DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Blinken to visit South Korea as North Korea, Russia deepen ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Seoul visit comes as the United States and South Korea, along with Japan, have condemned what they say is the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia. North Korea is preparing to launch a spy satellite after having failed twice this year to put one in orbit. South Korea's spy agency said last week North Korea was in the final stages of preparations for the launch after apparently receiving technical assistance from Russia. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is also due to visit South Korea this week on a trip that will include Indonesia and India. In Washington, U.S. and South Korean officials held talks on North Korea's illicit cyber activities that they say fund its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's foreign ministry said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Toshifumi, military's Vandenberg, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Soo, Choi, Ed Davies, Michael Perry Organizations: Japanese, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, South Korean, SpaceX, U.S, Defense, Blinken, United, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SEOUL, Seoul, Russia, Blinken's, Asia, India, Israel, United States, South Korea, North Korea, Washington, North, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Korea, Moscow, Russia's, South, Indonesia, North Korean, Pacific, Washington , U.S, United Nations

☆ Third Republican debate: Candidate speaking times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Annette Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

How relevant is this ad to you? Video player was slow to load content Video content never loaded Ad froze or did not finish loading Video content did not start after ad Audio on ad was too loud Other issues

☆ US, South Korea, Japan to launch consultative group on North's cyber threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Miniatures of people with computers are seen in front of North Korea flag in this illustration taken July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The United States, South Korea and Japan have agreed to launch a high-level consultative group on countering North Korean cyber activities that they say finance its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's presidential office said on Monday. Anne Neuberger, U.S. deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, held talks with her South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Washington last week. They agreed to hold quarterly meetings under the new framework, the presidential office said. North Korea has denied allegations of hacking or other cyberattacks.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Anne Neuberger, Camp David, Soo, hyang Choi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, South, Camp, United, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Rights SEOUL, United States, South Korea, Japan, Korean, Washington, United Nations, Korea

☆ Hong Kong's IPO market is still in a slump despite an expected rebound
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong Street Scene, Mongkok District with busses Nikada | E+ | Getty ImagesHong Kong's initial public listing market remains in a slump, even as analysts predicted a market rebound in the second half of the year. "The Hong Kong market has not recovered as much as we would like," Irene Chu, partner at KPMG China, told CNBC. In the first three quarters of the year, the Hong Kong IPO market concluded 44 listings, and raised 24.6 billion Hong Kong dollars ($3.14 billion), according to KPMG. Hong Kong's stock market was among the worst performing last year, shedding 15% in 2022 for its third-straight year of declines. "The Hong Kong stock market remained weak in Q3 2023, as did stock valuations, because of macroeconomic developments, in particular around U.S. interest rate hikes.

Persons: Irene Chu, Hong, Ringo Choi, EY, Zhejiang Leapmotor, Arun George, It's, Chu Organizations: Hong, KPMG China, CNBC, Hong Kong, KPMG, Hang Seng, J, T Express, Reuters, Deloitte, Hong Kong's, ZJLD, Onewo, Global Equity Research, International Monetary Fund Locations: Hong, Mongkok District, Hong Kong, Ringo Choi Asia, Pacific, Asia, Indonesian, Zhejiang, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, KPMG China, —

[1/5] G-dragon of K-pop group BIGBANG arrives at a police station to appear for questioning regarding his alleged illegal drug use in Incheon, South Korea, November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Acquire Licensing RightsINCHEON, South Korea, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The former frontman for the K-pop band BIGBANG, known as G-Dragon, appeared for police questioning on Monday over allegations of illegal drug use, the latest in a string of South Korean artists embroiled in high-profile narcotics cases. Kwon, 35, stood briefly for the media before entering a police station in Incheon where the star of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite", Lee Sun-kyun, was also questioned over the weekend on a separate allegation of illegal drug use. South Korea has tough drug laws, and crimes are typically punishable by at least six months in prison or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers. Social media and foreign travel have made illegal drugs much more accessible, drug rehab advocates say.

