S. Korean influencer catches attention with reality-bending, freakish selfies

SEOUL (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): A South Korean influencer is stirring up a hornet’s nest online with her bizarre selfies that only the most gullible will believe are actually of her in the flesh. Shasheile is seen in her photos with reality-morphing proportions: a head with a babyish, anime-looking face that is so tiny it’s...

Fukushima wastewater not toxic, says UN nuclear watchdog chief

STOCKHOLM (AFP): The tritium concentration in wastewater being released from Japan's stricken Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant is under expected levels and poses no risk to the population, the head of the UN atomic watchdog said on Tuesday (Aug 29). "So far we have been able to confirm that the first releases of these waters do not contain...

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after it started releasing treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, seen from the nearby Ukedo fishing port in Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Aug. 25, 2023. REUTERS/Tom Bateman/File Photo

Japan has no plans to boost funds to ease reputation damage from Fukushima water release

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's industry minister said on Wednesday the government had no plan to substantially boost funds aimed at helping the fishing industry hit by reputation damage from the release of treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. The government currently has two such funds worth 80 billion yen ($547 million). ($1 = 146.1700...

Gabonese military officers announce on television they have seized power

LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - A group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on television channel Gabon 24 in the early hours of Wednesday and said they had taken power, after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo had won a third term. (Reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Two Singaporeans admit role in illegal S$2mil sale of sonar which ended up with Myanmar Navy

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Two Singaporeans who sold a sonar, which eventually ended up with a survey centre operated by the Myanmar Navy, admitted in court on Aug 25 to breaching a law which controls the sale of strategic goods including weapons. The two men - Poiter Agus Kentjana, the 57-year-old sales manager at...

Indonesia hopes LRT launch in Jakarta will ease traffic and pollution

JAKARTA (Reuters): Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday (Aug 28) launched the first elevated rail line for Greater Jakarta, hailing the US$2.13 billion project as a step towards easing the capital's chronic road congestion and worsening air pollution. The driverless, 41.2km (25.6 miles) Light Rail Transit (LRT) system connects central Jakarta and its satellites cities in...

The ‘distraught’ man said he had found images of his young daughter on his girlfriend’s phone, Stillwater police said after meeting with the dad on Aug 22. — Image by Freepik

Dad finds ‘disturbing’ videos of his toddler on girlfriend’s phone, US cops say

An Oklahoma father showed up at a local police department to report a “disturbing” discovery, authorities said. The “distraught” man said he had found images of his young daughter on his girlfriend’s phone, Stillwater police said after meeting with the dad on Aug 22. The dad reported he had recently met the woman from Midwest City online, and...

Iran says uranium enrichment continues based on domestic law

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran's enrichment of uranium continues based on a framework established by the country's parliament, nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said on Sunday when asked about reports regarding Tehran slowing down its 60% enrichment. "Our nuclear enrichment continues based on the strategic framework law," Eslami said, referring to a related legislation. Earlier this month, the Wall Street...

Ukraine will speed up advance on southern front -commander

ORIKHIV AREA, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces believe they have broken through the most difficult line of Russian defences in the south and will now be able to advance more quickly, a commander fighting in the south told Reuters. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, but well-prepared Russian defence lines reinforced by minefields have slowed their...

French minister Darmanin warns of risk of Marine Le Pen victory in next election

PARIS (Reuters) - French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin - whom President Nicolas Sarkozy said would be a good future head of state - warned on Friday of the risk that far-right politician Marine Le Pen could win the next presidential election in 2027. Darmanin gave interviews to both La Voix du Nord paper and RTL radio...