Department Head for Journalism at Pennsylvania State University, said that many seek to portray themselves as socially responsible.  “There’s a public service aspect. I’m a good person, putting out these democratic values, asking people to vote,” he said.  Affleck added that some celebrities hope to connect with fans who share their beliefs, enhancing their visibility. “Someone may not know you that well but then you espouse this political viewpoint. And I might also have that political viewpoint, so I might be more likely to listen to your record,” he said.   Matt McAllister, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, said that the surge in social media has transformed how celebrities communicate …

Washington, DC – Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the election to Donald Trump in a speech on Wednesday afternoon at Howard University, telling her tearful supporters not to give up.  "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," she said in her speech. "The light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting." The future of the country is still bright, said Daniel Tellez, 22, an intern in the U.S. Congress from Ohio State University who was at Harris’s speech, adding that the Democrats need to understand the root of the defeat. Donald Trump won the six major battleground states in the U.S., obtaining 312 electoral votes, well over the 270 needed to win, according to the Associated Press, which historically calls the presidential election. “The Democrats should think deeply about why Trump won all the swing states, and Harris could not even get one,” Tellez said. Many experts have pointed to the economy as the key issue for voters. The inflation rate in 2021 was the highest since the 1980s despite significant increases in employment and average pay. “The main thing that differentiates Harris and Trump is the economy,” Tellez said, adding that he thought Trump’s message about the economy was clearer than Harris’s. Harris will be president in the future and bring the nation together,  said Merry, 69, who attended the concession speech and asked not to use her full name. "We all should be optimistic, and it is unnecessary to be anxious about everything,” Merry said. “At this point, we have nothing to do but to accept it,” Tellez said.  

Washington, DC – The economy is a driving issue in today’s presidential election in the United States, voters at the polls said. This is tracked by a September report that said around 81% of U.S. voters cited the economy and high inflation as their top concern, followed by healthcare and Supreme Court appointments, according to a survey from Pew Research Centre. Ben Frank, 34, a resident of Pennsylvania, said he has to pay more to raise a family of seven: “The food prices went incredibly high after the pandemic,” Frank said. “I used to pay US$150 (HK$1166.2) for one week, and it cost me US$200 (HK$1554.92) now.” James Wright, who works at mega retail outlet Target in Pennsylvania, said, “Food and gas are so much more expensive than before.”  In the last month, he spent around US$1,000 (HK$7774.76) on food, gas and other bills, over half his salary. Trump inaccurately blamed Biden’s government in the debate with Kamala Harris: “We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation's history.”  The inflation rate in the world’s biggest economy reached a three-year-low of 2.4% in September from a peak of 8% in 2022, according to the CoinNews Media Group. The inflation averaged 1.9% from 2017 to 2021 when Donald Trump was president, while the average rate has been on track at 5.6% in the past three years. Frank said that Donald Trump could solve the issue, although no further policies were given by the former president except to levy more tax on Chinese and other imported goods. People love Trump because he can bring something special, Frank said, and he thinks Trump’s policy may work if Americans consume more from nearby countries with lower transportation fees. Harris proposed tackling high prices by fighting against …

The mental health crisis among young athletes in Hong Kong has become a pressing concern, with many facing significant psychological pressures as they strive for success in sports while managing academic commitments.  A recent survey by the Hong Kong Sports Institute reveals that approximately 40% of young athletes aged 18-25 experience symptoms of anxiety, while 35% show signs of depression. These statistics highlight the urgent need to address mental health issues within the sports community. Young athletes are navigating a complex landscape where the demands of competitive sports often clash with their educational pursuits.  Or Siu-yuen, a 20-year-old football player in the Wing Yee Football Team in the Hong Kong First Division League, shared his personal experiences with these pressures. “After graduating from secondary school, the pressure increased significantly because my academic performance was not ideal. This led me to enrol in a higher diploma program related to fitness and exercise nutrition. The challenge of balancing my studies and my football career leaves me feeling increasingly lost about my future,” he said. Or elaborated on the difficulty of pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer while managing his education.              “The conditions for advancing to the Hong Kong Super League are tough, and to pursue my dream of becoming a professional footballer, I might have to sacrifice my studies. But currently, I feel stuck at a crossroads, unable to fully commit to either path,” he said.  Or also expressed the familial pressures he faces, “My family expects me to finish my studies and start working soon, but my progress in football hasn’t reached a level where I can support myself. This creates immense pressure every time I engage with football, making me feel that if I don’t succeed, I might have to give up …

REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, November 23 (The Young Reporter) – A volcano in the Reykjanes Peninsula near Grindavik in Iceland erupted on Wednesday night for the seventh time in a year with limited impact on safety and infrastructure. It started its first eruption at 11:14 pm, and eruptions are steady and still ongoing. Located in southwest Iceland, the volcano lies on the same peninsula as the Reykjavík’s Keflavík Airport. “The airport is fully operational. Flights have not been impacted by recent eruptions and are on schedule,” the country’s international airport said.  The lava is flowing primarily westward and gas emissions are going southward over Grindavik, according to Iceland’s meteorological office. Lasha Shinjikashvili, a resident of Hafnarfjörður, a city south of Iceland’s capital, said he witnessed a road closure 8 kilometres from the volcano.  “I wanted to get closer but the police closed all the roads in the direction of the volcano,” he said.  “There were lots of people with smartphones,” he added. He said he was in his car to take photos of the eruption around Thursday midnight, while the majority of Grindavik’s residents had already evacuated. Grindavik, with a population of 3,800, is southwest of the erupting site. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said most of Grindavik’s residents were evacuated. Lava has engulfed the car park of the internationally well-known geothermal spa Blue Lagoon. The spa has evacuated all people from its operational units, including surrounding hotels and retreats. Blue Lagoon said they will remain closed until next Thursday, Nov 28 and there is currently no damage to their main infrastructure. According to an officer at the visitor centre, there are helicopter tours available to take tourists to see the lava and the eruption. He said for safety, the helicopter stays at a certain distance. “Even if you walk on the street …