Persons: BIGBANG, Kim Hong, Kwon Ji, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kwon, Oscar, Lee Sun, Lee, Choi Seung, Lee Seung, Dogyun Kim, Jimin Jung, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, YG Entertainment, Social, Thomson Locations: Incheon, South Korea, Rights INCHEON, Korean, Korea, T.O.P

☆ US, South Korea, Japan to Launch Consultative Group on North's Cyber Threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - The United States, South Korea and Japan have agreed to launch a high-level consultative group on countering North Korean cyber activities that they say finance its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's presidential office said on Monday. Anne Neuberger, U.S. deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, held talks with her South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Washington last week. They agreed to hold quarterly meetings under the new framework, the presidential office said. The announcement comes after the leaders of the three countries agreed at a summit in August at Camp David that they would establish a new trilateral working group for the North's cyber threats. North Korea has denied allegations of hacking or other cyberattacks.

Persons: Anne Neuberger, Camp David, Soo, hyang Choi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South, Camp, United Locations: SEOUL, United States, South Korea, Japan, Korean, Washington, North Korea, United Nations, Korea

High-tide floods are not caused by the weather but by the twice monthly alignment of the Earth, sun and moon. But as climate change causes sea levels to rise, high tide floods — sometimes called nuisance floods or sunny-day floods because they can happen on clear days — are likely to inundate more coastal neighborhoods across the five boroughs. By 2050, Lower Manhattan could see 85 days of high-tide flooding annually, a fivefold increase. By the end of this century, 600,000 city residents could be affected by regular tidal flooding, according to the New York City Comptroller’s office. “Tidal flooding is a pretty significant existential climate threat,” said Louise Yeung, the chief climate officer for the comptroller’s office.

Persons: ”, Louise Yeung Organizations: New Locations: Queens, Jamaica, Lower Manhattan, New York City

☆ North Korea closes multiple embassies around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The North Korean flag flutters at the North Korea consular office in Dandong, Liaoning province, China April 20, 2021. Both Angola and Uganda have forged friendly ties with North Korea since the 1970s, maintaining military cooperation and providing rare sources of foreign currency such as statue-building projects. "This can be a sign of North Korea's difficult economic situation, where it is difficult to maintain even minimal diplomatic relations with traditionally friendly countries." North Korea has formal relations with 159 countries, but had 53 diplomatic missions overseas, including three consulates and three representative offices, until it pulled out of Angola and Uganda, according to the ministry. Correspondence with the Spanish Communist Party released on the party's website showed the North Korean embassy announcing the closing in a letter dated Oct. 26.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, KCNA, Chad O'Carroll, Kim Jong, Hyonhee Shin, Hyunsu Yim, hyang Choi, Josh Smith, Gerry Doyle, Ed Davies Organizations: North, REUTERS, Rights, NK Pro, Spanish Communist Party, North Korean, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Dandong, Liaoning province, China, Rights SEOUL, Spain, Hong Kong, Africa, Korean, Angola, Uganda, Korea, Italy, Madrid, Pyongyang, United States

☆ US, South Korean warplanes kick off joint air drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bomber, C-17 aircraft along with South Korea's Air Force F-35As take part in a joint drill, South Korea, December 20, 2022. The annual drills, called Vigilant Defense, will run until Friday, featuring variants of the F-35 stealth fighter from both the United States and South Korea, among other aircraft, South Korea's Air Force said. The drills are aimed at improving interoperability between the two militaries by performing major air missions such as air-to-surface live fire drills, defensive counter air operation and other emergency training. "We will maintain the best combat readiness to immediately respond to and strongly punish any provocation by the enemy through an intense training simulating an actual situation," South Korea's military said in a statement. North Korea has long condemned joint drills between the United States and South Korea as a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul.

