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Korean unity, historic handshake as Pyeongchang Olympics open
Korean unity, historic handshake as Pyeongchang Olympics open
WINTER OLYMPICS: The two Koreas marched together and South Korea’s president shared a historic handshake with Kim Jong Un’s sister as the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opened in a spirit of intense rapprochement yesterday (Feb 9).
North Korea holds military parade on eve of Olympics
North Korea holds military parade on eve of Olympics
North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, putting its intercontinental ballistic missiles on show just a day before the Winter Olympics open in the South.
Rescuers brave aftershocks as Taiwan quake toll rises to nine
Rescuers brave aftershocks as Taiwan quake toll rises to nine
TAIWAN: Taiwanese rescuers braved powerful aftershocks to search for survivors in a dangerously leaning apartment block that was partially toppled by a quake, locating two more bodies early today (Feb 8) to bring the death toll to nine as dozens remain missing.
Rescuers scour toppled buildings after Taiwan quake kills seven
Rescuers scour toppled buildings after Taiwan quake kills seven
TAIWAN: Rescue workers pulled survivors and bodies from buildings tilting precariously in the Taiwanese city of Hualien today (Feb 7), after an overnight earthquake killed at least seven people, injured more than 200 and left dozens missing.
Outrage in Croatia over burning of children’s same-sex family book
Outrage in Croatia over burning of children’s same-sex family book
CROATIA: Croatian gay and parents’ rights groups filed a complaint yesterday (Feb 6) against the organisers of a children’s carnival where the country’s first children’s book about “rainbow families” was symbolically burnt.
Rewriting the norms in Croatia
Rewriting the norms in Croatia
CROATIA: In Croatia’s first children’s book about “rainbow families”, two mothers help their son Roko to put on his skis. It’s part of a simple story aimed at changing attitudes in the staunchly Catholic country.
No end in sight for the eyesores
No end in sight for the eyesores
INDIA: Tourist Muskan Mahuwakar pictured the Taj Mahal as a dazzling vision of symmetry and beauty but upon reaching the monument, she – like thousands of other visitors – was disappointed to find it covered in scaffolding, its once white marble now yellowing due to pollution.
EPL splashes cash as Arsenal sign Aubameyang and Giroud makes Chelsea switch
EPL splashes cash as Arsenal sign Aubameyang and Giroud makes Chelsea switch
FOOTBALL: England’s Premier League clubs have spent more money than ever in a January transfer window, with initial estimates suggesting they had reached the £450 million (B20.07 billion) mark come deadline day.
UK Bangkok embassy sale marks record B18.6bn Thai land deal
UK Bangkok embassy sale marks record B18.6bn Thai land deal
BANGKOK: Britain is to move its embassy in Bangkok after the record £420 million (B18.6billion) sale of its current premises in the Thai capital, the UK’s foreign ministry announced yesterday (Jan 31).
Beckham set to launch long-sought Miami MLS club
Beckham set to launch long-sought Miami MLS club
FOOTBALL: Former England captain David Beckham will today (Jan 29) unveil his long-sought Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team at a news conference in Miami, bringing a conclusion to a turmoil-filled four-year quest.
Ikea’s frugal billionaire founder Ingvar Kamprad dies aged 91
Ikea’s frugal billionaire founder Ingvar Kamprad dies aged 91
SWEDEN: Ingvar Kamprad, the farmer’s son turned multi-billionaire who founded the Ikea empire that revolutionised furnishing, has died aged 91, the firm said yesterday (Jan 28).
Environmental murders hotspot
Environmental murders hotspot
PHILIPPINES: Environmental activists are being killed in record numbers around the world, with the corruption-plagued Philippines one of the most dangerous countries, according to watchdog Global Witness.
Ocean plastics raise risk of coral reef disease, says study
Ocean plastics raise risk of coral reef disease, says study
When coral reefs come in contact with plastic trash in the ocean, their risk of becoming diseased skyrockets, said an international study out on Thursday (Jan 25). Researchers examined more than 120,000 corals on 159 reefs – some polluted with plastic, others not – from Indonesia, Australia, Myanmar and Thailand for the study in the journal Science. "We found that the chance of disease increased from four percent to 89 percent when corals are in contact with plastic," said lead author Joleah Lamb, from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Australia. Lamb said scientists are still trying to figure out why plastics are so dangerous for coral, which are living organisms that cover about 0.2 percent of the ocean floor – but provide crucial habitat for nearly a million species of young fish. It could be that "plastics make ideal vessels for colonizing microscopic organisms that could trigger disease if they come into contact with corals," she said. "For example, plastic items such as those commonly made of polypropylene, like bottle caps and toothbrushes, have been shown to become heavily inhabited by bacteria that are associated with a globally devastating group of coral diseases known as white syndromes." The problem of plastic pollution is widespread in the world's oceans, and is rapidly getting worse. "We estimate there are 11.1 billion plastic items on coral reefs across the Asia-Pacific and forecast this to increase by 40 percent within seven years," Lamb said. "That equates to an estimated 15.7 billion plastic items on coral reefs across the Asia-Pacific by 2025." Coral reefs are already under stress due to global warming, which boosts diseases and can cause coral to bleach and die.
31 dead in South Korea hospital blaze; Yonhap
31 dead in South Korea hospital blaze; Yonhap
SOUTH KOREA: At least 31 people have been killed in a blaze at a hospital in South Korea today (Jan 26), Yonhap news agency said, with dozens more injured.
Up to 175 years in jail for disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor
Up to 175 years in jail for disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor
UNITED STATES: Disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison yesterday (Jan 24) after a week of raw emotional testimony by scores of women he sexually abused for years under the guise of medical treatment.
Second Rohingya ‘leader’ killed in Bangladesh refugee camp
Second Rohingya ‘leader’ killed in Bangladesh refugee camp
BANGLADESH: Attackers yesterday (Jan 22) killed a Rohingya representative in a Bangladesh refugee camp, the second such death in three days as tensions mount over the planned repatriation of some 750,000 refugees to Myanmar.
Cape Town water ration to be slashed as drought bites
Cape Town water ration to be slashed as drought bites
SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Town will next month slash its individual daily water consumption limit by 40% to 50 litres, the mayor said last week, as the city battles its worst drought in a century.
Albania losing its eagle
Albania losing its eagle
ALBANIA: It is Albania’s national symbol, but the eagle may soon only be found on the flag. The majestic bird is threatened with extinction due to widespread poaching of raptors.
Thailand’s drug warehouse
Thailand’s drug warehouse
AYUTTHAYA: Stuck on a merry-go-round of drug taking, dealing and jail, Somphal Boonsanoon’s journey through addiction ended in a shallow grave in Ayutthaya, Thailand’s historic heart and Southeast Asia’s meth warehouse.
A new life sprouts up
A new life sprouts up
IRAQ: Even before the Islamic State group took over her home city of Mosul, Iraqi 31-year-old Nesrine never imagined she would have a job working late into the evening at a fashion boutique.