China’s tit-for-tat tariffs on US set to take effect
China’s tit-for-tat import taxes on some American goods are set to come into effect on Monday as the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies escalates and US President…
Israel troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in two
Israeli troops have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor – a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south. Hundreds of Palestinians in cars and on…
‘Trump study sessions’: How Japan PM’s homework paid off
If Japan needed reassurances it was indeed still the US’s top ally and friend in the increasingly unstable Asia-Pacific, it got that and then some. But what was striking about…
Tourists flee and homes break apart in Santorini, but resilient locals remain
On a calm summer day on Santorini in July 1956, the ground turned against its people. “I remember our dog and bird acting strangely. Then, the earthquake struck,” 83-year-old Eirini…
Judge blocks Trump plan to put thousands of USAID staff on leave
A judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from placing 2,200 workers at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on paid leave, hours before it was due to happen.…
Arabian Sea Dive
The northerly Arabian Gulf is very shallow – its average depth being only 35 m. This means that the sea temperature fluctuates greatly around the coast from about 10 oC…
Fiji rugby director fired for women’s team ‘gay problem’ remarks
The director of the Fiji Rugby Union has been fired just days into her new role, after she stirred controversy with remarks that the women’s national team had a “gay…
Mandatory jail for Nazi salutes under new Australia laws
Hate symbols and terror offences will be punishable with mandatory jail terms ranging from one to six years in Australia, after parliament passed a series of amendments to hate crime…
South Korea orders airports to install bird detection cameras
All South Korean airports will need to install bird detection cameras and thermal imaging radars, after an air crash in December last year killed 179 people. The rollout is set…
Red Sea dive-boat survivors accuse authorities of cover up
Survivors of a deadly dive-boat sinking in the Red Sea say they were pressured to sign official witness statements in Arabic – which they couldn’t understand and had been translated…