Persons: Choe Son Hui, Soo, hyang Choi, Lincoln Organizations: U.S . Air Force, South Korea's Air Force, The Defence Ministry, Rights, South Korea, Vigilant Defense, Korea's Air Force, North Korean Foreign, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Rights SEOUL, United States, South, North Korea, Russia, Moscow, Pyongyang, Korea, Washington, Seoul

[1/3] People walk through a CCTV (closed-circuit television system) monitored alley in Itaewon, where the Halloween crowd crush occurred last year, in Seoul, South Korea, October 23, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A year after 159 Halloween revellers were killed in a crowd crush in South Korea, the capital's night-life district of Itaewon was quiet on Saturday, the area's usual festivities replaced by mourning for those died. Lee Sung-min, who has lived and worked in the Seoul district for years, said he did not even realise it was the Halloween weekend until early Saturday. Many people were still looking for other places to join Halloween festivities, such as Hongdae, another popular spot among the young. "I thought Hongdae would be better than Itaewon to celebrate Halloween with my boyfriend," said Cheon Ye-ji, a 19-year-old student.

Persons: Kim Soo, Lee Sung, Lee, I've, Lee Jung, Cheon, Daewoung Kim, Jimin Jung, Soo, Choi, Helen Popper Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL

The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. Army/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsINJE, South Korea, Oct 28 (Reuters) - South Korean and U.S. troops held joint future combat drills involving drones, an unmanned vehicle and wearable laser sensors this week as part of efforts to modernise their militaries, Seoul's army said on Saturday. The training came as South Korea's military conducts a series of annual Hoguk autumn exercises aimed at improving responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The drills also mobilised various high-tech weapons systems aimed at beefing up future combat capabilities, with the troops wearing multiple integrated laser engagement systems (MILES), which uses lasers to simulate actual battle. Several drones were flown for reconnaissance purposes, some also firing an assault rifle, while South Korea dispatched a multipurpose unmanned vehicle to carry wounded personnel.

Persons: Ken Scar, Choi Jeong, Derek Chen, Hyonhee Shin, Daewoung Kim, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: . Army, REUTERS, Korean, Korea Combat Training, South, Korean army's 25th Infantry Division, TIGER, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, U.S . 4th Infantry Division, Thomson Locations: Yongin, South Korea, U.S, Korean, Pyongyang, Inje, South, Britain, Uzbekistan, Cambodia

☆ South Korea, US Troops Hold Drills With Drones, Laser Sensors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Hyonhee Shin and Daewoung KimINJE, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korean and U.S. troops held joint future combat drills involving drones, an unmanned vehicle and wearable laser sensors this week as part of efforts to modernise their militaries, Seoul's army said on Saturday. The training came as South Korea's military conducts a series of annual Hoguk autumn exercises aimed at improving responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The drills also mobilised various high-tech weapons systems aimed at beefing up future combat capabilities, with the troops wearing multiple integrated laser engagement systems (MILES), which uses lasers to simulate actual battle. Several drones were flown for reconnaissance purposes, some also firing an assault rifle, while South Korea dispatched a multipurpose unmanned vehicle to carry wounded personnel. South Korea's army launched the TIGER brigade last year as a pilot unit for future warfare operations using artificial intelligence-powered drones and highly mobile fighting vehicles.

Persons: Hyonhee Shin, Daewoung Kim INJE, Choi Jeong, Derek Chen, Daewoung Kim, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Korean, Korea Combat Training, South, Korean army's 25th Infantry Division, TIGER, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, U.S . 4th Infantry Division Locations: South Korea, U.S, Korean, Pyongyang, Inje, South, Britain, Uzbekistan, Cambodia

☆ Shares of Tencent-backed J&T Express fall in lackluster Hong Kong debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logistics service provider traded at 11.84 Hong Kong dollars ($1.51) on Friday morning, after opening at HK$12. The HK$3.92 billion ($500 million) IPO is the second largest listing in Hong Kong this year, after premium Chinese liquor company ZJLD Group . J&T Express is listing in an uncertain economic environment, characterized by hiking inflation, high interest rates and ongoing conflict such as the Israel-Hamas war and Ukraine invasion. Hong Kong's global IPO ranking dropped to eighth following a historically slow third quarter," said KPMG in a report published on Oct. 9. "The IPO pricing is dropping significantly by more than 50% or even 70%."

