XIAPU (China): It’s dawn in Xiapu county and sunrise over southeastern China is welcomed by dozens of clicking camera shutters. Locals along this rather isolated stretch of coast in Fujian province have drawn their livelihood from the sea since ancient times. But another thriving industry has emerged as steadily rising
JAKARTA: Indonesia has filed a World Trade Organisation lawsuit against the European Union over plans to phase out palm oilbased biofuel for cars, the trade ministry said. The action could escalate a trade dispute between Indonesia — the world’s top palm oil producer — and the EU, which plans to
WASHINGTON: A US court has suspended a law banning makers of vegetarian substitute meals from using the word “meat” to describe their products, as trendy plant-based food companies push back against a wave of restrictions. Livestock farmers have seen the rise of meat substitutes as a threat to their bottom
SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook on Friday alerted employees that hard drives rich with information about those on the social network’s payroll were stolen from a car last month. “We have seen no evidence of abuse and believe this was a smash and grab crime rather than an attempt to steal employee
PARIS: A key World Bank fund dedicated to lifting countries out of poverty has received a record $82 billion in funding and pledges for the next three years, its president said Friday. This represented a $7 billion increase on the previous three-year term, and is “the largest-ever replenishment” of the
LONDON: A pair of John Lennon’s sunglasses The Beatles legend once left behind in the back seat of a car sold Friday for nearly $200,000 at an auction in London. Billed as one of the most famous specs in rock-and-roll, the round, green-tinted lenses and their golden frame belonged to
LOS ANGELES: Thousands of marine worms dubbed “penis fish” for their shape and color appeared this week on a California beach after a strong winter storm exposed them. The creatures — more commonly known as fat innkeeper worms — covered Drakes Beach, 50 miles north of San Francisco. Despite their
LONDON: Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on Britons to put years of bitter divisions over the country’s EU membership behind them as he vowed to use his resounding election victory to finally deliver Brexit next month. Johnson’s ruling Conservatives won their best result for three decades on Thursday night after
MEDAN (Indonesia): More than 27,000 pigs have died in a hogcholera epidemic that has struck Indonesia, with thousands more at risk, an animal welfare official said. Thousands of pigs have died in more than a dozen regencies across North Sumatra over the past three months, and the pace of deaths
SEOUL: North Korea has conducted another “crucial test” at its Sohae satellite launch site, state media reported yesterday, as nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington remain stalled with a deadline approaching. The announcement comes a day before US Special Envoy on North Korea Stephen Biegun is set to arrive in