COLOMBO: Sri Lanka yesterday ordered an investigation after a skeletal 70-year-old elephant was paraded at a high-profile Buddhist pageant in a move criticised as cruelty to the ailing animal. Tourism and wildlife minister John Amaratunga said he ordered wildlife authorities to investigate how the elephant known as Tikiri was forced
WASHINGTON: US health officials are investigating the cases of dozens of people, mainly teens, who were hospitalised with severe lung injuries in recent weeks after vaping, though the precise cause of their illnesses remains a mystery. Health departments in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin have issued statements describing cases involving patients
DELICATE designs painted on the inside of miniature Chinese snuff bottles by artists like Zhang Yuhua and her husband usually feature calligraphy, floral compositions and traditional rural scenes. But to keep alive the centuries-old art known as “guihuahu”, or “bottle painted by ghosts”, some painters are appealing to younger tastes
Hong Kong’s police are confident they have the resources to continue battling pro-democracy protesters, even if violence escalates further, pouring cold water on concerns that the authoritarian mainland might need to intervene. Three senior commanders said they were unaware of any plans by China to bolster their own ranks with
SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in struck a conciliatory tone towards Japan yesterday, offering to “join hands” if Tokyo chooses dialogue as relations between the two countries dip to fresh lows. Seoul and Tokyo — both of them democracies and market economies — are mired in longrunning disputes over Japan’s
YANGON: Myanmar’s military was yesterday fighting rebels who mounted an unprecedented strike at an army academy killing at least one, apparently in retaliation for massive drug seizures. Ethnic armed rebel groups have for decades fought against the military — and often between themselves — for land and resources in Myanmar’s
TOKYO: Japan’s new emperor spoke yesterday of “deep remorse” over the country’s wartime past in his first speech to commemorate the end of World War II since his enthronement in May. Emperor Naruhito’s comments were being monitored in Tokyo and throughout Asia for any change in tone, but he closely
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed yesterday his “path-breaking” move to strip Kashmir of its autonomy, as his Pakistani counterpart warned of possible “ethnic cleansing”. Parts of Kashmir that India controls — it is split with arch-rival Pakistan — have been under lock down since August 4, with
TOKYO: A powerful tropical storm lashed Japan yesterday, bringing strong winds and torrential rain that claimed at least one life, prompted warnings of landslides and flooding, and sparked evacuation advisories and travel chaos at a peak holiday period. Severe Tropical Storm Krosa — one notch below a typhoon — slammed
GIBRALTAR: Gibraltar’s Supreme Court was to decide yesterday whether an Iranian oil tanker seized last month near the tiny British territory can be held longer amid speculation that it might soon be released. The Grace 1 supertanker, carrying 2.1 million barrels of Iranian oil, was seized on July 4 by