Persons: Irene Chu, Ringo Choi Organizations: T Express, Hong, HK, ZJLD Group, KKR, SF Express, Temasek, T, KPMG, KPMG China, CNBC, Reuters . Companies Locations: Hong Kong, U.S, Sequoia, Israel, Ukraine, Asia, Pacific

☆ South Korean court upholds ban on gay sex within armed forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Participants wave a rainbow flag as they march on a street during the Korea Queer Culture Festival 2022 in central Seoul, South Korea, July 16, 2022. Under the country's military criminal act, members of the armed forces face up to two years in prison for same-sex relationships. The law has been referred to the court and upheld by it four times since 2002. In Thursday's five-to-four ruling, the court said allowing same-sex relations could undermine discipline within the military and harm its combat capabilities. South Korea has one of the world's largest active armies, with all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 required to serve between 18 and 21 months.

Persons: Heo, Activists, Boram Jang, Soo, hyang Choi, John Stonestreet Organizations: Korea Queer Culture, REUTERS, Rights, Amnesty, Thomson Locations: Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, East Asia

☆ How an 11th-century monastery reclaimed artifacts from the US — and discovered a hoard of treasures in the process
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Hidden under years of dirt and grime in storage rooms, hundreds of precious religious objects have been rediscovered at a monastery in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Until earlier this year, three of the sculptures were more than 7,500 miles away in New York’s Rubin Museum of Art, which specializes in Himalayan art, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Like many of Nepal’s religious sites, Itumbaha is no stranger to the theft and looting of its relics and architecture. A 14th-century carving religious carving (top) that was returned to Itumbaha by New York's Rubin Museum of Art. But for Itumbaha’s leaders, the process of recovering these objects was not only about addressing historical injustice.

Persons: ”, New York’s Rubin, New York's Rubin, Pranab Joshi, Rubin, Swosti Rajbhandari, Pragya Ji, Jorrit Britschgi, “, ’ ”, Roshan Mishra, Mishra, Nepalis, it’s, —, ” Mishra, they’re, ” Kayastha, ‘, ” “ Rubin, “ Rubin, Riddhi Baba Pradhan, Itumbaha Pradhan Organizations: CNN, New York’s, New York’s Rubin Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New, New York's Rubin Museum of Art, Met, Lumbini Buddhist University, Records, Ithum Conservation Society, Rubin Museum, Lost Arts of Nepal, “ Locations: Nepal’s, Kathmandu, New, Itumbaha, Nepal, Lumbini, Ithum, Kathmandu Valley

☆ South Korea Detains Boat Carrying Suspected North Korean Defectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean authorities on Tuesday detained a North Korean boat carrying people believed to be seeking to defect from the isolated country, the military said. Most North Korean escapees make their way through China and Southeast Asia, rather than attempting to cross the heavily guarded border between North and South Korea. In 2019, South Korea deported two North Korean fishermen suspected of murdering 16 shipmates aboard their vessel while crossing the sea border. This month, South Korea said it had protested to China over the suspected forced repatriation of a large number of North Koreans, who rights groups say face imprisonment and abuse at the hands of North Korean authorities. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at the time there were no "so-called defectors" in China, when asked about a report Beijing had deported about 600 North Korean defectors.

Persons: Soo, hyang Choi, Hyonhee, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Joint Chiefs, Staff, Koreans Locations: SEOUL, North Korean, South, Sokcho, North Koreans, China, Southeast Asia, North, South Korea, Beijing

A general view of the Samsung SDI battery factory in God, Hungary, December 12, 2022. REUTERS/Marton Monus Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 23 (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung SDI (006400.KS) said on Monday it will supply Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) with electric vehicle (EV) batteries for seven years starting 2026, marking the first battery supply deal between the two companies. "The latest supply deal marks the first ever partnership between Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group in the field of electric vehicle batteries," Samsung SDI said in a statement. The battery maker, which supplies to General Motors Co (GM.N), Stellantis (STLAM.MI), BMW (BMWG.DE) among others, added that it will supply prismatic batteries manufactured at its factory in Hungary for Hyundai Motor's EVs targeting the European market from 2026 through 2032. Samsung SDI did not disclose the size of the deal.

