Health & Environment

Three plants extracts discovered to inhibit Ebola virus A local expert in traditional Chinese medicine has identified three plant extracts that may have the potential to combat the deadly Ebola virus.

It is 2pm and scorching in Tin Sau Road Park, Tin Shui Wai. In a play- ground dominated by kids, a group of young adults, who call themselves "Barkids", are doing push-ups on bars. They are not playing but doing street workout: a sporting activity performed outdoors that athletes say helps build muscles and confidence. The World Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation, a Latvia-based non-profit, started the fitness craze that aims to improve people's health and quality of life. Its website describes the sport as "a social movement and a democratic sporting activity". Mr Simon Lee Cheuk-ming, 28, a trainer and founder of "Barkids", says: "I hope I can help promote street workout in the community." "Street workout is free, not restricted by rules, and at the same time, a spectator sport," says Mr Lee. Mr Ken Lai Kai-jib is an 18-year- old street workout enthusiast who triumphed in the Hong Kong Street Workout Championship 2014. He then represented Hong Kong in the Street Workout Championship held in Russia. "It's a challenge and target for myself," he says. "I gain a sense of satisfaction when I complete a move." Mr Lai says he got interested in the sport on seeing someone doing it three years ago, and then went on YouTube to look for its training videos. He started by doing basic physical training like push-ups. Then he pushed his boundaries by practicing the "human flag" – a static and continuous hold. But experts have cautioned against relying solely on online tutorials to learn the sport. Dr. Lobo Louie Hung-tak, a professor at the Department of Physical Education of Hong Kong Baptist University, is worried that young people without proper training might hurt their muscles in doing street workout. "There's a possibility that training a single move might affect the …

Chungking Mansions, a building complex popular with Africans liv- ing and working in Hong Kong, was at the centre of an Ebola scare here in August. Though the Nigerian man rushed to the hospital with symptoms of the virus tested negative, shop owners and residents have made contingency plans just in case. The 17-storey building in Tsim Sha Tsui sees thousands of people a day from all over the world, with many from South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It hous- es inexpensive guesthouses, restaurants, retail shops and foreign exchange offices. Ebola has claimed close to 5,000 lives this year in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization. The disease is spread by direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids. Outside Africa, 17 cases were treated and four deaths were caused. Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the first to identify the virus, said that the chance of the virus spreading to Hong Kong is small. Despite the reassurances, the Hong Kong Department of Health held four meetings to discuss plans with members of the Incorporated Owners of Chungking Mansions and representatives of the nearby Miramar Shopping Centre. Most participants at the meetings are guesthouse owners, whose business- es are most susceptible to Ebola. "Those who clean the place and take out the trash from the guesthouses have the highest risk of being infected, as they are most likely to have direct contact with bodily fluids from the customers," said Mr Dennis Cheung Ka-yuen, a mem- ber of the Incorporated Owners of Chun- gking Mansions. "The workload increased and I am afraid of the disease but I have to do this for a living," said at a cleaner New Broth- er's …

WANT to prevent your make-up from melting in a rally? Wish to stay fresh when protesting? Local make-up artist Mr Akira Chan has some tips. Make-up styles... Natural and ordinary Light Long lastingMake-up tips...Primer: helps prepare the skin, fill pores and fine lines and make-up last longerFoundation: thin foundation is moisturising; vitamin- packed; water and oil-proof; helps minimise shine due to sweat and oil; and prevents smudgingConcealer: moisturising concealer has oil and water-proof ingredients that reduce creasing and smudging Brow pencil: better than powder at combating sweat and oil Eyeliner: water and oil-proof gel eyeliner is the best smudge-proof choice Mascara: oil and waterproof mascara prevents smudging Brow gel: the wax in brow gel keeps eyebrows in place all day in the heat Dress styles... Be simple Conform to the dress code of the protestCheck out a make-up demonstration:Link: youtube.com/watch?v=bVHGm16Uz1wMr Akira Chan graduated from make-up and styling school in 2012 with two diplomas. He provides make-up services for prominent artists, theatre performers, and magazine fashion models. He has been directing annual fashion shows since 2013.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVHGm16Uz1w

Legislator Leung Kwok-hung talks about his iconic look and protest experience.   WITH his trademark long hair and Che Guevara t-shirt, the now "short hair" Legislative Council member Mr Leung Kwok-hung talks about how one can speak through his or her outfit and how he sees the student-initiated class boycott and Occupy Central movement. "Howyoudressisakindofstatement to everyone," Mr Leung said, "people can see clearly what you wear ... that is what a T-shirt is for." Mr Leung's iconic image has helped him make a point and arouse public attention on many occasions, for example when his hair was cut short by jailers inJune this year. Another time he was denied entry to Shenzhen as he refused to take off his shirt reading "Never forget June fourth, citizen nomination, Occupy Central" while he was on his way to a meeting with senior mainland officials about political reform in August this year. Symbolic installations and banners are other tools for him to express his opinion, espe- cially in demonstrations. "They need to fit the subject and be symbolic enough to make everyone understand, sometimes with a little humor and sarcasm," said Mr Leung. Like many students who are part of the class boycott or Occupy Central movement, Mr Leung's first protest was when he was a student, about 15. "They need to fit the subject and be symbolic enough to make everyone understand, sometimes with a little humour and sarcasm."  Although he is not optimistic about the effect of student strikes alone in over- turning the NPC's decision on Hong Kong's chief executive election in 2017, he believes the power of the masses to stop society's daily operation might help push the powerful to reconsider. "If you want to change a decision from any government, the movement should be massive and direct," said Mr Leung. He …

Typically seen as an indicator of old age, the problem of hair loss is also affecting the younger generation.

The world has become more tolerant of left-handers, but the pressure on them to change their dominant hand remains in a world designed for right-handers

Facial acupuncture is in.