Seoul: North Korean soldier captured in Russia-Ukraine war dies
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — A North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine has died of his wounds, South Korea’s spy agency said Friday. Pyongyang has deployed thousands of troops to reinforce Russia’s military, including…
Seoul: North Korean soldier captured in Russia-Ukraine war
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — South Korea’s spy agency said Friday it had confirmed that a North Korean soldier sent to back Russia’s war against Ukraine had been captured by Ukrainian forces. Pyongyang has deployed thousands of troops to reinforce Russian…
FDA proposes new testing rules to ensure cosmetics are asbestos-free
washington — Cosmetics companies would have to take extra steps to ensure that any products containing talc are free of asbestos under a federal rule proposed Thursday. The proposal from the Food and Drug Administration and mandated by Congress is…
Bird flu virus shows mutations in first severe human case in US, agency says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday its analysis of samples from the first severe case of bird flu in the country last week showed mutations not seen in samples from an infected backyard flock on…
VOA Russian: How drones changed military tactics in Russia’s war in Ukraine
Both Russia and Ukraine expanded the use of drones in 2024 as a relatively cheap means of warfare that requires an opponent to use a much more expensive air defense system. Moscow and Kyiv acquired 1.5 million drones between them…
UN chief condemns escalation in Yemen as airstrikes hit Sana’a Airport, key infrastructure
The strikes targeted Sana’a International Airport, Red Sea ports, and power stations, injuring also a member of the UN Humanitarian Air Crew at the airport. A high-level UN delegation, led by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was…
Gaza: Ongoing civilian casualties amid aid challenges
The relentless fighting in the Gaza Strip, which began last October, continues to cause widespread destruction and drive displacement, according to a note issued by the UN Spokesperson’s Office. “The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stresses once…
Indian Ocean tsunami anniversary: A call to safeguard future generations
On Boxing Day – 26 December 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia, unleashing a massive tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean. Waves as high as 51 meters (167 feet) inundated communities in Aceh, Indonesia, with…
Japan Airlines suffers delays after carrier reports cyberattack
TOKYO — Japan Airlines reported a cyberattack on Thursday that caused delays to domestic and international flights but later said it had found and addressed the cause. The airline, Japan’s second biggest after All Nippon Airways (ANA), said 24 domestic…
World Bank raises China’s GDP forecast for 2024, 2025
The World Bank raised on Thursday its forecast for China’s economic growth in 2024 and 2025, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down next year. The world’s…