Persons: Marton Monus, Heekyong Yang, hyang Choi, Diane Craft, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Samsung SDI, REUTERS, Rights, Korea's Samsung SDI, Hyundai, Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, General Motors Co, BMW, Hyundai Motor's, Thomson Locations: God, Hungary, Rights SEOUL, KS

☆ South Korea reports first lumpy skin disease outbreak at cattle farm
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Oct 20 (Reuters) - South Korea reported on Friday the country's first outbreak of lumpy skin disease at a cattle farm, the agriculture ministry said. Four cows at a farm in the western city of Seosan were found to have been infected with the disease after showing skin lesion, the ministry said. Lumpy skin disease, which causes blisters and reduces milk production, is a highly infectious viral disease affecting cattle and buffalo that is transmitted by insect biting. Authorities have restricted access to and from the affected farm and plan to cull some 40 other cows at the facility, it said. The government has also imposed a 48-hour transport ban on cattle across the country starting on Friday afternoon to prevent the risk of a further spread of the disease, the ministry said.

Persons: Soo, Choi, Ed Davies Organizations: Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Seosan

☆ Russian foreign minister thanks North Korea for supporting its war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov takes part in a welcoming ceremony upon his arrival in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 18, 2023. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korea for supporting the country's war in Ukraine and pledged Moscow's "complete support and solidarity" for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said. North Korean state media said Lavrov's visit will mark a "significant occasion" in further consolidating relations between the countries. Photos released by the Russian foreign ministry showed Lavrov greeted by people holding flowers and flags of the two countries upon arrival in North Korea. The White House last week said North Korea recently provided Russia with a shipment of weapons in what it called a troubling development.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's, Kim Jong Un, Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Sandra Maler, Ed Davies Organizations: Russian, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, North, Russian Federation, Democratic People's, Russia's TASS, Thomson Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, Rights SEOUL, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korean, Russia, Koreans, China

☆ Russian Foreign Minister Thanks North Korea for Supporting Its War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korea for supporting the country's war in Ukraine and pledged Moscow's "complete support and solidarity" for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said. North Korean state media said Lavrov's visit will mark a "significant occasion" in further consolidating relations between the countries. Photos released by the Russian foreign ministry showed Lavrov greeted by people holding flowers and flags of the two countries upon arrival in North Korea. Lavrov's two-day visit comes a month after North Korean leader Kim made a rare trip to Russia, during which he invited Putin to Pyongyang and discussed military cooperation. Russia's TASS news agency earlier said Lavrov may also brief North Koreans on the results of Putin's visit to China.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's, Kim Jong Un, Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Sandra Maler, Ed Davies Organizations: Russian, North, Russian Federation, Democratic People's, Russia's TASS Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Moscow, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korean, Russia, Koreans, China

SHANGHAI (AP) — American Solheim Cup player Angel Yin defeated top-ranked Lilia Vu on the first playoff hole to win the LPGA Shanghai tournament on Sunday for her first tour win. Both Yin and Vu finished at 14-under 274 on the Qizhong Garden Golf Club course forcing a playoff, where Yin made a birdie at the par-4 18th after Vu had narrowly missed her 20-foot birdie putt. It was 25-year-old Yin's first victory in her 159th start and she shared a warm embrace with compatriot Vu on her breakthrough win. Vu shot a 4-under 68, with six birdies and two bogeys, and was the clubhouse leader at 14-under, until Yin birdied the par-5 17th and then made par on the final hole to force a playoff. Two-time defending champion Danielle Kang of the United States shot 71 to finish five strokes back in a tie for 17th at 9 under.

Persons: Angel Yin, Lilia Vu, Vu, Yin, compatriot Vu, “, ” Yin, It’s, Maja Stark, Yin birdied, ” Vu, Choi Hye, Ariya Jutanugarn, Yu Liu, Esther Henseleit, Danielle Kang, ___ Organizations: SHANGHAI, —, Solheim, LPGA Shanghai, United Locations: United States, China, Asia, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan

☆ Miss Universe will feature two trans contestants for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —This year’s Miss Universe pageant will feature at least two trans women for first time, after 23-year-old flight attendant Marina Machete was last week named Miss Portugal. Ms Portugal 2023 - Finalista Palmela Marina MacheteIf either candidate wins, they will become the first trans woman to wear the tiara. Neither Machete nor Miss Portugal’s organizers responded to requests for interview, though in a statement to CNN the Miss Universe Organization said: “Trans women are women, full stop. “Starting next year, every adult woman in the world will be eligible to compete to be Miss Universe,” the statement added. “Miss Universe asked us to describe ourselves in one word,” Kollé said in a video posted to her Instagram page ahead of the Miss Netherlands final.