Several parts of Queensland are bracing for more flooding after days of extreme rainfall in the area. Brisbane and greater southeast Queensland were drenched after days of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. Though the rain is expected to end on Thursday, more flooding is possible near the Warrego River, which flows through Queensland and New South Wales. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the river saw heavy rainfall of over 150 millimetres in the last 8 hours to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, leaving rising water levels and major flooding in southeast Queensland. More showers are expected on Thursday and Friday, with flooded areas under close monitoring and warnings to be issued. On Wednesday, BOM released a severe weather warning for central Queensland, stating that total rainfall could reach 160 to 180 millimetres in six hours and up to 250 to 300 millimetres over 24 hours. The department warned residents in the area to brace for heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding, floods caused by rain in less than six hours. Last Saturday, the police rescued a woman who was trapped in her car in Rochedale, South Brisbane, after nearly 100 millimetres of rain fell within three hours in the region. In 2022, the state saw a record average rainfall of 778 millimetres which was 25% above the average of over 20 years. As of Tuesday, the BOM recorded heavy downpours for several Brisbane suburbs, including Rosalie with 46mm, Toowong with 45 mm, Green Hill with 43mm and Youngs Crossing with 33mm. Samuel Karjadi, a resident of northern Brisbane, said that he almost experienced a car accident on his way home last Thursday because of the storm. “It was quite dark and the road was slippery as well. I nearly hit someone’s car in an intersection near my house,” …

Suna Limbu is an ethnic Nepali who lives in Hong Kong. Her five-year-old son, Abhinvadil Tamang, is enrolled in Integrated Brilliant Education Limited’s IBEL Rusy and Purviz Shroff Charitable Foundation Kindergarten, where they largely teach children from non-Chinese backgrounds. “When my son first started here, he was introverted and struggled to socialise with others. But now, he communicates with his friends and teachers,” she said. Limbu and her family rarely spoke English or Chinese at home. They speak Nepali. “His ability to speak and understand Cantonese has developed a lot. Before, he would only speak a few words. Now, he participates in class discussions and interacts more confidently with his classmates. I’m grateful to see him so happy,” she said. Hong Kong is home to over 600,000 people from ethnic minority backgrounds, including about 30,000 students. Yet, the education landscape is challenging for many of these students because of language barriers and social disparities. Manoj Dhar is an ethnic Indian. He came to Hong Kong in 1999 and saw how ethnic minority children struggled through school. In 2015, he and his wife founded Integrated Brilliant Education Limited (IBEL) to provide subsidised Chinese-language tuition to students from non-Chinese backgrounds. Today, IBEL supports more than 260 individuals across the organisation’s two tutoring centres in Jordan and Sham Shui Po. “We cannot ignore the fact that language is not just a skill but a key that opens doors," said Dhar. “Back then, I saw these kids being left behind because of a lack of resources and support. I wanted to create a space where they could thrive, receive a quality education and feel valued.” After operating two tutoring centres for underprivileged children for over seven years, Dhar realised they needed to start proper schools to influence the education system and introduce mainstream Chinese …

The Chief Executive proposed to reduce liquor tax from 100% to 10% in this year’s policy address. This festival serves as a platform to help merchants advertise their liquors, as their costs are reduced from import duty adjustment.

Go down an unassuming stairway on D'Aguilar Street in Lan Kwai Fong and you will be greeted by a pair of  heavy Chinese-style doors. Further deep underground, you will face a wall of graffiti with the name of the bar, Bamboo. The owner of this Chinese style bar is Ran Guangwu, 25,  a micro-influencer on the mainland's internet. He started the bar with a group of young mainlanders and most of their customers are also from the mainland. "We host different themed events almost every weekend," Ran said. "People come here to relax, It’s like visiting a friend’s house." According to government statistics, the number of mainland students applying for Hong Kong degrees has risen from a maximum of 20% to 40% over one year, and newly enrolled students from mainland China account for 41% of total enrollment universities in Hong Kong in 2023. Meanwhile, a set of key performance indicators shows at least 35, 000 mainland Chinese have entered Hong Kong under the government run talent import scheme since 2023. They can stay in the city for at least 12 months.  Ran Guangwu hopes his bar can offer a home away from home for young mainlanders. Ma Xiaoshuai, 20, a mainland student from The City University of Hong Kong, is a client at Bamboo. “Most bars in Hong Kong are either too fancy or too wild, but this one is just right—very down-to-earth,” he said. He has made new friends there who share his background. Shi Zhengqi , 20, grew up in Fujian and moved to Hong Kong with his parents in recent years to restart his high school life. “We’ll be playing lots of table games here that you’d only find on the mainland, such as  Miss Card and King’s Game,” he said. Shi said the life pace …