Persons: Marina Machete, Miss Portugal, Machete, Rikkie Kollé, ”, I’ve, Portugal, Marina, Spain’s Ángela Ponce, Miss Portugal’s, Jenna Talackova, Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, Miss Universe's, Carlos Alvarez, “, ” Kollé, you’re Organizations: CNN, Miss, 72nd Miss, YouTube, Miss Universe Organization, Miss Universe Canada, JKN Global Locations: El Salvador, Miss Netherlands, Portuguese, Thailand, Madrid, Spain, China

☆ EU officials warn Google and YouTube about Hamas-Israel disinformation and graphic content
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —The European Commission sent a warning letter Friday to Google and its subsidiary YouTube over disinformation and graphic content linked to the Hamas-Israel conflict, in the European Union’s latest effort to scrutinize Big Tech’s handling of the war. The letter from European Commissioner Thierry Breton, addressed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and also sent to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, reminded the company about its content moderation obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Breton shared the letter on X.Breton highlighted legal requirements for Google to keep graphic content such as hostage videos away from underage users; to act swiftly when authorities flag content that violates European laws; and to mitigate disinformation. It also warned of possible penalties if a future investigation were to find Google (GOOGL) is not complying with the DSA. Unlike some of those previous letters, however, Breton’s letter to Google does not directly suggest the company has spread misleading or illegal content.

Persons: Thierry Breton, Sundar Pichai, Neal Mohan, Breton, ” Breton, Ivy Choi, ” Choi, “, CNN’s Organizations: Washington CNN, European Commission, Google, YouTube, EU’s Digital Services, DSA, CNN Locations: Israel, Brussels, Gaza

☆ Salman Rushdie to publish memoir on stabbing that left him blind in one eye
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Christy Choi | Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born novelist who spent years in hiding after Iran urged Muslims to kill him because of his writing, will publish a memoir on his 2022 stabbing in New York, book publisher Penguin Random House said on Wednesday. Rushdie’s new memoir, “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” will be published on April 16, 2024. The cover of Salman Rushdie's forthcoming memoir, "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder." His attacker, a Shi’ite Muslim American from New Jersey, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree attempted murder and assault. Khomeini’s successor, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, once said the fatwa against Rushdie was “irrevocable.”

Persons: Reuters — Salman Rushdie, Rushdie’s, ” Rushdie, Salman Rushdie's, Rushdie, Iran’s, Ruhollah Khomeini, Mohammad Khatami, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ” Organizations: Reuters, Random Locations: Iran, New York, British, New Jersey, Victory, ”

☆ Exercise or medication: Which is best for depression?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

What the research showsWhich treatment option works best partly depends on personal perceptions or preferences, including a person’s motivation to exercise or concern about potential side effects of a medication, experts said. For people with severe depression, exercise alone typically isn’t enough. Some experts also wonder which exercise is best for patients who benefit most from such physical activity, Schuch said. While exercise and medication are both viable options, it’s important to note that “none will work for all patients,” Schuch said. If you’re thinking of trying to alleviate depression with fitness, know “the time it takes for someone to experience relief from depression through exercise can vary widely,” Choi said.

Persons: ”, Brenda Penninx, Karmel Choi, Choi wasn’t, ” Choi, Felipe Barreto Schuch, Schuch wasn’t, Schuch, Ben Singh, wasn’t, Parco Siu, ” Singh, “, ” Schuch Organizations: CNN, European College of, Disorders, Vrije University, Harvard Medical School, Federal University of Santa, University of South, University of Hong Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Boston, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, University of South Australia, University of Hong Kong

Search resuls for: "Choi"

25 mentions found